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The Relationship of light
If I were dead, light would have no effect on me; but given that I am alive, the consideration and observation of light is almost mandatory. We as human, nature, and animals always are in constant contact with light; whether man made light or natural light we interact with it daily. Human interaction with light, consist of place, time, and task, mostly. The relationship between light and time, light and place, light and nature, light and climate, light and task are all small windows that help one rationalize light and it’s characteristics, and it’s functionality.
Human function in based off of light. A human dwelling place is where we spend most of our time, whether it is in an outdoor area like a tent, or an office building, home, studio, shopping center or anywhere else that describes a place. In order to function in these areas one must have light. The relationship between light and place depends on the time of day. One knows that in the daylight hours it is not necessary to have a lamp on in an office building if you have a curtain window in that particular space; considering the area is lit enough for you to carry out a specific task. However in some cases a lamp is still required in daylight hours especially if you face the North region in a place. In some regions like Japan, inhabitants would rather have their spaces dimly lit while using a screen to create shadows. In their homes they use rice paper as their partitions which allow for soft light to enter the home as well as some harsh light with area open to the outside.
Places are lit in specific ways so that the task done in that area or building may get done adequately. Task and light also go hand in hand. The relationship of light and task are imperative because, light is required whether it is day or night to do a task correctly. In most cases people are unaware of lighting conditions until there is either not enough light or too much light to complete the task at hand.
People all around the world experience the same interactions with light, maybe not at the same time or even the same day, year, or hour, but everyone has interacted with it. Time plays a big part in this interaction. The relationship of light and time starts over 1000 years ago. The sole reason time was even idealized, was because of light. The only way that people realized that time existed was because of the rotation of the sun. We also know that the relationship between light and time has many connections with our bodies. Our bodies know that it is time to sleep when the sun starts to set and our bodies tell us that it is time to go to bed. Animals also interact with light and time. The relationship with light and time to animals are different than with humans. Wild animals know when to hibernate, eat and sleep based on the light. They know by the moon light when season are about to change.
Like animals know the time and the seasons by the moonlight; plants have the knowledge of this as well. Our natural environment has a lot to do with the nature around us and how it interacts with light. Light and nature has the most intimate relationship. The light of the sun and the light of the moon commands nature day to day. The sunlight feeds the plants as well as the bugs that eat the plants as well as the animals that eat the bugs and as well as the animal that eats the animal. Light has everything to do with the food chain. As stated before, animals know when to migrate and when to hibernate, and when to sleep based on the moonlight. When the seasons change the climate does as well forcing the animals to move, the trees to change color, and the wind to shift.
Light also has a major part in climate as well. As the climate changes so does the light change. The light in colder climates, are brighter than the light in dry climates. The light is brighter in these climates, because the snow on the ground is a white; as we know the color white refracts light, therefore making the area brighter. While in an dry area like a desert, the sand absorbs light making the area hotter. Then you have the more moderate climates. These climates can get extremely hot while at the same time become really cold. These areas are closer to the coast on either east or west.
Light and Human Health
Light is an important part of human life and function. Without light not only will people be really pale, but they would also lack vitamin D which is essential for human life. Light not only affects people in this manner but it can also affect people mentally. People that aren’t exposed to enough light may experience a behavioral disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder better known as SAD. There are some positive effects to high light exposure with Alzheimer patience, as well as people who work a 3rd shift schedule. “Inadequate light levels are associated with dysfunction in a number of systems including diminished immune and endocrine function and may contribute to problems such as diabetes, reproductive and growth disturbances, and symptoms associated with premature aging (Maestroni & Conti, 1996)” This means that if people had enough or got more sun light they would be healthier. Light also has a lot to do with our body and it’s daily routine. We know that when one wakes up it is during or after the sunrise due to the change in light, and when one goes to sleep during the change in the amount of light. Light is key to one’s life cycle, it plays a part in everyday life and function.
This year for me has been a great year. Before starting this semester I thought my studio class would be like any other that I had before; with the same process of drawings and more drawings. In fact it was the very opposite. Yes we had to draw yes we had to build models like any other studio class, but this studio allowed me to find and create my design voice. Before having this class I didn’t really know what a design voice was. I thought all designers designed the same basic way, but that is not the case. I found that each designer has his or her unique characteristic, which forms their identity as a designer. The quality that I have is color and the exaggeration of spaces, and a creative playfulness in my designs. When I first entered the class I thought I was a designer, but with the help of Patrick and Clair I discovered that designing in not the elementary designing found on HGTV, it goes way beyond that. Design reaches into the realm of human life, nature, relaxation, and time. I have matured as a designer by finding that one can’t just build off of one creative thought, but that one thought has to be processed and programmed and evaluated into many different ideas until one great thought is turned into one magnificent design.
I have been challenged like none other this semester. At the beginning of this quarter we established goals for ourselves. The goals that I had were to find my design voice, to think outside the box or the obvious, and to get beyond my comfort zone; these were also a type of building block for me. These three things helped focus me throughout this very challenging semester. Although it was a challenge, I can look back and see how far I’ve come, it truly wasn’t easy. In finding my voice I had to complete the rest of my goals first. Upon coming into 2nd year all I knew how to do was hand drawings and renderings. These were my favorite type of drawings because that was all I had been taught. Learning anything else was frightening. I was afraid to learn something else because I would have had to teach myself, with the assistance of some of my classmates. Stepping beyond my comfort zone was the first obstacle I triumphed over, in learning auto cad, rino, and other 3d modeling systems. I also learn a rendering plugin called podium for a 3d modeling program known as Sketchup. The next goal I defeated was thinking outside the box. This was done in Jenga 4.0 when we were asked to merge buildings with another group. In this experience I learned a lot from my teammates and shared a lot of fun times. After gathering all the process, and the progress of this entire semester I came to a conclusion of my passion, design. I asked myself many late nights in the studio, why am I doing this? Well because it’s what I “die heart ———<3” (love) to do. Thank you Patrick and Claire for a great semester of Jenga fun.
This semester was a journey, at times I didn’t know where I was going although I had the map in front of me. But one thing I learned while on the course of this journey was, you may get tired of running, so you began to jog, and you may get tired of jogging, so you began to walk. But while running, jogging, or walking, you can never get tired and give up.
Within Jenga 6.0 after coming up with the design of the building we had to designate a location for our building . The location that our group decided on was Switzerland. It was a challenge trying to finalize our location, but we decided that it would fit well with the cite, because in Switzerland, there are a lot of ski and bike and snowboarding activities. We agreed to make our building serve as a retreat for people that wanted to come and enjoy the outdoor terrain, then have some where our occupants can rest and relax indoor.
This is our location.
Although it was a challenge we had fun imagining and designing what our resort would be like, and how the people using it would interact with it.
Here is the topography of our cite, as shown it is very hilly and has an water bison, in which we placed our building in.
This is the cite plan with the actual structure on the water. In our cite plan it shows how our structure is placed on the cite. The area which we choose has a lot of paths as shown by the light gray color, and about 5 miles away there is a train station i which our occupants can ride to the nearer cities.
Here is an elevation of our building on the bison, and the structural supports.
OUR STRUCTURE: with the communal space added.
INTERIOR :
In Jenga 5.0 the groups got a chance to merge from 3 groups to a group of 6.
THis Is our buildings on top of one another. This is Decomposition 1 on 1.
Next we went through our design phase. We were to try and make one cohesive building that spoke both languages of our group Angling and the combined group Beaucoup.
Phase 1
We started by taking parts and components off of our original structure in order to start to simplify our building a little more making it one cohesive structure.
While we tried to incorporate both our themes of Beaucoup with curving and angles with Angling we found this to be very challenging. So instead of having two different building envelopes we decided to make the building have the same language vertically.
After we decided as a group that we would make our building envelope speak one language, we added vertical arched columns on opposing corners of the building, while adding angled strips across the surface of the buildings facade. These surfaces changed materiality as it crossed the whole area of the building facades.
As for the interior of the building we used vibrant color patterns. We used blue, burnt orange, olive green, and rust red.
Bathroom- olive green
This whole semester has been a journey for me and my team mates. In reflecting back on the series of Jenga blocks we’ve had starting at Jenga 1.0; development, process work, and my design voice have become stronger. Currently, I am learning as a designer to incorporate other peoples’ design voice with my own while staying true to myself. Design is more than something done with pure thought; most of the time it’s done by instinct, which helps express the concept, and the design character of a person. Design expression and concepts are something that I know and have learned about through reading and analyzing Rengel, and through hands on experience.
In Jenga 1.0, we had to design three spaces each having its own kit of parts within them. This portion of the project helped me find my design voice, and gave me an opportunity to learn new technology that I had never worked with before. Jenga 1.0 allowed me to go outside of my regular way of designing with hand drawings and drafting to digital and computer technology. The technology that I learned was very new to me; I learned things like Auto Cad and Rhino, which I had never worked with in my life. Using these new ways of designing were hard at first and many times I wanted to go back to my old way of designing, with hand renditions of my whole project. However, I remembered what goals I had set, and promised myself that I would stay true to them because I found new software that could convey my design intent; it is now a part of my design expression.
As I move to Jenga 2.0 and it’s experiences, I left Jenga 1.0 having overcame many fears and challenges. While with Jenga 2.0 came more challenges for myself. This part of the project we had to take the unit that had the most development and build a simi-unit on top or add it to the bottom of the stucture. This design made me move upward, dealing with something that I as a designer often times avoid, and that is the STAIRS! This type of designing is very broad, because it gives you all types of design opportunities that many designers don’t explore, because they fear stairs, but the real truth is the world isn’t getting any bigger, and like New York and Japan we’re running out of longitudinal space but we have as much latitudinal as we want so we must build up. Within my spaces I created built-ins with solid spaces in order to maximize the space in the smallest unit which was 11×32’. Rengel states that “design as a language communicates through formal properties and symbolic content. ….Particular arrangements created by the specific forms used constitutes the formal properties of the project. Rengel 247” This was done in this particular unit with the built-ins suggesting that the occupant make him or herself at home. While I wanted the occupant to fill invited, I also wanted them to feel nestled in intimate spaces, hence areas of smaller scale.
After finishing Jenga 2.0 I merged with two other students Justin McNair (spark), and Anna Behtendt (edge). We constructed a 2 story unit from each of our units. While my word was protrude, which came together with spark, and edge merged and became angling. With this new concept we designed a unit with tessellating angles.
After adventuring with a group, which was something very hard for me at the time, because it wasn’t something that I was use to working with. I realized that I had to design around and with other people, having many ideas and being able to bring all ideations together cohesively. As we as group move to Jenga 4.0 we have to put the existing unit on top of itself, rotating of flipping either of our three spaces. In doing this I found it difficult to articulate a design that was a cohesive whole to our previous structure. Although it was difficult we discovered a way to design our units while still staying true to our original concept angling. While we grew stronger as a team we designed stronger. After we became use to one another and how we design we were yet again merged together with another team. The team we merged with was named Beaucoup. Beaucoup and my group angling had two different design schemes and the challenge we had was trying to come together and take our existing structures and stack them on top of one another. Because our schemes were so different, it took us a while to develop a cohesive design. This was one of the biggest challenge working was a group of six. Although there were challenges there were pros to working as a group. In a group I found different ideas, and learned how to simplify a complicated design. As the projects progress I find it harder to stick with an idea and develop it, while I found it easier to evenly distribute the work load. Altogether I have really enjoyed working by myself as well as in a group.
Faith, great start! I would recommend that you reread and revise each paragraph after you finish writing. For me, I always reread each sentence after I write it to understand how
Faith, your ideas are there however in some instances they fail to come through. Try to stay deliberate in your writings.
We as a class was asked to cohesively create and combine units with another group of three. I found that this was a very difficult thing to achieve. This was difficult for me because we worked with two different groups of three and each had a different concept. We combined “forces” with Beaucoups and Jive. We worked with Beaucoups first and their concept based on a continuous curve throughout the whole unit. The unit was very structural and confined, their sculptural posture didn’t reach out into the landscape. While our structural mass reached out and iterated with the spaces outside of the building envelope. But I would say by doing the exercise at the beginning of the semester with the personality traits and what people would land on a scale and what personalities they have and how each would work together, I believe that our personalities work well together.We also worked with Jive. Our group was very well like the other group that we worked with. They had the same concept as the previous group. We didn’t really have alike personalities, and I was afraid we would clash as a group. Although I liked our design concept as a team better because I believe it came together better as a whole. But this experience has taught and is teaching me how to be flexible giving and taking ideas from other people that are different from me. This is a good experience because in the work field we as designers will work day and night with a cooperate group of people other than designers and will have to learn different ideas and be able to have flexibility on one project or another.
JENGA 1.0-2.0 was a very interesting project. This project made us think about design in another perspective. I really enjoyed this project. This project was exciting and challenging at the same time. Exciting because I was able to be as creative and whimsical as I liked. It was challenging because I had set a goal at the beginning of the semester, I promised myself that I wouldn’t use any hand drafting, rendering, or diagramming techniques. The tool of choice was the computer; I wanted to use Auto Cad, Rhino, Illustrator and Sketchup/Podium. I was unfamiliar with most of these modeling software and had no idea how to use them. I had to learn the software and finish the project in 2-3 weeks, this was one of my most challenging phases in my project. I overcame the obstacles and worked to the completion of the project. My project also had some weaknesses: these weaknesses were my verbal presentation wasn’t as powerful in explaining plan layout neither was it clear to the audience what was my design concept. This as a designer and having done better in the past was disappointed. I do however believe that in JENGA 2.0, my presentation was clearer and more organized despite the fact that the presentation method was aboard and nonverbal, although I did use to many words on my board. JENGA 2.0 was a natch above my first project JENGA 1.0, I tried new things and I discovered new ways of doing them. After wrestling my challenges and embracing my strengths ( positive attitude, and a wild imagination ), I was proud of myself and my classmates in the completion of great design ( for the most part).
Plan View of added addition.
Renderings : of Lower floor lodging area.
Rendering of Upper Level
Diagram
Diagram key
January 10th 2011 started the great project; were one had a word that they chose and had to develop a concept using that one word and incorporate it into 3 different spaces. Each space was different in square footage and had a different kit of parts. The kit of parts that we were assigned to use was one space required 2 walls and 1 column, another had 2 columns and a wall and another had 2 solids. Upon being assigned the project that included 3 kits and 3 spaces, there came many challenges. I as well as many of my classmates over came each obstacle to to meat the deadline. I reviewed two classmates; Cassie and Katheryn and saw the strenuous techniques they used to express the different iterations of their words that they had chosen. I reviewed Cassie first; she had the word flow.
In this model presented and designed by Cassie wasn’t her first iteration but in my opinion it was her best. This particular model was made with the Kit that contained 2 walls and a column. I enjoyed the concept that she developed form the word flow, which was capture and release. She wanted her space to capture a person bu having level changes and ceiling height changes. I however wish that she could have represented her ideas better. I appreciate the fact that her design process was developed in model making because it helps me understand the space.
This is a model of her second concept of the word flow. Here she idealizes how a waterfall would work and how it was free flowing. He characterizes this in space, making the space also as a water fall free flowing. I do however wish she could have further explored this thought and done more with the space and thought about how people would interact not only with the surroundings in the space but the actual elements such as the seat and the wall.
This iteration of Cassie’s ideas came from open space. She wanted this model to have open space and volume. This space was the 22′-22′ with the Kit that contained 2 columns and a wall. In this I really liked her thought of open space and how she formed this idea around her spacial. Although this is a strong aspect, I do believe the room could have been thought out more, and given more attention.It seems as thought the items of forms were placed into the model, without thought on it’s arrangements.
kfk
This is a ceiling detail that was constructed by Cassie. I really love the close attention that was shown and placed in the ceiling. Many students including myself didn’t incorporate the ceiling apart of our designs. I really think that the ceiling as well as the inside structures are evenly important and need as much attention.
The second person that I reviewed was Kathryn.
Kathryn explored the word Kiss. She idealized the different meanings and the different things that had to do with kiss. In this model she did the actual action of kiss, and a persons feelings up to the kiss. I though the concept was strong and well thought out. She really took here time in planning out the space and did a great job with allowing the concept touch every aspect of her space. How ever I with the entrance wall could have touched the back wall at the door. I kind of feel that that space there serves no purpose. Overall I thought the design was great.The kit used here was one that contained 2 walls and 1 column. I see where the walls played a great concept, while I don’t see what the column did to enhance the design, it seems as though it was placed there in the space because it was a requirement.
In this plan Kathryn is stretching her idea of kiss to family bonding and how this gesture is one of affection and love. So this space was designed to be family oriented and central based. It is equipped with a gathering area and space for family time. I really appreciated the design concept and how it was tied into kiss. This space was one that contained 2 solids.
Sun-kiss was the word derived from the concept kiss. Kathryn manipulated the space arranged around the sun’s kiss, or when it’s rays shine on you in a warm summer day. I liked the design, but I thought that this kit was not well used and organized. The kit that was use was 2 columns and a wall. I think more creativity could have been utilized. Overall I enjoyed viewing and learning about her project as well as all others.
22′-32’4″ 1 wall and 2 columns 
