Archinect - Pratt Institute (Kevin)

Architecture Degree = Artist Career

2013-04-11T14:31:00-04:00

Greetings Archinect world!

Admittedly I have been neglectful of my Archinect blog and I do apologize but I have every intention of briefly reviewing each and every studio I have taken at Pratt at the conclusion of my thesis semester and graduation, which is this month. At the present time, however, I would like to take a moment to describe to you all my current endeavors alongside my thesis. Visual Sound Paintings.

Visual Sound Paintings grew from an academic exploration of the human sensory projections in urban social contexts. Its primary driver grew to embody the presence of sound in social and environmental engagement. The first step was to understand the physical effect sound has in a space and by recording its presence in a liquid-static medium (paint) I discovered a representative technique that was simultaneously accurate, and beautiful.

The Sonic Reaction Suit had a series of microphone inputs that detected the level of sound in a space and returned a hue appro...

Going back to Spring 2010 (A wrap up I never did)

2010-09-04T17:34:03-04:00

After a long and ever-relaxing break in subtle southern New Jersey from the hustle and bustle of New York City, I bring to you the long (nearly 6 month) awaited conclusion to the first year second semester experience at Pratt Institute. If I had written this post earlier in the summer I may have included infinitely more archibabble than this one will house, however I will try to keep the vocabulary level up to par. I will begin with Representation, followed by Design.
In Representation, throughout the semester we were tasked with developing a diagrammatic grammar for analyzing Palladian Villas. Later, we used this grammar as a technique for developing a new villa.
The first stages of the project was relentless diagramming, layering and diagramming some more. Most of the students in the class never wanted to hear the name Palladio again by the end of it. However, each week new discoveries were made as to the nature of the way Palladio developed his villas. In my analysis I found...

"Why is there a first-aid kit in all of your studios?"

2010-01-28T18:34:03-05:00

This semester started off with a bloody bang. I was told my first assignment, and excitedly I hurried off to get some Bristol to create study models. I marked out the 1" bands of Bristol strips carefully, drew my ever so light line across the sheet, placed my straight edge right next to but not too close to the line I was about to cut, and unsheathed my Olfa knife ready for action. I pulled it downward across the page. Slowly at first, carefully, the faster with purpose and confidence. The blade then sunk right into my left index finger and immediately I snapped my hand back away from the paper. We all know keeping the paper clean is the most important thing. My finger poured blood for a good 10 minutes while I attempted to bandage it up. 30 minutes later my bandage was filled again and I had to redress it. What a way to kick off the spring semester.
Our first project is the oddball of the first year second semester courses. Most studios are working in "found wood" to create spat...

Howard Roark laughed.

2009-10-03T01:15:57-04:00

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

Time Enough for Love: The Lives of Lazarus Long -Robert A. Heinlein

Most architecture students are inevitably dipped head first into a workload unequaled by any they have had before their studies in the field. How does someone acclimate to the long hours of studio work under the pressures of highly demanding professors, as well as maintain the unbreakable bond most have with their social life, extracurricular activities and family obligations? The juggling of these tasks with an architectural education commitment is possible, but in the beginning stages the best idea is to accept defeat...

Introduction to the Author

2009-09-02T00:08:41-04:00

Hello Readers and fellow Bloggers!

A good measure of the education we all receive as architecture students is often the product of our critiques and the grades we receive for them. My hopes as a student and blogger for Pratt Institute is to develop a necessary synthesis between my literary reactions and reviews and the work I do in studio. Luckily, Pratt shares the same sympathies. Their approach to education is all-inclusive on multiple intellectual levels. Students receive (as I have after this very first day of class) a breakdown on the integration of literary components in their formal metaphors and thought processes to be used throughout first year and hopefully their entire tenure at Pratt Institute. After only one day of foundation level design, I can honestly say that the outlook of the Pratt Architecture Program looks great, and that I am sincerely excited to dive into the ductwork of literary analysis as a means of developing that poetic construction that bleeds intelle...