1 _ through the adaptive re-use of mellon arena, architecture will become a major player in transforming Pittsburgh into a more physically, mentally and socially healthy society.
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3 _ an understanding of the evolution of sport as entertainment instead of activity has seen individuals become spectators instead of players. physical culture has always had an unchallengeable presence in society; however the modern day "star" athlete has been placed on a pedestal and a huge disconnect has been created between the "average" individual and "athletes". over time, with the advancement of television, as well as the design idea of stadium as a place of spectacle, this disconnect has lead to an unhealthy society with increased numbers in illness and poor nutritional consumption.
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9 _ given the current well-being of individuals today and the overall predicament of societies in general, a major push for public health is in order. the placement and utilization of facilities housing such centers will be vital in its success. realizing that sport can convey an ideology, the fusion of architecture for sport [or "well-being"] holds the potential to inspire and encourage participation from a society's individuals. the adaptive re-use of mellon arena in downtown pittsburgh offers an interesting relationship to break the notion of "stadium" for only star athletes and turn the arena into a combination of fitness facilities, health care centers, and nutritional programmatic elements such as a whole foods market, restaurants and cafes. the arena will be in use 24 hours a day and become a major structure for the downtown fabric of pittsburgh not only in its physical presence but also as a community gathering place offering many amenities. mellon arena offers a great venue for this project as a new arena is being constructed, the current context will be adapted with both programmatic changes as well as some demolition and construction to include the new use. located directly downtown will allow the food venues within the arena to be utilized by the working individuals during the week and bring a wider spectrum of individuals to the arena everyday. an interaction of programs with positive participation, healthy eating and communication of community members will create an enjoyable experience. the main aim will be to inspire a healthier way of living for members of the pittsburgh society.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
response 3 _ Praxis
Reprogramming_ Adaptive Re-use:
"Form follows Function" [106]
The article by McMorrough, "Notes on the Adaptive Re-use of Program" was a solid read that gives the reader both sides of the fence; the concrete architectural principle of form follows function as well as the concerns with programmatic failure. Either side that an architecture chooses to perceive the idea of program as, doesn't really matter because like it or not, first part of the process or second, it one if not the largest aspect of a project and has to be addressed. What I found most intriguing about the article was McMorrough's contemplation of adaptive re-use; "how the notion of program's instrumentality is used and re-used, affirmed and rejected, through a series of containment strategies by which architecture delineates itself." [107] To further agree with him on the main goal when starting with a programmatic process is that a clear relationship between the programmatic source is directly manifested on the form of the building, and thus the difficulty that programmatic failure presents won't be an issue.
Just a side note, in case anyone from the "place" side of things is reading this, the program exercises at the end of this reading are quite simple, however I think they can be wonderful resources for future processes, I would take a look if I were you.
"Form follows Function" [106]
The article by McMorrough, "Notes on the Adaptive Re-use of Program" was a solid read that gives the reader both sides of the fence; the concrete architectural principle of form follows function as well as the concerns with programmatic failure. Either side that an architecture chooses to perceive the idea of program as, doesn't really matter because like it or not, first part of the process or second, it one if not the largest aspect of a project and has to be addressed. What I found most intriguing about the article was McMorrough's contemplation of adaptive re-use; "how the notion of program's instrumentality is used and re-used, affirmed and rejected, through a series of containment strategies by which architecture delineates itself." [107] To further agree with him on the main goal when starting with a programmatic process is that a clear relationship between the programmatic source is directly manifested on the form of the building, and thus the difficulty that programmatic failure presents won't be an issue.
Just a side note, in case anyone from the "place" side of things is reading this, the program exercises at the end of this reading are quite simple, however I think they can be wonderful resources for future processes, I would take a look if I were you.
Monday, September 14, 2009
response 2 _ Silvetti
"The Muses are not Amused"..... i think my head hurts?
This article does not stir up any internal angers that I have, or even enough interest to question his logic and reasoning for these four categories and their "definitions". Instead I find myself questioning the tools and methods of the architectural education process today. I think some of Silvetti's broader concerns, "a progressive dissipation of the centrality of our mission as educators to teach and learn rigourously and vigorously about form-making and its consequences, a process that is slowly becoming secondary and peripheral," [22] are very valid; I think that the process of architecture students has become impaired due to new technologies and the lack of historical precedent. I am not about to start a debate about hand vs. digital or how many "building studies" we should all do, in fact I am a strong believer in advancement; however it is the steps we have taken to misuse these technologies that I question. Somewhere I think the necessary constraints that a hand produced processes encompassed are SOMETIMES, not always, lost in its transition to the digital world.
In my experience and understanding of form making, I find it most easily manifested when derived by all the other aspects of the process. For this to be such an easy transition [which it hardly ever is], I've needed the foundations of historical precedent, my understanding and analysis of the landscape in which the project is being implemented, the overall comprehension of the building's function, and a large part of form making is intuitive. Perhaps its this last piece of the puzzle that Silvetti and others question when defining the problems within the process of producing form. However, in my opinion, one of the greatest attributes that a good architect has is his intuition to create something based on all other factors that fits the context of a landscape and creates a lasting experience.
This article does not stir up any internal angers that I have, or even enough interest to question his logic and reasoning for these four categories and their "definitions". Instead I find myself questioning the tools and methods of the architectural education process today. I think some of Silvetti's broader concerns, "a progressive dissipation of the centrality of our mission as educators to teach and learn rigourously and vigorously about form-making and its consequences, a process that is slowly becoming secondary and peripheral," [22] are very valid; I think that the process of architecture students has become impaired due to new technologies and the lack of historical precedent. I am not about to start a debate about hand vs. digital or how many "building studies" we should all do, in fact I am a strong believer in advancement; however it is the steps we have taken to misuse these technologies that I question. Somewhere I think the necessary constraints that a hand produced processes encompassed are SOMETIMES, not always, lost in its transition to the digital world.
In my experience and understanding of form making, I find it most easily manifested when derived by all the other aspects of the process. For this to be such an easy transition [which it hardly ever is], I've needed the foundations of historical precedent, my understanding and analysis of the landscape in which the project is being implemented, the overall comprehension of the building's function, and a large part of form making is intuitive. Perhaps its this last piece of the puzzle that Silvetti and others question when defining the problems within the process of producing form. However, in my opinion, one of the greatest attributes that a good architect has is his intuition to create something based on all other factors that fits the context of a landscape and creates a lasting experience.
Monday, September 7, 2009
1 + 3 + 9
1 _ architecture will be the main player in a more physically, mentally and socially healthy tomorrow.
+
3 _ given the current well-being of individuals today and the overall predicament of societies in general, there is a dire necessity for public health. modern medicine is a brillant and evolving tool that comes to aid many of these issues, however public health seeks to improve lives through prevention. architecture designed to house and inspire such programs will become the foundation for improved current and future health conditions.
+
9 _ an understanding of the evolution of sport as entertainment instead of activity has thus seen individuals become spectators instead of players. increases in deaths realting to health concerns rise every year, as does the number of structures that house our favorite fast food restaurants that are placed quite abundantly within our urban landscapes. erasing these popular imentities is not in the spectrum of do-able, however efforts to parallel these constructions with an equal number of health facilities that inspire a more positive outlook on the future of our well-being is do-able and should become a major priority. physical culture has always had an unchallengable presence in society. through historical precendent relating to fitness facilities and health care programs, this will aid in guiding an overall programmatic nature of the project. these landscapes and activities have been molded by the society that resides in its context. "Sport is both a relection of the civilisation in which it functions and integrally related to that society's political and social needs." realizing that sport can convey an ideology, the fusion of architecture for sport holds an incrediable amount of potential for the future of individuals and societies. the main aim will be to find reason and justification for the implementation of sustainable health facilities within both urban and rural societies to increase and encourage participation to insure a healthier future.
+
3 _ given the current well-being of individuals today and the overall predicament of societies in general, there is a dire necessity for public health. modern medicine is a brillant and evolving tool that comes to aid many of these issues, however public health seeks to improve lives through prevention. architecture designed to house and inspire such programs will become the foundation for improved current and future health conditions.
+
9 _ an understanding of the evolution of sport as entertainment instead of activity has thus seen individuals become spectators instead of players. increases in deaths realting to health concerns rise every year, as does the number of structures that house our favorite fast food restaurants that are placed quite abundantly within our urban landscapes. erasing these popular imentities is not in the spectrum of do-able, however efforts to parallel these constructions with an equal number of health facilities that inspire a more positive outlook on the future of our well-being is do-able and should become a major priority. physical culture has always had an unchallengable presence in society. through historical precendent relating to fitness facilities and health care programs, this will aid in guiding an overall programmatic nature of the project. these landscapes and activities have been molded by the society that resides in its context. "Sport is both a relection of the civilisation in which it functions and integrally related to that society's political and social needs." realizing that sport can convey an ideology, the fusion of architecture for sport holds an incrediable amount of potential for the future of individuals and societies. the main aim will be to find reason and justification for the implementation of sustainable health facilities within both urban and rural societies to increase and encourage participation to insure a healthier future.
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