Present Day: Modern Architecture

Shown Materials

Lifts, steel, new materials

New, taller buildings

Modern day architecture is completely different from past styles. It started at the turn of the 20th century but gained popularity until after World War Two. The main reason it arose was the rise of new technology, new machines and new materials. One of the biggest types of buildings that came were skyscrapers, lifts allowed building to be taller because change of levels would be easier. A few of the main ideas are: simplicity, machine aesthetic, horizontal and vertical lines are emphasized.  The biggest way that a building can be distinguished as modern is when the material can be seen. Their signature is when the material can be seen on the outside. No finishes, just the material used. Like when the frame can be seen in steel and glass buildings. If steel was used, then steel it what is shown. 

Neoclassic

Everything but first,

Taken from past architects

America's "own"

Neoclassical architecture is know as "American Architecture". The reason is because America, is where most of the Neoclassics are. Even though it didn't flourish until the mid 18th century, it actually began in England and spread through out Europe. That might be the case but, it's stronger in U. S. A. and Canada. All Neoclassic is, is the revival of past historic architectural styles. It's just reusing old architecture and tweaking it a bit, a copy. Neoclassics range from institutions to public work places.

Baroque and Rococo

The Baroque and Rococo era rose in the 17th century, while the Renaissance Period was coming to an end. During this time, buildings had two different architectural styles in one. B
aroque started when the Renaissance rule of order and proportion started getting broken. Baroque has certain features that distinguish it. Some are: Flamboyant, vivid colors, depth, culture, curving facades, elaborate detail, sculpturing, ovals, sharp angles, and the reuse of old concepts, making them new.

This style is mostly found in Italy, France, Spain and Spanish America, Portugal and Portuguese America, Hungary, England, The Netherlands, and Russia. Some of Michaelangelo's late Roman buildings, are considered to be the first Baroque styled buildings. Baroque comes from the Italian word, barocco, meaning bizarre. Rococo Style is just a late form of Baroque. It rose in France in the early 18th century. It's mainly found in France, Germany, Austria, Eastern Europe, and Russia. Rococo is just a combination of the Italian word, barocco and the French word, rocaille. 

Treasure Island: A Man Made Island

Treasure Island isn't an actual island. It's a man made island made from layers and layers of mud and soil compacted together. It was constructed in 1936 to 1937, all from landfill. The original idea behind the "island" was to be an airport.  But then they hosted the World Fair of 1939, it held architecture form all over the world. Islamic, Modern, Egyptian, you name it. The well-known was the Tower of the Sun. It had been designed by Arthur Brown Jr., who had also designed The City Hall. Rising at 329 feet, it quickly became the gem of the crown and the center piece of the fair.
At the end of 1960's, the World Fair had been taken down and the U.S. Navy took over. They demolished all of the towers and buildings. Replaced them with Navy buildings for their use. At the new Navy base, they trained the new recruits. 1993, U.S. Navy closed down the center, leaving all of their buildings abandoned. To this day, the island still has the building and the original three that were built when the island was. San Francisco is currently working on a Development Plan. They plan on adding more residential and commercial usage. With more outdoor usage space, and more restoration.

Mayas and Aztec Creators

Riquezas del sol
Lujos majestal sin fin
Mayas, Aztecas

There are two main ideas on why I wrote the Haiku was because of their history. They built their villages in direction to the sun, with the dead at the bottom and the living in the top. In spanish, because that's their homeland. Spanish speaking places, México and Guatemala. They believed that everything and everyone came from the sun. Hence their building materials, from the sun. All the limestone, granite and marble used for the temples. The wood and adobe used for homes. The temples were often decorated with precious gems and gold. 

Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia was built in 537 by the order of Emperor Justinian. He wanted to construct a building that represented the rise of Eastern Empire. The construction of Hagia Sophia, it gave the Western Empire a sign that the Eastern was growing to become stronger, powerful, and technologically advanced. The Hagia Sophia is a great example of Constantinople Basilicas. They have the idea of a centered sanatarium space. It's made up of a central dome, the biggest of its time. The dome is supported by for main arches and these parabolic-lke things that cave inwards, to fit in the shape of the dome. then around them , the rest of the building. The four towers weren't part of the original plan, they were added once the Islamics took over and stayed.

King Justinian

wanted to be the grandest

hence Hagia Sophia

Gothic Cathedrals

Pre-Geomettry

Creating grand cathedrals

One to two square root

Gothic cathedrals are a winder all on their own. With their arches, glass windows, and vaults they created the basic structure of what is known as "The Gothic Structure". Their arches are know for being two centered, and pointed at the top. They frame everything from vaults to windows. Windows are stained glass art depicting important scenes from the religion or mosaics of art. The vaults are the grandest thing, they create the actual building. Vaults are the "skeleton" of the building, they create the length. The frame of the building and how big the cathedral is. Another key thing about Gothic Architecture and cathedrals is the amount of detail and how they're created. The columns and walls have stone carvings. The details and patterns are hand carved. Creating that intricate detail. There's on trick to this: cathedrals are built with proportions. Even if they didn't know it. The length of the hypothenuse of the courtyard, is the length of the hall way. It's using the golden ration rule. 

Positive Outdoor Space

Outdoor space is just space that is "left over". No proper use or anything. Now, most of the time, this space is just left alone, done nothing. But, what our project asked us to do was change the "negative" space "positive". The options were to use Summit or Everest campus. In this case, I decided to use Everest's space. The first spot I transformed was the front. In the front, there are three ways of entering the building. But, they're barren with no cover from the sun, what-so-ever. Cover that up with vaults of hedges and there you have shade!

Then, move to the back. In the back, there is only parking space and a little hang out spot. In order for it to become a bit more "positive", for the area with the picnic table, I decided to cover it up with a pavilion like structure. It's made from weather proof wood and vines. The wooden beams are laid horizontally and the vines are intwined with the beams, offering the shade. In the middle there are parking spots, replace it with a little raised platform and a wooden/garden arcades that surround the platform. They still get sun from the top because it's open. Creating all "negative" space "positive".

Chinese Architecture

Along with it's rich Culture and Innovations, Chinese History has also provided us with rich Architectural Designs and buildings. The most amazing thing that stuck out for me was how ancient architecture didn't use nails or screws for building. Their columns, beams and walls were assembled in the way of a puzzle. The beams and columns fitted perfectly into one another. It's an easy assembly and easy disassembly. The reason for that is, in case of a fire. the house is taken apart so that the flames wouldn't spread to nearby houses. 

Wood, piece like puzzles

no need for nails, screws or glue

quick build, 

My Teenage Society

In our  had to build a society in which teenagers (12-18 yrs. old) could learn to be independent. The point was that the children living here learned how to become independent, people. Different from the other schools. We wanted them to feel like a little city, semi-enclosed from the rest of the city. We enclosed them with the school building out front.  In the middle, we placed a soccer/football field with a track. Directly behind the school building, are the dorms. Two are separated sex, boys and girls and the middle one is co-ed. The to the left hand side of the campus are smaller pools, and a regular sized pool. Between the pool and the girl's dorm is a smaller stage with a painted mural that serves as the stage wall.

The way the school would run, would be, independent learning. The "Teachers" would post up the assignments in the morning and the student's would have to manage their own time in completing them.  If they were to need help, then they would go to the Office Hours the teachers hold during the day to receive it. The "Classrooms" are just a strip of rooms along the back side of the building, while the majority is space to work. The idea in general is to prepare them for the real world, practice time management and life style.