Happy New Year!

I wanted to take time to wish everyone a very safe and happy new year's eve. I hope everyone gets a chance to ring in the new year with someone very near and dear to you. Stay safe and I'll be back with you guys next year!

Restraint

Japanese calligrapher painting enso

Thanks to the image search I have found out a lot of other people have totally different ideas when you search for 'restraint'. The first think that comes to mind when I hear restraint is being able to know when enough is enough or being able to self-edit. I think for a society, that hasn't been ruined by a design guidelines, restraint is a foreign term. We are constantly bombarded with more of everything. I won't get into the whole "less is more/less is a bore" conversation, but we see a hell of a lot more excess than what is needed in everyday life.

Is restraint minimal?
Short answer: Yes, I think so. You can make a much bolder impression with a single gesture than with a bunch of supporting fluff. Throughout my education I have noticed it takes a lot for a designer to know when they're pushing too hard and to ease off. There is a certain level of maturity, awareness and a bit of sophistication when a designer can take a step back from his/her work and begin to remove the not needed. Huh? Example please! Everyone may not design, but everyone cooks, right? At some point in your life you've probably made eggs. Okay, there comes a certain point when you're cooking your egg that you think to yourself, "I should probably take the egg off the heat. Otherwise, the eggs are going to smell like a wet dog when they overcook!" I think that is the most basic and straightforward example I could give. You know the eggs will overcook when you leave them on the heat longer so you take the eggs off the heat. Now comes another issue: what do you put on the eggs? Seasoning the eggs is another opportunity for restraint. You could season the eggs with twenty-plus different flavors, but a simple salt and pepper would suffice. But how much salt and pepper? You see how something simple can just have layers of complexity?

Recording artist Salt-n-Peppa. *Do not put Salt-n-Peppa on your eggs unless you want to push it*

When it comes to restraint in design, I think Japan in King. I'm not talking about the newer stuff and Hello Kitty. I'm talking about the architecture, the tea ceremony, the ikebana, the calligraphy, the food (my god, the food!). All of these topics have few bold gestures and can celebrate the voids between the elements. Meaning: what is not there is just as important as what is there. Take a birds nest. There are two elements to a birds nest. There is a the structure that makes a bowl shape and there is the void space where the eggs will lay. Both elements are pretty important, right? If there is no structure, there is no nest. If there is no void, there is no safe area for the eggs. You don't need more stuff to fill the voids. You don't want to labeled as a 'void-filler'! 

I guess what it all boils down to is quality over quantity. I suppose during this transition between holidays is a great time to reflect on the past year and what you would like to be more self-aware during the coming new year.

Let's talk resolutions...Go!

Numbers for the 2015 new year ball in Times Square

We are getting close to a new calender year and new year resolutions are getting brought up more frequently in many conversations in my social media feeds. I'm sure at this point many of us tend to give a second or two to think about the resolutions we made (or didn't make) at the beginning of 2014. But, this time last year the majority of Americans just weren't making resolutions. According to a poll taken by CBS New York, sixty-eight percent of Americans had no intention to make a new year resolution. Thirty-three percent of the Americans making resolutions only were able to keep half of their resolutions. I happen to fall within that thirty-three percent. I managed to fulfill just over half of the resolutions I have committed to -- falling short from making a functional iron man suit and building a catapult. Also, resolutions tend to be a younger man's game with forty-six percent of people under thirty having plans to go out to help bring in a new year. 

So, whats the bad wrap about resolutions? I think it is all about the game plan. People get caught up in all the hype of a new year (...a new you) and a fresh start. We get excited about bettering ourselves and burn out too quickly. The majority of new year resolutions never make it into February. Sure, who doesn't want to get healthier? Who doesn't want to save a little more or kick a bad habit? We all have the best of intentions for ourselves, right? Just as long as it doesn't interfere with our current lifestyle. Maybe that is it! Maybe when we get pushed out of our comfort zone too quickly our resolution becomes more of an inconvenience or trying to keep up with resolutions becomes overwhelming and we end up resetting ourselves back to our default. Or life just gets in the way.

Why is it a good idea to have a resolution?
Having a resolution gives you something to work towards that is self-fulfilling. It is about taking the current you out of your bubble to better yourself. By learning a different language or skill it gives you another layer of complexity that leads to a more well-rounded and interesting person.
 
What can I do to better my chances for a successful resolution?

• Pace yourself! You're not in a competition. Break down your resolutions into smaller, more attainable, goals. You can't just say you want something. You need to make a plan on how to attain your goal. You're not going to loose that 20 lbs in a week or kick a bad habit in a day. Make a plan, take your time and do it right!
• Give yourself time! Have a goal of completing a resolution by a certain time. Then, add a month for a buffer. What I mean by this is things always take more time than you plan. It happens all the time. It is happening right now! I had a goal of finishing this post within an hour and half. Two and a half hours later.... here I am. Still typing away.
• Reward your progress. This shouldn't be about cutting out stuff that makes you happy. It should just add to your happiness.
• Push yourself out of your comfort zone. <----Self explanatory. 
• You've got to be willing to change. Don't do that to yourself. Don't give yourself false hope. You've got to want to save more money or learn a language or improve yourself for the better and be consistent with your efforts towards your goal.

Look, here's the best little nugget of data I can give you: It is easy to see a resolution as a huge metaphorical wall. It is okay for you to feel overwhelmed. You just need to focus on a task and work at doing one thing as perfectly as you possible can. For instance, think like you're trying to build a brick wall. You don't just show up and have a wall. You work at laying a single brick as perfectly and as straight as you can. Work on your craft, remain consistent and over a period of time you will have a wall. I'm not telling you anything new. There's a reason you've heard some of this over and over before -- because it helps! That is also the beauty of it all. You don't have to wait for a new year to change. You can start to better yourself in the summer, last month and even now! Decide what you want, make a plan to attain your goal and focus on executing a specific task as perfectly as you can towards your goal. Progress may be slow and that is okay as long as there is progress. Don't know if you're progressing? Ask yourself: "Am I further along than I was yesterday?" Progress is progress!

Transition me this

Color of leaves transitioning from summer to fall.

When I hear transition I think about two materials transitioning into each other or how spaces transition from one defined space into another. But, I want to talk about other forms of transition. Like how we transition throughout the year. I think now would be a great opportunity since we just finished the majority of cultural holidays and we are getting ready for a new year. I refer to this changing time as a transition. Others may call it a new chapter in life, another page or leaf to turn. Doesn't matter what ya call it, it is something different.

As a student, we have two major transitions (winter/summer break). It usually takes me a week or two into the break to really get use to not getting up at three in the morning to go to school. It is a huge shock to my system because the last two weeks of school we're going all out to meet the deadline. We go from performing on our project every waking moment to an absolute stop. It sucks! At least for me. I get in a rhythm and get set on cruise control to just hitting a wall once the final project is over. How do I deal with the sudden stop? First, I get my sleep! Sleep and hydration are paramount! I usually take a solid day and a half to get all the rest I need. Second, I get selfish. I do not want to see, smell or hear anything about my project. I just want to focus on me and what makes me happy. Usually that consists of having a really great cup of coffee, cooking something I really enjoy, spending time with family and giving my dog lots of belly rubs. Third, I get back into a rhythm that keeps me busy. Usually that is just getting back to work and hobbies that I couldn't devote enough time to during the semester. My hobbies keep me busy and keep my mind fresh and clear in design without having to get burnt out with architecture. I feel all three of these steps are important elements to keeping me sane and allow me to perform well without having to worry about a hard crash or getting stuck in a lazy rut.

Okay... That is good and great for you, but how does that relate to me?  I think everything is relative in principal. When it all comes down to is a transition is a great opportunity to reflect on what you have done, what you're doing and where you're going. The process I have taken allows me to think clearly without much room for anxiety and keep me fresh for the next 'chapter' or event. The process allows me to fully enjoy the special nuggets of moments that I would have usually overlooked because I would have been too tired or wouldn't have enough time to enjoy.

I hope the process above can help you cope if you are dealing with holiday stress and feel like you can't catch a break. I also hope it can help you guys prepare and thoroughly enjoy the next beginning chapter in your life.

Season of giving

Happy Festivus for those celebrating!

Festivus celebrated on December 23. "A Festivus for the rest of us!" (Not an actual recognized holiday...yet!)

Christmas festivities are already starting around the house. The scents of baked treats and the sound of wrapping paper tearing along with a curse word or two. It is starting to feel like the holidays! I love cooking and baking for loved ones, but I love more when I am able to see the moment of joy I have contributed to them when they take a bite of something I made. I think most of us get great joy and even a huge rush from giving something to someone that we know they really want or need.

What happens when we give? When we give something to someone without any expectation of receiving something in return, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin along with other happy chemicals that make us feel pretty good. People that spend time doing charity work often have lower levels of depression and high self-esteem. Also, have you noticed that when you spend money on someone else, you feel much better than when you spend it on yourself? But, isn't that the catch? Is the reason some people do good for others is because that is a way of making themselves feel better? I remember watching Friends and there was an episode that cast members were talking about there is no such thing as a selfless good act. In my opinion, who cares as long as you're contributing to the quality of another persons day. It is a win-win! You don't need to spend lots of money or any money. You just have to show that you care and you took some time out of your day to better another person(s) day.  

I hope everyone is looking forward to the holidays. Regardless which celebration everyone takes part, I hope everyone has a wonderful and a very giving time!

"Everything has been done before"

"Everything has been done before. You're not inventing anything new."

This was what was drilled into us the first two years of architecture school. Looking back, we were all so optimistic. We all thought we could come up with something different and revolutionary than what other students decades before us have done. We all had the same project, the same requirements, same materials. How the hell do I set myself apart from the 100 other students if we all have an equal start? Answer: craft and execution beat out the competition every time. You can't understand how beautiful a two-inch by two-inch cube of gray museum board can be while you're inches away and it looks like a perfect cube of clay. Hell, you couldn't even see shadows from the edges.

Once we were past the fundamentals, we began designing spaces for people to inhabit. We have complete freedom to create a concept and form an idea of what we would like the building to become. We begin rough sketches and begin researching projects. And that's the thing -- Why do we always research projects if we already have a general idea on what we want to design? On every project we research wall systems, structural systems, finished materials, shading devices and the list goes on and on. We look at built and unbuilt projects while documenting our precedents for reference. The oddest thing is when you have a clear concept of your building. You're sure there is nothing in the world like what you're thinking and you find the EXACT same idea during your precedent research. Oh, and it is built too... multiple times... by totally different firms... oooon totally different projects. But, why do we still do research? Because that's how we learn as individuals. We all learn by copying what someone else has already done and apply it to our own use. Doesn't matter if it is architecture or business or science. We copy because what we copy is a proof of concept. It has been successful before and, if applied correctly, should yield successful results.

If everyone is copying everyone else, wouldn't everyone end up with the same result? No! Unless there are very specific guideline and steps to follow. Like performing an experiment. Referring back to what I learned in first-year architecture -- It doesn't matter how equal our materials and projects are, the defining factors are craft and execution. It is funny how common similar concepts come-up in architecture. I remember one semester three people in the same studio had the exact same concept, program and site. Guess what! All three of them had very different outcomes.

So how does copying lead to something different? We all contribute to the development of a discipline. On my most recent project, I needed to design a shading system. I did a decent amount of precedent research and found dozens of examples for what I wanted to execute, but the finished materials were different and I had to tweak the form of the shading device. Also, I had to figure out how to connect the shading device to building while staying within the language of the architecture.

I used to think, "how could I ever create something new and different if all I"m doing is looking at precedents?" How could I have a different thought if I'm looking at other peoples ideas? If anything, you become a more well-rounded person the more you expose yourself to different methods, technologies and even culture. You're able to grab your 'bag of tricks' to help you distinguish your work and yourself from others. You have to be able to research, document and put your own spin on an idea. Otherwise, you're just plagiarizing.

Why is architecture so weird?

"There are no ______ in architecture. There are only design intentions and strategies." 

This statement blew my mind and totally changed my perspective on...life. One of my favorite professors would always tell us this statement throughout the semester while our projects developed. He changed our perspective on design every time we hinted the mention of doors/windows/roof by saying, "There are no doors/windows/roof in architecture! They are openings/canopies relating to design intentions and strategies." This abstraction is part of giving architecture a soul. Anyone can put up four walls (planes) and a roof (canopy) and call it a building; but the manipulation of the form and space relating/responding to the environment, relating to the surroundings, responding to the inhabitants all help give a living soul to the architecture.

Sketch of Santiago Calatrava's 'Turning Torso'

Abstraction of a concept pretty much drives architecture. Why abstraction? Abstraction sparks intrigue. Abstraction makes you think and ask why or how. Well, doesn't that make it art? Well, yes and no. Granted, there is a lot of architecture that is so strong formally (the shape of the building) that it cannot adequately respond to the program (needed and wanted rooms for the building). That is when it just becomes art. The architecture fails to respond to the needs of the inhabitants and/or the environment and was just about an architect's ego.

Jewish facility at Woodlawn Cemetery in Houston

Take this building. No doors, no windows, just abstraction of a concept and architecture. Forgive me, but I do not know enough Jewish history to accurately describe Jewish origin. The context of the building has everything to do about the number 12, which I believe describe the twelve tribes of Israel, and 7, which I believe have to do with the seven days of creation. If anyone is more familiar with Jewish culture, please comment the story below.

Arrangement of elements on the right-side of the pavilion

Five out of the six of these massing elements are shown in the photo. Looking at the front of the pavilion, the series of the elements are all on the right. On the left-side of the pavilion, there is a space dedicated for a seventh element, but its just an empty space meant to represent a seventh element representing the seventh day of rest.  

View from back of pavilion showing courtyard

This photo is showing the transition space before people actually enter the pavilion. Notice there are no doors. people enter through the space between each one of the rounded objects on the right-side of the photo.

Front right-side view

If you look carefully, there is a bench and this is the only area that you cannot enter the pavilion. There are a series of seven elements in this pattern. Again, this is more symbolism integrated with the architecture that on the seventh day was a resting period.

Access to interior of the pavilion

Seven elements. You enter the pavilion through the space between the elements.

Interior of pavilion

 Take notice of the seven water spouts.

Rear of pavilion

This was the back entrance. The back entrance of the pavilion is used to transport the casket and religious directors. Also, take notice of more symbolism representing the seven days of creation. The series of 6 square openings.

Exterior left-side of the pavilion

Look closely and you''l see little steel pegs embedded into the wall surface. Shown are eleven of the twelve pegs.

Steel peg on the left exterior wall

Notice the rust from the steel peg on the concrete. This is more symbolism integrated within the structure. The rust literally and symbolically references time.

I hope this example gave you guys a different perspective on architecture and hopefully a better understanding about why architecture seems weird.

Behind the Design: Name

If you guys haven't noticed, the name of this blog, Section Perspective, is taken from a drawing I learned about in architecture school. A section perspective is meant to give you a 3-d visual of an object with a cutaway section to show the space within the object. A section perspective is meant to give you a general understanding of whats going on within the object. In the case of this blog, I strive to give my readers an understanding of selected topics. 

Now would probably be a good a time as any you give you a little info about me, right? I am in the final year and a half of architecture school (5-year professional degree). Architecture school really beats you down the first couple of years. If you can't learn time management within the first year, It is going to suck the rest of the 4-years (if you decide to stay) and a very intense, performance-based education. During the semester, I usually wake-up around 3 or 3:30-ish (a.m.) to get to studio around 4-ish and I stay until 6pm. That's my routine twice a week which, and in all honesty, ain't half bad. I've seen my fair share of blood, sweat and of tears throughout the years along with the constant fear of not being able to make a deadline.

Sunrise from my studio desk

  The video above is a great little documentary about architecture school. I don't think the documentary was as good as I was hoping it would be, but it gives the viewers a glimpse of what architecture students go through during their academic career.

Kids, get your sleep!

Architecture Student working-in a nap.

It is that time of the semester where students are pulling all-nighters in the hopes of remembering what they forced themselves to memorized hours before a test. I get it! I've been there. I understand that feeling of not having enough information and or being under-prepared all too much. Let me tell ya, it ain't worth it! Not only are you not retaining information you're forcing yourself to comprehend and contain, but ya look like hell doin it. 

Getting an adequate amount of sleep plays a beneficial roll for your memory, both before and after learning  (or relearning) a new task. Now, its not entiiiirely understood how sleep, learning, and memory, but we're working on it. And by we, I mean researchers that research stuff. Butttt, from what researchers know, sleep helps learning and your memory in two ways. First, a sleep-deprived person cannot entirely focus their attention enough to optimally learn. That means sure, you'll learn/remember something, but you aren't getting anywhere close to the most bang for your buck. Second, sleep itself has a role in the consolidation of memory, which is essential for learning new information. It is like having information of a concept as a puzzle and while you're trying to gather each puzzle piece (puzzle piece = information) you only have some of the pieces. Try putting a puzzle together without having all the pieces. You're not going have the full picture.

There's also the the quality of the sleep that you're getting and what stage of sleep you're getting to, but that's another story for another day. You just need to get some rest while you're trying to make the most of your time. I can't tell you how far a 20-minute nap here and there throughout the day have helped me during my education. Just having that 20-35/40 minute solid nap was like pressing a reset button. Any longer than about 45 minutes and I was just left wanting more which is a terrible feeling if you're already sleep deprived. Any less than 20 minutes and I felt like I was just wasting my time.

In summery, work-in a couple or however many 20-minute naps you think you will need to help you throughout the day.

Oh! Stay hydrated! Plain Water > Coffee!....Period. As much as looooovvvee coffee, I stay away from the stuff unless I feel like im just drinking coffee for pleasure and don't have much to do. First, when you drink as much coffee as I do, you don't really feel the effects so much and you're just going to have a really bad crash later. Also, no energy drinks/pills! (Again, another story for another day). Plain water is just what you need to help lubricate all those electrical signals in your brain. You can never have too much lube, right?! Well, yeah, you can, but stay hydrated and make a conscious effort to drink just enough water to keep going.