Hard Light Productions Forums
Off-Topic Discussion => Arts & Talents => Topic started by: Galemp on November 05, 2003, 03:40:51 am
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I thought I'd post my latest and greatest work of architecture for your viewing pleasure. It's taken me several weeks to get this far, with intense concentration and critical review, so I've put a lot of work into this and can justify every last joint in the thing.
The initial program was to create a 'Campus Information Terminal' on the corner of Summit and Warren Streets on the NJIT Campus, in Newark. Here's the site; it's right outside the Specht Building (ugly box) and not too far away from the architecture studios.
(http://www.njit.edu/about/organization/president/campus_appearance/thumbs/9_after.jpg)
(http://www.njit.edu/about/organization/president/campus_appearance/thumbs/12_after.jpg)
We were required to have one covered, interior space for a single attendant, and a covered exterior space for 20 people. Now, quite what this terminal was was left to us, so we needed some research and thought into what function this structure was to fulfil before we started designing it. I decided that this was to be an information access point, like an information booth or kiosk with self-serve terminals and an attendant to assist.
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/site.jpg)
Physically, I decided to base it upon the intersection of a polar and a cartesian grid in three-dimensional space. The polar grid represents the information dissipation, or focusing, on or from this one universal 'terminus,' while the cartesian grid is necessary to work with the site and existing context of the buildings.
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/study.gif)
And here's what I came up with.
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/swpersp.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/epersp.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/plan.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/nsection.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/Welevation.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/showpanels.jpg)
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Now, each of the 'spokes' coming off the polar grid corresponds to a different location on campus. One goes off to the dining hall, one goes to the library, another goes to the center of downtown, and so on, as shown by this diagram:
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/diagram.jpg)
And at the base of each of these spokes, where the support meets the ground, there is an individual access terminal, oriented to whatever that spoke is pointing to. So if you wanted to know the hours of the student dining hall, for example, you would head to that particular terminal, look it up, then walk straight ahead until you hit the dining hall. You could easily do the same for bus schedules, and the architecture would direct you to the bus stop; sports events, and you would be directed to the field; and so on.
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/terminals.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/terminal.jpg)
The second phase of the project involved the demolition of the Specht building, and we were to build an exterior/interior exhibition space for the display of new architectural materials and full-scale mock ups.
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/Xspaceoverview.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/enterXspace.jpg)
This was fairly straighforward, as it grew directly from the existing language established by the information terminal.
But to do this, we had to study our own architectonic language and make detailed joint and material studies that related to our initial concepts and were sound structurally. Here, then, are the studies I undertook to understand the relationship of the materials, how the the polar beams intersected with the cartesian framework grid, and how this outer translucent skin was attached to the framework.
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/joints.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/jdetail2.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/jdetail1.jpg)
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/exploded.jpg)
So you see how even the smallest details relate back to my concept of the intersection of the polar and cartesian grids. In the end, it all boils down to this:
(http://web.njit.edu/~pjo3/arch/intersect.jpg)
An architectural scheme on a micro and a macro scale, relating to the initial concept and fulfilling all the necessary functions, while simultaneously creating an interesting and entertaining space in which to be in.
That, my friends, is what architecture students do for classwork. *takes a bow*
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Wow! No wonder you make good models. Nice work GE. That is extremely cool.
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Dude, that is really well thought-out - I'm impressed. But aaah, my modem! ;)
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Originally posted by Setekh
I'm impressed. But aaah, my modem! ;)
:lol: 0wnt!
I love it, a lot. Hmmm... Is this a promotional thing, trying to get HLPers to get into architecture? :p
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fear the iMac ... looks most impressive GE :nod:
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Nice GE:yes:
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Impressed isn't good enough a word.
Go get 'em Tiger!
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really, really nice. it really looks very good.
not to bug you or anything, but about the information monitors, having computers outside, permanently, doesn't really sound vandalism proof, does it?
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He's got a point - you'd need to make it idiot proof (strong plastic cover over the screen and the rest of the machine housed in metal / some other protection from idiots and thieves.
That said, you've done excellent work - it's a great design, you're sure to get good grades for it! Nice one!
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on the vandalism, i once saw a very nice way of solving it in some British Toursit Unofrmation building.
the keyboard was made of metal, and the key's were like those on a ATM, not standing up, metal, and responding to light presses. the mouse was replaced by a large metal trackball lodged into the keyboard. the only way to kill it was by using glue, bubble gum, or a sledgehammer, and the latter is doubtfull.
and it even looked futuristic and all, and i think it will look good in there.
as for a screen, perhaps it's an idea to put it in a resecced part of the tabel, so that you look at it from the top. you could use a CRT screen, and put a vandalism proof glass or plastic pane above it. once again, only large, heavy objects and perhaps paint could ruin it.
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sweet bad awesome Gal emp, thats a truly inpired peice of work there! :yes: :yes:
Originally posted by kasperl
on the vandalism
*cough rent cough a cop cough*
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that kinda smells like I.M. Pei - but i don't know why
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Originally posted by Galemp
And at the base of each of these spokes, where the support meets the ground, there is an individual access terminal, oriented to whatever that spoke is pointing to. So if you wanted to know the hours of the student dining hall, for example, you would head to that particular terminal...
Okay, this is dumb. You have the technological capacity to put the same information on every terminal. What is gained by forcing people to access specific information from specific terminals? What if someone wants information about the entire campus? This would force them to wander from terminal to terminal to terminal. What if more than one person wanted the same information? They'd have to stand in line instead of just heading to any free terminal.
Anyway, didn't "girder chic" go out years ago?
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Originally posted by Galemp
then walk straight ahead until you hit the dining hall. You could easily do the same for bus schedules, and the architecture would direct you to the bus stop; sports events, and you would be directed to the field; and so on.
Now that is cool. :yes: :nod: :yes:
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Originally posted by ZylonBane
Okay, this is dumb. You have the technological capacity to put the same information on every terminal. What is gained by forcing people to access specific information from specific terminals? What if someone wants information about the entire campus? This would force them to wander from terminal to terminal to terminal. What if more than one person wanted the same information? They'd have to stand in line instead of just heading to any free terminal.
That's why there's the central attendant booth. :ha: And I'm sure that these individual access points would be connected to the entire campus network; they would just be 'focused.' The computers we have in the library, for example, have library.njit.edu as their homepage, and are to be used mainly for accessing the book catalogs and such, but they're all connected to the network so if you want any other information you can find it.
As for vandalism, well, we haven't gotten that far yet. :blah: Right now we're focusing on the design, and while figuring out ways to protect the computers might be practical, it doesn't contribute to our overall scheme.
Anyway, didn't "girder chic" go out years ago?
It's called supermodernism. :p I'm serious.
Originally posted by Kazan
That kinda smells like I.M. Pei - but i don't know why.
I do. :D I. M. Pei is actually my favorite architect; what we do is we see how much we can do with limited geometry. For each of his buildings, he chooses a geometric language, like the intersection of a square and a circle, or a 3D triangular grid, then runs with it. I tend to do the same thing, basing my language off the conditions of the site and the program then creating the architecture from that language.
Originally posted by Ulala
Now that is cool. :up: :nod: :up:
Ten'O? Is that you?
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:nervous: That little man by the computer is fat...
:yes: :nod:
And 10of12 is now Ulundel, not Ulala...