AFREHND : On Landscaping.

          For me it is very essential for all structures to have a proper landscaping. Landscaping is basically creating environment. It enhances the beauty and adds to a better aesthetics of any structure or area. With the proper use and placement of plants, lighting etc, we are able to create a more pleasing environment for houses, businesses and communities.

Landscaping could have patios, lighting, fancy planting, pools; it’s not just about the use of plants. Everything should be able to work together and create something functional and pleasing to the eyes. If everything is mixed perfectly, the people around a very good landscaping are able to relax and enjoy what they see. This is why resorts need a proper landscaping. It is important that landscaping is able to create an environment that can enhance and adapt to a person’s lifestyle. 

HSTARC : West Asiatic Architecture

Putting aside the Prehistoric period which introduced to us how to construct structures and started a way of life, the West Asiatic period exhibited to us what a real society is- complete with the essence of towns and culture. West Asiatic architecture exhibited beauty in their creations and showcased early human's exceptional knowledge of art and architecture. They were able to synthesize artistry and craftsmanship. Though resources that time were scarce for them, they were able to come up with marvelous structures. They started having a sense and appreciation for good aesthetics and the purpose of different structures.

My sketch of the striding snak dragon of Marduk as seen at the Ishtar Gate

It is evident in the West Asiatic Architecture has developed a lot of ideas from Pre historic architecture. If men during the prehistoric times only considered their needs when building their structures, West Asiatic men planned everything from the purpose to the structures’ aesthetics with great consideration for their area’s geography, geology and climate. Lacking resources to build their structures, they were still able to come up with using simple mud bricks to create their beautiful empire which exhibits how resourceful they were. Though they seriously lacked building materials, they were still able to come up with the intricate designs of their structures which I think is really remarkable and astonishing. Since Chaldeae was situated near the river, floods tormented them thus resulting to situating their towns and palaces on elevated platforms. Assyria on the other hand was nearer mountains and had a hot dry climate which resulted to the introduction of open columned halls in palaces such as Susa and Persepolis.

We can see that Architectural Styles evolve after one period to another and the design considerations continue to add up. But we cannot fore-go the fact that without the West Asiatic period, the following civilizations would have not developed into societies as we call it. Thus, pointing out the importance of each and every period's contribution whether large or small.

AFREHND : Esquisse -Lines.

UPPER LEFT:

STRAIGHT LINES: MELANCHOLIC SONG – I felt gloomy listening to it. So I started drawing big trees it was like going on a road trip and just seeing plain trees and a mountain.

BOTTOM LEFT:

CURVED LINES: WE were listening to upbeat music so I thought of butterflies flying around amidst sunflowers on a sunny day.

UPPER RIGHT:

70% STRAIGHT LINES, 30% CURVED LINES: Given only ample time to imagine and plan what to sketch, I instantly thought of a city skyline at night.

BOTTOM RIGHT:

30% CURVED LINES, 70% STRAIGHT LINES: Listening to the music played, I thought of the beach and its serenity. Having a few straight lines for the hut, and all the other details for the view curved like the sun clouds, tree and sea.

ADESPRN : a POD.

When I first heard that we will be doing a ‘pod’, the first thing that came into my mind were an iPod-its portability and many uses, and the ‘peas in a pod’- the pod being the protection of the peas inside it. So my own understanding of this project as defined by our professor is one's living quarters, as an apartment or roo.  I define a pod not just a living quarters but a space which has not just one, but multitudinous functions. This personal living area should serve well its user providing him comfort and ease. It will exhibit different design considerations like anthropometrics, circulation, solar orientation, and sustainability alongside addressing the basic human factors in design. The evolution of forms we came up for our “Pod” is a butterfly- its evolution from a cocoon into an adult butterfly- translating the intricate features and characteristics of a it into our design. The cocoon, like in the ‘peas in a pod, will serve as an outer protection to the user (pea/butterfly). With the very limited space given to us and the many functions our pod must serve, we must come up with a convertible and a flexible area. 

ADESPRN : RIP OFF - Read. Interpret. Pretend.

TURNING TORSO BUILDING by SANTIAGO CALATRAVA

Modeled this skyscraper after his sculpture of a human body titled; Twisting Torso.

PHILOSOPHY: To see human form in architecture- to use its versatility in the structure's design.

CONCEPT: Flexibility - Twist the whole facade of the building-slightly rotate each floor.

DESIGN CONCEPT: The Turning Torso

WORKING CONCEPT: Stability

CARTIER FOUNDATION by JEAN NOUVEL

Glass walled structure that has another free standing glass wall set a few yards in front of it. You see the glass that’s constantly reflecting the street and sky.

PHILOSOPHY: Use the environment as the façade of the structure.

CONCEPT: A Mirage, Reflections

DESIGN CONCEPT: Dematerialize

WORKING CONCEPT: Transparency and openness. – The outside comes inside and vice versa.

GHERKIN BUILDING by NORMAN FOSTER

PHILOSOPHY: Balance of aesthetics and sustainability in high-rise.

CONCEPT: Translucency

DESIGN CONCEPT: An Upright Glass Bullet

WORKING CONCEPT: Efficiency - Structure takes advantage of natural light and ventilation.

ADESPRN : My Personal Logo and Class Logo

RIGHT is the REVISED one
LEFT is the ORIGINAL

Class Logo

AHSTARC : Thoughts on Prehistoric Architecture

The prehistoric time is the foundation of what we call our society today - from the structures we see and the way we live, everything originated from it. Ever since then, architecture started to evolve and until now still continues grow. As generations pass, new ideas are born, mistakes in the past serve as their teacher to create better structures. This is an on-going process and soon enough we’d be part of history and I hope by then we have contributed enough to its further development.

I think the main reason we study history is because without the past, we would not be who we are today. We must all know our roots. Just like a child born from a mother, our society was born from the prehistoric times. According to Dr. Carl Segan, "You need to know the past to understand the present.”.  People have studied the past, to understand and correlate everything, know more about our origins, and how everything came about. Without our past, we wouldn’t be seeing majestic structures we appreciate now – architecture would not have been born. We wouldn’t have an idea how those simple monoliths turned into structures that will eventually be useful to man.

As we were discussing prehistoric architecture last Tuesday, I was amazed by how from nothing people were able to come up with using simple stones to create such marvelous structures like the Stonehenge, tent and tombs. I admire how resourceful and witty the people were then having been able to construct their own homes using simple tools and discover means for survival.  The simple structures they build capitalizing mainly on their ingenuity and skill they influenced  greatly our modern day architects and designers. The prehistoric times gives us a view of the evolution of architecture.  It shows us the process of creating a structure. First, we define the purpose of the structure then we consider its aesthetics. Now, that these intricate structures stand before me I am reminded that from simple structures, architecturee was born.

The prehistoric times should serve as an inspiration to all that is in the field of architecture. Let it remind us that artistry and craftsmanship is not solely dependent on the availability of modern materials and gadgets. The prehistoric men had only stones as tools and materials and yet were able to come up with breath-taking creations. The foundations for their immortal works are mainly their passion and inborn artistic talent.  May they inspire us in our chosen field!

My sketch of the Stonehenge - Wilshire,England

ADESPRN : My Three Architects

My personal philosophy as of now is mixing the balance of modern aesthetics and functionality with the consideration of sustainability. I would like my structures to be pleasing to the eyes – exhibiting sophisticated structures through the play of spaces, colors, and proportions in its facade. Alongside that, functionality is important as I strongly agree with the statement that a building should serve people and not the other way around. Since society today gives importance to staying ‘green’ when it comes to creating structures, I would like my designs to be as sustainable and flexible as possible.

3 notable architects I can emulate and whose works I admire the most are Daniel Libeskind, Santiago Calatrava and Norman Foster.

Daniel Libeskind is the world’s most respected virtual architect. It amazes me how he is able to tickle people’s emotions through his witty designs and play of spaces. His designs are compelling and are sure to make a mark on people who witness them. One of his famous works is the Jewish Museum in Berlin. Every space in there tells of a different story the Jews went through during the Holocaust. He made sure that walking through this structure would be an experience - not just an ordinary experience but an intense one.

Santiago Calatrava on the other hand, is an architect, an engineer, an urban planner and a gifted artist who claims that the practice of architecture combines all the arts into one. He used nature and everything that comprises it as his inspirations for his unique modern designs. One of his famous creations is the Milwaukee Art Museum which he designed to look like flapping wings. It’s remarkable how he treats his buildings as kinetic structures. 

Norman Foster is an architect who believes that    our surroundings have great influence on the quality of our lives. With the play of lines and curves he was able to create structures which are aesthetically modern with a concern for all the other aspects that could be affected by them. He considers not just the form of a structure but also its function. He respects the comfort of the people who will be involved in his structures and values sustainability in his intricate designs which I think is very important in our world today.

These three architects’ visions amplifies my idea of what architecture is. They took risks in creating such complex structures which defined them as architects making them among the elite designers in the world. What strikes me the most about these three is their dedication and love for architecture which I believe is the foundation of their success. All three are collaborating in the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, the Memory Foundations by Daniel Libeskind.

“Architecture is not based on concrete and steel and the elements of the soil. It’s based on wonder. And that wonder is really what has created the greatest cities, the greatest spaces that we have had. And I think that is indeed what architecture is. It is a story.”

—	Daniel Libeskind