The following thoughts have marked my first week in the IARC department and I am positive that they will stay with me for the duration of my studies and beyond.
-An architect’s goodness is more important than his greatness and his compassion is more eventful than his passion. –Samuel Mockbee
-Architecture attempts to create an image of the thoughts and actions of human beings as they wish themselves to be. –Leland Roth
-Architecture is humanity’s attempt to connect with the universe, and through buildings, to understand the universe and find a place within it. –Patrick Lucas
As good thoughts go, these have led me to begin an inner dialogue full of questions, a few of which I’ve listed below:
-What is ethical architecture?
-Can architecture truly be sustainable?
-Where is architecture heading?
-How does design differ from art?
It’s questions like these that motivate me to be here as a part of an engaging and supportive design community. As these questions are addressed and explored, I’ll update this blog with any related information—bits and pieces from any source.
The Wayfinding project was a great introduction to my new community both within the department and beyond to the city of Greensboro…
Locating my assigned destination led me to interact with taxi drivers, gas station attendants, shop owners and pedestrians. This experience later proved to be relevant as I read about Lynch’s interviews with city residents who shared their mental images of their physical environments. I came away from this reading with a sense of disappointment due to the fact that Lynch’s sample of interviewees represented such a limited demographic and I began to imagine the possibilities that a more thorough interview process would’ve allowed for. I thought about interviews with immigrant taxi drivers, for whom landmarks might be key indicators for direction and space in environmental images from diverse cultural perspectives. I recalled the elementary school project I took part in that resulted in a colorful map of my hometown from my 2nd grade perspective. And I considered the valuable information that could be gained through interviews with the elderly and the disabled who would be inclined to take user-friendly paths.
Working alongside my wayfinding group to create a coherent collaborative piece was a challenge that resulted in a concept that we were all eager to work with. During this project I realized that I’m surrounded by peers who are both observant and vocal and my interactions with them have encouraged me to take part—even in moments of self-doubt. I enjoyed the class critique session and found the final large group assignment to be overwhelming to a point where I failed to take part or interact as much as I feel I should have.
As for my other classes (morning classes), I’m learning to adapt. It’s become clear that I need to purchase my own car so that carpooling will no longer be a reason for my tardiness. I’m confident that this issue will be resolved within the next few weeks and I look forward to a time when my commute will cease to be a stressful distraction from class work. The History and Theory of Design and Visual Communication both require that I utilize some rusty skills (reading comprehension, test taking and sketching), but I’m getting out the polish and I’m taking the time to make the time. The image I’ve attached is an attempt to dwell on a lecture that highlighted the symbolism of the circle and the square—a balance of elements and ideals, feminine and masculine positioned together in a harmonious composition that has been appreciated across cultures and centuries.
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