First Day of Design I (Arch201)

Happy Friday!! This morning the studio was partially vacant around a quarter to nine. But soon after the room was filled. 25, 30, 35, 40...50! We had 50 students with us! Half were from my previous semester and the other half were students that seemed to have taken Fundies 1 and 2 over the summer... masochists. Meanwhile, someone mentioned the ArchiTalmud blog and completely over-hyped it! Like, I'm not even funny half the time! Am I...?

There were jokes going around, catching up about summer plans, and overall commitment to staying focused this semester after learning what not to do last semester.

Anyway, soon after that the professors started arriving. Clara Ha was seen with a new guy. Originally believed to be her boyfriend, we were all surprised to learn that this was a fourth/new professor in NYIT.
Tension was tight while everyone filled out sheets with their previous studio professor's and previous grades. This allowed the professors to start a trading card game which soon led to a full-fledged FANTASY DRAFT!
It took about 45 minutes and a false start when David Diamond yelled, "LASLO!" until we were all sent to a originally assigned sections... Talk about relief.
I, Ronal, Gabriel, and Sherif moved to the executive corner of the studio. Two of Diamond's previous students were sitting by his corner. I already knew they shouldn't be there, but I waited for the professor to tell them to SCRAM! (Oh, how that made me happy :) )

Professor Diamond began explaining our first project. The whole idea around it is basically "Architecture Promenade" (Le Corbusier). In English, the experience created by the rooms or spaces should tell a narrative. There should be a beginning, a middle, and an end. However, he was putting an emphasis on Arches. Titus, Washington, etc. These all had this story that they told (triumphs). But more importantly, they independently created an entrance or gateway into the cities. Literally, Awesome (Awe inspiring).

On that note, our first practice project wants us to build off the Cubist project from last semester and fold an existing plane to create 3 landings with different views, experiences and levels. And there must be an 'Over/Under' in there. Made from white museum board (Personally, I'll be using illustration board), and must be self supporting- No basswood columns. 1/4" = 1'-0" scale.

There's extra detail in there, but the e-mail won't be arriving for another 30 minutes or so. However, I forgot to mention our terrible adventure back to the High Line. It wasn't terrible, but the heat and the heat was too much. On the C train, we sat around discussing how we'd build the stairs of the model. Then I'd whispered to a friend,

 "That awkward first day when no one wants to make eye contact with the professor."

He laughed because it was true. And not because we were sitting directly across from Professor Diamond... There wasn't much else to do, so I took out my 24-Sharpie Marker set. The group lit up!
"Yo! He's prepared!" said one friend.
Quietly I was saying to myself, 'NO ONE TRY TO STEAL MY MARKERS! I WILL MURDER YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!'
But I didn't really say that. Just thought it.

At the High Line, we had split up into groups and had each been given jobs to either: Sketch the enclosures (The folding of them); Sketch plans; or Draw the section.
Still not sure what we'll be doing with these, but I'll know as soon as the e-mail is sent.

Thanks for reading, dear reader :)
~ArchiTalmud