Lu Li

ARCH 21

2010 SPRING

When I was getting into this class, I just

finished Design 101, the first design class and

one of a few art classes I have ever taken. I

was excited about the world of architecture.

And I believed that I had a sense of design

despite my lack of experience. I was excited

to learn more about design and architecture.

I knew the up-coming challenges would be

difficult and I believe I was prepared for

them.

I haven’t gotten into this class at the point.

I didn’t got the chance to anticipate in this

exercise. But to my understanding, ice

breaker is an exercise to introduce yourself

to the others, what kind of designer you are

and what is your point of view. So I decide to

make up for the ice breaker to put a design

of mine in the portfolio.

The c

olo

r O

This design is my experiment with pop art

form. I introduce a political statement in this

design with color and form. My

understanding of pop art is the meaning of a

piece of pop art means different things to

different audience. I am interested in forms,

lines and colors.

I was firstly shocked by this project because I

didn’t expect that we need to go to nature

for our first project in an architecture class.

I was paired with Heidi, and we shared

similar interests in design. Surprisingly, I had

a good time in the nature and inspired by the

richness of the nature.

Adjectives:

Free: the forms of nature is limitless. Spaces are created in a most unexpected way.

Stunning: it felt like a shot a Adrenalin when we found the clearing after a narrowed path.

Harmonious: nature and architecture compliment each other perfectly.

Broad: the most amazing experience can be created by simply a wide open space.

High: elevation plays an important part. The dramatic fall creates tension and wonderness.

Sharp: the contrast of colors and forms is so sharp that it’s spirit-lifting.

This trip has exceed my expectation. I have

found many inspirations on this trip. However,

Point Reyes has a lot marks of human. Man and

nature’s creation compliment each other

perfectly. Man’s creation take advantage of

nature’s space arrangement and color plan. It’s

very exciting and refreshing. The element of

surprised never seem to fail us. We had a great

day trip, fun and educational.

I didn’t know what to expect when it comes

to model building, I had very few experience

with building models. But I was excited to

find out how my ideas can become 3-

demensional. After all, architecture is about

space and structure.

First model ever

built by me

However I didn’t

document it, I

dismembered my

first model.

I kept my drawing

for the first

design.

Learning from the mistakes

First model was convincingly proved to be

amateur, which I expect it to be . I learnt

it is too simple, straight forward. It lacks

elevation, complicity and structure, all

the elements that I suppose to accomplish

in a architecture model. Besides that, the

craft is not there at all. My lack of skill is

clearly stated by the look of the model it

self. I also find it hard to transform my

thought/drawings into models.

Evolution #1

I have

documented

this model and

also the

drawings. I

believe I made

many progress

on this model.

Focus:

1. elevation: create low point and high

point of this composition.

2. layer: create two stair ways that overlap

on each other that interact with each other

via light and shadow.

3. order: create a dome with complicated

structure in order unlike the first iteration.

4. position: position of a 3-D model is like

composition on a 2-D design, it’s about

rhythm and balance.

Learning from mistakes #2

This is my third iteration, I believe I made

small steps in the process. My design has more

interesting elevation change. The pass way has

more structure. however, craft still remain a

issue to me. Cutting is a big problem to me. I

also find out I tend to ignore the small flaws,

and focus more on the big picture. My progress

is small but I think I am on the right track, and

I realize that I still haven’t developed my own

tectonic language yet.

Evolution #2

complicity

Layer

Structure

Lines

Forms

Light and

shadow

Focus:

1. complicity: add more component to

build a more sophisticated setting.

2. structure: less decorative aspects and

more structure.

3. lines: create structural lines. Balance

out the decorative lines.

Learning from mistakes #3

This is my fifth iteration. I developed my original design into a bigger model incorporated with more layers and structure. I try to create a conversation between curvilinear lines and straight lines. All the curvilinear aspect is created by straight lines. I also create a see-through stairways so to levels of stairways interact with each other. I create a half dome to form a interesting space. However I learned that this design lack of connections between spaces. The space experience is not smoothly translated. Another problem is that my design can be too decorative at some parts. Craft is still a issue for me.

Ongoing

iteration

#7

transition

Space

Penetration

Layers

Visibility

Surprise

Forms and

lines

Focus

1. transition: this is the priority of this

iteration. The point is the transition between

spaces. Path is important between spaces.

2. space: space should be less defined and

more interesting to explore. Create

interesting space by penetrating one into

another. Also creates transition of space.

3. visibility: create transparency and

opacity trough structure.

What I am looking for in the new

iteration

I am changing my design dramatically, I am

looking into more complicated structures and

space development. And I am more aware of

space transition from one node to another.

And I am also more aware of structures and

surfaces. I eliminate the ground and

unnecessary decorative parts of my design

and more focused on the structure.

I’m struggling with:

time management, model building skills, literal

expression, connection, clarity, editing,

transform from idea to 3-D model. I am also

struggling with coming up with ideas, iterations

are very helpful but can be very hard to handle

one after another.

I’m good with:

concept, composition, decoration (ha-ha), layer,

I’m starting to understand frame and surface.