CAD or hand drawings?

First project is over! Pictures and drawings will be up shortly. Second project was quickly issued before we even finished pinning-up our first project.

One issue I noticed during the last two weeks of the project is that a lot of the students were, and still are, struggling to decide between hand drawings or doing work on a CAD software. As students progress through the program, I've noticed a lot less hand drawings and a lot more computer work. I love, love hand drawings and I often do a hybrid of computer work and hand drawings in projects. After asking around, most students tend to fall back on what they know, especially during crunch time and the deadline quickly approaching. I can't really blame them. It comes down to turning-in work you know you can produce or risk turning in something you may not complete. I do admire my classmates ambition when they attempt to produce work with a foreign tool. I'll stay behind after studio to show my classmates how to model certain issues in their projects or even teach them bits and pieces of a program they don't know. I can gladly say they are quick learners.

I'm not here to say you should use this rather than that. I do feel hand drawing isn't utilized as much these days and is a very important communication tool to learn and use. But, I also feel the evolution of architecture is dependent on technology and the software is nothing more than just another tool in the bag to use as a conduit to best express an idea. I know a lot of older professors curse the use of computers in architecture, but I'm sure the majority of us wouldn't want to visit a doctor if the doctor was taught and practices the same medical practice used in the 1950's.

Changing things up

Maybe, I am approaching this blog the wrong way. I started out wanting to share my love of architecture with everyone. I consider myself fortunate for always knowing the career I wanted to get into and always saw my peers struggling to pick a major and that was one of the reasons why I wanted to give a little insight for those thinking about getting into architecture. However, at the end of the day I was only giving the readers the same projects the more well known blogs or websites are providing. At the end of the day I knew other sites were able to give better information than what I could provide and I wasn't having much fun just looking through projects and posting a little insite for the sake of having a new post. So, lets try something different. Let me give you guys something a little more personal. One of the best things I have learned as a designer is that everyone loves a good story. So, Ill switch things up a little while still staying on the topic why I starting this blog in the first place. I'll bring you guys with me on my journey as an architecture student at the University of Houston.

What has happend since the last post?
Let me bring you guys up to date. During this past summer I earned my first architecture related job as an intern at an urban planning and real estate development company here in Houston. The internship was a wonderful learning experience about urban planning and development (and city parking codes). At the end of the summer I was able to provide the developer with a list of properties in Houston that I felt would be great developments for the community and the company.

Whats going on now?
Now, studio has officially started. We received the first project: Reference to Human Scale. We are given a 23' x 20 'x 12' room with a small 3' x 12' x 9' mass. Within the mass we have to design four major spaces that unfold and rotate from the mass to create an eating area, grooming area, sleeping and working area. the project is along the same lines of Gary Chang's apartment or an even better example, Christian Schallert's apartment. As of now, the project is due in 8 days with 95% of my design complete. As a last week notice, the professor is allowing me to design outside of the room which I intend to design a nice indoor/outdoor transition space.

Changes?

Most of what ill post will probably be best categorized as 'brain droppings of an architecture student.' At the end of the day, I hope I get people to think about design and about their environments more often. As for the site? I am not sure I like the name much anymore and Ill definitely change the layout. When I make changes, I will let you guys know in advance and if I do change the name.




- The Arch Movement