Today in studio, Stauffer laid out the agenda..."sort of"...for the final project. As I've said before we've technically been working on the final project since the beginning of the semester but now we'll be getting into final production mayhem.
So, in three weeks we are required to produce the following:
one 1/16" scale model including immediate context
one site plan including our building and its immediate context modeled to 1/32" scale
[insert number of levels here] floor plan drawings laid out on 24"x36" vellum
one section drawing including context also laid out on 24"x36" vellum
Studio Stauffer says goodbye real world, hello fourth floor Taylor. We have a busy, sleepless (or close to that) three weeks ahead of us.
We've been working on our final project since the beginning of the spring semester. Of course, that statement is somewhat relative but I think it is safe to say every concept, drawing, and model has influenced our final project. Even if something hasn't directly made the final design cut the whole semester has been an important process of thinking. Now we have officially started finalizing the results of this thought process. Our final production project is due in about three weeks; that's pretty unbelievable to me. My first year of architecture design school is coming to a fast end.
On Friday the studio took a field trip to Half-life House, a design of Stauffer's own creation located in Chagrin Falls. We met bright and early at the Starbucks (no surprise there! On the maps Stauffer hadn't marked Half-life House but Starbucks was clearly highlighted) in town then made our way back into a more wooded area where the house was neatly tucked away. The owners Ken and Karin were so welcoming and interesting. They showed us around and shared stories about the house. The house was dubbed Half-life because Karin grew up in it and returned to it after college and living abroad. A beautiful addition was added and the original was rejuvenated. This experience was incredibly unique; rarely does one get the opportunity to tour a stranger's architecturally significant home.
After the tour Kevin, Max, Dana, Megan and I drove around a bit, trying to decide what we wanted to do. We finally agreed to get "nom noms" from Dave's Cosmic Subs--a very good choice. The little sub shop was brightly painted with swirling designs reminiscent of a tie-dyed hippie. Inside, the walls were plastered with retro concert posters and famous 60's rock-and-roll artists' portraits. The atmosphere was groovy and the sandwiches were gourmet in the most chill way possible. The half-day field trip was a success!
The flat land of Illinois and Indiana wrinkles into Ohio; I know I'm halfway into the hills. Irregular swatches of farmland still patch the landscape bordering the highway but soon there won't be as many rows and rows of corn instead golden grains will become predominant. I wonder what part of Indiana we're in and kick myself for not checking on the rest stop map. We'll be in Toledo soon in any case.
There are quite a few more college students on this bus compared to my other trips with the Megabus. I've actually run into a few former Whitney Young classmates. We catch up briefly and are content with happenstance. Old faces are a relief; they remind me that the world is not quite as large and it definitely feels like it is only getting smaller.
One week at home was wonderful. It went by quickly and I still can't decide whether it was just long enough or too short. I'm leaning towards too short. A few deadlines hang lower over my head now that the week is closing and I can always get more Chicago time. I was lucky to get downtown a few times during the week; the spurts of city life I've experience throughout my first year away have been greatly treasured and keep my appreciation alive.
Though I will miss Chicago, Kent is only a couple hours away which means five more weeks of school are too. I am in no way dreading the rest of this semester -- it is unbelievable how quickly my first year of college has gone by! To avoid jumping to conclusions I won't say anything about what this year has or hasn't lived up to.
I am relieved to be back in Chicago, even if it is for a mere week. The tall buildings and constant movement in the city are always comforting. A friend of mine asked me why I would ever leave the city for Northeast Ohio, he added, "don't you know that once you come to Northeast Ohio you can never escape!" I will never become an example of that phrase; the city life is for me with no questions asked.
My first day back I had the delightful opportunity to show off Chicago to my friend Taylor and his sister. We had tickets to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Saturday night. It was a quick trip for them as Taylor's sister was not on her spring break and had to return to Pennsylvania for classes on Monday. Nonetheless, they experienced the whirlwind view of the city, complete with Chicago style pizza, Millennium Park, Chicago Cultural Center, Art Institute of Chicago, and multiple rides on the CTA.
Family visits crowded the rest of the weekend. It was the perfect prelude to the rest of my busy week, a week filled with reading and writing for two research papers. As I began the reading and connecting ideas for these papers, one focuses on the Pantheon the other compares the artwork of Frederic Remington to that of Western Native Americans, I realized that I completely enjoy researching. The task always sounds dull and slow, but I've found it is the most interesting thing. I'm able to find some piece of information in one book then discover a similar idea or, even better, a contrasting one in another book or journal. The whole process fuels my interest, often strengthening my passion for the topic.
Now my only challenge lies with the task of converting my interest into equally captivating words. Wish me luck! The results are yet to be determined but I have all hopes that they will be satisfactory.
In the same way that a muffin tastes better with a spoon, warm weather makes the flavor of ice cream so much more satisfying. The whole thing is mental but when the temperature rises into the mid sixties on an early day in March who wouldn't be excited for the cold promise of hot summer days that ice cream gives.
David, Tyler, Nick and I couldn't resist the coolness of ice cream and the temptation of a last minute adventure before the warm day drew to an anticlimactic ending with architecture history class. We practically ran from studio down to where David's car was parked, our excitement was so high. The windows rolled down and music jumping from the speakers, David pulled out onto Main St. without any other directions save for the group craving of a cool sweet treat. After little discussion, we pulled into a Dairy Queen a few minutes away from downtown Kent. The restaurant was empty but hardly dampened out spirits as we each ordered different flavored Blizzards. We went outside to sit, eat our ice cream, and enjoy the beautiful day.
The short excursion was refreshing; it felt good to be so carefree. I was, and am still, lucky to have such fun and spontaneous friends. It is spur-of-the-moment ideas like the ice cream run that will keep us close and sane during our studio career.
In short, thank you to my studio friends for being wonderful.
Not too much has been going on about studio. At least nothing super exciting. But I guess no news is good news.
We've been working with Raum Plan and Plan Libre; concepts created and developed by Adolf Loos and Le Corbusier respectively. The Moller House and Villa Stein served as our prime examples of Loos and Le Corbusier's thinking. We had to reproduce the plans and elevations for each house then construct replica models. I drew for Moller House and built for Villa Stein.
At first I looked sourly at the plans of Villa Stein. Its curved partitions made me wish even more that I had never started the semester off with curves. After spending an entire night, however, laboriously cutting tiny pieces of vellum, Villa Stein grew on me. Building that replica magnified my appreciation for Le Corbusier's Plan Libre by an incredible amount. In addition to the drawings and model, we were assigned to read essays on Raum Plan and Plan Libre. These held a wealth of information and perspective but my understanding grew so much more by building the house. Of course the reading coupled with actually creating a mini Villa Stein was the effective mix but I think the modeling definitely contributed more.
As much as I enjoy reading and gain from it, I think it is most valuable when what one has read reappears in something one does. When I modified my model the things I read in Raum Plan vs. Plan Libre made sense; the physicality of the model was proof to me of what I read. There was something tangible and convenient right in front of me, exemplifying the work and thought process of such an influential architect. It is a thrilling feeling when learned things make sense and become applicable rather than just stored knowledge.
The whole thing gets better too! This week, Stauffer requested that we use Raum Plan and Plan Libre to influence our market program. We'll see how that works out but I'm looking forward to the challenge.
Assignment: visit Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, experience and observe the atmosphere of each specialty grocer
First Stop: Whole Foods
Second Stop: Trader Joe's
The automatic sliding door glided open and we exchanged cheesy anxious glances. Upon entering a subtle scent of fresh foods washed over us; the produce was to our left. We walked around not really sure where to look first, though not because the organization was in any way overwhelming rather, because the presentation of interesting food stuffs was executed so well. The aisle were, for the most part, arranged in typical parallel style. The product placement was almost zen-like. Sweet potatoes and marshmallows were placed together, specific cheeses were set near apples or honey, coffees and teas were stacked with mugs, and cereals were across from milk. Nothing was out of place; there were no random novelty tchotchkes protruding obnoxiously into the faces of innocent shoppers. We awed at the interesting variety of foods Whole Foods offered: exotic fruits, tasteful cheeses, wholesome deli products, delicate desserts and pastries, healthy dairy products, whole grain cereals, and natural sodas. A sign near the entrance advertised a selection of 47 local and 179 organic products. Whole Foods stocked things one cannot buy in generic grocery stores, making our visit an experience beyond the physical uniqueness of the store.
We walked into Trader Joe's and our excitement from the first stop almost immediately diminished. The place was crowded and everyone seemed to circulate through the aisles in a set pattern. There were bright in-your-face signs hanging around the perimeter and above almost everything. Products were placed in a typical grocery store manner but there was a hipster air. Not to say Trader Joe's wasn't as interesting as Whole Foods, it just wasn't as welcoming; I would have to visit a couple more times before I felt totally comfortable. It seemed as though every shopper in the store was on a specific mission and their goal was very clear: complete the grocery check list of unique can't-really-be-found-anywhere-else items. I will commend Trader Joe's for stepping up that generic idea of a grocery store simply by stocking their shelves with more interesting food stuffs. Maybe we were less impressed by Trader Joe's because our stop to Whole Foods made the better first impression and was very high competition in our minds.
We've been working on our final project since the beginning of the spring semester. Of course, that statement is somewhat relative but I think it is safe to say every concept, drawing, and model has influenced our final project. Even if something hasn't directly made the final design cut the whole semester has been an important process of thinking. Now we have officially started finalizing the results of this thought process. Our final production project is due in about three weeks; that's pretty unbelievable to me. My first year of architecture design school is coming to a fast end.
On Friday the studio took a field trip to Half-life House, a design of Stauffer's own creation located in Chagrin Falls. We met bright and early at the Starbucks (no surprise there! On the maps Stauffer hadn't marked Half-life House but Starbucks was clearly highlighted) in town then made our way back into a more wooded area where the house was neatly tucked away. The owners Ken and Karin were so welcoming and interesting. They showed us around and shared stories about the house. The house was dubbed Half-life because Karin grew up in it and returned to it after college and living abroad. A beautiful addition was added and the original was rejuvenated. This experience was incredibly unique; rarely does one get the opportunity to tour a stranger's architecturally significant home. 
At first I looked sourly at the plans of Villa Stein. Its curved partitions made me wish even more that I had never started the semester off with curves. After spending an entire night, however, laboriously cutting tiny pieces of vellum, Villa Stein grew on me. Building that replica magnified my appreciation for Le Corbusier's Plan Libre by an incredible amount. In addition to the drawings and model, we were assigned to read essays on Raum Plan and Plan Libre. These held a wealth of information and perspective but my understanding grew so much more by building the house. Of course the reading coupled with actually creating a mini Villa Stein was the effective mix but I think the modeling definitely contributed more.
Team: Max, Kevin, Carolyn 
