Blog 20: Exit Interview

(1) What is your essential question and answers?  What is your best answer and why?

• EQ: What is the best way for an architect to incorporate natural surroundings in a building design?
• Best answer: Answer 3 - Green Design
• Best answer: In order to include nature into a design an architect needs to help sustain the structure's natural surroundings through a process known as green design.
• The reason why this is my best answer is because green architecture establishes a metaphorical design approach to organic architecture. By implicating materials and processes in order to pre-serve present and future eco-system through sustainable designs. Unlike my other two answers green design is very creditable movement that is regulated by the United States Green Building Council in order to be accredited as a green building design.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

• In organic architecture philosophy it is a key concept to establish a relationship with the site and the natural world, by interconnecting nature. From there I discovered their are two design approaches you can integrated into a design: metaphorical and literal design approach. Metaphorical or theoretical design approach is obtained through a concept, theme or idea that is found it nature's forms and structures implemented into the design to create a thoughtful or meaningful layout to their design. From this research, I wanted to find a theoretical answer to my Essential Question, so I connected Green Design as possibility. After research beyond the general view of green design as just being sustainable I also found to my discovery that this method executes to integrate nature into a design by a conservative process aimed to preserve the natural world and  its users through sustainable materials and developments. Considering my answer 1 & 2, I do favor them in their design concepts yet both answers lack the funding to develop more research on their efficiency as well as their limited real world applications. The author of "It's alive How closely can a building emulate nature?," is an article published by Global Newspaper Company stating that biomimetic architecture has lacked in research and interpretation by the field of architecture; in addition biomimetic design approaches do not always have a practical or functional end product. Comparing my choices I found that green design has been a well expanded movement that is a reliable concept approach since not only seeks to find sustainable solutions to conserve the well being of nature and its users, but also that this design is regulated by the United States Green Building Council, in order to meet green design certifications. 

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

• One of the main source of problems I found was the limited amount of research I found online. In order to get a deeper knowledge or idea of any of my answers I had to research through advance search and look up possible books that may have a more in-depth knowledge of my topic. I also took to my advantage Purther's Cal-Poly Library account and used it to look up an articles that are found on green design, and how to exactly establish a green design. What I found to my knowledge is that every design is specifically unique and there are different design solutions on how to approach a design issue. Although there are general codes and guidelines in order to establish an accredited green design, each design is approached through a unique method of design.

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

• Hall, Deana Christi. ʺThe use of green design in architecture and interior design in the state of Texas- A five year review.ʺ Ann Arbor, 2010. Web. 29 April 2014.
• The reason why this source is so reliable is because is a study conducted over a longitudinal five year period by the Lamar University. This source also gives much generally and precise background literature in order to educate the reader on the subject before analyzing the given data.
•  Wu, Alexander. "raising the bar on green design." Nielsen Business Media, 2005. Web. 29 April 2014.
• The reason why this source is creditable the author Alexander is a graduate from Northwestern University who is current working as a Solutions Architect at Aggregate Knowledge, a Neustar Service. This source specifically emphasis the importance of human connection to nature and the benefits of productivity; this concept is especially important in organic architecture since one of its philosophies is to establish a interconnection with nature and the its inhabitants.  

Blog 19: Independent Component 2

Literal

(a) “I, Cheyenne Capener, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”

(b.) Source 23: Wasowski. building inside nature's envelope. Oxford University Press, Inc., 2000. Print.

(c.) Posted it! Refer to blog its there!

(d.) Summary of Independent Component:

Design and Construction Committee for Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity:

(Minutes Form indication of which members attended which meetings.)

• What I completed in the Design and Construction Committee was providing the committee with current information on up coming or current Habitat events. In addition I as well helped compile information for the Design and Construction Committee by note taking and presenting my found information. In the committee we have discussed the current events in fundraising and stage of each Habitat build. In addition to current Habitat builds, the committee has also discussed the design problems on upcoming builds. For the La Verne Habitat build, since it is building assembled in Fairplex, the issue that arises is transportation the build to its site. Although the La Verne build will be internally braced, there are concerns with maintain the structural form during transporting. Another interesting task the committee does is present solution based approaches for design problems. One of the present issues is the location of the La Verne site, which is located near railroad and two main streets: Arrow Hwy, and Wheeler. In turn the committee came up with some ideas to solve the on site noise by adding more foliage and establish exterior solid walls in order to absorb some traffic noise pollution.

(All committee members who attended the 4/09/2014 meeting)



Pasadena ACE Mentorship Program:

• For my mentorship hours at ACE mentorship we have been currently working on a end of the year ACE competition design. Since we are the Pasadena Team our group was assigned to design a movie theater. Over spring break I worked on the design theater at my mentor's work: Architecture for Education. In my time there I was able to tie the project design to relate to my senior topic and my answer 3. Mainly I focused on the influence of green design and materials; in order to establish a healthier living standard for the users and the natural environment. In addition I had also worked on the rough draft and finalized floor plan layouts of both the second and first floor. In these floor plan layouts I had to color-code each material into its own set color. Since the finalized layout will be displayed at the ACE end of the year design competition. Additionally, I also worked on the large theater layout; making sure to meet all requirements for building codes as well as the set ACE standards for seating. Lastly I also had to create the floor plan layout of each theater bathroom, and how each bathroom's faucet systems should be mirror images of each other; in order to create more unnecessary construction cost expenses to run two different pipe lines instead of a unified or shared pipe line.

Interpretive

• What I am working on in my Independent Component 2 from ACE mentorship demonstrates 30 hours of work, due to the fact that the project we are currently working on is a finished product of what we have learned over this year. To explain this more in depth what we learned in scale, elevations, practical use of the design, and green design codes, we have all applied what we know to our current design by thinking through the design in a practical manner. Through my extra time working with my mentors at Architecture for Education I was able to learn and research more in depth for green materials. In other words my mentor has shown me the value of looking at green materials and looking at the external components that establish what a green build is as well as quality and resourceful green materials that benefit the users and the local environment. In order to incorporate or tie in my senior project to the annual design project, I had to do external research about green design, green materials, and which vegetation is native to Southern California climate.

(This is the finalized floor plan layout, which is color-coded to identify which materials are being used.)

 

(These are just some of the building codes that I had to follow, under my mentor's help for the layout.)

 

(Above is the second floor plan layout where the projector rooms are located, all staff rooms, and the film room; this layout was also color-coded to identify which materials are being used in this building layout.)

Websites that I used for selection of green materials

These websites are used by my mentors for networking, and see which local businesses are in the area for certain types of material anywhere from refurbished, CAD, or green materials, etc.

sweets.com

4specs.com

 

Since our external theater design is main a majority of brick, I sought to find a company that supplies reclaimed brick in our local area. In my research I had found one located in the city of Riverside.

rcpblock.com





Applied

Independent Component 2 helped answer my EQ as to finalize what my best answer is. Furthermore it allowed me to view different perspectives of my answers. For example in green design, you as the architect can approach different methods of green design, yet is it truly green. With the idea of green materials, your job as the architect is to look for the underlining effects of this green product. In other words is this product truly green, where is it coming from, what energy is the company using manufacturing this item, etc. In some cases of green design, are not worth all the technological advancements which claim they are green but in actually are not serving the purpose of benefiting the natural environment. For my second answer biomimicry, I found that there is a lack of research in the field and according to Tuhus-Dubrow, Rebecca a contributing writer of Boston Global there is a lack of research and understanding in the field of biomimetic architecture. This reason being that much of biomimetic architecture is not always an efficient and cost-efficient design solution in order to preserve and learn from nature. In the end my best answer has to be my first answer: preserving the pre-existing site. Since it directly incorporates nature while considering cost-efficient design methods for the owners or user of the building design. For example a study done by Applied Ecological Services, Inc. composed the cost-efficiency of maintaining over a period of ten years of native verses non-native vegetation. The total annual maintenance costs per acre of foliage were ranging from $1,120 dollars in non-native turf grasses to native prairie or wetland grass only costing $168 dollars of upkeep.

April Extra Blog: Huntington Library

Today the ACE Pasadena Team went to the Huntington Library in order to view the process of construction. There we met Nathan and Lia who works for the construction firm called Matt Construction. Nathan was the construction manager of the new construction site at the Huntington Library, and Lia is the project engineer of the site. We were given a guided tour of the in process construction site, the first place we saw was the lecture hall.

( Inside the Banquet Hall Nathan was explaining all the internal workings of the project had how the engineers, plumbing, structural supports have to logically flow with one another in order to create a functional space that fits within a tightly framed area.)

Nathan had explained to use that it is important to have your structure durable but in some necessary areas your building also needs to be flexible. In addition we also learn from Nathan about a plan grid program app that allows you to do 3-D modeling of architectural and engineer drawings. Nathan also explained that the major problem faced in a construction site is the lack of communication between the architect, owner, engineer, and construction manager.

(I thought this piece of the design ties very well into the principles of organic architecture. Since the structure has a circular form instead of a geometric shape. In addition to the idea of incorporating nature into the design by having plants that are incorporated into the structure.)

One of the most interesting features that I found interesting within the site was the garden dome structure. This particular structure will be dedicated into incorporating natural foliage into the design, and its function is to sell plants. The structure will have a sun roof over the top of the awning and will be open to the outdoors.

(Secrete Tunnel...Shhh!)

In addition we also saw an underground tunnel that leads from the Huntington Library to the basement under the lecture hall. The purpose of this piece is to provide storage for rare books that the Huntington hold value in. How this tunnel is made is by using shot cret concrete which instead it has a more solidified consistency than regular concrete. How this concrete works is the construction crew only has to build one side of the frame instead of all four frame to create the definite shape, and then the concrete is shot onto the frame and then textured. One thing I learned was that usually when you see purple piping on a site its most likely reclaimed water that is being treated and processed.

(Another fact I learned was the building code for covering duct vents when not installed, because it creates health hazards for the users when overexposed to dust and the outdoor air.)

Next we also were told about the sewage drains and how they can separate cooking grease from the kitchen from water that is going to be treated. Later that treated water will then be used to irrigate any of Huntington's foliage, to promote sustainability.

Later I found an idea that related to my Answer 1 which was the idea of pre-serving the pre-existing site. What the construction crew did was relocate some of the plants to a different location in planter to protect from construction hazards. As well as relocated the soil that holds nutrients for vegetation and stored it in order to keep it from contamination of construction materials and chemicals.

Lastly we were told how much of the building waste is being recycle which is about seventy-five percent. An interesting method of recycling was taking the reclaimed concrete of a demolished building breaking it down into grains and it will be mixed later on to establish a new framework or foundation of a upcoming design.