What are designers: editors, inventors, or composers?
I believe designers are editors. Why? Because in reviewing the last few decades I don't think anyone has come out with anything "NEW", rather that old ideas have been recycled and fused to create that 'new' thing; I suppose this is reminiscent of the idea of 'fashion logic'. I think the days of invention (in the design field) are slowly dwindling out, but of course since I can't see into it, I don't know what the future holds. I can only hope I am proven wrong, and the problems we have today will soon be solve-able; that the future city won't be plagued with environmental issues.
As this will be my last blog for Ecology and Design I would like to sum up my thoughts on the subject. The future of design is undoubtedly unknown. As students in the beginning stages of our design careers we must learn to take responsibility for our actions starting now. We must initiate a 'collective ownership agreement' with ours peers and promise to start making changes for the betterment of the community as a whole. I have no doubt we will hit 'roadblocks' when trying to change people's minds, but we must persevere and live by the high standards we will set for ourselves.
11.22.2009
week 9 - November 12, 2009
Field trip week. No class this week.
I went to the new Manitoba Hydro building, and I don't really know what to say other than wow! I would love to see all future buildings held up to that standard.
I also went to the Strawbale building on campus and was a little disappointed, especially after visiting the Hydro building! Regardless, I can respect the Strawbale building for what it is, and what it represents.
I went to the new Manitoba Hydro building, and I don't really know what to say other than wow! I would love to see all future buildings held up to that standard.
I also went to the Strawbale building on campus and was a little disappointed, especially after visiting the Hydro building! Regardless, I can respect the Strawbale building for what it is, and what it represents.
week 8 - November 5, 2009
What makes a place?
Place-making, in my opinion, is not a single idea, thing, or feeling, rather a mix of the three. Something or somewhere becomes specific when it is given a social identity; when aesthetics and people combine to create a community from ideas, things and feelings. It takes societal participation to 'own' a place - that could range from using local materials to local designers - and in doing so, we become accountable for our sustainable practices.
Our choice to practice sustainable design will mark an epoch for future generations and will give them an excuse to maintain history.
Place-making, in my opinion, is not a single idea, thing, or feeling, rather a mix of the three. Something or somewhere becomes specific when it is given a social identity; when aesthetics and people combine to create a community from ideas, things and feelings. It takes societal participation to 'own' a place - that could range from using local materials to local designers - and in doing so, we become accountable for our sustainable practices.
Our choice to practice sustainable design will mark an epoch for future generations and will give them an excuse to maintain history.
11.03.2009
week 7 - October 29, 2009
The question raised in today's class was how to bring agendas such as logistics, strategies, placemaking, byproducts of design and the management and delivery of design into the classroom? It is my understanding then that by asking this question, such ideas have been neglected. My answer as to why is because it is difficult to impart wisdom when, maybe, no one really knows how to be conservative with resources or how to deal with ecological concerns in today's world. The problem is that there is no enduring value in the design world today, as I stated in my previous blog. The concensus is focused on glamorous "IT" projects that no one will remember a year down the road; even top architects like Peter Eisenman don't expect their buildings to last longer than 5 or 10 years. So, how do we change this way of thinking? How do we change the enduring logic of obsolescence to enduring value when everywhere we look the value is placed on the short-term. My humble opinion is to start 'force feeding' society sustainable practices and long-term goals. Out with the old and in with the new.
I'm not saying it will be easy, but the only way to change these bad habits is to get rid of the temptations.
I'm not saying it will be easy, but the only way to change these bad habits is to get rid of the temptations.
week 6 - October 22, 2009
Fashion Logic.
I find this notion very intriguing, that literally everything we "must" have now will be essentially obsolete by tomorrow: cars, shoes, purses, home furnishings, computers, mobile phones... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Making room for the next best thing is something we have become, decidedly, quite accomplished at. It is like second nature for us to obsess over the next product or idea that will make our lives that much better or more comfortable or easier. I think the same can be said about certain 'famous' architects and designers of today... is Gehry's Bilbao really going to be that 'amazing' in 2 years, or 5 years, or 10 years, or is it too going to become dated by the next up-and-coming star designer? I think we are accustomed to looking to the future to satiate our wants and needs, but I also think in today's economy this is no longer a feasible ideology for us to live by.
I find this notion very intriguing, that literally everything we "must" have now will be essentially obsolete by tomorrow: cars, shoes, purses, home furnishings, computers, mobile phones... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Making room for the next best thing is something we have become, decidedly, quite accomplished at. It is like second nature for us to obsess over the next product or idea that will make our lives that much better or more comfortable or easier. I think the same can be said about certain 'famous' architects and designers of today... is Gehry's Bilbao really going to be that 'amazing' in 2 years, or 5 years, or 10 years, or is it too going to become dated by the next up-and-coming star designer? I think we are accustomed to looking to the future to satiate our wants and needs, but I also think in today's economy this is no longer a feasible ideology for us to live by.
Week 5 - October 15, 2009
The reading for this week's lecture "Economic Sustainability in the Post Industrial Landscape" I found quite engaging. I believe this generation of designers are well on their way to having an epiphany when it comes to mixed-land use and new urbanism.
Urban sprawl is occuring at an alarming rate. Big box stores and strip malls are littering the landscape, not to mention the stores asphalt parking lots that displace vegetation, and also cause drainage problems for surrounding residential areas. Besides the technical issues, urban sprawl creates social problems as well; as we keep building out (instead of up) we lose our sense of community - which, in my opinion, is also compounded by the revolution of electronic social networking (god forbid we might have to talk to someone face to face).
I think the idea of mixing private and public areas is not a new one, but definitly one that needs to be reclaimed in todays designs. Big box stores are not going to disappear anytime soon, so why not integrate shopping with living and recreation? I believe this is the beginning to salvaging that 'lost' idea of community!
Urban sprawl is occuring at an alarming rate. Big box stores and strip malls are littering the landscape, not to mention the stores asphalt parking lots that displace vegetation, and also cause drainage problems for surrounding residential areas. Besides the technical issues, urban sprawl creates social problems as well; as we keep building out (instead of up) we lose our sense of community - which, in my opinion, is also compounded by the revolution of electronic social networking (god forbid we might have to talk to someone face to face).
I think the idea of mixing private and public areas is not a new one, but definitly one that needs to be reclaimed in todays designs. Big box stores are not going to disappear anytime soon, so why not integrate shopping with living and recreation? I believe this is the beginning to salvaging that 'lost' idea of community!
11.02.2009
Week 4 - October 8, 2009
Is sustainability and creativity (how it operates vs. how it looks) as a single idea really possible and practical in todays world? As designers, I believe we must learn to engage design on a personal level, not just for ourselves but for everyone who will benefit as our designs endure (hopefully) long into the future. I believe we must start making an effort to gauge the level of behaviour in harmony with the environment.
Specifically, in today's class I appreciated Jae's comments on the practicality of certain building certifications (i.e. LEED) and the realism that sustainability that works in one city may not work at all in another. To no end, I think we have alot of work to do in order to acheive that 'utopic harmony' I spoke of earlier.
In the spirit of the 'black box' and the idea that a hypothetical unit is defined only by its function, leaving the dynamics of its internal systems unexamined thus becoming an extension of the human being, I am posting a link that I think visually answers "who is it for"...
http://www.angelidakis.com/_PAGES/HotelBlueWave.htm
Specifically, in today's class I appreciated Jae's comments on the practicality of certain building certifications (i.e. LEED) and the realism that sustainability that works in one city may not work at all in another. To no end, I think we have alot of work to do in order to acheive that 'utopic harmony' I spoke of earlier.
In the spirit of the 'black box' and the idea that a hypothetical unit is defined only by its function, leaving the dynamics of its internal systems unexamined thus becoming an extension of the human being, I am posting a link that I think visually answers "who is it for"...
http://www.angelidakis.com/_PAGES/HotelBlueWave.htm
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