ACTION VERBS

speculate
To speculate is to engage in thought or reflection or to meditate, We did so this week in history be reviewing drawings for our precedent analysis project. Each person was instructed to complete two draft drawings their building. After the review I wished that I had drawn more detailed pictures, rather than architectural drawings.





compose
This week, we moved into the final stages of our composition for Monticello and Fallingwater. I chose Monticello for my composition and used Chartpak markers on marker paper for my medium. This was a scary, yet exciting experience. I had never used Chartpak in a vast composition, and suddenly I had to learn how to master the markers.

energize
For our final projects this semester our drafting and studio classes have been combined. We were assigned a new project, which involved creating a space. For drafting we have to take the offices in rooms 118 and 120 Gatewood and create a model, section, and plan of the space. For studio, we must take this shell and create a meditative and celebrative space for a graduate student in the IARC program. I am very excited about this project because it is the first time we have really gotten to design a space all year!



shape
For our final window project in studio, we
had to focus on exploring two effects of light. For my project I chose to focus on the strength of natural life and the contrast of diffused light. I used ¼ inch Medium density fiber board to create several panels that hang from the top of the window, and several others that stand in the bottom sill. This composition creates a maze of light that still uses two effects.
Winston Churchill realized how important shape was to design. He stated “we shape our buildings, and afterward our buildings shape us.” (Roth, 515)



stretch
For studio, we have been encouraged to stretch the limits of design by being inside a set of restrictions, yet still thinking “outside the box”. We also have to use the three materials that we were assigned earlier in the space. This will be a big stretch for many of us because we are used to thinking about designing a room as picking furniture fabrics and paint, but now we are encouraged to think about designing SPACE.

I chose to redesign this piece of furniture into a wall unit for storage and celebration of work.


Overall this week, we have been focusing a lot on being better designers. By working with composition, energy, shape, and stretching our limits, we are beginning to broaden our horizons as interior architects. I am excited to see what the future holds in learning more about becoming a better designer.