Opus Post 5: Voices

Metric-

The Metric system is a universally used numeric system based on ten. The metric system unifies many different countries and groups of people in that aside from the United States; the rest of the world uses the metric system for their numerical measuring system. It unifies people in that everyone has a strong relation with the number ten as we all (or most of us) have ten fingers and ten toes. Because we have the most of those body parts on our bodies we often use them to count. In the planning of the Cathedral at Amiens the "Roman Foot" was used to measure out square units (of ten Roman Feet) used to form and measure the space. Therefore the Roman system of measuring as well as other ancient systems based on ten are precedents to our standard metric system we have today. 

Precedent-

From the precedent study on the Baths of Diocletian I did last year in Patrick's class, I learned about how the Roman baths are precedents to the modern/present day health and fitness club. The large size of the baths is also related to the large fitness clubs of present day. A political precedent to the baths can be found in the Egyptian pyramids in that each successive pharaoh would create a larger pyramid just as each successive emperor of Rome (in this case Diocletian) would create a larger bath house (McManus). 

Presence-

Paula Carr’s presence and her presentation inspired and changed the way I think about design in many ways. From the first structure she showed we saw how something like a beachside snack shack can be turned into something truly site specific- blending in with driftwood, rocks and terrain of the area. I can imagine approaching the structure (“East Beach Café”) from behind not knowing what to expect and finding that it is much more than a trashy snack shack. In a way its purpose is to have no presence on the beach as it’s low profile and natural architecture allows the natural beauty of the beach to be the focus rather than interrupting it like the typical bright pink snack shacks. Her presentation made me think of how my model shouldn’t just direct someone’s path but direct his or her mood and focus as well. The underground Oklahoma City tunnel project was a good example of designing around a very controlled environment, providing a simple solution to navigation within. I want to take something from that example and adapt it to our current project of creating a portal. There is a great presence of control and definite dos and don’ts regarding our hall space. I feel that if we place anything in the hallway a claustrophobic presence may take over. It almost seems as if rather than creating a physical door size “portal” we should create something that implies direction of space or implies a space so that the portals presence is physically minimal. The designers of that tunnel clearly had this direction in mind in that their project would need to be physically minimal.

 Moment- 

In spending so much time in the Moore Humanities building I found that although it is a large building with many large spaces it really has many small environments within creating special and intimate moments for those who inhabit them. Sitting in the main lobby I found that the bench area underneath the stairs is where people love to gather to people watch, read, and even sleep. This little shelter under the stairs provides people who sit there with a view from which they can watch passing people and not feel threatened by outside attention. 

In designing my 3D model walkway/circulation zone I played around a lot with the scale figures I created. Perhaps out of silliness, I created scale samurai sword fighters, which I placed on top of my cantilevering walkway. After looking at them in relation to the other figures I decided I would present the model with the two samurais on top having their own moment while the other figures could be below. The samurais actually provided much strength to my model in that they could have their own private sparring/training/battle or what ever story the viewer may create. I feel like I created a basis through which people can create a story or moment for themselves vicariously through the scale figures. There is also a duality in that there are also people below to not only show a man's relation to the structure's height but to create basis for another moment separate from that of the samurai's. I learned that a lot more than what we think of the project is dependent on the scale figures; scale figures with agency can enhance and provide more visual stimulation and meaning for the project than generic standing figures.  

Duality-

There is a duality in the Moore Humanities building as discussed above that although it is comprised of many large spaces it has many concentrated areas where people like to gather or study and meditate alone. It is often in these moments that because you are on free time and you don't have to do homework that you are most productive. The lobby of the MHRA seems to pull people into its intimate spaces and encourage this productiveness. It is perhaps that during these moments you feel as if you are on free time and you are not stressed about getting the work done but rather focused on what it is you are doing. 

There is a duality in the respective purposes for why emperors created larger baths as well as in how Pharaohs created successively larger pyramids. Although both civilizations’ emperors would do this to glorify their own power there were other reasons. The pharaohs created their pyramids to glorify themselves before the Gods so that they would be well received. The emperor Diocletian created his large and grand bathhouses to not only glorify himself but to appease the people while the four emperors slowly imploded Rome in a power struggle (McManus, 1). 

In my final 3D model I show a duality in that thin linear pieces "stretch" to imply a larger space. The top piece’s structure curves downward to direct the eye inward and around so that a circulation zone is implied below the structure not just on top.

Reflection-

Design is influenced by the environment it is made for and to be successful it should create moments as well as a presence that complements the environment. It should also complement the environment in its scale relation to natural surroundings just as our own metric system was developed through precedents of natural systems of ten.

Citations-

McManus, Barbara (2003, July). Roman Baths and Bathing. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from vroma.org Web site: http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/baths.html

Wukitsch, Dean (2004, October). Baths of Diocletian. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from mmdktw.org Web site: http://www.mmdtkw.org/RT04-BathsDiocletian.html

Roth, Leland (2007). Understanding Architecture. Westview Press.