Senior Project Reflection

1) Positive Statement

What I am most proud of in my 2 hour presentation is how fluid the process was from answer to answer, and every answer related to one another because throughout the presentation and activities I made the audience understand that a client is their number one priority when designing a structure. 

2)
a) Personally I would give myself an E because (1) I created a classroom set-up that was directly related to my research and in result enhanced the experience and involvement of the audience and made my presentation to them much more effective. The set-up will not only improve my presentation but the presentations of those who follow and use my setup, like Shannon. (2) I was an effective user of technology who in fact showcased creativity through the use of pictures, activities, and media (3) I gave the audience my perspective on architecture which in result made them see architecture through a new perspective as I did after going through senior year. The audience gradually improved in sketching, scale drawing, and understanding of 3D objects because of the tips that I gave them in every activity.

b) P- because despite the missing interviews I was still in the same position as others who also got a P the problem was that finding service learning was more important than my interviews so they weren't turned in on time. Missing the service learning check should of also not penalized me, every architect I asked would say the same thing which was that there was nothing I could possibly do for 50 hours because they have no work. I also have still worked hard with researching throughout the year despite taking 3 college classes. I have also gained a product in the end of the year despite being in the position of completing 50 hours of service learning and 30 hours of independent component in less than a month.

3) I improved in sketching, scale drawing, and understanding of 3D objects which in result will help me when I begin college because that's when I will begin to use them according to Henry Funes, student of Architecture at Cal Poly, Pomona.

4) Finding service learning in the architectural field!

5) As said earlier, Henry Funes has told me that what he is having me practice is used in his architecture classes. He had me make a cube where 1/3 of the volume was taken out in a complex way in order to understand how structure are affected with ever little modification. He also had me do Revit Auto CAD which, confirmed by Michael Powell, Project Manager, MICA, was used in the architectural industry and actually puts the designer ahead of the competition if one becomes fluent with the program.

2 hour presentation

2 hour template: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7jQM_GW0goqcW5KQWZYZW9Genc

Service Learning

Content:

 Literal 

Log...51 hours.. Contacts.. Henry Funes: 562-572-4620....Michael Powell: 909-578-7961.....Juan C. Araya: 909-869-5143

Interpretive 

The most important thing I have gained from this experience is understanding how the environment and geography ties directly to the construction of a building. This is important to understand because one must design a house according to environment and geography in order to truly get the best benefit, energy wise, out of the sustainable structure.

Applied 

Going to service learning with Michael Powell was what helped me gain the best answer out of my essential question because no matter what Michael wanted to do to the structure, he would have to consult to his client first. This proves that one must understand the occupants intended use of the structure if not the client will find no use in the structure and consequently be unsatisfied. 

Working Bib

Working Bib

Research Towers

Research Towers

Independent Component 2

I, Melvin Rodriguez, affirm that I have done 30 hours of work that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work

              I have completed 30 hours of work by doing activities recommended by Dr. Fernandes, an architect, and Henry, a student of architecture at Cal Poly Pomona. These activities include scale drawing, sketching, practicing on the CAD program (Computer-Aided Design), constructing a craft of my own, and understanding 3D objects and their volume. Doing these activities would cause me to get more familiar to architectural concepts, and thus help me understand my topic that much more. The minimum time was passed easily as drawing requires a lot of time and effort, the CAD program required hours of lecture from my service learning, as well as videos to better understand the program before I even began to use it. I also spent a few hours analyzing my house to see the measures and most accurately replicate the structure into the CAD program the best I can. Every day I naturally sketch so this accumulated into my hours as well. When it was all done I knew that my essential question was going to be that much easier to answer. Through the process of completing my independent component I saw that architects have to see things from another perspective. For example, a box is not a square, it is a cube, if you take one side of that box you will be affecting the four sides around the one that was removed. The other thing I learned was gaining a mental picture of a certain object that measures a certain amount, and use that measure when trying to scale a part of a structure. For example, When designing my own home through CAD, I imagined my 10 foot basketball court laying across my room and noted that my room might be a little more than ten feet wide. Last, but not least, I learned that dedication is important when designing a structure. While Henry was lecturing me he noted that the architecture studio is always open because students usually stay over night to finish their work. He said that sleep was something an architect has to give up in order to get the job done because there will be nights were the project is due the next morning.




Calendar: Architecture Independent Component 2


Evidence:

From 2D.............

 To improved 2D..... (I deleted my kitchen wall, rookie mistake..)

To 3D.....

 Construction through cardboard material...

Scale Drawing & 3D understanding

Sketching

Helping 2013

Interviewed: Joseph Luna

04/24/2012

1. What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?

Joey: I plan to do something involving criminal investigation because that is what I will potentially do in the future.

I told him to talk to Jaime Cervantes for help on his topic because he is doing something related to criminal investigation so he may help him out in order to get connections.

2.  What do you plan to do to complete the 10 hours of service learning which is due prior to senior year?

Joey: I want to work with my local police station for 10 hours.

I told him that it is a good idea, and it would be better to get commitment from that police station were he would get the fifty hours for senior year as well as the 10 hours in the summer.

3. What do you hope to see or expect to see when watching the class of 2012 present their two hour presentations?

Joey: I want to get ideas for next year which can help me present and see the good and the bad things that they do in the presentation and carry the good onto my presentation.

4. What questions do you have about senior project?

Joey: Is there any specific way I have to write my essential question?

Make sure your answer is not too general and that every word in the essential question helps people understand what you are trying to find.  
I told him not to worry too much on his essential question because he will get a lot of help next year during class.

Answer #3

• Essential Question: What is most important when designing a structure?
• Answer: Accounting for the the environment around you when designing a structure.
• Evidence: (1) The farm market at the store is self-sustainable due to its environment, the Cal Poly Pomona campus emphasizes environmental design so the farm was not an exception. (2) The theaters that you go watch your movies are accounting for the environment as one would not be able to see the movies as comfortably if there was no slope in the seating arrangements nor get the feeling of a theatrical theater without the massive features of the building. (3) The stadium for the Arizona Cardinals is closed in because the heat is absolutely horrendous, thus the architects/engineers accounted for this and designed the building to suit the environment.
• Source: "A lively Theatre"/Dr Fernandes lecture: Intro to Architecture./ "An introduction to western architecture and design".

3-Column Chart

3-Column chart: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B7jQM_GW0goqMjNSTXl2R2JYWVk

Room Creativity

(1) First, and foremost, I plan on addressing the room creativity requirement by having my room set up in the way that most effectively enables the audience to spectate my presentation through what I read in "A lively Theater" which states that an audience crowds around what they wish to spectate and thus a circular set-up of chairs around me would be best. Secondly, I would like to prep up the desks the students will be sitting on by placing blue prints as table cloth to get them into the feel of architecture and also placing my essential question in the cloth. Last, but not least, I would like to place posters of famous buildings on the walls which would almost resemble an art museum.

(2) I plan on doing an activity for my answer #1 where I have the students learn how to take advantage of the resources around them when designing a structure. So I will have them choose between importing and grabbing materials from local markets. I will do this by color coating materials like Popsicle sticks (wood) for example. One color of this material will be more expensive due to the expense of importing and this will go on with the other types of materials like glass, shingles, doors. The students will have a certain amount of money and after they are done I will explain how important it is for an architect not to try to make everything to fancy but also think of factors like expense, efficiency, and recycling.

Answer 2

Essential Question: What is most important when designing a structure?

Answer 2: What is most important when designing a structure according to my sources so far is thinking green. This is an important aspect of architecture that must be incorporated in the new designs of buildings as the need for energy efficient buildings is increasing.

Sources"

1. My science experiment

2. The biosphere article I read about sustainibility

3. The Pomona College garden that that has been built on top of a roof which I helped plant.

The Product

As of March, my product of my project is the progressing improvement in scale drawing. This is my product because it is absolutely necessary to have mastered when designing a structure.

The making of my product began when I decided to sketch a tree before my architecture class. I showed my professor after the class and asked for his feedback. He actually said I did better than most of his advanced students would. I then asked what I could do to improve as an architect and he said to begin scale drawing, were you would sketch any object and compare it to a six foot tall person which is what architects typically do when designing a structure.

Fourth Interview Questions

For my fourth interview I plan on interviewing Erik, an architect from Cal Poly who specializes in environmental design in order to back up one of my answers to my E.Q. which is, "going green is most important to consider when designing a structure".

1.  What is most important to you when designing a structure?

2. Has the demand for sustainable architecture risen? If so, how have you adjusted to the demands?

3. Why would an architect choose to design a sustainable building rather than a conventional building?

4. In your opinion, which is the best piece of sustainable architecture that you have seen?

5. Which is an example of a bad piece of green architecture that you have seen?

6. I previously did an experiment where I compared a green roof to a conventional shingled roof by placing the two different platforms in the open to absorb heat from the sun and prove that green roofs will repel the most heat and thus cut energy costs for utilities like air conditioning. That being said, what other way do you believe a student like me could prove that sustainable architecture is important?

7. Do you believe it is more difficult to satisfy a client visually with green architecture?

8. Would there be a difference between rural and urban when designing a sustainable structure?

9. How would you make sure green architecture lasts as long or longer than conventional architecture would?

10. How would you get around a design when there is lack of resources that you would prefer?

11. What are you most proud of as an architect in environmental design?

12. What happens when a design does not prove to be as suitable as planned?

13. Do you believe grassed roofs will be an eventual substitution for shingled roofs?

14. How difficult would it be to transition a normal house into a sustainable home?

15. What is the most important factor to sustainable architecture?

16. What do you know about the history of sustainable architecture?

17. Is it hard for an architect who is used to designing conventional houses to transition into these new green houses?

18. Does "form follows function" apply better to green architecture?

19. Who's work do you admire the most regarding green architecture in the past?

20. What kind of research do you recommend I do in order to prove that green architecture is most important to consider when designing a structure?

Independent Component 2 Plan Approval

1. For my independent study component I plan on reading for an hour and sketching something creative from what I read (books, novels, articles) for at least an hour a day.
2. My Independent component will easily pass the 30 hour minimum because it will take two hours a day. The margin notes and sketches will prove to be enough evidence as well and I predict that I will gradually become a much better reader and artist throughout my days of work which will result in more sketches/pages read per hour.
3. My independent component relates to my E.Q. because sketching is a main part of designing a structure and fusing this with reading will prove to get my imagination running at a higher level which may prove to be most important when designing a structure.

Independent Component 1

• Calendar
• Evidence: 

1. Transcript
2. Rubric for Introduction to Architecture:

 

1.                                                        
   

3. Introduction to Architecture Paper:                                                                                

 

 4. Quiz:                                                                                                                        

• Literal: (a) I, Melvin Rodriguez, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents more than 37.5 hours of work.                                                                     (b) I completed a class at Citrus College that was approximately 37.5 hours of lecture. The class involved quizes, tests, a final paper, and a final test. During the class I would have to take notes on the lecture in my composition book. Our professor would require us to right in our notebook with great organization in order to recieve a good grade on the notes. These notes also were the key in passing the tests and quizes; basically what was on the notes was what we were going to be tested on. In our notebooks we were required to write notes on our own on the doctorate book our professor wrote which is called "A Introduction to Western Architecture". He would go over the answer to the chaper review questions once we were done with a chapter. Dr. Fernandes also had us buy two books to read "Field Guide to American Houses" and "Europe 101" to read on our own. Lastly, Dr. Fernandes had us write a paper which required us to interview a family elder in order to find out about a unique piece of architecture from our culture.
• Interpretive: My work earned an A in the class at a college level. I easily spent more than 30 hours working on this component by attending the class and went "above and beyond" by taking organized notes, interviewing several family members for my final paper, spending a rigurous night awake studying for the final test, and ultimately learning more than I had to about the period and style of Architecture. I learned more by researching on my own, staying after class to conversate about architecture with my professor, and ultimately earn connections that will help me answer my essential question, "What is most important when designing a structure?"
• Applied: It helped me answer my essential question because this class really did do a good job at introducing me to Architecture. I learned about architecture from pre-history to futuristic and it showed me the innovative ways that architects would design a structure. It showed me that throughout the eras people found that being innovative is very important when designing a structure. For example, my professor told me about Versai, which was built in the Renaissance and how they had marble columns in the hallways to a certain height until it became scarce and how they would have painters replicate the marble so beautifully that it is almost impossible to see in through the human eye. This innovative thinking also proved important in the midevil times when architects would design castles in order to best benefit the people inside. Firstly, they would have to find a way to keep water inside the premises of the caslte walls. Then they would have to design the castle in a way that gave the advantage to the one's battling from inside the castle. Lastly the architects would have to find a way to make the inside of some castles civilized in order to maintain people for a long period of time. These and many other examples are what brought me to the answer "You as an architect must work with the resources that you have, which means being creative when there is a scarce amount of tools and resources that you as an architect would prefer."                                                          Thank you for your interest in my component; have a nice day! -Melvin Rodriguez

Presentation 2 Rough Draft

20 Minute Lesson Plan

Prepared By: Melvin Rodriguez

House: East

Essential Question: What is most important when designing a structure?

Objectives: For my 20 minute presentation I plan to teach the class on how to properly identify the different styles of architecture that are common in the United States.

	Teacher Guide	Time
Introduction	Hello, I am Melvin Rodriguez and today I am going to teach you guys a little bit more about architecture. The objective is to have you guys learn the different styles of architecture that are common here in America. I will do so by passing on what I have learned so far through my class, research, books, and videos. The audience will then be using what they learned in order to complete my activity.	2 min	Three Important Sources 1. (Source and justification.  Minimum speaking length: 30 seconds.) 2. (Source and justification.  Minimum speaking length: 30 seconds.) 3. (Source and justification.  Minimum speaking length: 30 seconds.)
Verification (Steps to check for student understanding)	●      Beginning of Presentation: In order to really see where the class is in understanding my topic I will have to ask the question of whether they have seen a specific type of house. Then I will proceed to ask them what style they believe that house is. ●      End: Check for understanding by…having a few people answer my question of what style a certain structure is.	2 min

Body (Give and/or demonstrate necessary information)

Break down what you plan on talking about into manageable sections. ●    Literal: I have learned a lot about the styles of architecture throughout the nation but more around the city of Los Angeles. ●    Interpretive: When going around any city someone has to be able to appreciate the architecture and be able to understand where the architecture originated from. ●    Applied: This topic can help me in the future because the first thing that a student of architecture has to be able to do is know what style’s of architecture there are in order to incorporate them into their designs. This will also help my project because I will be closer to knowing what is most important when designing a structure.

●    Literal: 2 min ●    Interp: 2min ●    Applied: 2 min

Visuals (for Body of presentation) For my visual I plan to show pictures of different styles of architecture and showing the audience each one while also showing the basic sketch of these types of architecture so they could better understand how they look.

Activity (Describe the independent activity to reinforce this lesson)

●    What is the activity: The activity is that the audience will have to get into a few groups and draw a style of architecture. By being in groups the students will be able to share their understanding of what I taught them and thus help one another in sketching the right thing. ●    How it will be done: I will have the class get into an even amount of groups and then ask them to draw a style of architecture that I have showed them. Each individual in the group must complete a drawing of their chosen style and for the participation I will hand out candy as a reward.

5 min

Materials   I will bring plain paper, pencils, and candy.

Conclusion

I will depart the stage by asking the audience to tell me one thing they have learned in my presentation. I will take their answers and expand on what they said by saying how in the beginning everyone was pretty clueless on what I meant when I was talking about “styles of architecture” and how now they could not only just give me great suggestions, but how they could also differentiate the styles of architecture in our nation. I will end by saying how great of an audience they were and thank them for listening and participating.

2 min

Answer 1

1. There are many answers to "What is most important when designing a structure?" and I chose: Working with the resources that you have. This means being creative when there is a scarce amount of tools and resources that you as an architect would prefer. 
2. Evidence:

• I found this evidence from my college class which was "Introduction to Architecture" lectured by Dr. Fernandes. He would provide us with videos, books, and his personal experience of past to present architecture and how structures were designed and built until the present.One example would be when he showed us a video on the Palace of Versailles. The video showed beautiful architecture of the palace in France and appeared to have the top of the line in resources used to build. When we got to a specific room that showed what appeared to be marble columns, my professor paused the video and said that when he visited the Palace, he miraculously noticed that they were not made of marble but painted carefully to seem as if they were. This shows that they would use marble to a certain point until they ran out and then would be very creative in finding a substitute to the marble.

• Another form of evidence would be my professors story of his work experience and how he has balanced the foundation of structures by not using an advanced tool but rather just using water until it stopped leaking on a certain side.

       3. Sources that I found this answer was with:

• Introduction to Architecture lectured by Dr. Richard Fernandes, Architect AIA CSI.
• A Introduction to Western Architecture and Design "http://art-arch.com/$$$ATW/ATLAS/ATWEB/V_FRAME.HTM" by Dr. Fernandes. This is his doctorate book that talks about the history of architecture from different periods in time.
• Videos: The Homes of Frank Lloyd Wright, Nova: Building the Great Cathedrals DVD, David Macaulay: Castle DVD
• Books: A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia & Lee McAlester, Rick Steve's Europe 101: History & Art for the Traveler by Rick Steve & Gene Openshaw.

Blog 11: Third Interview Questions

I plan on interviewing Dr. Fernandes. He previously did my first interview but I did not feel like I got enough information from what I could of had received from him, especially with his broad experience in the field of architecture.

1. What must you always account for when designing a structure? why?

2. Throughout your career what have you had most trouble with involving architecture?

3. What do you emphasize when designing a structure in order to make the people happy?

4. What do you emphasize when designing a structure in order to make your costumer happy?

5. When accounting for the surroundings of your project, how do you design in order to make your surroundings better?

6. What annoys you the most when designing a structure? Why?

7. How can surroundings degrade your project?

8. Does an architect get to choose the location of his/her design or is it all on the costumer?

9. What troubles you most when working with the construction team?

10. What design that you have done are you most proud of? Why?

11. What design anywhere in the world do you look up? Why?

11. What design do you feel is terrible anywhere in the world? Why?

12. How do you account for wear and tear when designing your structure?