LEARNING PORTFOLIO

Colette CumminsArchitecture101

Instructor Jerry Lum

Spring 2013Midterm

Monday, April 1, 13

Ice BreakerIteration One

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Ice Breaker Iteration Two

Through this process I learned that repetition and

organization gave more interest to my

asymmetrical , curvilinear design.

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Architecture 101 Colette CumminsJan/2013

Then narrative and the design process Primary: Knowingly Seeking Secondary: Willingly Questioning Tertiary: Accidentally Devilish

Question 1.a)What are the most significant aspects and qualities of your constructed

abstract design?

Movement and interaction of materials.The movement in itself creates texture. There is good use of space as the material winds in and out around its self, despite its compactness.The chosen material, copper gives an obvious vibrancy and color. In its very nature tells a story as it patinas with time.

b)What will first-time viewer of your work see and experience?

They may see movement and interaction of materials. They may sense a complexity and may feel both ease and unease and at the same time sense a spaciousness. They will probably sense a journey been under taken, maybe a dance between the wires.There interest may be peaked, and may have some questions.

c) What does your design primarily represent?

My Design Primarily represents movement through life, a journey and what I do with that journey.Through life’s challenges I can often can separate from the knowing this can send me deeper into seeking in every direction. Sometimes the seeking brings me to interesting places, that I may not have come to, if not for the need to find the knowing, the place where its okay to just be as I am. So inadvertently loosing the connection with the knowing brings about more knowing.Its as if one cannot be without the other, at least at this stage of my evolution.

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a)What are the details of what your audience will see and experience as they engage your work and how these details relate to your metaphor?

There are two wires, one larger, which is soft and pliable which represents the seeker or seeking. Then there is the smaller dimensional wire intertwined in the movement of the larger wire, The finer wire is the knowing. Both are always there in the journey of the structures existence. Just there are times there is a sense of aloneness, where the knowing does not seem to have connection or maybe its the seeker who does not have connection.

The tail ( where the copper is folded in on itself and the finer wire is wrapped around the larger main wire) rep to seek. It was comfortable in the warmth of the knowing, maybe the womb. Then there came a time when they had to part maybe out of playfulness, the “ accidental devilishness” or birth and from there came the need to question.

The turns are not sharp, representing a changing of direction in a kind way, as if it knows the importance to self correct gently, knowing that abruptness does not support seeking the knowing.

The length and movement of each wire is a metaphor for the ‘knowing’ and the “seeking’. The knowing travels a shorter distance and the seeker is much longer, traveling its life of human existence.

Then there are times they meet and interact for a while as if to dance and appreciate each other.It could also appear that at a certain stage the smaller, lighter wire (the knowing) seems to hold or direct the bigger, heavier wire (seeker) on its journey.

There is also aluminum wire that is woven in at places, it seems not to fit entirely, it looks a little garish representing life's challenges or baggage.

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Kit Of PartsIteration One

I started learning the importance of sketch up and

how helpful it can be in portraying and developing my

designs.

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Kit Of PartsIteration Two

Sketch up was difficult to master especially for spirals and curves

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Proportional Studies

Extreme Division works better if repeated

Equal divisions

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Proportional Displacement

Displacement transforms and brings emphasis to

either the part left alone or the part being displaced.

Displacement can also bring rhythm through repetition.

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Fibonacci Series

I enjoyed mixing proportional division of the element with the

fibonacci series and then repeating it until it created a large repetitive

area.Also displacement of the element contributed to its interest/design.

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Space within a space

Interlocking spaces

Adjacent space

Space linked by a common space

U-Shaped Planes

Base Plane Elevated Plane Depressed Plane Overhead Plane

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20

Typologies of Space: Generic options generated by a matrix

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3 Diverse Spaces

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Inspiring Architects

MAD Architects:The curvilinear ,

asymmetry structures, extruding over the

city scape feels very organic,which I feel

mimics nature.I also love how they add nature on each level which enhances the feeling of a living

structure.

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This is an example of Responsive architecture.

This mountain apartment complex is situated in a very flat

city scape and the structure never loses sight of this, despite

having a higher vertical height than its surroundings.

BIG Architects

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Again another asymmetrical structure.

I feel that this is an example of biomemetic , responsive and contextual architecture.

The curvilinear and angularity of the different aspects of the structure/s overlap and complement

each other very well, adding to its complexity.

I feel that the curvilinear warm wooden part of the

structure mimics a vine growing and expanding as

over the ore rigid structure.So its overlap and

juxtaposition of materials work very well to impose

this feeling.

Shigeru Architects

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How well does the blend or not with its site, do i want it to complement its surroundings or not.How can i them compliment each other.

Building models help help this process of design.

Site

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ConclusionIt has been an interesting and challenging half semester.

I am enjoying having a little more insight to the field of design.

The most astonishing thing that was revealed is that I'm much more drawn in by curvilinear, asymmetrical complex structures than angular structures or

to be more precise its a good combination of of both that works for me.Coming in the door from the building side of industry I have only been

exposed to both hard linear structures and ornate type structures, so this is a nice breath of fresh air.

My prescription for the second halfStay focused, try everything, keep on top of my work.

Practice my new language. Have fun.

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