VESTIGE HOUSE PROJECT REFLECTION
5/1/2023
Following our largest scale project with a humble home for a family of four was a great challenge. This project tasked us with designing a sustainable and affordable home for a family relocating to Nashville from Clarksville for shorter commutes to work, thus more time at home with the family. To add to the challenge, this home is located on vestigial site that is at the convergence of two rads in the shape of a pizza slice also with a twenty foot grade change. As a part of the project, we studied codes and understood setbacks, limiting out buildable space even more. We were also tasked with designing the easement next door as well, meaning the home has no 'back'. So many challenges made the completion of the project that much more rewarding. My project focuses on splitting the home to different levels to address the topographical changes of the site which allows moments of overlap and unique ways to bring light into spaces that otherwise would be dark. This split is organized along a datum that originates from the corner of the site through the easement. Though it is a 'split' it really is all about connectivity; connectivity between the easement and the home, connecting the family through different spaces, and brining the community together in the easement. Understanding and overcoming the challenges of the site, designing something beautiful yet respectful to the needs of the family, and really engaging the community through the easement were some of my biggest goals throughout this project and I feel as if I was pretty successful in accomplishing them.
FROSTY MORN PROJECT REFLECTION
5/1/2023
With this being our largest project to date and our first group project, there were many challenges, rewards, and new lessons that came along with it. This project pushed me beyond what I knew, allowed me to learn new ways of working, taught me the beauty of successful collaborative work, and ultimately resulted in a really strong and successful project. I really enjoyed the challenge of having an existing structure to work with. With the building historically being known for economically supporting the community, the goal of this redevelopment is to do the same. Providing start up restaurant spaces and individual artist studios allow the creative minds of the community to come and work and sell their products. My group's decision to open up the middle and add two wings to the back provided for a really comforting and inviting outdoor space for the community to gather in. In the center of this space sits a skeletal frame of a smokestack, playing homage to the brick smokestack that was once on the property and becoming a new beacon for the Red River District.The opportunities to work with the Mayor of Clarksville, owner of the property, and read about the wants and needs of the community really gave me a sense of what working on a real life project would be like. Ultimately, I learned much about the collaborative aspects of architecture, among architect working on the project specifically, but also with the community and everyone else involved.
HOUSE FOR A POET PROJECT REFLECTION
5/1/2022
As the last project of the semester and the smallest scale program, I really enjoyed the change of pace. I decided to spend my time working on this project introducing myself to the programs Rhino and Enscape. I really liked getting to work on something small scale and to let my design be tailored specifically to my client. With her being a poet, I focused my design on the juxtaposition of light and dark, a common theme of poetry. It was challenging to think of things at such a small scale after doing the previous two projects, but doing this provided me with a new way of thinking. I really enjoyed working on this project and working on the new digital programs. I thought it was so cool to see the design I thought of, envisioned, and created represented in very realistic renderings. I never thought that I would be capable of designing and doing things like this, but I proved myself wrong.
WATER RESEARCH INSTITUTE PROJECT REFLECTION
5/1/2022
This was an extremely challenging project for me. Given such a large and unique site along with a very specific program, I really had no idea what I wanted to do. In addition to these challenges, this was the very first project that I did digitally. I spent time not only designing and iterating, but also teaching myself Revit. This was a huge break through for me. Hand drafting is something that came so naturally to me and I felt very comfortable doing with doing it. It was really challenging to overcome the hurdles that came with learning a new program and doing it in a way that did not hinder the work that I was producing. My design was a simple object in a field concept that brings emphasis to the importance of the building and the historic site and its surroundings. I focused on the connection between the professional crowd and general public that are all invited to this research institute.
COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT REFLECTION
5/1/2022
When first beginning this project, I was super overwhelmed. I had no conceptual or design ideas coming to my mind and really didn’t know where to begin. In addition to this, this was the first project I was assigned that had so many programmatic requirements. Because of this change, the first thing that I thought to do was to think about the program and the best way for it to be organized. I studied the surrounding areas and took note of heavy trafficked areas. The unique site sits right along the point of two roads coming together. I thought that this was symbolic of the space that I was designing and I let that be a driver for me. I placed all of the most public program at that point in the building so that those outside the building at that point could see into the welcoming community space. When it comes to my form, it is heavily influenced by program. The topography of the roof goes up and down based on how public or private the space is. The vertical slats around the exterior are spaced different distances from each other based on how public or private the space inside is. I am very pleased with how this project came out especially considering how lost I was at the very beginning. I definitely think that this is some of my best work so far.
COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT REFLECTION
5/1/2022
This was the very first project of the semester, and given our unusual circumstances, the whole thing was done away from the studio at home. This came with its own challenges in addition to the ones presented with the project. This projects tasked us with studying and creating our own analysis of a work of art. This could be music, art, poetry, etc. I chose to do my project on a song known as “If You Love Her” by Forest Blakk. Specifically these lyrics:
Take it
If she gives you her heart
Don't you break it
Let your arms be a place
She feels safe in
She's the best thing that you'll ever have
She'll love you
If you love her
On days when
It feels like the whole
World might cave in
Stand side by side
And you'll make it
She's the best thing that you'll ever have
She'll love you
If you love her like that
The project then asks us to derive three words from our piece of art. This can be representative of themes or the emotions we feel from it. The words that i chose for mine were Broken, Timid, and Support. With this, I was to design an architectural model that was representative of those words, and ultimately the song. This came not only with the challenge of designing a form of this fashion, but also with the challenge of pouring the plaster to result in an object that looks like how I want. I learned the challenges that come with building a mold of the negative of what I want. This was something that I have never done or even thought of before. I was also working with a new material that I had never dealt with before. I learned the importance of using a releasing agent and quickly became very thankful for test pours.
Take it
If she gives you her heart
Don't you break it
Let your arms be a place
She feels safe in
She's the best thing that you'll ever have
She'll love you
If you love her
On days when
It feels like the whole
World might cave in
Stand side by side
And you'll make it
She's the best thing that you'll ever have
She'll love you
If you love her like that
The project then asks us to derive three words from our piece of art. This can be representative of themes or the emotions we feel from it. The words that i chose for mine were Broken, Timid, and Support. With this, I was to design an architectural model that was representative of those words, and ultimately the song. This came not only with the challenge of designing a form of this fashion, but also with the challenge of pouring the plaster to result in an object that looks like how I want. I learned the challenges that come with building a mold of the negative of what I want. This was something that I have never done or even thought of before. I was also working with a new material that I had never dealt with before. I learned the importance of using a releasing agent and quickly became very thankful for test pours.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
2/16/2022
Every new day brings its own challenges. Challenges come in many different shapes and forms, and oftentimes prohibit people from getting their stuff done. One thing that I have really struggled with this spring semester is not crumbling when things get tough, but rather persevere and grow stronger through those situations. When working through the Carnegie Library Community Center Project, I was faced with many challenges within the project specifically as well as just in life. This was a true trial to my abilities to overcome challenges and I think I was successful in doing so. This again, comes from my past experiences as a dancer constantly being faced with different challenges. The ability to push through and still produce work that you are still proud of is something that I think is one of the greatest things anyone could do. In the end, I think that this community center project is my most successful design project thus far in my education.
DANCING MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE
2/16/2022
I spent the majority of my childhood as a competitive dancer and with that was able to learn many valuable life skills. Some of these skills include time management, hard work, dedication, teamwork, communication skills, and so much more. Spending my time now -outside of the classroom- working at the dance studio I have only been enriching these skills. When working on the pavilion project, I was able to see my strengths in these abilities shine through. With this being my first “real” experience in design practice, my time management abilities were really able to show through. The combination of learning how to draw new types of drawings and forcing a new creative thought process was a challenge for me but it all worked out in the end. I honestly have no idea how I would be able to manage all of the different things on my plate had I not been a competitive dancer throughout high school.
