2024-04-19T23:15:03-04:00 https://archinect.com/blog/article/21450760/valuable-experience PROJECT x 2006-01-24T18:58:41-05:00 >2018-01-30T06:16:04-05:00 <p>About twenty of us, all students of architecture, traveled to Louisiana over this winter break hoping to contribute to the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast region. We were there for just over two weeks of demolition work and some construction while working under the guidance of the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate.<br><br><img src="http://files.archinect.com/uploads/ai/aiu_90c9re2.jpg" alt="image" name="image"><img src="http://files.archinect.com/uploads/ai/aiu_c674re2.jpg" alt="image" name="image"><img src="http://files.archinect.com/uploads/ai/aiu_7999re2.jpg" alt="image" name="image"><img src="http://files.archinect.com/uploads/ai/aiu_7023re2.jpg" alt="image" name="image"><img src="http://files.archinect.com/uploads/ai/aiu_8bdare2.jpg" alt="image" name="image"><img src="http://files.archinect.com/uploads/ai/aiu_8d67re2.jpg" alt="image" name="image"></p> https://archinect.com/blog/article/21450634/apathy-in-architecture-school PROJECT x 2005-12-12T20:13:05-05:00 >2018-01-30T06:16:04-05:00 <p>Is it important that architects care about society and politics? <br><br> I was so sure that it was important. Yet, throughout my undergraduate education in Architecture and now at the end of my first semester of grad school I find myself among students that prefer the polite small talk. The polite small talk about the newest Ipod or a well crafted model seems to be so terribly petty. Are we somehow more highly evolved than the English majors protesting outside of the campus Starbucks? Are those that are involved with Students Against Sweatshops wasting their time? I'm going to see the film "Syriana" tonight---should I cancel those plans only to spend the evening in the computer lab refining my portfolio? Would that make me a better architect? There is a trend or a force among the student body that is resisting politics in schoolwork. Is this maturity and objectivity or is this something else? Is this the apathetic American spirit on my heals.<br><br> Harold Pinter's Nobel Lecture, <i>Art, Truth &amp; ...</i></p> https://archinect.com/blog/article/21450595/the-best-week-i-ve-ever-had-ever PROJECT x 2005-11-19T17:04:30-05:00 >2011-09-23T13:01:04-04:00 <p>With three weeks remaining before final reviews (DEC.8), schedules are getting tight, stress levels are increasing and spirits are a little low. Valuable final presentations and papers are due soon for some of the most boring classes that I will ever take as a student. Funds are low and plans need to be made for winter and summer traveling. <br><br> It snowed yesterday, reminding me of previous winters, old friends, my old apartment and my undergraduate years. <br><br> There were two school wide lectures this week. The first was a presentation of research compiled by professor of Urban Planning Dan Hess during a visit he made shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans region. Sauerbruch Hutton Architects presented on Thursday. Beautiful buildings--sustainability--blah blah blah. The designs were received well by architects and faculty, so well that a very excited architect made the outrageous statement that Hutton's work "was the best stuff I have ever seen, ever, in 60 years of being an...</p> https://archinect.com/blog/article/21450585/158-words-on-hiding PROJECT x 2005-11-15T01:57:58-05:00 >2018-01-30T06:16:04-05:00 <p>"I need to make it clear that full and complete hiding is not what I'm interested in. It seems to become too simply about a puzzle and often results in camouflage as a solution. What is interesting to me, because it connects more with what I'm interested in at this point in my education, is the tricky grey area of hiding that is evident in architecture as much as it is a part of any conversation. This approach to hiding is challenging me to design subtleties into my architecture reflecting the complexity of dialogue as an experience. Understanding the experience of my design from various points of view will develop a conversation between the neighborhood and this house, its occupant, the tourist, the resident artist, the landlord, or the neighbor. This can provide inspiration for solutions that will further manifest my concept in material matters that deal with issues like access to light and air, structure, plumbing, etc."<br><br> -David Ruperti</p>