Abigail Balongie @abalongi-arch117 - Tumblr Blog

Design Final : Simplistic Grandeur

I chose this scene to create mostly because I like the open wall with the grand background. I like even more how very not grand it looks when put into just basic shapes as I have done. I chose to leave the people out and focus only on the main objects in the room, and despite the magnificence of the room, there is surprisingly little in it. I have tried in my model to show the room’s symmetry, with the columns centered around the table, as well as its simplicity, apparent in the minimal number of structures within it. The cardboard wings to the side are meant to hold up the side walls. The structures outlined in the back are to represent the pyramid and other structures outside the room, with the circle being the sun.

Reference picture and drawing:

#designfinal

Film Project Blade Runner (1982) She’s a Replicant

“She’s a replicant, isn’t she?”

The room is golden, grand, immaculate. One wall is completely open. A long table sits centered. A pyramid-like structure sits outside. Lots of geometric shapes. One protrudes into frame of the sun, blocking it slightly. Everything has hues of black or of gold or of both. Tyrell enters. Room is large. Tyrell makes way toward Rick and Rachael. Sun shines bright right through center of frame. Sun seems to be only light source. Slow conversation. Camera shoots back and forth between Tyrell, Rick, Rachael. Only one side of a character’s face can be seen at a time. Shadows envelop half of every frame. Camera back on room. Sun center of frame. Screen lowers over open wall, darkening the room. Side frame of table. Busts stand on pillars surrounding table. Rick opens replicant detector. Shadow cuts Rick’s face in half. Device opens slowly. “Do you mind if I smoke?” Close frames. Device is dark gray, steel, harsh shapes, round center, looks outdated. Faces are serious. Limited movement. Frame cuts back and forth between characters. Device focuses on Rachael’s eye. Small, dark pupil, green iris. Lights on top of device fluctuate. Green and red. Beeping noises tell us it’s working. Pupillary movement. Face, to pupillary monitor, to face. Shadows cut through each frame, starkly. Rick asks questions. Rachael smokes, in and out, before answering. She is calm, collected, inhale, exhale, holding eye contact with each answer. She asserts her power over the conversation in this way. Rick is skeptical. Rachael exhales, a large cloud of smoke completely covers her face, the light shining through it, and fades away whimsically. Camera cuts to side view of room again. Less shadows, more golden hues. One brighter plane of light cuts through the frame. Tyrell continues to stand in corner although there are four chairs and only two people at the table. Hands together in front of him. A large whimsical plant stands to the right. Last question. Rachel neglects to answer. Device no longer registers her pupil. Static, then black screen. Rachael exits. Camera cuts to full room again. The sun reflects off the floor, characters appear only as black figures, they are the shadows now, with sun behind them. Camera cuts to Tyrell, only half his face visible again, mostly shadows to his left and a light flickering behind him to the right. Rick’s voice: “She’s a replicant, isn’t she?”

#filmproject

Reviewing Reviews

Overview: Designs created for the construction of a new art museum located off Jackson Avenue.

This first design was my favorite both because this student did the best job of conveying his design in its entirety, and seemed to have the most creative, open space. He said he wanted the space to be interactive and have flexibility in the types of events that it could hold. The first floor was designed to be completely open to allow for more freedom in the use of the space. The second floor was designed to be smaller and more enclosed and be used more for displaying art rather than holding an event. And, the third floor was designed to be sort of an “L” shape. This was particularly interesting to me because it seems most people would choose to have one rectangular floor on top of the other without giving much thought to it but having the size and shapes of each floor so different helps to differentiate each of the spaces and give them their own feel. The student also designed the space with a glass roof fractured into organic triangles rather than having just a dome shape, which I think makes the space much more aesthetically appealing and intriguing, and less like being trapped in a bubble. I could not hear the reviewers very well, as they were facing away from me towards the student and his project, but one did say that he liked that the space had a conscious “idea of where you’re going and where you are,” and I think perhaps that has something to do with the student’s decision to give each of the three floors their own individual structure and feel rather than having the floors all the same. Overall, I liked this student’s project, and I think he did the best job of representing it visually, but I would have liked to hear more discussion from him about how and why he chose certain aspects of the design.

This second project was much more straight forward. The general idea seemed to be two buildings connected by a plane that I am not sure if it could or was meant to serve as a walkway. The student said that for her design she was focusing on the idea of regulating lines and cubism. Whereas the other student designs had vastly a-typically shaped buildings, this one seemed to me a bit simplistic. The only reviewer I could hear also voiced concerns about the simplicity of the design and stated that in some of the models, it was difficult to differentiate between what was supposed to be space versus object (part of the building). While I agree with this reviewer on the simplicity aspect, the vagueness of the models would not have occurred to me. While this student did have many different models, some of which I did not know how to interpret, I do see now after listening to the reviewer where some of the models, especially the drawn ones were ambiguous in their design. Though this was the third of four reviews I observed and the only one which I did not particularly care for, I thought it important to write about one that I did not like in comparison to one that I did. I think as any other building, perhaps a downtown office, this design may have functioned just fine, but as a theoretical art museum, in which the student has freedom to create virtually anything, and which should, by nature, be designed as a more creative space, it seems to me that this student did not allow herself to be as creative as she should have. I don’t think it’s that the design itself is bad, only that it is inadequate for the context for which it was designed.

Closing thoughts: Observing the architecture reviews was interesting because their version of a final is so different from what other students are accustomed to. It may seem to some students that this is easier because it isn’t a formal exam to study for, but in fact I think that having final reviews could be much more stressful both because of the amount of time and work these students put into their designs and because they are essentially graded quite publicly. Although I have had to do final presentations for classes before, it seems that the architecture reviews are much more pertinent to the student’s grade and take much more time to prepare for. Although I was not initially happy about having to do this assignment, I think it has given me a new found respect for art and architecture students and the stress they must go though to create such in depth presentations with so many different models.

#finalreviews

Utilitarian Architecture

Block, India. “Collapsible skyscraper for disaster zones wins conceptual design contest.” Dezeen. 18 April 2018.

This structure is much different from the articles I typically see, or at least the ones I choose to read, on Dezeen. Rather than being built to look a certain way in a certain space or function in a particular space, it was theorized to function a certain way in many different spaces with little regard to how it appears. It is meant to serve as a compactible space that can be transported easily as shelter to disaster zones. The structure is meant to transform from a near-flat condensed pad into a skyscraper capable of housing first responders and victims of disaster. To me, the mock up structure looks like something out of a Dr. Suess book, but with a very real purpose. While I think that designs for complicated purposes are some of the most intriguing, I feel that they themselves can pose problems. For instance, I would be very interested to see how an actual prototype of this design functions and how many people it is capable of holding without risk of collapse. This is a conceptual design that I hope will come to fruition.

#blog12

Blog 11: Art Designed to Make Art

McKnight, Jenna. “Fiedler Marciano creates artistic studios in forest clearing in Connecticut.” Dezeen. 9 April 2018.

I love these studio houses because they are very simplistic, but what details they do have are very unique. The slanted roof automatically gives the feeling of being in a more creative, artistic space than would a flat roof. The cream-colored walls, the tall ceilings, and large face window create a feeling of openness to interpretation that fosters creativity. The space is very minimalist, but deliberate in the details it does provide, and because of this is probably one of my favorite spaces I have come across on Dezeen. Being surrounded by greenery but not of a very dense sort also gives the space a feeling of serenity without feeling enclosed. Overall, the muted color and soft, open design of the buildings surrounded by nature seem like a peaceful, more-than-suitable place for artistic work.

#blog11

The Future We Saw in Movies

Ravenscroft, Tom. “First Visuals Revealed of Populous’ Spherical London Arena.” Dezeen. 4 April 2018.

The mock-ups for the new London event venue look like something out of sci-fi film. The color, the spectacle, the grandeur all look like the futuristic world predictions we’ve seen on screens and in books for years, but this one is set to make it off the screen, in fact, it itself is the screen! The megadome will supposedly be covered in digital screens that change its appearance and act as massive advertisements as well. This to me seems that it could be the beginning of our built world transitioning to this more imagined futuristic society, of which I’m not particularly in favor. While lots of modern architecture is ingenuitive with its different shaping and use of different materials, I personally feel it lacks the attention to detail of more traditional work, and the addition of screens to the outside of building, or rather, the addition of a building to the inside of a dome of screens, would only further perpetuate this trend. We already stare at screens all day in our living rooms, on our desk tops and in our own hands, perhaps we ought to leave them off buildings.

#blog10

The New Calvin Klein

Levy, Natasha. “Calvin Klein opens Paris HQ with interiors created by Sterling Ruby.” Dezeen. 19 Mar 2018.

Generally when one thinks of Calvin Klein, sleek and sophistacted are what come to mind, which is why I was surprised to see this very out-there design in their new HQ in Paris. The space is certainly not lacking in color and at first glance looks very thrown together and disorganised, but upon further analysis, patterns can be picked out, such as the way the ceiling hangings visibly lower from right to left in the right picture. Although it looks strewn together, much thought and intention likely went into the spacing and color distribution of the ceiling hangings. I only take issue with the large cone-shaped pillow-like structures, as I feel they are a bit over-bearing for the space, and would have better been replaced with more ceiling-to-floor yarn structures. The one on its side is especially problematic as it creates a large barrier to be avoided or stepped over. In this regard, I feel that practicality should probably have been favored over aesthetic. The overall look, though quite messy, is also quite masterful, if you pay enough attention.

#blog9

James Rose & Energy Efficient Architecture

“Living Light House.” University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design. 2011.

The main idea of the projects presented by James Rose seemed to be that eco-friendly housing is not very difficult to achieve. While the students who worked on these projects undoubtedly put in countless time and effort, what students can accomplish, companies should be able to accomplish three-fold. Rose demonstrated that these structures are not only functional but also very beautiful and livable. The strangest part was that the seemingly-high-tech technology used in the Living Light House was actually pretty outdated, meaning that these types of homes should be easier to build and more efficient with today’s technology. The Living Light House is actually something I personally could envision living in, which is why I found it surprising when Mr. Rose said that homes designed with this kind of self-sufficient technology are few and far between. The reason for this phenomenon is even more dissatisfying than the fact that this technology is being neglected. Rose stated that often times the case is just that contractors and businesses only want to work with those materials and methods to which they are accustomed. This to me seems sad because if this were always and only the case, there would be no such thing as modern architecture, modern art, modern anything. Rose showed us a home that not only produced more energy than it used, but one that was elegant, somewhat affordable, and even portable. With the growing emphasis on sustainability, it seems that self-sufficient homes such as this one should be more prominent. In a world of cookie cutter suburban houses, I’d probably rather live in Living Light.

#lectureblog1

Industrial vs. Inviting

Cogley, Bridget. “Pavlina Williams transforms mid-century dome house with angular windows.” Dezeen. 1 Mar 2018. Web. 1 Mar 2018.

The cover picture (first above) for this home caught my eye as I love the large windows that allow for a lot of natural light. I love the way in which large windows contribute to the openness and warmth of virtually any space in which they are placed, which is why I was surprised to find that the rest of the house did not follow suit. I think that in the first space, the industrial floors and simplicity of the space combined with the high ceilings and large windows make for a space that feels open and inviting but does quite the contrary in the kitchen space. The industrial floors and open space in the kitchen paired with the smaller windows, lower ceilings, and industrial appliances seem to make the space less inviting than it could be. Added to the exposed brick wall, the wooden beam, the space is certainly successful in achieving the popular industrial look of apartments today, but almost to an extent that it does not feel like it fits in a home.

#blog8

Simplistic or Petulant?

Levy, Natasha. “Deep Blue Cabinetry and Coral-Pink Arches Redefine Barcelona Apartment.” Dezeen. 22 Feb 2018. Web 22 Feb 2018.

Of all the articles Dezeen Daily had to offer me today, this article along with the cover picture shown above caught my eye most. The first obvious draw was the bright color, but what kept my attention were the peculiar shapes and matte finishes. I am usually a fan of more minimalist designs, but something about this interior feels very strange. I like the use of bold but muted colors but am not sure how well they really work together. The curvature of the counter spaces and large orange pantry I feel were an attempt to tie together the very differently colored aspects of the room, but to me feel less than effective. Perhaps the colors may have worked better together if they were less significant pieces in the room. In the very least, the bright orange on the pantry might have been used on a smaller scale. The color is bold, the shape and idea of the free-standing pantry is bold, but together I think it is far too overbearing, especially for such a small space. Though I know thought was put into this space, the feel of it to me something like what a child might come up with: bright colors, matte like a crayon finish, and fun, unusual shapes. I very much like the idea of the room, and in fact enjoy most of the other rooms in this redone apartment but feel that the execution of this particular space falls short in comparison.

#blog7

Time Lapse: Snohetta Reindeer Pavilion

1/19/18

Deep greens, fading into snowy mountains,

Clean-cut edges, faded wood, softness,

Valley, fire, warmth, coziness,

Reflection, organic movement.

1/22/18

Clouds, movement, sharp color,

People, bison, distressed wood,

Polished wood, rocky terrain, reflection,

Warmth, shadows, curvature.

1/29/18

Movement, flow, peacefulness,

Clouds, contrast, wood against sky,

Fire, warmth, greenery,

Calm, serenity, clarity.

2/2/18

Distressed wood, calm colors, fluid movement,

Warmth, comfort, curved edges,

Grayscale, shadows, snow, mountain peaks.

2/5/18

Movement, weathering,

tranquility, fluidity, nature,

warmth, crackling, cloud cover,

smoothness, shadows, horizon.

2/7/18 (two distinct scenes)

Sign, movement, cloud cover,

Sunlight, greenery,

Vibrant blue, peacefulness,

Hearth, warmth, calm,

Mountains, snow tops,

Vast greenness, faint blue.

2/16/18

Flowing, rolling clouds,

Curvature, warm tans, dimpled wood,

Weathering, striations, reflections,

Fluidity, coolness,

Stark contrast between warm wood and cool exterior.

#blog6

Impacts

Museum at the Stream

Lamster, Mark. “Museums aan de Stroom by Neutelings Riedijk Architects, Antwerp, Belgium.” The Architectural Review. 29 June 2011. Web. 7 February 2018.

“Contemporary architecture should be just as radical as contemporary music.”

This quote stood out to me personally because I think it perfectly embodies the evolution of arts of all forms. Where music was once used primarily for hymns as a form of worship and confined to only a very few genres, it is now a vast artistic category with perhaps too many genres to count. Artists are constantly coming up with new sounds and pushing the boundaries of what they put in their songs, from political messages to risqué lyrics, the limitations are fewer and fewer as the art form continues to evolve. The same can be said of architecture. Where buildings were once designed solely for practicality, we now have beautifully puzzling buildings like the museum pictured above. It no doubt would have been simpler to construct a large rectangle of brick with a few windows here and there, but instead the architect built a work of art, not simply a building one walks in and out of carelessly, but one that forces those who approach and enter it to ponder its form and actively think about the way it feels to behold it, both from the inside and out. Contemporary architecture, like contemporary music, forces us to consciously acknowledge it, rather than just passively indulge in it.

Top of the Adventure Science Center

“Adventure Science Center.” Visit Franklin. Web. 7 February 2018.

I can remember being nine years old, on a road trip with my mother, sister, and grandmother. The world was big, and I was small, but the vastness of things had not yet set in for me. We visited a children’s museum somewhere around Nashville, with lots of very fascinating exhibits for a nine-year old including an army air-craft simulator. But, perhaps the most fascinating part was this massive jungle gym right in the center of the museum that stretched all the way up to the ceiling. As you climbed up, the width of the play gym got smaller and smaller, and not in a subtle way, but in a way that made you very aware that you were being closed in on. Higher and higher and smaller and smaller, until finally you reached one single platform at the top with only one more level above it. As you climbed up to the highest level, you became surrounded in a glass pyramid that looked out to the city. I am sure that I had been in a position to see a city skyline before then, but I had never been forced to acknowledge it the way that I was in that glass pyramid. In every direction there was something new and grand to see, and in the middle of all this grandness was little me. Having always had a personality bigger than myself, it is the first time I can remember being forced to recognize my own smallness.

#blog5

Cities & Eyes 5

Highline Project

Bergland, Christian. “Urban and Regional Planning: What are some creative applications of adaptive reuse for abandoned spaces?” Quora. 31 August 2015. Web. 4 February 2018.

The author describes the beauty of Moriana first, with her liveliness, bold colors and exotic intricacies, but transitions quickly into what he calls the city’s “observe”. From “alabaster gates in the sunlight” to “ropes good only for hanging oneself,” his transition in description is as stark as are the two sides to the city. I personally like this image, because while Calvino’s description brings to mind more of a middle age Mediterranean-type city, this picture is like a modern version of what the author seems to be describing. While perhaps not as significant in contrast as what the author makes the divided Moriana seem to be, I like that this image has one half very colorful and filled with greenery and life, and the other dull, overly industrialized, and with a very cold-lifeless look to it.

#blog4

Cities and Memory 4

Blog Post 3: From Calvino’s Invisible Cities

The City of Ostuni

“Ostuni- The White City on a Hill”. Italiabypatton.wordpress.com. 21 July 2013. Web. 1 February 2018.

He writes of Zora in a fantastical way. The individual parts of which she is made, her buildings and pavements not unordinary, but her body altogether something unforgettable. Each little intricacy can be recalled, each little step through the city retraced. He describes her memory as something to which the mind is compelled to go, a place the mind visits freely, as in a dream. And that’s just the point, she remains only a dream, forgotten by the earth, but not by those who experienced her. And so, this picture, I think, demonstrates her quite well. Lifted above the ground, she is visible in her entirety, every corner and crevice carefully thought out. The color of the city all neutral against the vivid greenery and blue sky makes for an almost sketch-like appearance if one looks long enough. She can be erased just as quickly as she was thought-up. And she was.

#blog3

Simplicity in Interior Design

Inside of prefabricated house in northwestern Spain.

Block, India. “Prefabricated House in Rural Spain Took Just Five House to Assemble”. Dezeen. 8 January 2018. Web. 25 January 2018.

Clean lines and open space are visible.

Colors are stark and edges sharp.

Yet somehow a warmth remains.

The contrast and precision are not harsh but satisfying.

The openness speaks not to emptiness but to potential.

It could easily be my home.

The Queen’s Drawing Room.

Ciauturin. “Castello di Moncalieri”. Instagram. 19 June 2017. Web 25 January 2018.

The antithesis of the quaint home in the northwest of Spain.

Detail is lacking nowhere.

Grandiosity is everywhere, but I miss the simplicity.

The symmetry is satisfying but warm it is not.

Beautiful as it is, it is not a home.

#blogpost2

UTK Landmarks: Dynamic Energy versus Static Elegance

Blog Post Entry 1

(above) Neyland Stadium, Knoxville TN, 2017.

Lindsey, Bert. “Neyland Stadium: A Vol Trad History Lesson”. Volunteer Traditions. September 07, 2017. Web. January 18, 2018.

(above) Ayres Hall, Knoxville TN, 2015.

“Ayres Hall Renovation”. Architect’s Weeks Ambrose McDonald Inc. 2015. Web. January 18, 2018.

Although they are very different structures, both Ayres Hall and Neyland Stadium are common symbols used to represent UT as a whole, and are often what comes to mind at the mention of the school, in part due to their magnificence and in part, their endurance on an ever-evolving campus. With its beautiful bell tower and perfect symmetry, Ayres has remained, at least from the outside, pretty much the same as it was in 1921 when first erected. Surrounded by smaller-faced buildings on all sides and being positioned dead center of the hill help to give Ayres Hall its sense of grandeur and elicit from its onlookers a sense of pride to be able to claim it as their place of learning. The sense of pride felt from being in Ayres Hall has much to do with the beauty of the building, however, Neyland Stadium elicits a similar sense of pride in a very different way. Having changed much since its creation also in 1921, Neyland’s most notable feature is its size. The pride felt standing in Neyland stadium, unlike the pride felt standing in Ayres, is not from awe at its beauty, but rather from elation from being a part of something so much bigger than oneself, being surrounded by thousands and thousands of people, mostly strangers, but all still part of this one big orange family, all rallied together behind a common cause. Whereas Ayres Hall encompasses the academic values of the university, it cannot match the sense of community that Neyland Stadium elicits. Though both are undeniable landmarks of the university, they represent it in very different, albeit equally notable ways, one a classic image of the university’s roots, the other an ever-evolving symbol of the its growth and progress.

#blogpost1

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Abigail Balongie