Technical Drawing Plan

Today we had to copy a plan that an older student had produced, in the same scale and same symbols that were present

This turned out to be a complex task, although we could have just traced this plan, and passed it off as our own, we would not have gained anything.

the part that was particularly difficult, was the curve in the centre. Once you had the basic outline and the two centre circles, the hard part was to get the curve accurate, which I failed to do :(

Here is my attempt, and the mistakes come flying out, but I do plan to redo this task again at home from scratch, as I have now learnt how to accurately pinpoint certain key lines, to build the curve and also surrounding lines, but I'm happy to a certain extent with the progress made today, in terms of learning how to measure and use my set square properly, also accurate use of a compass.

A special Place

Our new project, titled 'A Special Place' is a chance for us to create our own Architecture, and a chance to think about a purpose, location, scale, design of a build, whilst highlighting key aspects of Architecture.

Our starting point is to make a 9x9x9 Metre Cube in the scale of 1:50

the idea of this cube is to be able to be broken down or altered from a cube, into various ideas and designs prospects

The quality of the cube does not matter, as it's supposed to be rough and ready, as it's a working model.

My friend was constructing his from coffee stirrers from the Cafe, and at first I did not like to take a huge amount of stirrers away, but once seeing others taking them, and when we asked if we could, they turned out to be the best material for the job

Easily stuck together with UHU Glue, and acted like Bolsa would do, although I did not bother to cut the ends, and this model will be dismantled

Google Sketch CAD

As I have displayed previously, I have been using Google Sketch now for two years now, and I would say I know how to do most things and what tools are right for what

However, with the CAD lessons in University, taking place, the basics are explained once again. I'm not the only one that is efficient in this field, there are many others. However when explained, there are certain elements that I did not know about

Like how to draw an accurate grid ( 9x9x9) or how to simply scale a line to a particular measurement, without judging.

or how to accurately place and create several floors. This would have been handy and would have developed my work a lot more last year :(

The same process can be applied to stairs, columns, beams, walls e.t.c
Again this would have been such a great skill to have last year, but this is all part of learning :(

Technical Drawing Task 2

After the unit task, we were then given a task to draw various sections of an elevation with basic ramps.

This was to practise scale and visualisation of space

also this developed using a grid, and variations in height

Above is the basic plan that we had to grid out and draw the opposite sides, as seen the guidelines are shown in metres, we had to scale this and use a grid to accurately show elevations

As seen above, the outcome shows the original in centre then the visualised sides surrounding, this was a challenge as you had to work out if one side had a number of ramps or one and what obstructed what, but everyone ended up with the correct outcome

Technical Drawing

Our review turned out to be a success, every group was praised for the improvement made, since the last presentation, and this was due to a lecture held by Glenn Wrigley, on presentation techniques and how to present and address to the audience properly.

At the time though I thought our presentation, went terrible. It was meant to take 15 minutes to present and then another 10 - 15 minutes for the tutors to give feedback. Ours took 1hr and 10 minutes

But our results have come back and I scored A, B+, B  for group effort, dedication and presentation/knowledge, which of course am very pleased with but also quite shocked :)

After several weeks of buying and collecting items for technical drawing, we finally started classes.

Above is the first exercise set.
it was to draw a scale drawing of a shelving unit within the studio on a 1:5 scale, this was in addition to a section and plan of the unit also. This was after drawing basic squares and circles, to become familiar with the tools we have.

We then inked this in using special technical rotring technical pens

Revised Presentation

After another week to fully put together our presentation (another criticism)

we finally had a uniformed presentation, that looked like we had worked as a group and not placed the slides together on the morning, before presenting.

 With the help of two lads from our group Dimitris Antoniou and Brandon McKeown, our presentaion was ready to present

Above is my section, that I talked through and used more than three slides, I laid everything out clearly, and used the animation tools to show this. This proved to be successful and was a major improvement to last time.

In addition to the newly refined presentation, Dimitris Antoniou, took the model home and greatly improved it. He also built the staircase and rebuilt all of the columns and beams :)

Precedence and Philosophy

I decided to choose the Precedence and Philosophy side of the project, as with prior knowledge of the house, I knew this would be my strongest point, as within the group, I not only let myself down, but the group as a whole

After reading several books, and watching various videos on the House and the Prairie style, I drafted up a rough presentation on power point for the dry run session that was held to prepare us for an official review.

Basic outline of the house, who and what it was for and served, the ideas behind the design.

this was animated with flying text and images.

It was great practise for what would be an informal marked review in a few weeks time

The feedback I received was that I had too much text on each slide, that the various type faces looked a mess and that some history of the build was irrelevant.

Anatomy Model : Robie House

There was a choice, to create a spacial model, or a structural model.

We opted to show the structure, as our house was one of the oldest house examples, and one of the largest also :(

It was part of the Prairie House style of architecture, and is a key example of the style, even down to the Flat long bricks. The structure of the building was new at the time, so this was appropriate to show the structure.

After printing out several floor plans, and patching them all together, we decided on a 1:50 scale
We also decided to construct the model out of Card, Foam board and Wood (Bolsa and Ply)

Anatomy Project

After Freshers week was out of the way, and everyone had a Libary introduction, and settled into using the local intranet (Blackboard)

Our first Project was introduced.

We were placed into different groups, and given a Lecturer to guide us. We then then split into groups of 5, in order to work together on a project.

This was a great way of meeting new people, and to put a name to a face. I t was also an ice breaker, to then talk to other groups and confer ideas to each other.

Our first Project was to study a house that was given to our group. Our house to study was the Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright.

As there was five people in each group, we had to each choose a subject area, from the following

• History, Precedence and Philosophy 
• Sight Orientation and Light
• Structure and Fabrication
• Plan Typology and Spacial Hierarchy
• Form and composition

We then had to create a model of the House and create a presentation.

The presentation was a Power point presentation, and was held in the Design studios in front of our Tutor group, our Lecturer and another lecturer that we met on the day.

First day

6th September has finally came

The start of a new chapter. I arrived early to see exactly where I was going and what was happening.

As some of my college friends, are attending the same Art and Design School, we arranged to meet outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool, right opposite the new Art and Design academy.

Sitting in the crowded auditorium, it felt like the first day at school again, not knowing anyone, a new building, new faces, new teachers and a sense of nerves and excitement.

A brief introduction and welcome to the school, by the head of department was held before breaking off into various subject areas.

An awful lot of us were Architecture students (74 in fact)

Again, this too was like school, leaving friends to go into a new class. When I arrived into our studio, there was just a sea of faces, and complete silence, friendly glances and confusion of what happens next?

As an Ice breaker, our lecturer asked if anyone was from Liverpool, then asked if anyone supported Everton, after having only 4 last year. I immediately put my hand up, hoping to see other proud supporters, I glanced around, and there was none, I was on my own :(

My Lecturer asked me my name, and whispered FAIL, lol, everyone laughed :)

I had made an impression from the start, and plus everyone knew my name, hahaha, trust me :)

To University : Liverpool John Moores

 The time has come, to start University, and I must admit, I am really nervous now, the thought of meeting new people does not bother me, in fact I love to meet new faces, and hear new stories.

It's just the build up, the excitement the frustration with applying, the workload towards gaining entry, and now it's finally here.

I have enrolled now and start on the 6th September :(

Finding the LRC building was difficult, it is set within a court yard, and I was directed by a member of staff form the university towards the building, and he found me struggling to read the illustrated map provided, then I found out it is by a pub I've been to many times before, I suddenly knew where I was then :)

The enrolment process was so easy, it was straight in, I got handed the form I had filled out and sent back to the university, I then got handed my student ID card, then logged myself onto a computer. Took less than half an hour, looking at my card, became a reality:)

felt strange sitting in an LRC again, after about 4 months off from education, and even more so, sitting in a UNIVERSITY suite

still can't believe it :)

Final Major Project, Final Outcomes

My final outcomes for this project. Looking back, I wanted to produce more, I wanted to produce and design visuals for the interior, and apply textures to the exterior, however when I did sit down to apply this, the image did not look as strong as it should have, and I was not happy with the outcome achieved.

On reflection though, I find my final designs to be a reflection of what I have researched, thought about and learnt. I have adopted a lot from the designs I have looked at, and at the beginning of the project was unsure as to how to design and develop my ideas, although in previous projects I have looked and designed I am now confident in designing and expressing my ideas.

However the frustration, anger and emotions are not fully portrayed in my final outcomes, that I have been through this project, but by looking at the Fibonacci numbers, Japanese design, contemporary design, Minimalism, modernism, Eco products and what properties they have, visiting the Building centre (London) looking at what Eco Products are in fact out there for sale, looking at how other countries are dealing with climate change and how they are not fighting with it but living with it, my final outcome does not however fully show my intense personal journey, but looking through my personal diary and Sketchbook, this does become evident.

I could have improved this project by incorporating height, width length restraints, as Architects have to deal and work around this in practise. I could have also included direction of sunlight, as I did focus upon this in the Duke Street project, and this in turn did reflect upon my design, and I was able to research and overcome a solution towards this.

However, with not actually having the knowledge and I did not undertake professional ways in which you would design a house, this did hamper my thought and I was unable to produce a sophisticated design or indeed reflect a contemporary design, therefore by not including these elements into this project, I was able to concentrate more on the exterior design. Which I appreciate, many architects will not have this freedom, but in this stage, this has helped me to expand and produce contemporary design, appreciate and learn that many problems we have today, have already been solved by looking back at nature and modernist ideas. I suppose the saying 'there's nothing new under the sun' applies here, as ideas for having open plan living, outside space, overhanging eaves, walls of glass, sheltered areas to keep cool, have all come from Modernist and Minimalist Architects. (Courbusier, Mies Van De Roch, Frank Lloyd Wright) to name a few.

The reason why I have not included a right elevation, is looking back at Waterstudios designs, the idea of community and building houses together was a factor, also the Cub house has the ability to build outwards and neighbour walls together, I decided to incorporate this idea, and allow my designs to be able to be duplicated, and be placed together, this is also an Eco friendly idea, inwhich heat can be preserved, and not escape through 4 walls, but through 3 instead. I do appreciate that Modular homes are not built in this way, and that this is resorting back to terrace housing, or semi detached housing, but I did feel that this would be another element that I could include reflecting, research and ideas available.

As I always say, at the end of a project, if I had more time I would do this, or if I was to do this project again I would do that, but really, I would have a stronger knowledge about design, and how to design, if  I were to undertake this project again. But I suppose this is why you do projects, and it is unfortunate that it has took me this long to get to the stage I am now, but there again this was the reason for taking this course, and I have learnt a lot about myself and design, and I now feel more confident about going to university and what lies ahead, this year has been beneficial and I have gained a lot out of it.

Wind and Sun deflectors

The idea of shade and cool air once again derives from the modernist ideas, but is still used and considered today.

Taken from the Sustainable Home by Cathy Strongman, the use of sun deflectors and the ability to look out of the shaded area is evident here is the Solar Umbrella House in America. I did not look at this as a design, although the design of the house in it's own right is contemporary and extremely aesthetically pleasing, using various shapes as supports and yet again creating a floating look.

This did trigger the thought of including Sun and Wind deflectors into my designs.

Looking back at the Fosters and Partners Japan house, the idea is here also, with Sun deflectors in place, to provide a cool atmosphere and resulting in less air conditioning and use of energy in order to cool the room.

I plan to include this idea into my own work.

Samalot Stairs

http://www.sixdifferentways.com/photos/spamalot-stairs.jpg

I had first seen the Samalot Staircase in Elle Decoration magazine, and was immediately inspired by the load bearing wall, creating a floating effect.

I thought about this idea, and decided that it would produce a provoking design if included on the exterior of my house design.

I thought of many ways in which I could place this staircase to my house the pros and cons of where to place this and where would it lead to.

Blueprint Magazine

http://www.getthatmag.com/digital/blueprint/

Blueprint Magazine is a great source, aswell as blog websites, to obtain cutting edge contemporary designs.

Featuring an in-depth and informative article, Blueprint focuses upon innovative and aesthetically pleasing designs.

In February 2009 they had a Japanese special which feature contemporary designs by many Japanese architects

http://viewer.zmags.co.uk/publication/f942872a#/f942872a/1

Within the edition, the sketches of one building were featured, this gave me an insight into how architects sketch and portray their ideas.

This house by Fujimori, is based on the context of traditional Japanese tea houses, and the height could relate to flooding, although this is a bit extreme, but this did make me think about the height of my house, and how many steps I would need.

Fosters and Partners

http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/0411/Default.aspx

The 'House in Japan' by Fosters and partners is like all Fosters projects, inspirational and iconic. Although this has been built in 1992, this is still a contemporary design, and covers many traditional Japanese ideas.
Connecting the exterior to the interior, use of lines and allowing large amounts of light into the home. the Modular look and shape has once again derived from the Farnworth House, even the use, shape and function of supports, the integration of glass walls, the use of stairs is indeed inspired by the Farnsworth house. The House in Japan was a key motive to researching Japanese design for me, ever since I had seen this design previously.