http://www.sloarch.com/forums/ architecture in the real world en-US Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:41:46 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.sloarch.com/forums/search.php http://www.sloarch.com/forums/topic/8#post-14 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 03:14:31 +0000 Douglas N Peterson 14@http://www.sloarch.com/forums/ <p>Intuitiveness </p> <p>Intuitiveness is such an elusive aspect of the human mind. It is comprised of feelings and transmissions from unknown sources telling the individual whether to make a right turn or stop or what color is correct yet is still indescribable.</p> <p>Perception is a critical element of the cognitive and thorough design process. One must be both a part of something and through patience of analytical study all elements relative to any given projects parameters are destined to be resolved with the perceptions of the interrelated co-ordinates of their congruent curves. Because there is no right or wrong solution to any subject in architecture it is left up to the individual to convince himself that his solution is correct and yet there is no correct solution which in turn leads to confusion and self doubt.</p> <p>"The intuitive process is a derivation and eventuality of the use of peripherality. ."</p> <p>If one directs their vision toward one direction then the end result will be simply that, a singular solution with no alternatives considered. When intuitive perception incorporates peripherality then the entire process reveals the spectrum and accepts and influences the elements of the outcome.</p> <p>Intuitiveness is an element of each human being but so often lies dormant and untapped. "Womens' intuition" is an old adage and is used commonly when a woman makes a comment which is correct yet has no logical answer as to why. For a man to have intuition in our present society is a bad thing because men are supposed to be logical and analytical. The interesting aspect of this is that women are made up of "XX" chromosomes and men are made up of "XY" chromosomes. The dichotomy of this is that the X chromosome is female and the Y is whatever it is. Men tend to ignore the fact that they are in fact part man and part woman but the machismo in a guy won't let him admit that he has sensitivity and emotion which women possess. The X chromosome leads to sensitivity and albeit non-logical conclusions, however, it also tends to obvious logicality in solution culmination.</p> <p>"If an architect is not a poet then he cannot create a poem in nature"</p> <p>While observing and absorbing elements it is necessary to also express feelings derived through analysis that "defy" logic but are grounded in what should take place. I have often toiled over a project then walk away come back and suddenly draw exactly what had eluded me. Intuitiveness is based on input of topographical, environmental, climatogical, pschycological, and physical yet still the intangible of the senses and approach become sensitive to all elements and intuition becomes part of the theorem and a hypothesis to the project can be formulated.</p> <p>To be perceptive of nature is the beginning of intuitivity and the integration of mans intrusion upon natures wholeness and completeness as a cohesive unit. When the architectural poet is capable of assembling the elements which nature ordinates then and only then can he become a poet within nature and a part of its concert.</p> <p>To find the intuitiveness and intangible elements which collectively are a part of that cohesiveness and poetry in nature the architect should meld with the continuance of that which nature has ordained. One cannot place an anarchist or atheist in Christian camp and expect harmony. So be it that when an alien element is deposited into a co-dependent environment the result is an amorphic and conflicting situation. Thus intuition and intrinsic values need, thru analysis, to realize that without understanding and compassion a battle will ensue. </p> http://www.sloarch.com/forums/topic/7#post-13 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 02:19:24 +0000 Douglas N Peterson 13@http://www.sloarch.com/forums/ <p>Introduction</p> <p>“When an architect becomes tolerant of the elements which surround his craft then his creativity and freedom of expression are destined to fail.”</p> <p>As all things evolve and transcend the elements of time and space so also there must occur adaptation to circumstance and continuity, as well as the cognizance of historical precedence. Presently the evolution of architecture has become so constrained by materials, politics, and building codes, all to the benefit of society, so have the changes in approach by the architect.</p> <p>“Inner city buildings are best suited for target practice regardless of the size of the weapon because they are obviously good for nothing else.”</p> <p>How many people, loss of life withstanding, would truly miss the Sears tower if it fell down or the Transamerica skyrise in San Francisco I dare say very few would go home and mourn and say it was a great loss more than likely it would be, “and another one bites the dust”. To the other end there would be great loss and sadness if the great pyramids of Egypt suddenly were a pile of dust or the Acropolis was tossed into the sea or Chartres Cathedral in France were to fall down. It is the things of the past which are of relevance and importance yet modern man has not grasped that concept.</p> <p>This book and my personal writings and feelings are intended to awaken, offend and somehow instill thinking sensibly, practically, historically and conscionably into the architects repertoire of concerns and if it takes an attack on the existing mores and reactionary practices of present day architecture and its accepted practices then so be it. Granted there is a need to provide architectural services to society but do not call it architecture and do not presume that the architect is doing something useful or noteworthy. For the most part at present architects are merely material manipulation technicians or building mechanics and no different than an auto repair shop and anyone can hang out a shingle and call themselves an auto mechanic.</p> <p>“Harvard takes perfectly good plums as students, and turns them into prunes. “<br /> Frank Lloyd Wright </p> <p>At this time probably, 90 percent of all registered architects are simply making a living to support themselves and their family by doing something they have been trained to do in the construction industry. Five percent are decorators catering to the whims of a client or the public four percent are to businessman and perhaps a generous one percent are architects. With these figures it is simple to deduce that 99 percent of all architecture is a pathetically juvenile and due to the media and self ordained architectural critics suddenly the woefully adolescent becomes publicly acceptable.</p> <p>High-rise buildings are a prime example of childish self-indulgence and patronization to the whims of the financial influence on the architect or rather pseudo. </p> <p>"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you"<br /> Frank Lloyd Wright<br /> The simplicity of high-rise architecture exhibits itself in the planetary and manufactured facade which is so conveniently supplied by the mechanization of industrial imperatives and marketing. It is quite elementary to say or instruct that the project will be key 80 stories tall 300 feet by 300 feet and needs a supporting frame so shoot it over to the engineer, contractor and decorator and suddenly its in Architectural Digest.</p> <p>But as the interest of society in the placement of suburban housing grows it becomes necessary to provide adjacent shopping. This tends to fast paced and haphazard designs of “quick” structures to accommodate the expanding suburban dwellers and their penchant for proximate convenience.</p> <p>At this time the number of vacant commercial or retail structures is numerous. As structures such the King Dome in Seattle, Washington, hotels in Las Vegas, “the Projects” in the inner city which were woeful disasters and a breeding ground for crime, are being imploded it becomes quite apparent how transient and temporary our present society truly is.</p> <p>When past civilizations erected structures, whether they be villages, churches, mosques or fortresses the inten was that they stand for centuries.</p> <p>“What is it of man that he sees fit to abandon his environment for temporary materialism?”</p> <p>So as we continue on the same path of ignorance and lack of cognitive reason all that has been improperly conceived and pursued as well as jettisoned as unsound for civilized society will in turn rear its head to defy.</p> <p>As man excitedly ventures forth with his obsession with technological advancement? And supposed improvement of the quality of life for humans he is doing so at the expense of that which maintains him. Also as he has obliterated and decimated our planet’s animal species now on the continents of Asia, North America, South America, Europe and Africa in the last 150 years, a short span in the history of the earth, he has also ignored history and created merely obtrusive mobile home parks which he calls cities and metropolises.</p> <p>The architect should be a visionary and seer to guide and direct architecture and the habitat such that it is part of the score of the concerto which is earth and nature. </p> http://www.sloarch.com/forums/topic/6#post-8 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:27:29 +0000 Tim Alatorre 8@http://www.sloarch.com/forums/ <p>Copied from Facebook:<br /> January 15 at 12:27a<br /> By Noelle Lee</p> <blockquote><p> Hey Tim,<br /> I just listened to your first episode: awesome!<br /> You and Hailey (sp?) mentioned a bit of that tug-of-war between the art of drafting and the technology used today. I'm always thinking about this! I love hand drafting. Love it! However, drawing everything by hand and copying blueprints, like you mentioned is totally inefficient compared to pumping out computer models. In my thesis, I used a hybrid of water color drawings and digital renderings. In the many interviews that I've had since graduating in '08, I find that the principles (usually over 40 or 50 years old), are happy to know that I can use drafting programs, but they are REALLY happy to see that I still love sketching and thinking on paper.<br /> So here's the Q: Does drawing have a place in the professional world of architecture today? Can it complement the technology or does it hold us back?</p> </blockquote> http://www.sloarch.com/forums/topic/4#post-6 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:20:13 +0000 Tim Alatorre 6@http://www.sloarch.com/forums/ <p>Hey everyone. What would you like to have us cover on the Studio? Any ideas for topics, or guests? </p> http://www.sloarch.com/forums/topic/5#post-7 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:05:42 +0000 Tim Alatorre 7@http://www.sloarch.com/forums/ <p>What do you think about us starting a scholarship for Cal Poly Architecture students? Leave your thoughts here! </p> http://www.sloarch.com/forums/topic/3#post-3 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:04:20 +0000 Anonymous 3@http://www.sloarch.com/forums/ <p>If you have posted hours on IDP as units (the old system) but have not submitted them do those automatically get translated to hours under the "new system" that went into effect last week? </p> http://www.sloarch.com/forums/topic/2#post-2 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:29:40 +0000 Tim Alatorre 2@http://www.sloarch.com/forums/ <p>2010 is set to be a great year for sloArch.com and the Cal Poly Architecture Community. As the economy struggles to recover Cal Poly Architecture students and alumni are going to have more opportunities than ever to effect change on the industry and our communities.</p> <p>Cal Poly's motto of learn by doing pushes us to take risks and be proactive. Welcome to our new forums. I hope this becomes a place for our community to help one another and leverage the tools and skills we all have.</p> <p>Thank you, and Happy New Year.<br /> the sloArch team </p>