Final Learning Portfolio Arch 101

Instructor: Jerry Lum

Pilar Alicea

Final Project: Form and Space Transformed to Site

Pragmatic Considerations

• How did we achieve the most with the least? For this project, we achieved the most with the least by incorporating recycled materials to create the primary design and ropes to create an implied surface area as the skin. By skinning the frames with the rope, we created a 20’ transparent tunnel with an accessible pathway.

• Material Considerations for Frame and Surface

In addition to creating a transparent skin from weaving the ropes alongside the exterior side of the tunnel, we also constructed a spiraling pathway out of recycled wood cut from old school desks. The inherent curvilinear qualities of the cut out panels of wood allowed for a dynamic tessellated pathway. We chose to cut our school desk panels into varying sizes of triangles, which further supported the notion of dynamic movement through the tunnel.

• Sources for Materials, Tools and Guidance This installation required a combination of both store bought and recycled materials. We wanted to use materials that could appear as though this installation was created from natural elements. Lucky for us, many of our group members already owned the necessary tools to complete this project. Our main source of guidance and direction came from experienced instructors, Jerry Lum and Amily Huang. Additional guidance and inspiration was given by fellow classmates, whose input was much appreciated.

• Logistical Considerations

In order to complete this project in a timely manner, and within our budget, we decided to schedule work time outside of class. We arranged to meet every weekend and worked for an average of 3.5 hours each meeting. Our budget was $50.00 per person, which we had also arranged in advance. Fortunately, our scheduling and budget were fairly accurate for a project of this size and with five group members.

Design Considerations

• Inspiring and informed way to start this project

Our first approach in creating our design was to analyze the program and site. The main focus was to highlight certain features of the site while keeping in mind our program and limitations. Group brainstorming and sketching were essential to our design process. From there, we created a number of iterations, both physical and visual, to represent our key features. Eventually, we discovered that a tunnel design would best accent the space between the two trees. We formed architectural hierarchy by incorporating primary (triangular panels), secondary (rope skin) and tertiary (wooden frames) components.

“Tessellation is a collection of pieces that fit together without gaps to form a plane

or surface” -Iwamoto

• Inspiration The primary architectural approach to this design was tessellation. Over the course of this semester we were exposed to a wide range of architects who successfully used the principles of tessellation in order to bring life to their work. We wanted to express these same qualities in our work by combining rope webbing and repeated triangular arrangements.

• IwamotoScott Tessellation I found the work Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott to be amongst the most inspiring influences in my design process. The techniques used in their designs have a way of forming beautiful elements that are simple yet complex.

Final Presentation Our final presentation was both insightful and motivating. It was a great time for my group to finally step back from weeks of work and reflect upon all of our accomplishments. I enjoyed giving our jury and classmates a tour of the installation and I felt as though I was seeing our project in an entirely different way. The process of presenting in front of a jury gave me a new appreciation for my work and the lessons acquired throughout the semester.

• Jury’s Critique Overall the jury appreciated our design concept and enjoyed walking through the tunnel. An interesting critique given by one juror was that we should consider forming a new element when two distinct elements collide. For example, at one point in the tunnel, the triangular formation branches off the main wooden frame to create a temporary pathway on the ground. According the juror, the action of branching off the main frame presented an opportunity to develop another design expression separate from the ones already presented. This opportunity was also presented towards the end of the tunnel when the triangles transitioned from primary to secondary expressions. Another notable critique was that we needed to exaggerate and accentuate our main points. Similar to a musical composition that emphasizes key features through crescendos, our piece also could have used emphasis in certain areas to build more dynamism.

Learning Outcomes

This project presented the opportunity to develop collaboration skills. I found that the project helped me understand the value of group projects as opposed to individual work. I liked seeing how others utilize their strengths to help constructive something on a larger scale.

Reflection This semester was unique in the way that it was my second time participating in Arch 101. All of my expectations for this class were completely altered once we began using computer software such as SketchUp. I found the Spring 2013 approach to Arch 101 to be more challenging than Fall 2012. The assignments and lessons over the past few months tested my ability to tap into a deeper creative side while understanding the information in an architectural context. I developed an the ability to describe my work and critique the work of others using a new architectural tectonic language. I found that during the second round of Arch 101, I was better prepared to take in vital information and in turn, I was able to use it as a guiding tool to inform my work towards the end of the semester. I thoroughly enjoyed this class and gained an even deeper appreciation for architecture and design.