Archinect - Auburn University

Howdy

2011-02-04T12:28:15-05:00

Subject: Greetings

Data: Master of Design Build Cohort 10’-11’ D-Track | Former blogger for Hampton University | National Football Champions | War Eagle

Framing Lens: Eyes of a Graduate Student | Sprinkles of Undergraduate activity here and there

Current Events: Auburn is currently going through NAAB accreditation | Looking for a new Dean for the CADC Auburn College of Architecture, Design, & Construction

I recently graduated from Hampton University on May 2010 with a Master of Architecture (5.5 yr format). Career plan A was sidelined by the majority of the rants I’ve read in the discussion forum, the economy. I luckily had some audibles I could call and career plan A was revamped to A 2.0. I applied to several Design Build or Hybrid of DB and ultimately decided on Auburn because the nature of the program focuses on issues of collaboration in the Building Industry, not just physical construction.

Next Up: Recap of Fall Semester | Current Work, Research, & Fabricatio...

Mixed Use Montgomery

2005-11-09T14:39:47-05:00

We have been given the task of designing a mixed use building in Montgomery Al, right next to the new baseball field. The challenge is not the program, but rather the fact that we have been put into teams of four. Two designers and two building science students.
Playing the role of the architects, we have had to learn how to collaboratively design, and make room for two cooks in this kitchen. Sometimes we click, but more often than not, we do not share similar feelings on the designs. Designing this building is easy, if you do it alone. Designing with a partner who doesn't share your taste is nearly impossible. It's all about picking your battles, and learning to compromise. The building science students are the best! They all come into our studio and take one look at our projects and scratch their heads thinking, "Is that crazy mess supposed to be your building?"! Their idea of a good design is a brick and stucco building with a cornice piece and keystones above the (square) wind...

acadamia

2005-08-29T10:11:02-04:00

As a thesis student, I have been spending my time doing research and case study work on specific projects... not terribly exciting for anyone but myself. However, I have become excited about the things that I see as I walk around the studios here in my building. I am stunned to see the mess of productivity from the lower class level. One week into the new semester, people have full detailed models, 3d rendering, and preliminary presentations. Just out of the starting block, this building has already filled with the byproduct of creativity. I spent an hour Â½ reading reports, and pinups from the first, second, and third year levels when it occurred to me that there is so much to learn from our classmates from all year levels. Sometimes out of arrogance, it easy to overlook their work. There is such a wealth of energy in the academia. From my own anxiety, I just want to remind you to look around...before its gone.

Bull in a China shop

2005-07-12T16:19:56-04:00

Quick sketch of a door bell:
I didnt include any kind of scale but the space is two stories high so you can imagine the form to be at its widest part about 16 feet tall.
The space is a warehouse loft and the client wants a low profile piece againts the wall which "does something". We thought it would be good comedy to make it a huge door bell which bellowed out some mega low rumbling note every time a guest would arrive and push the button at the door.
It will work just like an organ pipe with compressed air blowing over a carved reed or an edge, and the volume of the shape would resonate, and rattle the ceiling joist and knock the other paintings off the wall. *grin
We suspect it will not fly, but eleminating bad ideas is still progress.

Michelangelo

2005-04-05T17:47:22-04:00

I have been in Firenza (Florence) for the last four days and it
has been the greatest weekend. I left my laptop here in Roma so I have
a hundred emails to read, but before I do, Ill tell you about my
adventures.
My hotel was spectacular located 20 yards from the Duomo,
Brunelleschi's Dome. As Michelangelo says, no good Florentine lives out of view of the Duomo. Oh, by the way, "The Agony and the Ecstasy" is (so far) probably one of the best books I have read in long time. I asked my father what appropriate literature I should accompany myself with while in Italy, and he suggested "The Agony and the Extacy" by Irving Stone.
Yes its a cube of layered paper, but I hate that Im not further along, because I know that Im going to want to go back to Florence when Im done. I have become most knowledgeable about the the city of Florence, the Medici, Michelangelo, and anything having to do with marble, or frescoes.
In the Academia, where David is kept, there were a bunch paintings by...

Making Euro

2005-03-26T07:29:43-05:00

So yesterdays, I bought a Bicycle for 60e, that's about $80.00. My life expectancy has been reduced considerably but after two weeks of waiting for bus's and walking amongst strolling pedestrians, well I had to get out of that rut. You know you're really somebody when you have a bike in Rome. Today, I cruised down to the Pantheon to do some sketches, and on the way, I stopped into a little art supply store and got a bright idea to do some rubbings. They would make great Christmas/ birthday gifts for years to come. So I bought some velium and a stick of conte and headed on. I was wearing a white shirt, blue tie, and jeans which I think make me appear more approachable while working. I started my rubbings on the tablature to the right of the front door. Half way through I had a crowd of 10 all watching, and by the time I was done (15 min) It was already sold for 20e. I headed back to the art supply and did it all again, and again.
Rubbings can be kind of a mindless but they create o...

2005 Study Abroad

2005-03-12T14:11:29-05:00

On our way to Rome Italy, We got stranded at Charles De Gualle in Paris due to a strike. I took the chance to run downtown and burn up some pixels.

Piazza Navonna

2005-02-18T13:05:16-05:00

Program: we are to design a cafe on the ground floor, architecture education studio on the second and third, and residents on the third fourth and up. (in Italy, the first floor is what we consider in the states as the second)

Again, after looking at my archway, inspired my Leon Alberti, I feel like im trying to do something I know nothing about. The capitals on the columns are fake and are there to simply "look old". well Im not old, and I didnt grow up in the 12 century, and hell its 2005. I think its a terrible mistake to mimic a style of a previous era. I like the arch way, because it pays respect to the historic skyline, but as for now, thats as far as im going with that nestalgic crap. I have classmates that are designing buildings that look like theater sets, trying to look old. I dont know what the answer is. I just think that Borromini would be offended if I tried to copy his style using modern materials

A moment of A.D.D.

2005-02-16T16:06:47-05:00

In 1596 the water closet was invented by John Harrington, costing only 6 shillings and 8 pence, however the closet was not adopted on a large scale for almost 200 years. In 1738, JF Brondel introduced the valve type flush toilet. Alexander Cummings further improved the technology and designed toilets with perennial water to suppress odors. Still the working of the valve and foolproof inlet of water needed improvements. In 1777 Joseph Preiser provided this by substituting the slide valve with a crank valve. It seemed then the technology of pour flush was perfected - until 1870 when SS Helior invented the flush type toilet, called optims.
The late 1800's saw the introduction of the sewerage system, described by the designer, Haussmann as "underground galleries which are organs of the big city, working as organs of the body, without being revealed."
Thomas Crapper, holder of 9 patents for improvements to drains, water closets, manhole covers and pipe joints, although possibly not r...

Piazza Navonna

2005-02-16T15:32:44-05:00

My class of thirty is getting ready to go to Rome Italy for a few months, and as a preparatory project, we have been given the challenge of designing a building on the Piazza Navonna. We're acting as if one of the existing buildings was abducted by aliens, and the void left behind was our site. Personally I think its one of the most difficult problems I will ever encounter. The last architecture built in this piazza was over three hundred years ago. As a class, we have been discussion design issues such as, do we design in a contemporary style, or a traditional, or do we blend in, or stick out... Argh. We are building next to such historic sites designed by Bernini, Michelangelo, Brunileschi. (sp?) I looked at how some of the architects of our time have dealt with such challenges like, I.M. Pei. , and even Gustave Eiffel, and I feel pretty strongly that I would be an imposter to try and design something old. I feel that the Piazza is a time capsule and it is my duty to make my contr...

Alagasco competition

2005-02-15T23:17:06-05:00

"A light and ethereal body which seemingly defies gravity with
contemporary engineering, it's character gives an expression of
steel, the product which Birmingham once thrived on. Embedded into a
fabric of an older era of materials and construction method, this
design pushes Birmingham into the new, while not overpowering the old,
and respecting proportions and scale."

There are a couple of fun little innovations which make this hotel in downtown Birmingham Alabama an interesting place to visit. The ball pool would be an opportunity to float around, relax, and have a drink without getting wet. Not shown is an elevator which travels on a curve. That will get the kiddos excited.

Monday Oct 11, 2004

2004-10-11T12:37:51-04:00

Im compiling year level project statements, along with anecdotes and specific student work

Auburn University School of Architecture Bill of Rights

2004-09-10T12:58:34-04:00

Auburn University School of Architecture Bill of Rights.
Authors: The students of the School of Architecture
www.arch.auburn.edu

premise
Studio/Lab is a rare environment. One develops one's ideas, projects, and self by way of experimentation, collaboration, and expression. Studio lab is a fragile balance between personal spheres that overlap to create a series of relationships. It is only when equal respect is paid to all when the studio/lab can operate to full potential. Without this balance, this equality and respect, studio/lab can become unhealthy, a blockade against all that it should be.

Go to www.wikifish.org to see an on going investigation, and multiple case studies which works to establish and protect the delicate collaborative environment of studio/lab culture, and to serve as a protocol and reference guide to keep these balances in check.

The Right to have personal property respected.
When one's work and property is not respected, the environment of the studio suff...