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

First Day: Arch 161 - Survey History of Architecture

Not much to say, but our professor Sean Khorsandi. Funny as possible with his honesty and sarcasm. And completely understanding. There would normally be a funny story but... I don't know. It turns out that most of the group from Taylor's intro to history class is together again, and we're all sitting in our comfortable areas.
I took my seat in the second row, third seat from the left; front and center from the professor's computer. And then everyone just sat around it. Not that I'm popular, but being the first to sit down is basically creating the center point for all other to crowd around.

Afterwards, I waved to everyone, said Hi! and then proceeded to enjoy a chocolate brownie cookie.
3 hours later we were done, and will continue class with the semester long assignment.

I think it'll be interesting, but there will be 3 days I'll be missing.

2nd Year - Semester 3

 

BRING IT ON!!! I DARE YOU!!!

The Simcha Hall Project

Summers is pretty much over, and it seems like a good enough time to say, "WOW! I WASTED ALMOST 3 MONTHS!"
Which isn't necessarily true as it is more likely an over statement of the truth. There were multiple events over the summer that prevented me from completing any of my projects, but the one I did mostly complete is the one I'm posting about now.

On the left, is a rendering given to me after I had measured the existing dimensions of the structure. The large dining area is all that I am planning. However, it wouldn't hurt to plan where the bathroom will be, along with the kitchen.
For plumbing and accessibility reasons.

 On the right, is the first drawings I exported for the project. Three different angles, some elevations and the preexisting plan. It's a very interesting shape, I did not realize until recently why it's shaped as such. Its reasoning is because of the floor above the same goes with the window placements. There are large vertical windows on the upper floor and someone thought it nice to make all the windows align.

The next image is a recent rendering (Low quality) of the interior space. It's the women's side washing area. It's much too dim currently, but adding some chandeliers and LED lights should increase the brightness of the night time scene.
The mirrors are being used to reflect light and increase the size of the room. Simultaneously, it's allowing people to view themselves, so they can always look their best! 
That's very important.

The floor plan that I submitted to my client. Complete with dimensions and column placements.
If you look, you can see two wide entrances on the center wall (vertically)... I'm planning on having it closed so the room will make more sense.

Below is a rendering that was made during the writing of this post.

Interior rendering.

A lot of work on the coloring and the lighting of the room still needs to be done. Also the profiles of the moldings for the floor and ceiling. AND lights on the actual columns.

Over all, it's come a long way since I first started. And given the amount of time put in, we're right on schedule.

Speaking of schedules, mine is ready and set for the coming semester!

I. Am. Ready!

Thanks for reading, dear reader :)
~ArchiTalmud

Multiple Summer Projects

To date, there are 4 projects I've been balancing.

• The Triple-Purpose Bookcase
• A Full Basement Renovation
• A TV stand/case
• The Simcha Hall

The TPB is coming along slowly, I mostly just have to figure out the mechanics of the structure and figure out the doors.
The FBR needs to have the full measurements taken from the exterior and then the interior to get the exact measurements.
The TVS/C is still in the layout stage, but it's the lowest priority of all four.
The Simcha Hall, my Rebbi from Yeshiva hired me to measure the pre-existing space and the draw up the floor plans and then pump out a rending of what he wants it to look like. Basically, Preliminary Drawings. The room is based on the Zanger Simcha Hall in Detroit, Michigan. It's elegant and medium in size. Mostly meant for small parties (eg. Vort and Sheva Brachos) (Aka. The before and after wedding parties).

The Simcha Hall is going to have its own post once everything is laid out and ready to print. After that, my Rebbi can pass off the drawings to a contractor and get the construction underway.

Although I won't have a hand in the project post-completion, I still have and will enjoy the idea that I played a part in something bigger than me that other people can enjoy.

What I do wish, though, is that i could have a had a larger creative part in it. Replicating an already existent room is just... not as amazing or fulfilling as other original projects.


Thanks for reading, dear reader :)
~ArchiTalmud

Triple-Purpose Bookcase Project

What time is it? Summa-time!

And that means I've got plenty of time to just work on some projects. For this one, I chose to design and then build a bookcase that would serve a few purposes. Mainly, to showcase my projects, store old drawings and-- specially for this project, the front of the bookcase is 90%-100% covered in cork so I can pin-up on it to view my current drawings.

The process for my projects that I have time to build and design is as such:

• Research
• Design
• Material Research
• Build
• Final Design Fixes

The research is officially done, thanks to IKEA and other sources. The Design is basically a large block that opens up to showcase, closes for pinups. and the bottom layer has 3 drawers with space for rolled drawings.

No Dimensions were added, but the overall dimensions are 12' x 8' x 1'. It will take up the full wall in the back of the studio room I occupy. Later, I will work on closing up the studio and work on lighting. Obviously, it's because it has 2 fluorescent bulbs that constantly flicker and throw hard shadows on my work space.

 

Current Drawings 5-30-2014

 ~ArchiTalmud

Coffee Consumption and the Horrors of a Final Jury

They say too much of a good thing can be bad for you. This is true. The amount of coffee that will fill your blood stream is doomed to come out of you at the end. You know which one I'm referring to...

Last week, after Monday's last day critiques on our projects, I went on a journey of a thousand sleepless nights to complete my project at whatever health risks or costs would be necessary. The idea of soul selling was discussed late one night.

Distractions. A horrible amount had swept over me. The worst of all was fear and doubt because I did not truly believe my project to be good. Yes, I've been dreading working on it and "Fixing it" was not the right direction. It was not even possible. So I worked on the drawings for two days as I waited for my package of 36"x24" Mylar sheets and basswood rods to arrive. When they did, I was already collapsing from the sleep deprivation that was causing a number of issues on my body, and my mind.

The cost is way too high! There has to be a better way to get that amount of work done without sacrificing health points!

Thursday sneaked upon me like its demonic brother, Monday. And I forced myself to sleep in so I could recuperate from the previous nights. This would cost me dearly, as the professor has sent an email asking a select few of us to go to class and gets critiques from the other professors.
This would not be helpful in the near future.

Monday arrived, dreadfully, as I was terrified to know that I had not finished what I started. Missing drawings, the site was taped together, the site looked pink instead of beige, and I had not prepared what I was going to say.
I rushed to get the floor plans done, rather than have them missing.

I was presenting 4th in the lineup. Our guest critics: Angela Amoia and a man who spoke mostly about the drawings and the amount of  time it would take him to make some of the models.
 He was nice.

However, I began to speak, and what I said, I might regret...

"Good morning, my name is Yehuda Mann, and today... I will be talking about my project." As I started pacing from side to side in front of them, as I strangely started to pick up from the midreview.

I told them that I went through a short list of designs, and quickly jumped into what I knew. What was familiar.
My own home. Bedrooms upstairs, public spaces in the middle, and a basement for storage and the Mason's studio.

The man truly loved the gathering space's design. But things quickly began to go South as he asked more and more questions that I could not answer because I was unprepared. I was sweating underneath my sweater. Luckily, I do not blush. Drymouth still happens though, but not as often as the sweat.

Professor Nizan began to interject as to steer the conversation to what she believed my project was about. But this did not help. At all. The reason being because what I believed to be the focus of my project was not the focus she believed.

This was due to our limited number of desk critiques. Yep, I'm going there.

Professor Amoia, conversely, gave me the most amazing advice again. I mean, she was a guest critic last semester with Professor Greta Weil. [I truly hope I have Amoia as my professor next semester, she I can get along with.]
Her advice was to remove myself from the familiar, as I had done in the first project, so to remove the boundaries of the imagination. A completely similar but opposite rule in writing.

She also mentioned putting figures in my drawings and taking more time to draw them.
The man said similar, that he knows I'm smart, but I need to work on time management because he wants to see the simple complexities that were present in my first project.

He also gave a short lecture on not putting tape on my site. I would automatically be fired from a firm if that happened.


This, and more, gave me nightmares the first night after. I will not repeat this. Ever.
What I do need, is a lesson in confidence, and creativity. Or maybe just some sleep.


Anyway, thanks from hearing me out, dear reader ;)
~ArchiTalmud