I could NOT sleep last night. So 5 AM rolled around as I did, and I rushed to make the 6:15 bus.
Had a nice breakfast in school. Waited for everyone to show up, and then later had the big fantasy draft from the professors. Originally I was supposed to be in Giovanni Santamaria's section. But due to my recent failure of Design 1 with a C+ grade... They moved me to Section 4 with Martin Krovac. Really nice architect from Prague, whom works at Steven Holl Architects. His wife is an architect as well, and is rumored to make some appearances over the semester to help our class.
The professor introduced himself, and then asked each of us to do the same and to tell everyone something about themselves. The first two students began, and each mentioned their favorite architect or their origin country. This led to being assigned a research project for each.
To avoid this, I decided to mention "I like classical music."
Martin then asked, "do you know any architects that worked with musicians?"
I asked if Frank Ghery working with the symphony counted. He wasn't too thrilled about the idea so he suggested Le Corbusier working with Iannis Xenakis. And to pick three of his projects.
Interesting subject matter. Anyway, he also assigned that everyone should design their dream home for this friday (Plans/Sections and 1 perspective/collage). I started some sketches for it.
Speaking of sketches, we had a site visit today in Soho. We visited the Roosevelt Building by Richard Morris Hunt (Sound familiar? He was the memorial project from Design 1). I took some panographs of the facade, and did a quick sketch of it and later added gray scale shading to it.
After the site visit, a friend and I went to the HighLine to check out the new addition. We walked many many many miles, but we saw everything. And simply said, the HighLine is more beautiful than when we first went to visit it 18 months ago.
6PM- We had structural Steel Design with Mathew Ford. It was fun. We reviewed statics, and I made a few jokes while my body was rejecting caffeine and my legs were in pain from all the walking.
Ok, thanks for checking in, dear reader ;)
~ArchiTalmud
Showing posts with label Adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adventure. Show all posts
20 January 2015
18 September 2014
Not Even Sure How To Explain This Story...
I think I should start back to the second studio class. We had all finished our pathway models and we had displayed them in the center of the desks. And then the professor had asked if any of us wanted to talk about any of the models specifically. At that point, I just really wanted to speak up. So I picked up a yellowish model that had a circular structure with staircases around it... It didn't make sense.
Turns out it belonged to this guy... "Mark". We'll call him that. Anyway, last week in our building construction class we were assigned to build frame models. I had my partner and Mark had his. Tuesday morning this week, we all arrived for the studio class- I arrived at 8:15 am because I couldn't sleep the night before, and I had brought my Teffilin (phylacteries) or prayer straps, to school because I wanted to pray on the bus. I then left the Teffilin on the table, leaning on the column, next to our studio corner. It was placed there due to a lack of a personal locker.
It was there all day, 12 pm as far as I remembered. But after class, the groups reformed to finish the frame models. My partner and I worked at the head of Diamond's Studio corner, and Mark and his partner worked on the desks that my Teffilin was by. Around 4:30pm Mark and his partner let us know that they're going out to by materials, so we asked if they could pick up some for us. They call at about 5, just to make sure that they're getting the right stuff. They come back, my partner pays his half, Mark hands me the change and says to pay him back $5 to make it even. "I'll pay you back on Friday, I don't have cash now... We're in class together so you can trust me." or something along those lines.
7:30pm rolls around, I'm insanely tired and I was in need to catch the last bus to Monsey. So I picked up everything I could and began to head out. Not seeing my Teffilin where I'd left them, my brain automatically assumed that I had packed them away. So I left.
Next morning I'm on the bus and realize that I had completely forgotten my Teffilin in school! Hoping that that the rule was still being kept: That the Architecture Studio will not be touched by the cleaning crew, and anything you leave there might still be there the next morning.
I arrive at the studio around 9:30, and there are classes going on, but I tried to take a look around to see if I spot the Teffilin.
No Luck.
So I run upstairs and ask the security guard if he's seen anyone bring it to the lost and found. He points me in the direction to check the Lost & Found on 1855 Broadway. And they pointed me back to the other security guard.
No Luck.
Now the reason I was there early Wednesday morning was because my partner and I still needed to complete our frame model. Somewhere between 11am-12pm Mark shows up and asks if I had the $5. I told him "Yes, but it's only $2 in cash and the rest is in change."
He says, 'Never mind, I'll wait for the cash." So I reminded him that I'll pay it on Friday. Soon I remembered that the studio class was getting together on Thursday to build the Site Model, so I invited him to join.
We finished our model around 12:30pm. Quickly rushed to finish everything else before our history class at 2:20pm. Meanwhile, I had gone back upstairs to the security desk and asked again if my Teffilin had been seen.
No Luck.
Class starts, I'm given the idea to ask if I can see the security cameras. So I go and ask, and then run down to the studio to check all of the drawers to see if someone had stuffed it in there, and I looked on top of the air vents to see if it was hidden up there.
No Luck.
I get back to class, and finish up. And then run to get snacks for the 6pm Building Construction class. At this time, the security was going through the video tapes from Tuesday. At around 7:15 I received a text from the security desk that they want me to come see the video recording. I had to leave class abruptly.
The guard zoomed into the corner where my Teffilin was. You can see it clearly from the camera's view. At 5:57pm on the camera, Mark is seen moving his bag in front of the Teffilin- obstructing the view of the camera. And then suddenly the next frame is him and the Teffilin are gone!
After identifying Mark as the suspect, the security guard said he doesn't think it's enough to go on and I shouldn't get my hopes up. But he will file a report and I should take it up with the Director of Security William Joseph tomorrow. In the meantime, I shouldn't confront Mark, since we are in the same class together and nothing good can come from it.
I went back to class after that, and just in time for the break! My partner and I had a secret meeting about what happened, but I didn't tell him it was Mark that we suspect took my Teffilin. My partner narrowed it down himself, which was pretty cool, but I told him to keep it a secret for now because we didn't want to frighten Mark.
Mark happened to be sitting 9 feet away from us, and thinking back now, he was giving us a bad look...
Anyway, the next day, I went to class after asking the morning security guard if Mr. Joseph was in. I would have to see him later after class. My classes seemed to be more important that hunting down the culprit, but only because I personally believed I'd have it returned after praying extra hard since I first found out who took it.
Sitting in Mr. Joseph's office, he discussed with me the report and then left to check the video cameras. He returned saying that there was nothing on the cameras. But it turns out he didn't know where to look, nor how to zoom in on the image. So we left together to watch the film.
As soon as he saw the same frames that I'd seen with the night guard, Mr. Joseph suddenly changed his tune and even called the 20th Precinct for me.
15 minutes later, Officer Firro and Officer Castro arrived and began to make a report. And then they too viewed the video. They noted that there was a 45 second gap between the two images.
But the evidence was clearly pointing at Mark.
Some Luck.
Meanwhile, we were all standing in the Lobby of 1855 Broadway, and students are coming in and staring, and I was feeling slightly humiliated although no one really knew who I was. But there were one or two peole who joked around asking what I was being arrested for, since I was being escorted between the two buildings by 2 police officers and the campus security.
Soon after that, Officer Firro's supervisor was called to the school. He seemed to be the fixer. And he was good at it. Officer Firro tried to make small talk with me and speculated that perhaps the $5 that I owed Mark was the reason he may have taken the Teffilin as collateral. It seemed to make sense.
Soon we had left to enter the studio where Mark was supposed to be according to one of my friends. We had missed Mark by 10 minutes, or maybe he heard the police were there and ran... I don't know.
The whole studio was buzzing since I was in the center of the police escort. One dark-skinned student actually asked if something was wrong because "I kind of worry when there's a group of cops around."
Mark's partner was downstairs and found out what was happening, and was then asked to call Mark to come back to school. We all then went upstairs to the Admissions Office so I could speak with Mark on the phone ask him if he could come back as soon as possible.
The supervising officer asked me earlier if I would be ok if I got my stuff back, and I said sure! I really didn't need or want to cause so much trouble in or for the school. I really did just want my stuff back.
ANYWAY, after talking to Mark for a minute, we made up that he would meet me in the Admissions Office at 7pm so he could return my Teffilin. The officers told me that if he failed to do so, I should immediately call 911, or the number to the precinct so they could go to Mark's house, arrest him and return my stolen item.
So we all hoped he would show up. Meantime, in the studio, many people asked why there were cops downstairs... Pretty soon the whole studio (100 people) will know... Which is going to be awkward for Mark but not me, I was humiliated enough today.
6:45pm I begin to head upstairs to wait for Mark. The night security guard opened the Admissions Office for me since that was the meeting place, and it was completely private.
6:55pm I called Mark and got the voicemail.
7:10pm Mark entered the building and was stopped by the other guard who didn't know that he was the one who had my Teffilin.
When he did hand it back, he offered a very strange "I'm sorry I took it." And then I began to examine the bag...
The Teffilin bag inside was turned side ways, the Teffilin were unwrapped. The back zipper was slightly opened and it looked like someone had gone through it looking for money, not knowing that the true value was $2,500.00 for the boxes.
So I muttered a "WHY IS IT RIPPED UP?!" which made Mark panic a little-- I may have done that on purpose. But then I thanked him for giving it back and said "See you tomorrow in class!" with a shy smile.
Mark left and then the night guard began to make a final report about the exchange. I told him to put down that the bag was pulled apart. And then I explained to him that married men have a larger bag for their Tallis (Prayer Shawl) and that they usually keep small bags of change and money inside, and perhaps that was the reason my Teffilin bag was heavily disheveled.
And then I went home happy... Lesson Learned!
Thanks for reading, dear reader.
~ArchiTalmud
Turns out it belonged to this guy... "Mark". We'll call him that. Anyway, last week in our building construction class we were assigned to build frame models. I had my partner and Mark had his. Tuesday morning this week, we all arrived for the studio class- I arrived at 8:15 am because I couldn't sleep the night before, and I had brought my Teffilin (phylacteries) or prayer straps, to school because I wanted to pray on the bus. I then left the Teffilin on the table, leaning on the column, next to our studio corner. It was placed there due to a lack of a personal locker.
It was there all day, 12 pm as far as I remembered. But after class, the groups reformed to finish the frame models. My partner and I worked at the head of Diamond's Studio corner, and Mark and his partner worked on the desks that my Teffilin was by. Around 4:30pm Mark and his partner let us know that they're going out to by materials, so we asked if they could pick up some for us. They call at about 5, just to make sure that they're getting the right stuff. They come back, my partner pays his half, Mark hands me the change and says to pay him back $5 to make it even. "I'll pay you back on Friday, I don't have cash now... We're in class together so you can trust me." or something along those lines.
7:30pm rolls around, I'm insanely tired and I was in need to catch the last bus to Monsey. So I picked up everything I could and began to head out. Not seeing my Teffilin where I'd left them, my brain automatically assumed that I had packed them away. So I left.
Next morning I'm on the bus and realize that I had completely forgotten my Teffilin in school! Hoping that that the rule was still being kept: That the Architecture Studio will not be touched by the cleaning crew, and anything you leave there might still be there the next morning.
I arrive at the studio around 9:30, and there are classes going on, but I tried to take a look around to see if I spot the Teffilin.
No Luck.
So I run upstairs and ask the security guard if he's seen anyone bring it to the lost and found. He points me in the direction to check the Lost & Found on 1855 Broadway. And they pointed me back to the other security guard.
No Luck.
Now the reason I was there early Wednesday morning was because my partner and I still needed to complete our frame model. Somewhere between 11am-12pm Mark shows up and asks if I had the $5. I told him "Yes, but it's only $2 in cash and the rest is in change."
He says, 'Never mind, I'll wait for the cash." So I reminded him that I'll pay it on Friday. Soon I remembered that the studio class was getting together on Thursday to build the Site Model, so I invited him to join.
We finished our model around 12:30pm. Quickly rushed to finish everything else before our history class at 2:20pm. Meanwhile, I had gone back upstairs to the security desk and asked again if my Teffilin had been seen.
No Luck.
Class starts, I'm given the idea to ask if I can see the security cameras. So I go and ask, and then run down to the studio to check all of the drawers to see if someone had stuffed it in there, and I looked on top of the air vents to see if it was hidden up there.
No Luck.
I get back to class, and finish up. And then run to get snacks for the 6pm Building Construction class. At this time, the security was going through the video tapes from Tuesday. At around 7:15 I received a text from the security desk that they want me to come see the video recording. I had to leave class abruptly.
The guard zoomed into the corner where my Teffilin was. You can see it clearly from the camera's view. At 5:57pm on the camera, Mark is seen moving his bag in front of the Teffilin- obstructing the view of the camera. And then suddenly the next frame is him and the Teffilin are gone!
After identifying Mark as the suspect, the security guard said he doesn't think it's enough to go on and I shouldn't get my hopes up. But he will file a report and I should take it up with the Director of Security William Joseph tomorrow. In the meantime, I shouldn't confront Mark, since we are in the same class together and nothing good can come from it.
I went back to class after that, and just in time for the break! My partner and I had a secret meeting about what happened, but I didn't tell him it was Mark that we suspect took my Teffilin. My partner narrowed it down himself, which was pretty cool, but I told him to keep it a secret for now because we didn't want to frighten Mark.
Mark happened to be sitting 9 feet away from us, and thinking back now, he was giving us a bad look...
Anyway, the next day, I went to class after asking the morning security guard if Mr. Joseph was in. I would have to see him later after class. My classes seemed to be more important that hunting down the culprit, but only because I personally believed I'd have it returned after praying extra hard since I first found out who took it.
Sitting in Mr. Joseph's office, he discussed with me the report and then left to check the video cameras. He returned saying that there was nothing on the cameras. But it turns out he didn't know where to look, nor how to zoom in on the image. So we left together to watch the film.
As soon as he saw the same frames that I'd seen with the night guard, Mr. Joseph suddenly changed his tune and even called the 20th Precinct for me.
15 minutes later, Officer Firro and Officer Castro arrived and began to make a report. And then they too viewed the video. They noted that there was a 45 second gap between the two images.
But the evidence was clearly pointing at Mark.
Some Luck.
Meanwhile, we were all standing in the Lobby of 1855 Broadway, and students are coming in and staring, and I was feeling slightly humiliated although no one really knew who I was. But there were one or two peole who joked around asking what I was being arrested for, since I was being escorted between the two buildings by 2 police officers and the campus security.
Soon after that, Officer Firro's supervisor was called to the school. He seemed to be the fixer. And he was good at it. Officer Firro tried to make small talk with me and speculated that perhaps the $5 that I owed Mark was the reason he may have taken the Teffilin as collateral. It seemed to make sense.
Soon we had left to enter the studio where Mark was supposed to be according to one of my friends. We had missed Mark by 10 minutes, or maybe he heard the police were there and ran... I don't know.
The whole studio was buzzing since I was in the center of the police escort. One dark-skinned student actually asked if something was wrong because "I kind of worry when there's a group of cops around."
Mark's partner was downstairs and found out what was happening, and was then asked to call Mark to come back to school. We all then went upstairs to the Admissions Office so I could speak with Mark on the phone ask him if he could come back as soon as possible.
The supervising officer asked me earlier if I would be ok if I got my stuff back, and I said sure! I really didn't need or want to cause so much trouble in or for the school. I really did just want my stuff back.
ANYWAY, after talking to Mark for a minute, we made up that he would meet me in the Admissions Office at 7pm so he could return my Teffilin. The officers told me that if he failed to do so, I should immediately call 911, or the number to the precinct so they could go to Mark's house, arrest him and return my stolen item.
So we all hoped he would show up. Meantime, in the studio, many people asked why there were cops downstairs... Pretty soon the whole studio (100 people) will know... Which is going to be awkward for Mark but not me, I was humiliated enough today.
6:45pm I begin to head upstairs to wait for Mark. The night security guard opened the Admissions Office for me since that was the meeting place, and it was completely private.
6:55pm I called Mark and got the voicemail.
7:10pm Mark entered the building and was stopped by the other guard who didn't know that he was the one who had my Teffilin.
When he did hand it back, he offered a very strange "I'm sorry I took it." And then I began to examine the bag...
The Teffilin bag inside was turned side ways, the Teffilin were unwrapped. The back zipper was slightly opened and it looked like someone had gone through it looking for money, not knowing that the true value was $2,500.00 for the boxes.
So I muttered a "WHY IS IT RIPPED UP?!" which made Mark panic a little-- I may have done that on purpose. But then I thanked him for giving it back and said "See you tomorrow in class!" with a shy smile.
Mark left and then the night guard began to make a final report about the exchange. I told him to put down that the bag was pulled apart. And then I explained to him that married men have a larger bag for their Tallis (Prayer Shawl) and that they usually keep small bags of change and money inside, and perhaps that was the reason my Teffilin bag was heavily disheveled.
And then I went home happy... Lesson Learned!
Thanks for reading, dear reader.
~ArchiTalmud
12 September 2014
Color VS Black and White
"True Colors." That's what we used to say, and that's exactly what happened today.
How I ended up arriving late to class will be discussed after this.
Our site was the Richard Morris Hunt Memorial on 5th Ave and 71st Street. Our task was to survey and analyze, we were each assigned a partner if we didn't grab one before then. So Gabe was my partner, chosen for his drawing skills, he was tasked with the axonometric and section cuts for the site. I had the Panoramic photos and the plans.
Our rivals from the other studio section (Nizan), did similar, however we had forgotten to do sketches, and even more so, our presentation was in Black and White.
Professor Diamond was using his usual tool for decisions: Voting.
66% voted for the Color presentation, while 33% chose our black and white, hand drawn, presentation-- I forgot to mention that the other group had printed out all of their work...
The lesson from this is: If you want your presentation to shine, use lots of color, large plans and show the full site. Also, it really helps to have a color palette of three colors (theirs were greens).
Now to explain how weird my day was:
I slept through my alarms, made the 8:10 bus on the button. There was an accident on the highway, but all that did was leave a wide open lane for the bus after the police let us through, and then I was in the city at 9:10.
So I ran to class, accidentally almost crushing a pigeon.
And then when I finally made it down into the studio and pinned up my work, I didn't even say anything because the three other people in my group did all the talking. Afterwards, my friends congratulated me for having a great presentation! But of course they were kidding.
Then my professor accidentally broke one of my sharpies...
Speaking of my professor, he was on the corner of 5th and 47th while I was waiting for the Monsey bus. And then all of these attractive girls from everywhere started lining up for the Monsey bus too. I was confused. Then I realized it's Friday!
Thanks for reading, dear reader ;)
~ArchiTalmud
How I ended up arriving late to class will be discussed after this.
Our site was the Richard Morris Hunt Memorial on 5th Ave and 71st Street. Our task was to survey and analyze, we were each assigned a partner if we didn't grab one before then. So Gabe was my partner, chosen for his drawing skills, he was tasked with the axonometric and section cuts for the site. I had the Panoramic photos and the plans.
Our rivals from the other studio section (Nizan), did similar, however we had forgotten to do sketches, and even more so, our presentation was in Black and White.
Professor Diamond was using his usual tool for decisions: Voting.
66% voted for the Color presentation, while 33% chose our black and white, hand drawn, presentation-- I forgot to mention that the other group had printed out all of their work...
The lesson from this is: If you want your presentation to shine, use lots of color, large plans and show the full site. Also, it really helps to have a color palette of three colors (theirs were greens).
Now to explain how weird my day was:
I slept through my alarms, made the 8:10 bus on the button. There was an accident on the highway, but all that did was leave a wide open lane for the bus after the police let us through, and then I was in the city at 9:10.
So I ran to class, accidentally almost crushing a pigeon.
And then when I finally made it down into the studio and pinned up my work, I didn't even say anything because the three other people in my group did all the talking. Afterwards, my friends congratulated me for having a great presentation! But of course they were kidding.
Then my professor accidentally broke one of my sharpies...
Speaking of my professor, he was on the corner of 5th and 47th while I was waiting for the Monsey bus. And then all of these attractive girls from everywhere started lining up for the Monsey bus too. I was confused. Then I realized it's Friday!
Thanks for reading, dear reader ;)
~ArchiTalmud
05 September 2014
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,
"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
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
23 April 2014
The Dissimilar-Similar Parks
Two parks, an eleven minute walking distance between them, but so much more separates them.
Manhattan is filled with many of these small
areas located in between tall buildings for the tired, walking pedestrian that
roams its roaring roads. The two being focused on are Samuel Paley Plaza and
Greenacre Park.
Samuel Paley Plaza, or more commonly known as ‘Paley
Park’, is located on 3 East 53rd Street between 5th and Madison. Its entrance is a wide opening that
immediately opens to the park and the eyes to its massive 20 foot high walls-
that shade the entire area for most of the day- and then turn toward the placid
waterfall that fills the back wall. It is flat ground, but stone benches line
the sides of the park to allow visitors to use the ample space to place their
belongings down comfortably. The walls are layered with leafy vines that add a
natural texture to the rough walls.
Within the center area, trees are placed
near the tables to produce privacy while being able to enjoy a private meal
with oneself or a friend while simultaneously being able to be mobile and
rotate the chairs to enjoy the waterfall. The waterfall is highlighted toward
the end of the day with flood lights so the park can maintain its serenity and
availability at night. In front of the waterfall are two steps that lead up to
the “splash area” where one can receive a light sprinkling from the water as it
lands in the small pool that spans the width of the water fall.
Greenacre Park, is located on E 51st St,
between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. Already as one approaches it,
there is a grander statement made by its entrance that is two steps, lined on
both sides with wheelchair accessible ramps, and the overhead. The landscape,
within the park, explodes with floral arrangements and tropical islands, if one
were to let the imagination run wild. At a first glance the park is an exotic
getaway from the city commotion, but the eye is brought back by the midtown
backdrop above the waterfall.
On the left, and a few steps up, is a shaded area
that overlooks the lower level of the park that sits in front of the waterfall.
On the right, the stone benches are just as movable as the chairs in the middle
of the park, as one would turn around and see the flowing water that is below
the ivy-dressed walls. The waterfall is in the back, roaring louder than the
streets, allowing a peaceful, spiritual moment. Trees are used to divide the
chairs that dance in the middle, and the flowers-of all magnificent colors -give
the eye something to gaze at when not watching the cascading waterfall that is
so splendiferous it demands the attention of everyone sitting in the park.
On the left, and a few steps up, is a shaded area
that overlooks the lower level of the park that sits in front of the waterfall.
On the right, the stone benches are just as movable as the chairs in the middle
of the park, as one would turn around and see the flowing water that is below
the ivy-dressed walls. The waterfall is in the back, roaring louder than the
streets, allowing a peaceful, spiritual moment. Trees are used to divide the
chairs that dance in the middle, and the flowers-of all magnificent colors -give
the eye something to gaze at when not watching the cascading waterfall that is
so splendiferous it demands the attention of everyone sitting in the park.
There are many similarities between Paley and
Greenacre. The waterfalls, obviously. The use of trees, the sitting areas, the
walls that create the authentic “pocket” effect of the parks (meaning the detachment
from the city). These are the general similar qualities. Their differences are
not as subtle once one is settled down in a chair. Greenacre Park is loud and
colorful, much like the people who go there. Paley Park is much quieter and
simpler, especially in its colors. Greenacre creates four different levels (the
entrance, the sitting area, the shaded area, and the waterfall seats). Paley,
has but one flat area, but it’s so quiet and large that one wouldn’t notice
someone passing and would not need the extra level to move away.
Although the waterfalls are an obvious similarity,
they are also the essence, or the physical character of each park symbolically.
As was mentioned, Greenacre has four levels, so does its waterfall. The water
falls from one level, down to the next and has an extraordinary volume. Paley
has a long, flat and quiet waterfall that is simple like the park it is in.
This is what makes two very similar parks so dissimilar in the most phenomenal
manner.
~ArchiTalmud
21 January 2014
First Day of Second Semester
"The place where memories happen..."
This morning I woke up at 5:59 AM to beat my phone's alarm clock to the buzzer. I hadn't decided which bus to take to school yet, "The 6:45, 6:50, or 7:15???!!!" I couldn't make up my mind so I let the clock decide for me. I chose the 7:15 so my downloads could finish on my phone so I would have something to watch on the way home.
The 7:15 got into the city around 8:30, and then I began my favorite walk along 8th Ave to get frost bitten by the impending snow storm that was supposed to be visiting today.
Class was called for 9 AM as we all stood around in the NYIT Auditorium on Broadway (NAOB) waiting for anyone to give instructions as to what we're supposed to be doing. Meanwhile everyone started out with their cellphones again. I left mine in my pocket to preserve battery power because HOLY COW smartphones do not hold a charge very well. (Stupid 4G). Around 8:40 the crowd was getting pretty excited because of the mini reunions with their studio-mates from last semester.
We all kind of grew up together in a 14 week period-- grew up? NO! More like... went through a terrible trauma together, kind of like Taglit Birthright but less jovial.
On the line for signing into class, I was standing next to one of my studio mates, looking down he noticed something shiny.
"Is that a nickel?"
I quickly picked it up, analyzed it and answered, "Yes, but it's not like I'm trying to live up to a stereotype or anything..."
Eventually around 9:20 we were all signed in and ready to enter the theater downstairs. The escalator was off so... we all chose the stairs. Ha! No we didn't. Someone stood on the escalator in confusion because it wasn't moving. Guess he forgot his coffee.
At 9:30, in the theater, we were introduced to Professor Taylor (Architecture Historian) who read the syllabus to us, nervously, and then asked if we had questions. One girl did, Gail, her hand was up... waving... jumping... whispering for attention. He didn't notice.
"There won't be any discussions this week since it's the first day and because of the weather. We want to make sure the attendance is all here next time. So see you next week."We were dismissed 15 minutes later.
Not too bad for the first day. But what on Earth were we supposed to do now? I was planning on being in class until 12:10!
O.K. I did have a plan. I was going to take the train for the first time. And it was going to be awesome. Except I brought a friend along because I have that feeling you get when you see a lost dog and you want to pet it and feed it and get it back to its owner. Is that care? Nah, man.
Well, this friend recently turned 21 and took full advantage by drinking 5% alcoholic beverages. What a deviant!
But enough about them. The next train was set to leave at 11:06 and I would have been fine getting to it, but my friend is... well... pretty A.D.D. So we had to leave at 10:30 because y'know... Butterflies.
At Penn Station there's a bit of confusion for the first time user, and especially since I had to keep chasing my friend from leaving at every exit sign in the station, and because they really needed a bathroom, it took a little extra time to find the right platform. The MTA clerk in one of the booths was no help either.
"Hi! We're trying to get to [Town]."
"Is that in Long Island?"
"No... Upstate."
"Is that in New Jersey?!"
"Umm... No? It's in New York."
"Where'd you say?"
"[Town]?"
"Oh... Ummm... Take the 2 train back up to 42nd- Port Authority and get on the bus..."
"O.K. Thanks!"
We didn't follow her directions realizing she wasn't sure where she was today. No worries, I found the right way. Got the tickets and then waited for boarding announcement. My friend still needed the bathroom, but they would wait... until we had to transfer trains... and then yell at me for going down the escalator.
Although I must say, the train ride was just as exciting as the plane ride. Except more leg room, and no bratty children crying.
Somewhere in the middle of the ride, my friend was so bored they wanted to steal one of my books, which I offered originally, but they refused to take because reading makes them nauseous in cars- but reading text messages is TOTALLY FINE???
The moral of the story is, traveling with a friend is always more fun than sitting alone. But I would have preferred the book this time.
Thanks for reading, dear reader ;)
~ArchiTalmud
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