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Cardboard Bench

The main problem was to build a unique and strong bench. There were several questions we had to answer. Our biggest problem was that of every other groups: how were we to make a functional bench without any adhesives? Some major problems we faced were supporting the weight of the people while making it aesthetically pleasing. Eventually we resolved our problems and got great solutions.  We constantly went back and reworked the little parts that needed fixing. We constantly strove to make our furniture piece different and special. The best part was that till the very end we were changing our design and it came out very creative. Our group worked well together and we came up with different solutions and chose the best one. There were days when planning wasn't necessary and all of us just came in and went straight to work.  It took lots of time and effort but in the end it was worth it. Every detail came out neat and clean.
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Furniture Design

My first thought on this project was that it would come look amazing. However, as we delved into the project, we realized how time consuming and how much effort it took to create and think of each design and idea. There were some points where it felt like this project would never be completed. Nevertheless, we drove through. When all the furniture was done, we went to the gallery to assemble it. All the pieces looked amazing and we styled the room appropriately. There was a rug, a bench, a relaxing chair, a frame with a moose in the frame, a table and a bookshelf. My favorite part was the moose in the frame; it gave the room the little extra that it needed. Our bench looked quite wonderful and it was nice to see how astounded our peers were when they were wondering whether or not it would support them. We even added little novelties and the whole room looked complete. It was wonderful to see all our hard work together in one room. What made it even more wonderful is when everyone sat around and at that point. we believed the room could actually be utilized. It was a wonderful project and I enjoyed working on it. 
For inspiration we viewed a company that manufactures and builds cardboard furniture and this inspired us to try our hand at building our own furniture. We all came together and decided the key elements to the room and who wanted to build what. There was plenty of time and a surplus of supplies. The rug had a weaving texture to it which defined the space. The seating included a backless bench and relaxing laid back chair. The bench had curves and geometric shapes where necessary giving it a modern yet classic feel. The laid back chair seemed to call upon the more idle and relaxed people beckoning to grab a book from the nearby bookshelf and spend the afternoon. The bookshelf had different levels and was structurally stable while making itself cozy in a nice little corner. It seemed more of a nook bookshelf. Finally the table defined the center of the room and with an eccentric look it captivated the guests with a sense of knowledgeable presence. When the entire class, with all our peers filled up the room the gallery seemed like a functioning and aesthetic place and more likely than not raised the eyebrows of fellow BHS students as well as caught the attention of the administrators and teachers. An empty room brought to life with some extraordinary and original cardboard furniture.
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Discover Design Winners

The discover design competition looked amazing and it was easy to see that the winner was deserving. The first place winner was Stephen Hsueh. The second place was Daniel Villegas and lastly but most definitely not the last was Nathania Martinez. However, I felt the third place winner, Nathania, was better than the second place winner, Daniel. Stephen had a great design and was very innovative and insightful. Also, his design process was helpful to see how he came up with his ideas. He had many ideas and the pictures and descriptions did a good job of explaining his work and thought process. He resolved all the problems he had previously with his cafeteria. Also his design was ahead  of his time, and the green materials he used were helpful to the environment. I don't think there were any other students that would be able to live up to the expectations he has put up. The comments explaining his work and thoughts after every picture were helpful when taking into consideration the purpose of each unit. It was nice to see the ideas everyone wants in their better cafeteria to actually be put into action and explained so well and thoroughly. 

SketchUp 8 Dream House Pictures

Villa Savoye

Villa Savoye is a villa on the outskirts of France and was designed by the two Swiss architects, Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret and is the epitome of the International Style. The International Style is a style that emerged in Europe and America with rectilinear forms, minimal decorations and vast interior spaces. The house was a country retreat built for the Savoye family. Unfortunately, during WWII they were swept away to concentration camps and the Nazi's used their house as a storage utility. It traveled from a neighboring school to the French state. By 1965, it had been declared a historical monument. It influenced international modernism to such an extent that it's imitations can be found all over the world. It is also featured in two novels: The International Style by Hitchcock and Johnson, and The Modern House by F.R.S. Yorke. Colin Rowe made a comparison of the Villa Savoye to Palladio's Villa Rotunda. It was designed by addressing the famous "Five Points", the basic tenets in architectural design. The freedom given to Corbusier by the Savoyes allowed in a building that was governed by his five principles rather than any requirements of the occupants. However, it was the last time this happened in such a complete way and the house marked the end of a phase in his design thinking as well as the series of buildings dominated by the color white.

This building interested me the most because of the simplistic and eternal design. It seems modern without being futuristic. The white color palette gave it a clean finish and the fact that it was a residential building doesn't alienate it from human life. Its wrap around windows allow for plenty of natural lighting inside as well as giving it a 360 view of its surroundings. It has a classic feel which cannot be copied while simultaneously maintaining its essence.

Imhotep: An Egyptian Mastermind

Imhotep, also known as Imuthes by the Greek, was one of the earliest architects and engineers in the Ancient World.  His life spanned from 2650-2600 BC as he worked under the Third Dynasty Ruler Djoser as a chancellor and a high priest. He is regarded by many historians, today, as a polymath. He was an individual that excelled in numerous subject areas. He was religious as well as intelligent  His ideas in architecture are still evident today. As an architect of pyramids he must have faced numerous problems which he solved ingeniously. An early intellect Imhotep was the first to use columns in architecture, a idea so revolutionary that it has stayed with us up to today. As an architect, he was regarded quite highly because he was associated with Ptah-Ta-Tanen, the architect of the universe. He became an idol for early architects and characterized the training and selection process for any upcoming capable Egyptian architects and priests. He is most often perceived holding his medical scrolls and his architectural drawings. The architecture of The Pyramid of Steps highlighted Imhotep’s abilities as an architect, a religious priest as well as an astronomer. As an architect, a position quite unique at the time, presented him with extra privileges and additional titles such as Chief of Engineering, Prime Minister, Crown Chief, Head of the Royal Court, Chancellor of the King of Egypt, Doctor, First in line after the King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary nobleman, High Priest of
Heliopolis, Builder, Chief Carpenter, Chief Sculptor, and Maker of Vases in Chief. His work was a huge influence in the Christian religion and it's architecture. Numerous Romans such as Emperor Claudius and Emperor Tiberius honored Imhotep. They in scripted his praises on the walls of Egyptian temples immortalizing him and his deeds. He wrote an encyclopedia of architecture that was used as the main bases and as
guidance for Egyptian builders thousands of years after his death. I regard Imhotep as an ingenious innovator whose ideas shaped the basis for architecture. He opened the field of magnificent buildings and incredible castles. He ventured into an unexplored field and was rightly honored with his numerous titles. Personally, I love pyramids and the mind it must have taken to design them without modern technology and digital prototyping was masterful.

Interior of Dream House

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The interior of my dream house includes
  • a swing set
  • a swinging chair for comfortable reading
  • grand hall
  • funky game room to party
  • jacuzzi tub
  • a grand entrance with a fountain

Exterior for Dream House

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The exterior of my dream house includes
  •  Dr. Seuss Tree House Set
  • Swinging Bed on Porch
  • Hot Tub within the Lake
  • Comfy Outdoor Seating
  • Bridge Across Lake to Mountains While Viewing the Foliage
  • Sky Lining Set through the Mountains

Field Trip to BOSTON    

    We visited Dan Ricardelli at his firm Bergmeyer Associates, and heard a speech from Janet Tatten at Human Resources as well as Bill Spaulding, a fellow architect. Dan is also an architect and he and Bill gave us a good insight to what it is like to be an architect and the space that they work in. Dan was an alumni of BHS and a graduate of Northeastern University. He had enrolled in a six year program that offered him numerous internship opportunities which is how he got his current job, through a summer internship. Bill and he showed us around the firm.  Some people were at their desk on the computer working, others were in meeting rooms presenting to clients, and still others were out away from their desks on the field working. Janet gave us a small speech on how to present ourselves professionally and what to put or what not to put on a resume. We also learned that this particular firm did a lot of designing for TD bank and is currently creating the new dining hall going up in the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. We had gotten a really warm welcome and the associates were really happy to see us there.
    Afterwards, we went to BSA (Boston Society of Architecture). It is a non-profit organization and our tour guide showed us around the different displays that had been put up throughout the years at that space.The numerous displays attracted people of all sorts and was not limited to just those in the profession of architecture, design and construction. There was a bicycle display which had all sorts of bikes hanging from the walls. There was a famous spiral staircase that was amusing to everyone as well as a granite composition which showed the meeting of outside and inside. It showed how something natural transforms into a finished and polished room. Underneath the BSA space there was an alternative that had been considered for low-budget apartments for young adults in their twenties that was proposed to Governor Deval Patrick. It seemed like a little IKEA unit with a spacious bathroom and ingenious use of space and cardboard lighting. After these two places we went our own ways for lunch, and an hour to eat was much better than the half an hour at school. 

Cardboard Inspiration

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    This is an image of Ivan Parati's SandPaper which is a modular sofa inspired by a landscape and created from recycled cardboard. The pieces of the furniture can be rearranged and stacked for different occasions and all age groups. This design is the Jury's Award winner for the fourth annual Contemporary Majlis Design Competition at International Design Exhibition. It resembles the appearance of the natural landscape; the smooth curves of the dunes are stylized utilizing an Islamic pattern construction through generative design techniques. In the same manner, the wind transforms the sand dunes, the Majlis can be reshaped according to comfort and necessity. The process used a computerized cutter to obtain elements that interlock when forming the module's structure. The cardboard base is covered with upholstered fabric reinforcing the underlying triangulated pattern. It is a sophisticated nonetheless a cheap domestic interior element with a strong environmental consciousness and clear cultural and traditional values.  

To see Parati's Blog, click on the image.

Fave Chair

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This is my favorite chair because it is very comfortable and I sink right into it. Additionaly it's strut is strong and comfortable at the same time. Not only is it a revolving chair but it also has a massager which is always a plus, and relaxs my muscles and especially my back from all the books I carry on my one-shoulder knapsack. There are beams in the back of the chair that support the person sitting on it and there are also beams in the seat but they are flexible thus allowing for the person to adjust the seat to their comfort. The center of gravity is in the middle if the chair where the one beam joins the seat to the five legs. The ergonomics were well thought since the chair is so comfortable and adjusts to the body of the person sitting. Also the wheels allow the person to move without getting up off their seat. There are several knobs under the seat which allows the back to sway to the comfort of the sitee. Overall, the chair is very comfortable, strong, and is well thought out in terms of the needs of the consumer.















Here I am working diligently on my Architecture Blog :D

123D Make

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This app allows the user to create a shape and it transforms the shape into a 3D model. Once the digital model matches the expectations of the user, the user can continue to a net design of the model. They can print it out and assemble a real model. It allows for users to to make 3D models into 2D plans for easy assmeblage. This app is also a program available on Mac and PC with animated assembly instructions. It is a user friendly app and allows changes to be made easily.

The tools allow you to draw a profile curve and it will automatically turn it into a revolving 3D object, allowing for all aspects of it to be analyzed. If the virtual image is suitable to the user's tastes then, the user is allowed to print, save and share, the 2D plans for others to use. These plans can then be used to create an original object with the designer's personalized touch.

Also, the desktop program provides a database of sample designs created and shared by other users. One can build upon their ideas or use it as inspiration for their piece. This modification allows for collabartive work spreading and sparking new ideas.

Design in My Own Words

Graphic design, industrial design, interior design and exterior design are all different forms of design that we see and interact with on a daily basis. These designs have to provide a solution, work efficiently all while being ascetically pleasing. As the article states, design is not only a noun but also a verb. 

Design (n): objects, spaces, landscapes, streetscapes, communications or transportation systems
Design (v): the process of planning, evaluating, and implementing a plan or a solution to a problem

There is great value in testing ideas, even if they fail. Countless failures of some paved the road of sucess for others. Even if the idea does not function as a whole there may be aspects of it that work really well. A good designer must balance asthetics and function of an object; however ideas of beauty  are constantly changing, which requires the creativity of deigners to constantly come up with new ideas. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Since the beholder, or the customer, is constantly changing so should the beauty that comes as a result of the consumer's demands. One cannot just go about and come up with a design. There is certain critera that must be met and fulfilled for the product to be a sellout.

OUTLINE OF THE DESIGN PROCESS

Defining problems
Gathering information and research
Generating solutions
Evaluating
and selecting appropriate solutions
Implementing choices
Evaluation
Integration of feedback

To Read More About Design: http://mschangart.weebly.com/4/post/2012/12/what-is-design.html
To Visit Design Blogs: www.moma.org/collection

Sketch Chair

    Through their program Sketch Chair, anyone can design a chair and build and test the prototype at home. The net can be printed and then the customer can cut and assemble the chair before they order it. The idea is to make custom chairs less expensive and more mundane. Every chair created from SketchChair will be like no other but quite similar to other chairs. Upon ordering, assemblage is easy and the chair arrives in a flat box and can easily be put together. The idea of SketchChair is to make it easier for the consumer by choosing exactly what they want. 

There are four easy steps:
1. Sketch
2. Test
3. Export
4. Fabricate

By building prototypes and designs digitally, one can save a lot of resources and lots of money as well. It also allows for multiple oppurtunities, including unique designs that would otherwise be tedious, in the manner of engineering. They allow virtually anyone to use this program and design their own personalized, functioning chairs. Also, people can upload their designs to a constantly growing open database, accesible for use or even better, to add upon. They are all free and can be easily downloaded and edited allowing for modification. 


Click here to watch the video:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/diatom/sketchchair-furniture-designed-by-you_


Charles and Ray James & Their Influence on Design

"Beyond the age of information is the age of choices." --Charles Eames

    Charles and Ray Eames gave a completely different view on what design is and what designers do. They believed that "design is a life skill, not a professional skill". Despite popular belief, Charles and Ray Eames were a married couple not brothers, and they worked well together. The role of a good designer is similar to that of a good hostess, "anticipating the needs of the guest". In the business world, it is expected for designers, for inventors to anticipate the needs of the consumers and solve their problems to make their lives simpler or more relaxing. Generally when people talk about design they mean style, however in actual, it is a pivot between process and system. One of their contributions is the classic Eames Lounge chair. Charles and Ray were constantly striving to make the good better. Another was a classic chair with an "H" crossing rather than an "X" crossing because in terms of functionality it was better than the "X" crossing. It was how they "looked at the world. And that's what's really powerful. Design is the method of approaching problems; "It's a process. It's not style".

     They had numerous accomplishments in the field of architecture, films, exhibitions, toys, and furniture/industrial design. They created eighty-five short films over topics extending from Franklin and Jefferson, simple sea creatures to the explanation of mathematical and scientific concepts. All this while experimenting with different types of furniture such as molded plastic and fiberglass chairs. They also designed exhibits for big institutions such as IBM and the Smithsonian. Their innovative ideas and the principle of continuously striving for perfection fuel their company to this day which is under the care of their daughter, Lucia. 




http://mschangart.weebly.com/4/post/2012/12/watch-this-ted-talk-about-charles-and-ray-eames.html

Room for Musician

Ted talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/david_byrne_how_architecture_helped_music_evolve.html

Assignment Details: http://mschangart.weebly.com/4/post/2012/11/final-presentation-of-room-for-musician.html

The room for musician project was a creative way for students to (finally!) incorporate their music into school work. The requirements included a perspective drawing, a moodboard, a floorplan, a list of elements and characteristics and a written description of the band' musician. The perspective drawing allows the clients to see eye to eye with the designer and understand his views of the room. The moodboard gives the sense or the mood of the room, by using graphics of furniture, lighting and other utilities to show the materials and styles available for the room. The floorplan allows the clients to see a birds-eye view of the room. The list of elements highlights the key aspects that the archtiect wanted to make sure got applied to the room. The description gives background knowledge of the muscian/band.

This project was fun to make and enjoyable because there were so little limitations. We had to create a room for a musician or band, and incorporate themes that would normally be associated with that project. The prespective provides a visual aid, allowing everyone to see the architect's design and view. I did my project on the Beatles, and I have a submarine aquarium in my room, inspired from their incessant song, the "Yellow Submarine". Also, the colors I chose for the room reflect an airy and bouncy feeling one would get from listening to such classics. The moodboard gives a sense of the furiniture and the colors that would be in the room; it gives an explanation for the room in just pictures. The floor plan shows all the furniture, doors, and other important aspects of the room including an accurate scale making it easier to understand the placement of the room and giving a real sense of space in the room. Finally, there were two writing peices that went with this project: a description of the band/musician, and a list of characteristics. The list of characteristics gives a feeling of what the architect was trying to accomplish and what feelings they meant to be expressed. The description of the band explains the band, giving background knowledge, and gives the public a chance to understand the architect's choices in the room.












Monkey Ball

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Presentation Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZM7-J-dwdmGjLKRxdty2O8u0RphMEoOehEdtF7iYnLA/edit#slide=id.g2f117f19_0_0


Your Career in Architecture

An architect has transform the needs of a client to a physical, built solution. They also have to be considerate of any laws or regulations that could be
violated in the construction if the building. An architect's greatest responsibility is safety to the public that it is serving. The three options for education for an architect are a 5 or 6 year program that leads to a degree as a Bachelor of Architecture, or a 4 year undergraduate, pre-professional degree program followed by a 2 year graduate architecture architecture program that leads to a professional Master of Architecture degree, or a 3-4 year professional Master of Architecture degree for students that already have an undergraduate degree in another field of study. However, education is not enough to be a professional architect, so to become a registered architect a professional degree is necessary, but also,  they need to register by passing the ARE and IDP (two architecture exams).


Looking At Where Architects Are and Where we're Going 
~ Charles Linn: Architectual Record 02/2004

This article talks about architects and why they are still successful and how they make their living, There are many firms out there that want architects to design building from numerous companies that approach them. It also talks about how lighting and graphics are seperatly billed even though they were once free.  Also, many architects have started working by themselves rather than in firms like it used to be. I learned many things from this blog. One thing was that no matter how big the business, architects are needed, because business owners always want to expand and/or create an office somewhere. Also, lighting and graphics are critical part of an architectural design(I thought it was just the structure of the building that mattered). Another thing that might seem overrated but is super important for future architects are that there are many firms that are always looking for eager young architects to come and join them.

Architecture Blog # 2

Design Interiors Art Architecture

The author of this blog is Harry, and it features many different aspects of art, interior design, and architecture. Many of the photos are objects that are necessary for interior design. The blog is well set up and portrays the different works of art and design.

Beautiful Biblioteca

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A room without books is like a body without a soul.

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