RR 7 - Feb 28

     It is a very common phenomenon in ancient architecture that the materials used in any building are clearly found in a close vicinity to said building.  Nowhere is this idea more pronounced and accurate than in the Mosques of Mali.  Mali is a landlocked country edging into Sahara Desert from the south.  Based on this information, it is logical that early architects would have to make do with what is immediately available: ferey, or sun-baked mud bricks.  A type of mud plaster held the bricks together and was even coated on top of the finished building for an organic, smooth look.  Despite its simple design, this is an example of architecture that absolutely belongs where it stands.  In a perfect world, it would have risen from the sands in that form.

 

     Originally built in 1327, the Djinguereber Mosque is the oldest of these mosques.  It features two minarets, three inner courts, and hall with over 20 rows of pillars.  This massive space can contain up to two thousands people.  A very unique aspect must be addressed about this type of building.  Upon the surface, there are rows and rows of wooden logs protruding from the otherwise smooth mud surface.  At one point, they served as scaffolding during construction but now, they are integrated into its very design.  Clearly, Malians had this process figured out, unlike European architects.  For example, Gothic cathedrals were essentially built twice, once as wooden scaffolding, then again, as stone structure.

European scaffolding

Malian scaffolding

A drawback of this type of construction, however, is the wind erosion constantly cutting away at the surfaces.  It becomes necessity to counter this with constant maintenance.

BP 7 - Feb 28

     Ideally, all architecture is meant to create a connection with the viewer by evoking some kind of emotional response.  For the most part, I can positively say that the expected emotion is actually happiness.  Spaces should not only shelter its viewer but also create environments which promote interactions within that space.  Personally, however, I believe that a space's ability to provide happiness is an absolutely crucial tenet in any architectural space.
     If I had to identify a space which provides happiness for me, it wouldn't actually be any room in a building.  I chose the magnolia on the corner of College Avenue and Administration Drive.  I was very unaware of the space hidden within this giant shrub. On the side facing Spring Garden, there is an opening.  Until Friday, I was unaware of its existence.  I walked into the gap half expecting to be disappointed by a small, unappealing space.  Quite the opposite.  The tree has grown to such a scale that its massive branches extend a good 10 feet from the trunk of the tree without any cumbersome leafy growth to fill the gap.  Light actually filters down through the leaves giving a off a beautiful aura and a sense of mystery about the place.  A single tire swing hangs amidst the branches, suggesting that the tranquility of the place peaks at one's solitude in it.  Here, you can leave behind the issues of the world and experience happiness in the simpler things of life.  Return to easier times.  In this sanctuary, there are no papers due.  Blog posts are thing of the past.  Tests are overrated.  And you? Well, you're just a kid in a tire swing.

RR 6

material study

my tile sample.

the wood block.

value scales

smelloscope - the age of stench.

In this age of technology, we work hard to eliminate the human experience.  Everything's all about pixels and gizmos.  We have come to embrace isolation, our only portal to the outside world being a 1'x1.5' LCD screen.


So I say, what the hell! Everyone's doing it!  Embrace the isolation.  I mean, after all, it's just a part of life, right?  I do have a partial solution, however, that contributes this big lie you've built up around yourself.  I call it 'The Smelloscope'!

We've gotten to the point where can transmit sound over huge distances.  We've even managed visual display.  But no one's ever pulled off the digitization of a smell, stench, or even fragrance!  That's where I come in.  The Smelloscope is a state-of-the-art model with USB capability.  Just hook it up and you're good to go!

But that's not even the best part - we're letting these Smelloscope towers go for only $8.99! That's right! It's yours for only $8.99 - plus shipping and handling.  How so cheap? Well I'll tell ya.  It's literally just cardboard and a bit of masking tape.  A spritz of black paint and it's straight to the shelf.  The finishing touch is a cut USB cord that lead deceptively into the base of the tower.  And people think it works!

...Ehem, I've said too much, but seriously, try it and you'll see that the Smelloscope is right for you!

'dining together day'...an tale of triumph

     In this new age of technology, we have been faced with the social epidemic of isolation.  As it is, we stand separated by nationality, race, language, creed; all of which mean nothing in the global sense.  We treat these invisible barriers as concrete boundaries, becoming all too comfortable as a divided people.   In 2015, the United Nations found a solution in the form of “Dining Together Day”, as they so eloquently dubbed it.  On this day, people worldwide gather by means of the internet, dropping all differences, to embrace each other’s cultures as a single family. 

     Back when it was first instated, the proposal was met with much resistance; change is an unnerving thing.  Now, eight and a half decades later, we have long dropped this pessimism.  Twice a year, families around the globe look forward to sharing traditions with the same families they were assigned way back in 2015.  My great-great grandparents may have taken the news grudgingly, but these are people I have seen grow up from infancy and start families of their own.  There are Kago’s and Teo’s families in East Africa, the Matsukis in Japan, Aalbert back in Holland, and Suki and her girlfriend in Hong Kong.  She came out last year; that was quite exciting for all of us.

     We do our best to let our ‘pen pals’ know a little more about us every year.  This year, my dad wants to share a dish he’s had since he was a kid.  Earlier this month, they also gave us many of their own recipes; we plan to make each dish and enjoy them together over a video chat, as does each respective family.  To make the occasion all the more special, we are actually remodeling our dining area and have decided on a Napoleone dining set, a contemporary style which gained popularity back in the 2050s, long after its introduction some fifty years earlier.  It will sit in our old dining area, only the walls will be removed to give the effect of a larger and unrestricting space.  The angle of the floorboards is what will give the observer an idea of what is dining space and what is not.  Also, we are having an oculus built to put emphasis on the table as a symbol of union.  During the summer solstice, the sun will be at its highest point and the natural light can best be utilized.

     We will be connected to each other through video chats over the course of the meal.  Designers have actually taken this day into account when introducing concepts; many tables now have built in cybernetic outputs with wireless capabilities, not to mention having Skype as a key function.  Unfortunately, we still use the primitive method of interfaced nanofabrication to cover our web-chatting needs. 

     Distance has become irrelevant in our lives; where technology originally contributed to spread of social isolation, it has become our champion in this age of global solidarity.  


http://www.inmod.com/venezia-collection-napoleone-dining-table.html