Archinect - Dalhousie University (2008-2010)

Photos of Prince Edward Island (PEI)

2009-04-24T08:44:40-04:00

We finished classes about a week ago, and we have three weeks before the summer semester starts, so I decided to go on an adventure to Prince Edward Island. Its the smallest province in Canada, there is more information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island

Definition of "Corbrupted"

2009-02-18T07:43:37-05:00

The society for a critical Corbusier education presents its inaugural poster.

Please email to obtain large scale PDF for your own printing and distribution.

Photos of Halifax shipping port at night

2008-10-27T07:57:39-04:00

The port is about a five minute walk from the school of architecture.

Le Corbusier

2008-10-22T08:34:05-04:00

"Le Corbusier was the sort of relentlessly rational intellectual that only France loves wholeheartedly, the logician who flies higher and higher in ever-decreasing concentric circles until, with one last, utterly inevitable induction, he disappears up his own fundamental aperture and emerges in the fourth dimension as a needle-thin umber bird."

- Tom Wolfe From Bauhaus to Our House.

The book is a small hyper-critical and sardonic 100 page easy-read regarding the history and role of architectural movements from 1920s-1970s (Bauhaus, International Style, Postmodernism, etc).

Worth reading, takes two days.

Project 1 - design a 20 square metre space

2008-10-11T22:32:16-04:00

The assignment:
Develop a space where one could go to write, meditate, and sleep, from spring until fall. Maximum 20 square metres (approx 225 square feet) of interior space. The site was an empty 100x100 lot in a flat field with no surrounding buildings, and no real location was given.

My concept:
Utilize numerous mezzanines to break the space, and locate program based on sunlight - ie. Upper loft sleeping space is located for east (morning) light, and the tiny kitchenette is located for west (afternoon) light to enable the preparation of dinner in the rich golden sun. South glazing was minimized to prevent overheating in summer.

I attempted to exploit aspects of sunlight and ascent through space.

The attached scan is a rough layout, I just slapped the images on so
you could see it all at once. See it big here:
www.archinect.com/images/uploads/Scan_of_drawing2.jpg

Photos of Dartmouth

2008-10-11T14:41:55-04:00

Across the harbour from Halifax.

studio space at Dalhousie

2008-09-19T15:39:56-04:00

There are 2.5 floors of studio space at the school arranged in a symmetrical "T" shaped plan. The central studio area of the "T" includes two floors, each with a mezzanine, that overlooks the main critique/presentation space below on the main floor. There are several openings [to below] between the old building & the newer renovated space as well - its an intricate well detailed arrangement. Glazing on the east, south, and west sides makes for incredible light in the space throughout the day (when its sunny!) The 3rd floor has a view to the harbour - that's where the 4th year students get desks.

The sides/flanks of the studio include a [partial] upper floor area for extra desks. This affords the best of both worlds - wide open space in the centre studio - high ceilings, amazing light - and cozy upper/lower spaces within the side studios - warm wood everywhere, and operational windows for each desk.

First year students (65 Total) are divided into 5 groups and we will be moved ev...

Is there a word for...

2008-09-17T15:53:08-04:00

Is there a word for a plan (site plan, building plan, neighbourhood plan, etc.) that looks good as a plan (on paper, on the wall, nice to look at), but when implemented in real life - three dimensions - it does not work?

I am talking especially about projects that are based on the plan (for conceptual rationalization, or otherwise), but once complete the plan cannot be viewed and therefore the project is compromised/fails as a result.

If there is no word for this phenomenon, I think we need one.

Any suggestions?

images of Halifax [2]

2008-09-15T12:55:03-04:00

images of Halifax

2008-09-13T10:46:12-04:00

industrial inspiration

2008-09-10T09:47:27-04:00

One of the main reasons I chose Halifax to study was for the proximity of the school to the shipping ports/enormous ships/train yards/refineries/large scale industry located along the edges of the harbour.

Only a few minutes walk from the school of architecture, and a large inspiration to me.

beaurocracy and learning (alternate title: bullshit and rage)

2008-09-09T18:34:26-04:00

P R O G R A M | S T R U C T U R E
At the Dalhousie School of Architecture there are two divisions:

- Step one: The BEDS (Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies) undergrad - 2 years continuous study, all courses are requisites to complete each following semester.

- Step two: The M.Arch (Master of Architecture) - 2 years. With a couple of electives.

Total time 4 years: (More info here)

M Y | B A C K G R O U N D
- I completed an undergrad - Bachelor of Design specializing in Environmental Design - at OCAD University (the Ontario College of Art and Design).
- I worked in an architecture office for one and a half years as an architectural assitant.
- I am a LEED accredited professional.
- I plateaued, and realized if I wanted to build my own buildings, I need a master's in architecture.

E V I L | B E A U R O C R A C Y
I applied to the Master program at Dalhousie because of my previous experience in an adaptive re-use, architecture/design based program. I was not admi...

First week in Halifax & Orientation Week

2008-09-07T15:34:10-04:00

Impressions from the first two weeks:

T H E C I T Y
- Halifax is incredibly vibrant.
- People are kind and polite (they go outside to use cell phones! - this brings me renewed joy each day)
- The hills provide excellent exercise and landscape inspiration, which I have yet to see be utilized as the architectural asset I believe it to be
- The industrial aesthetic is better than I could have imagined - Train Yards, Shipping Port, Oil refineries, Enormous Ships. Primary colours, and a scale that makes one feel erased
- It rains about half the time, the sky is a constantly changing shade of grey
- NSCAD (http://www.nscad.ns.ca/) Art & Design university makes this city incredibly rich with fantastic people
- The food is excellent and reasonably priced, fish is the best I've ever had

D A L H O U S I E (the school)
- The architecture building is brilliant
- The studio space is inspiring with mezzanines, nooks, and exposed brick
- The school of architecture is on a separate ca...

Departure

2008-08-25T07:22:20-04:00

I leave Toronto this morning for Halifax. My plane arrives at 2pm.

I didn't sleep much lastnight, dreams of missing planes and beautiful slow motion runs though airports, my fingertips and limbs numb and tingling with anticipation while I lied in bed. I hadn't felt that since I was a kid trying to sleep Christmas eve.

This feels good, it feels right.