Midterm at Pratt has come and gone faster this semester than either semester last year. Basically we're designing components that aggregate into a larger system that becomes the building. The idea is that a powerful system can be generated by an architecture that negotiates between a top down (environmental conditions to component) and bottom up (component to building) processes. The result will be a building that optimizes both internal small scale environments by blocking sound, diffusing direct sunlight and allowing natural ventilation while reducing energy consumption for the entire building.

The component I designed is based on two plant photos from a book Karen got me this summer. They are by Karl Blosfeldt, who made gorgeously lit and contrasted compositions out of plants in the early 1900's.





So I made a component with a sun shading/catching top that will protect the interior from the harsh brazilian sun (and potentially turning it into energy with photo-volteics) and an air tube on the bottom that will act as a duct for either passive or active ventilation. The bottom of the component also has a parabolic dish which brings diffused light into the space. Here is the starch model I printed for midterm and computer rendering of an array of these components. (as an aside, it was my goal to model something with the 3d printer this semester and I'm really excited that I got to do it already!)









and created this paper model of how it might be arranged on a building scale



My next task is to figure out the site organization that these components will take on. I'm starting to look at site circulation and creating dynamic curve systems who's parameters I will be able to give meaning and adjust to create an interesting and meaningful configuration.

brazil:

I'm in what has come to be known as the Brazil studio at Pratt this semester. Basically this is because our site is located in Sao Paulo Brazil and we made a trip there as a class to do some research.

It was an amazing trip and a great opportunity to make my first journey to South America. We spent 4 days in Sao Paulo visiting the site and other parts of the city, and receiving lectures about the environment, history and architecture of Brazil from members of the local university.

We stayed at a cute inn near the central district


visited an example of artist housing


visited a community center with an amazingly large gym


ate yummy fried pastels with cheese and hearts of palm


documented our site (future modern art museum in background)


visited another community center with an amazing mix of programs (gallery, library, music performance, roof deck, sunken pit with rain rain forest plants growing out, all with these great ramps going between)


and on our last day in Sao Paulo we visited (viewed from the outside) one of the favelas, or slums.


Later that day we flew to Rio De Janeiro about an hour's flight away. There we saw more interesting architecture and Brazilian culture. Rio is Brazil's most beautiful city, and even though the weather was hazy for most of the time we were there it was still an wonderful experience.

We visited the famous Niteroi museum by Oscar Niemeyer who turns 100 this year and is still working. He is the Brazilian equivalent of Le Corbusie in many ways.


and his house


and a cathedral also designed by him that has an intelligent component based system that is open to the outside but blocks direct sunlight.






And of course a trip to rio wouldn't be complete without visiting the famous crist statue and seeing the view of the city from its impressive bluffs




and even saw a family of monkeys along the way :)

This past weekend Adrien and I participated in one of my favorite annual New York events- Open House New York. OHNY is a non-profit that strives to expose the diverse public to New York’s built environment, highlighting buildings and structures of historical importance as well as new work. This year for the first time I was a volunteer, and was very lucky with my volunteer placement- Tom Otterness’ studio (http://www.tomostudio.com/.) The pictures below are of work, both in progress and completed work, in his studio.







Outside of my volunteer duties Adrien and I saw 8 other sights including: 2 architecture offices, 2 residential, 3 organizations (including The Architecture Institute, The Horticulture Society, and Project for Public Spaces,) and a brand new community garden (which happens to be just a few blocks away from our apartment.) Our favorite sight was a residential condo. Below are a few of the pictures from the condo.

The entryway fountain/ bathtub/ shower.



The living room/ kitchen



The kitchen and directly towards the back, out of sight, is the very small nusery where there are two cribs.



The master bedroom



The subway doors as closet doors

We’ve been taking care of Desiree and Nathan’s cats for about a month now, and I keep meaning to post pictures of the kitties. So here they are. The one in the sink/ lounging on the pillow is Phoebe; the one on the couch is Adonis. The one in the sink is the one who likes being given baths so much, and will get in the bath and yell and yell when she hasn't been given a bath recently.