Because of the often complex and multi-layered nature of architecture and the built form, architects must employ tactics to convey understanding about their work. A lack of understanding may lead to feelings uncertainty and misconceptions about architectural designs. The disjunction between meaning and perception in architecture can be explored through the use of caricature and the grotesque in architectural representation.
s.maclean
The development of information and communication technologies has created a sense of spatial and ontological dislocation with the dematerialization of the physical world, resulting in changes to our perception and conception of spaces. This thesis examines the implications in the changing nature of spatial experience, and reimagines the construction of places in this augmented and mediated reality.
Thomas
“If you put a monkey in front of a type writer…”
Rachel’s thesis statement! Evolved throughout the day, pretty close I think to what I’m doing, but for sure there’s some things that have to be clarified still.
Legitimate communities are those developed organically, from their unique site conditions, the needs of the community, and with their own architectural character and identity. Dharavi, an informal settlement in Mumbai, India, is threatened by erasure despite its long history as a settlement in the city, because it fails to be recognized as a legitimate and equal part of the city. By recognizing its own unique qualities and digging deeper roots into its own natural ecology and topography, Dharavi can further embed itself into the social and cultural systems the city, thus negating any claim that Dharavi is anything but part of Mumbai.
Well, here it is. I was having a lot of trouble phrasing this, until I read John’s description of my work. And I said oh so that’s what I am doing! I obviously knew what I was working on, but his text helped me to describe the goals of the work a little better. (still mostly in John’s words, but rearranged into a thesis statement)
There is an untapped potential for the built environment to engage us, and establish deeper connections to the full range of sensations with which we traverse places in our daily activity. By reimagining architectural methods of spatial and material constructions of places, the built environment can heighten the rich potential of human sensory experience.
It is a little wordy… suggestions?
I could use some suggestions on making my statement more precise. The following is a short paragraph of what I am trying to get at:
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Vehicular bridges are a significant type of urban space inaccessible by pedestrians. The conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles on these bridges arise from a bias towards vehicles at the expense of a pedestrian-focused public realm. It is relevant today to develop a clear strategy for the future re-appropriation of existing infrastructure, which would shift the focus from automobile dominance to a pedestrian priority.
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My three main focus topics are:
The relationship between automotive vs pedestrian
Urban Theory Transitions
Re-appropriation/Reuse
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My case study topics are:
Bridge Precedence
1. Inhabitable Bridge
Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy, 1345
Designer: Taddeo Gaddi
Structure: Segmental arch bridge
2. Rail + Vehicle + Cycle + Pedestrian Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia, March 1932
Designer: Dorman Long and Co. Ltd and Cleveland Bridge
Structure: Steel arch bridge
3. Vehicle Bridge
The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, Boston, MA, March 2003
Designer: Christian Menn, Ruchu Hsu, Parsons Brinckerhoff with Miguel Rosales
Structure: Hybrid steel and concrete cable-stayed bridge
4. Vehicle + Cycle + Pedestrian Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, May 1883
Designer: John Augustus Roebling
Structure: Suspension and cable-stayed bridge
5. Cycle Bridge
Champlain Ice Control Bridge, Montreal, Quebec, 1965
Designer: Federal Department of Transportation, Montreal
Structure: Concrete span bridge
6. Cycle + Pedestrian Bridge
Kurilpa Bridge, South Brisbane, Australia, October 2009
Designer: Cox Rayner Architects and ARUP Engineers
Structure: Tensegrity bridge structure
7. Pedestrian Bridge
High Line Bridge, New York City, New York, June 2009
Designer: James Corner Field Operations with Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Structure: Freight train railway system
8. Hybrid Bridge Proposal
Bay Line Bridge, San Francisco, California, not yet realized
Designer: Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello
Structure: Double-decked suspension, truss and cantilever bridge
M.Arch
Thesis Sketch Exercise
The purpose of this exercise is to get everyone thinking about their design project in a serious way. Up until this point everyone has been researching and writing and working to formulate a concise thesis statement. We have all started to think about the design project, in terms of a site, program, explorations, case studies, etc. However, it is not until we actually put a pencil to paper that these things can start to develop in a meaningful way. So let’s get started. In this exercise, it is expected that we will all be working in studio, supporting each other, bouncing ideas around and most importantly, setting a pace for the entire group to follow. It should be fun, it should be challenging and its only purpose is to help each of us advance our work.
The exercise begins at 9 am! Please be in studio and have all of your tools with you and set up. Work in any medium you feel comfortable with, be it digital, manual drafting, sketch paper, model making, etc. Select a site. This could be your final site or through this exploration, you may be led to your final site. Map/analyze the site. Undertake a mapping exercise/analysis exercise that is meaningful to your thesis. More specifically, the way in which you undertake this work should serve to delineate your position. Present. Present this work in a form that you feel is appropriate. Perhaps it is a mapping exercise, like we undertook in Istanbul; maybe it is presented in the design of a folly or pavilion, a public space, etc. Format this work into an 11 x 17 board (or two) or a format of your choice; but keep in mind that you may want to include it in your thesis book. In addition, have a strategy in mind for how this work can continue in your design project. In other words, don’t think of this exercise as an isolated event.
Projects are due at 5pm. At this point, we will pin up the work and go through the projects. We can offer suggestion, critiques and of how to move forward. Through this constructive criticism, hopefully we can move forward as a group, with clear thesis statements and be confident in the work we will be presenting in less than a month’s time!
In advance of this exercise, each of us should have a thesis statement prepared (3 sentences or less), have a site in mind. And post this information to our Tumblr blog in advance. Login info: tumblr.com then go to the login page, the login and password is: ryerson.m.architecture@gmail.com and password Ryerson10.
Sean deserves the credit for this idea, since he was the one who originally proposed it. We are just carrying it out. Don’t take the prescriptiveness of the text the wrong way, it is only meant to add some formality and structure to the exercise. See you all in studio!
Welcome to our new blog! During our thesis year this blog will serve as an important way to communicate ideas, thoughts and work-in-progress. Through these posts we can learn about each project and offer suggestions or critique. And most importantly, if you see something that you think relates to someone else’s project, post that too! Or post a picture of a show that you saw or a significant building that you visited over the course of the year.
Photo: Convenience Gallery - office project by kathy velikov
Post by: mb
