Point: Explorations

In our final unit of the semester, everything came together and worked together. "Looking forward or backward?" was one of the first questions Patrick presented for this unit. Even as with a "new" design era breaking through every decade or so, the basis of all new designs can be traced back to prior eras. Similarities are found between all styles.However, with the newest Modern era breaking through, the designers are trying to throw away any prior design styles that may be tied with the past. They may search for inspiration but their designs and techniques are completely a new turn on the entire design field.

Throughout this semester the most influential era for me was the Renaissance era. No building was one style (like Gothic, Rococo, etc.), wonderful harmony through repetition, and the invention of new tradition to meet the classical past. Beautiful structures like the Villa Capra follow the rules and boundaries of the Renaissance and this villa alone, was the most influential building. Constructed of simply combining squares and circles, allowing each side to view the outdoors and the dome atop connects the overall idea of "man is the measure of all things."

Counterpoint : Machine

Final Studio Project

Reading Comp #7

As part of the Red Sea group, we were given the specific section of "town & country" to focus our assignment on. The display had a wide range of mediums and criteria. Pictures of the city "burst with energy, humor and reveal the artists; devotion to classical ideals of balance, order and harmony." My eyes were drawn to the smaller sketch by Kenneth Hayes Miller called "Conversation" that he created in 1932. The image was an etching that had no color. Another copy of the image was placed right below the other, identical yet drawn with ink and pencil. After drawing a short, small sketch of the scene, I stepped back and realized the large canvas painting of the image hanging right beside the two smaller thumbnails. This painting was made of a combination of watercolor and gum arabic emulsion on sheet rock (I couldn't image carrying that!).

I love the old fashion that women wore during this time, from the furs and pearls to the colorful hats and gloves. The style was all together classy. The largest painting became my favorite, after already loving the thumbnails, because of the contrast the colors created. The green umbrella. Pink hat. Blue hat. Warm, tan fur.

When I think of how I would diagram this painting using the principles and elements of design, I remember how I first viewed the painting as an etching, with no color. The main outlines that I sketched were the umbrella, hats and fabulous foxtail draped around ones neck.

Reading Comp #6

[1] A common theme of the early twentieth century found in Roth, Harwood, and Massey set the tone for an understanding of styles in architecture and design influenced by fine art. Selecting either Arts + Crafts or Art Nouveau, TRACE the influences of the selected style in more than two nations. In your answer, you should include evidence from the readings and at least two annotated images as support for your analysis of influences.

"Art Nouveau is a complex, eclectic international movement that comprises various styles in Europe and North America." (Harwood pg. 482)

Rejecting historical styles and adopting new ideas was the basis to every designer embracing the Art Nouveau style. The era was greatly influenced by fine art and the Industrial Revolution developing in Europe and the United States, but short lived from about 1890 to 1910.

In Paris, Hector Guimard introduecd Art Nouveau in the Paris Metro entrances with the combination of glass, iron, and stone creating a display of "quality vernacular romanticism with organic, fluid designs" (Harwood pg.498).

Paris Metro

While in places like Barcelona, Antonio Gaudi is creating structures that depict human bodies by moulding pillars and beams into organic curves that capture bone like forms, supporting the body of work.

Casa Batllo

[2] Originating at the Bauhaus and in the work of LeCorbusier, the so-called Modern movement deeply influenced design and architecture of the twentieth century. The great debate raised by this new approach to design involved the presence of the machine in the design process and final products. SPECULATE about the implications of “machines for living” and the famous dictum “less is more” on design today. Use at least one ARTIFACT, SPACE, or BUILDING in your answer, providing a salient image (cited) and annotation to help bolster your argument. [10 POINTS POSSIBLE]

When I think of modern, I think of simple forms, crisp edges, and the bare minimum needed to have the form function as desired. I definitely think that "less is more" in the modernism era and designers of furniture, residential, and businesses began to implement flat lines and basic geometric shapes. Historical forms and structures had no impact on structures of the twentieth century, unlike all the previous design eras. Modernism can be displayed in numerous forms but I think of the unique buildings that are built during this time.

Summary of Alternatives & Reflections

In reading and comparing Kacie, Anna and Daniel's responses to the Alternative section they all appeal to the unit breaking the rules of design. Although Kacie focused on how Baroque and Renaissance mashed together in being similar yet bending the rules further than the style before, Anna continued on the importance of cathedrals and the basis of having basic shapes to design structures. Daniel describes how the meshing of every design era together was the main goal of many architects and designers, basically a "collage".

Natalie, Julie, and Caitlyn's responses to the point summary on our reflections unit, all brought up connections that I felt were significant and enjoyable to read. Natalie pulls examples of artifacts changing due to women's fashion or the experience people entail while going to an opera house, both of these seem more aesthetic to me. While Julie expresses the reflection unit to be larger in change of material with iron and glass that speak different design languages and how the effect of constructions change eras from victorian clutter to more simplistic design. Caitlyn focuses on the change in design periods yet how they all tie into structures that also use the new materials introduced in structures like the Crystal Palace.

Point: Reflections

Reflections unit has shown the numerous ways that design pulls techniques and styles from past foundations and other countries, while shifting the rules to impact the designs to what they believe to be the "new, better look". With the availability of large exhibits full of traders from different parts of the world, textiles continued to enter the Americas, allowing individuals and designers to enlighten their houses and guests with the foreign objects. A revolution can be defined as a dramatic and wide-reaching change in the way something works or in the way people view it.

The discovery of materials, like iron and glass, on the development of structures was a revolution in itself. It allowed designers and architects to literally bend the rules of a basic foundation, able to add thiner columns, iron arches, and the combination of the glass against the iron creates an experience of nature while still having the stable coverings from the natural elements. Train stations, factories, greenhouses, libraries, arcades, and exhibitions all began to display the use of new materials for their own purposes. Greenhouses benefited from the glass, allowing people in one climate to grow plants in their own climate. While Biblioteque Ste. Genevieve was built with iron arches and skeleton because it was the cheapest way to build the largest library. Overall the Crystal Palace made the largest impact on the world not only for the use of materials but the use of the exhibition center, bringing together extremely different artifacts and materials from all over the world to display for the nation to see and judge and later on take as their own to create a "brand new" mold of the original piece they viewed.

Even with the new discoveries, designers and architects seem to follow the same idea that past eras such as Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic are basics for all structures to be build and messing them together has an effect that compliments any building or artifact. A cycle of the design eras in always continuous and always changing if many like to think that some have concluded but the truth is that individuals are always looking for ways to enhance, increase, and entertain the idea of a better design than the last!

Reading Comp #5

1.[Select an artifact and the type of revolution it symbolizes.]

-Chairs to Sofas. The transformation of seating in the form of chairs to sofas is in part contributed to the change in fashion. Women's dresses began to evolve into larger, fuller skirts. Therefore, the women needed more seating/cushion space. Motif designs also changed from Directoire to Empire, favoring a body silhouette of a round belly and full hips. Harwood said, "Overall design quality begins to deteriorate as furniture becomes larger, bulkier, and more curvilinear.

2.[Locate & Analyze an image of an artifact, a space, a building, and a place, where the east/middle east has an influence on the western word of design and architecture.]

-Space: Japanese Tea Room in the Congress Hotel of Chicago.

The room is filled with dark wood, hanging brass, embroidered carpet and pink blossom flowers all ad to the Japanese look in this room.

http://www.historicchicagohotels.com/Congress.htm

-Artifact: Ceramics: Blue & white porcelain

Blue and white porcelain is very common in Japanese ceramics and began to be reproduced in Europe for use. The most commonly used style used in Europe was the Kakiemon style, like the image above.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japonism

-Building: Falling Water in Pennsylvania

Luckily, I was able to go on the IAR field trip last year to visit this site and was able to see strong connection between man and nature, as well as the emphasis on the exterior. The sharp lines, extension into nature, placement above the waterfall all continue the Japanese style in Frank Lloyd Wright's design.

-Place: Heale Gardens in Wiltshire, England

The image above is the Japanese tea house in the middle of the Heale Gardens. Underneath the tea house is a flowing stream bringing nature closer to the interior, the Nikko Bridge overtop the stream is steps away. "The Japanese garden was build by laborers brought over from Japan."

http://www.healegarden.co.uk/

Counterpoint : Perspective

Counterpoint : MAP

Our first COUNTERPOINT was to use all four of the FORMS (2D, 3D, word, & paragraph).

....practice makes perfect!!! Not my favorite!

Perspective Fun

A place for waiting

A place where people relieve themselves!

A place for eating, sleeping and relaxing

Point : Alternatives

This unit was all about reaching new heights, breaking rules, and moving towards a new era. Cathedrals reflected towards the heavens and continued the ideas of having a place for people to gather, worship and collectively give thanks to their believes. While the Renaissance changed everything with introducing new figures and finding alternatives to what the Gothic era believed with the the right way of assembling sacred forms while using more than one style. Villas stuck with the basics of geometry and bringing in the importance of nature.

Cathedrals defined the Gothic era, using features like the pointed arch, flying buttress, and distinct vertical elements. They differed among cities but all related back to one another in some form. The main idea was to climb higher toward heaven and the One. Cross appearances were use as the ground plan of most cathedrals, lining the walls with stain glass telling biblical stories. Most cathedrals started with the basis of a "golden square" that lead to the importance of the center bringing together the two halls, defining the boundaries of the central point, and repetitions of the geometric form created a flow within the cathedral. The Florence Cathedral in Italy made the decision to break the rules of Gothic architecture when built.

Lacking the common Gothic buttresses used on other cathedrals, Florence Cathedral's builder, Filippo Brunelleschi, found them unnecessary to the foundation. The addition of the dome started a theme of the Renaissance that was used within villas. Most villas relied on the simple geometries of squares and circles, while still using an architectural feature, like the dome, to guide upwards. Villas tied in the aspect of nature with the addition of porches looking outward and long galleries placed on the side of the structure that allows the most light in and looking toward gardens, like the one at Hardwick Hall in England. The idea of allowing there to be one main facade that was decorated more than others due to the placement towards the seaport or market. The Renaissance also showed values of society with the separation of public and private in residence buildings.

Even though the Renaissance era began, the presence of Gothic roofs were mixed in with structures and Baroque features made an appearance in ways such as curvilinear staircases. Therefore the Renaissance can also be defined with the idea of one building can contain more than one style. Textiles began to enter as evidence inside the building to which style or combination of styles where used to decorate the structure.

Point- Foundations

Foundation can be defined as “the basis on which a thing is founded or is supported.” I believe that the pyramids, tombs, and temples covered in this unit are connected by a common foundation of materials, building methods, and underlying meanings for each design.

Pyramids in Egypt and Mexico housed some of the first societies that used the repetition of stacking as a building method to increase size, as well as a method of displaying the hierarchy of the structure. Teotihuacan, “City of the Gods”, in Mexico contains two main temples called the Pyramid of the Moon and Pyramid of the Sun.The sun and moon were symbols for life and death and with the placement of the two different pyramids the culture further understood the importance of their own journeys toward death. The Pyramid of the Sun is the third largest in the world and the location of the pyramid allows many important astrological events, in terms of agriculture and belief systems of the society, to be seen. Therefore the height, orientation and details of the man-made building were significant to the role of the society it is built in and the higher powers they believe in. Another thought to the height of pyramids is that with more power displayed in size, the higher need to protect the civilization and with the advantage of height the people can see enemies coming from farther away.

Tombs were common structures in Egypt that housed the remains of important leaders of a community. The larger and more impressive the burial site, symbolized the more influential that leader was on its culture. Stone was the most common material used due to its availability and durability but the higher the stones were stacked and the addition of limestone, gems, and other precious items increased the importance of the deceased buried within. For example, the Great Pyramid of Giza is monumental in size and houses the remains for the fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. He reigned for twenty-three years and was followed in reign by his sons.

The prototypes for temples began in Egypt along the lines of Gods of the living and dead, built into the sides of mountains and build up from the sand. Temples quickly developed a common foundation of materials, structure, and purpose. Stone continued to be the material used, columns became a familiar element, and a place of scared gatherings. Greece and Rome grew to be the place that I think of when I hear talk of temples. They both began expanding the ideas of columns as a progressional element and enhancing the experience their societies had within the temples of Gods and Goddesses.

All of these structures are connected by the original goals of wanting to literally reach the divine powers they worshiped, give importance to each structure built, and out due any other cultures foundation.

Reading Comp #3

Cologne & Salisbury

Light is present in all Gothic cathedrals. The use of pointed arches extending to the heavens allows as much light as possible in on walls while the light itself can also dim through stained glass “emphasizing the mystery of faith”. Windows within cathedrals are all about an experience with the heavens, weightlessness, biblical stories. The higher the building could reach the larger the windows could be, illuminating interior features. Cologne Cathedral houses a golden reliquary that is thought to contain the Three Magi of Christmas. The placement of the shrine is above the high alter, making this area the main focus of the Gothic cathedral. The windows surrounding the high alter and The Shrine of the Magi help emphasize the fire-gilded figures and semi-precious stones on the shrine, as well as help tell the biblical stories of the Middle Ages with images and scenes in the stained glass. At any time of the day the windows allow light to flow in and highlight the most ambitious piece in the cathedral. While the Cologne Cathedral contains an actual artifact of high importance, Salisbury Cathedral’s is most known for its notable central spire. Besides the significant spire, “An old saying records that there are as many pillars as there are hours in the year, and as many windows as there are days.” Salisbury Cathedral is similar to Cologne due to the use of continual biblical references on pointed arched windows and stained glass, letting in light aluminizing the interior beauty.

Cologne & Amiens

Cologne and Amiens share the same basic features of Gothic cathedrals like exterior statures, interior crossing square and cathedral choirs, as well as the same trial and error development. Cologne Cathedral was built on top of the site of a fourth century Roman temple, followed by a simple square church, the “Old Cathedral”, which burned down, allowing the development of the present Gothic church to begin. Amiens was built ca. 340 but later a fire destroyed most of the city, construction on a Romanesque cathedral began but it was destroyed by fire as well initiating the planning for a cathedral that would house the head of St. John the Baptist. With both Cologne and Amiens upright, a constant battle of keeping the structures intact left designers and engineers of both regions experimenting with flying buttresses. The strong efforts of the community to keep these cathedrals intact during times of world wars, contradict the chaos outside their place of worship.

Cologne & Duomo

Cologne Cathedral follows a cruciform plan with the traditional crossing allowing massive amounts of light in at the intersection, while Duomo Cathedral branches off by focusing the control of light at the free-standing dome in the center. The cruciform plan, flying buttresses for support, pointed arches, and square crossing define Gothic cathedrals like Cologne. Duomo Cathedral has an octagonal crossing, wooden structuring to support construction and a central dome that implies the ending of Gothic and beginning of the Renaissance.

Summary of Egypt, Greece & Rome

Egypt: burial sizes varied due to status' of the deceased, focus on Nile River, referring to life and death, also helps play a role in the architecture of the land. Worship and sacrifices accompanied the design and use of many temples. Hieroglyphics found in wooden and stone columns.

Greece: columns provide more than stability, the diameter relates to every part of the structure. Axial progression plays a role in the grouping of buildings. Religious sites and temples are very common.

Rome: places for gathering were defined by columns, gardens developed more when markets came into play. Column structure was similar still to Greece & Egyptian columns but more toward structure and experience.

Reading Comp #2

1. I understand how and why the first sites of worship and sacrifice were simply marked by trees. Before knowing much about architecture, natural matters were the most simple and accessible to the builders, as well as, having a large connection to the gods and goddess that the Greeks worshiped. Worship was an important aspect of their culture and gave reasoning to any and everything that happened in the Greek world. Even so, when columns came about starting as wood then moving to stone and marble, the columns themselves were shaped in such a way that had purpose referring back to gods and goddesses, from the base, molding, decoration and even the shadows that the columns would cast. Hersey gives evidence in such statements as, “Another aspect of the column bas is the rich endowment of horizontal shadows....shadow was perceived by the ancients not as the mere absence of light but... mote-like souls of the dead... see them as thick with souls.”

2. The internet is full of gossip, historical readings, and theories that individuals come up with on their own and through some research. Gossip is the writers opinion on a celebrity, couples, etc. Historical readings are based off a persons findings at a site or through reading others research. And theories are just that, they are a view that someone wants to express and explain to the extent that they prefer. All these categories of internet sources are what one person wrote up and believed in their own state of mind. The internet is just a world wide tool, accessible to anyone and everyone. To believe everything you read would be naive, depending on the sources provided and evidence behind the individuals opinion help to make the information on the internet more believable. You can’t believe everything you read!

3. Queen Hatshepsut was one of the few female rulers in Ancient Egypt and died during the construction of a tomb but the funerary temple included the element of stacking yet was layered with many openings and a walkway up to the entrance. Even though Hatshepsut was a pharaoh, she was a Queen, not a King and may be the reasoning behind the significant difference in this burial to the large pyramids as in the Valley of the Kings and Giza.

4.The Temple of Horus is an ancient Egyptian temple for the chief god Horus-Apollo. Inscriptions on the walls tell important information on language myth, and religion during the Greco-Roman period. Also within the writings, details of the construction and preservation of temples. The temple was a center of several sacred events. An axial progression, rows of columns and sculpture connect this Egyptian temple to Grecian temples like the Temple of Poseidon. The Temple of Poseidon was rectangular with a colonnade on all four sides, only a percentage of those columns stand today. At the center of the temple would have been the hall of worship, a windowless rectangular room. The temple would have also had many decorative details that created a beautiful experience.The Temple of Poseidon is architecturally delightful but overall, the Temple of Horus holds a significant amount of historical importance through the inscriptions that sets it apart from being simply a site for worship.

5. Harwood’s examples of tables, stools, chairs and chests in Egyptian furniture are mainly constructed from local woods, some imported, painted to imitate better woods. Wood alone is a major factor in the difference of weight to the furniture and architecture within tombs. Tombs themselves are traditional made of stone and hard objects so to enter furniture made of wood would make the setting unbalanced. Wood was also an easily movable material, due to the lightweight, making traveling easier for pharaohs.

6. The Greek religion respects order. Males possess independence and ownership, while women are their fathers’ or husbands’ property. Their main duties were to have children and take care of the household. In the images on the urns, women are depicted just as history describes their responsibilities in their time. Women tended to their male figures, served them above anything else and with the images of the male figures sitting on the "thrones", being fed or admired by the women, further show the status males had over women in the ancient time of Greece.

Point: theories

“Design... deserves attention not only as a professional practice but as a subject of social, cultural, and philosophic investigation.” is what Richard Buchanan and Victor Morgan believed backed the creation of a structure and I believe this quote has numerous points that supported the first unit. Actual structures built and ideas lifted from the purpose of objects, all form from the environment, the people, the culture, and the function in which it will be located. Without the history and tradition of the area, a structure will hold no significance. Numerous builders, architects and theorists have created manifestations that explain why and how a structure should be created but reoccurring within all of them is “commodity, firmness, and delight” in some form or another.

Structures like Stonehenge and Avebury are ancient locations that contain stones placed in lines or circles that have relevance to one another. The civilizations are gone now but people still have the ability to understand why the stones may have been placed where they are and can understand that, for example, Stonehenge was possibly a place for ceremonies or worship with levels of importance between the different stone circles or a place of studying the stars (a place of the Gods). In the earliest years, BC, theories were centered around understanding the idea of the different layers of circles with the stones and how the people were able to place the monstrous boulders in a pattern, as well as, have some mounted atop others. All the many ideas behind the purpose for the site and the actual creation of Stonehenge are supported by the cultural influence and the environment, which is still a place of beauty due to the mystery of not understanding the exact purpose.

Besides the mystery, beauty, and possible reasoning for Stonehenge, the monument itself was constructed well. Several construction phases have been recorded and evidence has shown assembly expands as far back as 6500 years ago. Even with many stones missing, the main appearance and final idea of the structure is still visible today. Not knowing the original builder or creator, present day people are still able to experience Stonehenge as a complete monument. The stone placement and stability of the natural materials used have increased the lasting preservation of the site.

Blog Finds

The wallpaper mixed with the sheen and color of the pillows and cushions is quite appealing!!


Painted furniture is a popular trend I'm finding on blogs right now. I'm going to be taking on my own project of painting my night stand pink for my new apartment bedroom that will be mainly white, with a light grey accent wall, and then accent pieces of light pink.

Mix & Match patterns, fabrics and colors in this large living room area is something I'd love to do in my new apartment living room with my two sorority sisters.

*images from bellemaision, pink wallpaper, hamilton design,

Cupcake Birthday

Tomorrow the 21st is another interns BIG 2-1 birthday, Sara!!!! So today I brought in cute cupcakes from Harris Teeter. An inside bit is that August 20th, the Preservation Society is holding a Cupcake Festival, judging "luscious" cupcakes (sponsored by Carolina Woman). Therefore, its been an ongoing thing at the house that we are all in sugar mode.

I couldn't bring myself to eat the whole fishy guy, he reminded me of Nemo! And another one of the cupcakes used to have four turtles, now reduced to two and one with only one eye... poor guy!

Internship

I was lucky enough to find an internship at the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill this summer. Just browsing through current internships in my program, UNC-Greensboro Interior Architecture, emailed Ernest Dollar and he said he had a project starting if I was interested and I got right in to researching the Cameron-McCauley Historic District of Chapel Hill. Woo hoo


*image provided from the Preservation website

Just paper...

Toots & Magoo is a cute boutique located on Franklin St. in Chapel Hill, NC. This dress is made of tan tissue paper base and white textured top. A blue scarf is in place of a belt for a pop of color. It is so beautiful!

Helping Daddy

My dad restores antique furniture, so I've always been able to be involved with the projects and this picture below is a marble slab from the top of an 1875 sideboard to store silverware, with birds eye maple interior and european walnut exterior that he had to put back together and fill in. I got involved by painting in the blank spots to mimic the marble pattern.

Mom's Favorite Color: Turquoise

I got my mother's full attention when I showed her the website of Toronto interior decorator
Holly Dyment. Any shade of blue, but mainly turquoise, makes her weak in the knees!!



Another amazing site with colorful eye-candy is the Chicago-based Civility Design. So much personality, so much FUN! The Fontana Arte chandelier in the living room is fantastic, along with those fuchsia sofas.




I found a new love for a blogger: Phoebe Howard, check her out.



And finally..... Daniela of Aesthetic Oiseau created this "to die for" kitchen that so many people will fall for.

Coral Obsessed

I am in awe at the beautiful headboard and the patterned throw pillows paired with the coral quilt.

Blog Obsessed

I found these amazing photos of a beautiful home of a New Hampshire-based designer Lisa Teague. She also has a blog filled with inspiration and great photos! For more of her work, view her website here.



Two rooms stood out to me most:




A small seating area with a painted ottoman, crisp couch & chair with patterned pillows. Even the newel post of the stairs and server add a unique antique touch to the refreshing room.




Anything in the range of pink or coral AND involving anything nautical hits a place in my heart! Yet again, I'm noticing a pattern in my likes of a simple neutral, topped with pops of colors. Another focal point of this room is the fushcia wall with orange leaves, pulling in another rich color.

The way I work!

Our final, on going project for the semester was based on the process that we go about working through to a solution. I am always writing multiple notes and writing little notes down on sticky notes. Also "what sparks me" is COLOR, whether its in the color palette of a room, fabrics, acessories, or flooring.

I'm moving back home from my first apartment for the summer. I'll be moving into my sororities dorms next semester so I'll be needing to leave a lot of things at home. I have a queen sized bed, vanity, mantle, desk, and window seat as my main pieces. I thought of a palette of seafoam, coral and neutral of grey or pink, orange, and neutral of tan. The way I plan on using these colors, I'd like to create an atmosphere that can be used as a comfortable, inspiring spare bedroom once I leave.

Presentation

My final presentation of the studio space for Stella McCartney was presented with three hand drawn perspectives (using marker and colored pencil), two sketch up images, materials, floor plan, history of client, and the four elevations of the studio.

"Precious Moments"

I chose Stella McCartney as my client. An English fashion designer for women everywhere. Her summer and spring 2010 collections inspired my color pallete for the studio space, neutrals of white and nude with the pops of orange, pink and blue.

Assigned to measure and explore the existing loading dock on the bottom floor of the Gatewood building, we were to find a client and design a studio space within the area yet could be versitile to other artists, photographers, designers, and architects.