Underlying Program Goals:

// lead students in HANDS-ON construction combined with a design studio education in order to discover new intersections between design and fabrication.


// foster a COLLABORATIVE studio environment such that students engage more fully in a dialogue with their peers, practitioners, context and communities.


// implement architecture, design and the making of space to catalyze POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE and stewardship of our built environment.

April 19, 2009

Image Uploading to Blog

Folks --

We need to figure out a good way of posting photos without 'flooding' the blog. I have taken down lindsay's post and added his photos to the udb_09 process image library (picasa)

would everyone agree that this is the best method for consolidating the photos? If so, I'll gladly take on the posting role, and individuals can email me their photos directly. I'll then post a message on the blog sharing the newly uploaded photos.

cheers, Kyle

April 16, 2009

u.n.l.r. shirt

u.n.l.r. shirts

does anyone think that printing u.n.l.r. shirts is a good idea?  they would cost about a hundred dollars for about fifty.  they could be given away to the community but is it a waste of money?  

thank you

UdB PLAYbook: Draft 1.0


BY NEXT WED APRIL 24th, each research lead will be responsible for committing all work/materials in their respective categories to this template and printing a color copy on 8.5x11 of each tile. here, each lead role should outline a format for their category's content and review it with me as soon as possible.



On the 24th we will compile a draft set to see where we want to go, but consider this a way of both cataloging exhausted methods and generating new research.

April 15, 2009

workflow tonight

tonight we will focus our class on ways to move forward from the dream day mock-ups, with focus groups based on the two constructions, and end with a studio wide design report and discussion of our mock-up goals for this Saturday in the alley.

9:30 10:00-- group discussion sessions
cloud canopy// discussion topics
+ evolve the form/define design concept
+ strengthen exterior connection points
+ discuss exterior armature (wind active)
+ light integration and design of interior connection points
+ materiality

aggregate canopy// discussion topics

+ create more 3x panels (are these 'final' or mock-up)
+ define design concept
+ light/shadow effects
+ refine interior connections
+ discuss and strategize 'framing' concept

10:10 - 10:15 group reports, Saturday logistics

April 1, 2009

UdB Progress

schedule.
// the upcoming UNLR meeting on Thursday, April 2nd at 7:00 PM will be held at the church; United Emmanuel Holiness Church, 65 Windsor Street, Roxbury, MA 02120. The UdB is on the schedule after 7:30 PM to give all of you a chance to get there after class.
// Dream Day will be held at beginning at 10am on Saturday April 11th. We'll get out there a bit before most people to so make sure you plan to be on time. I'm buying fried chicken (kennedy's) fried chicken for lunch.
// This Evening night Charles, Ben and myself will be meeting Rob Adams, Don Hunsicker, Karen Nelson, Jim Dunn, and Art Byers, and Janet Olberto at BAC 320 at 6:15pm to review the boards for our presentation to BBNA before we walk over to the meeting. We will be back in the first hour of class tops (very short time to speak), but please make every effort to continue production on the materials for 'Dream Day.' We'll review the presentation and the direction that has been pursued in the alley with a discussion when the we come back to studio.

design developments.
Both Charles and I understand understand that many people may be in the dark - other than ban re: the latest work on the alley proposal to NABB. The last thing anyone wants is for this this to disengauge the full team or to leave all of your energy out of the process. It has happened more out of logistic necessity, but also due to an emerging revelation about the sites and how this might positively effect the outcome of the NABB presentation. While the current forms are loosely based on a larger scale of ben's light pillows, and are comprized of both 12' and 3' panels, the design is subject to a team mock-up/review during the class the evening of the Wednesday April 15th following 'Dream Day.' Moreover, we have decided as instructors that the two BAC sites are more suited to be treated as one site, in order to make our design more cohesive, our time more efficient, and to concentrate on a more powerful exhibition/block party as a product of our efforts. By treating the canopies in the alley and the gallery as 'event objects' we are activating two distinct urban conditions (both of which part of the BAC) and celebrating spaces which will truly be' joined' in one event.

Lindsay, Billie, and others who have been thinking in a similar way about the Roxbury site should share their products for dream day, and everyone should examine next steps for their research roles as we meet tomorrow. get pumped folks. logistically it's been hard to juggle the politics of each of these sites, but they are all important steps to design/build (half of the battle and energy is 'approval' for a general term).

Its time to throw down and build..
KS//CG

Nomadic Canopies, mock-up session - Spring '09

Frederick Douglass Peace Park Amphitheater, rendering - Spring'08