Reflection

1) What have you learnt in Semester 2


I have learnt the fundamentals of architectural design and the key values for the design to be considered a good one.


2) Difficulties encountered


The difficulties encountered are the lagging of the modeling software, Google Sketchup. This causes the modeling of the building to be delayed as the application usually crashes. Importing of models also causes this problem to worsen.


3) How did you overcome them?


I finished most of the model first before importing models of scenery and objects to reduce the lag and number of crashes.


4) How do you think you can do better?


I should plan ahead before starting on the model in order to reduce any troubles of making major changes to the model. This also saves time and which can be used to improve or work on my other portions of the project.

ADMT (Uniqueness, Light, Colour and Texture)

Uniqueness

Ripley's Building (Canada)                                      Source:  http://www.bestdesigntuts.com/20-unique-buildings-architecture/

This building is a very unique design as usually people would design their building to be intact, proper looking and safe. However this building was design in a way such that it looks like it just went through an earthquake. The building has major cracks in the building and certain parts of the building looks like it is going to collapse. This building's design clearly stands out from the others.

Wooden Gagster House (Russia)               Source:  http://www.bestdesigntuts.com/20-unique-buildings-architecture/

Average houses will have a design which implants a safe and comfortable place to live in. In great contrast, this house has a design of a bunch of wooden huts and houses combined and mashed up in a random mix and the thus the outcome. The house also has a really messy look and feel, hence, resulting in the natural standout from other buildings of similar types.

Lighting

Lighter, brighter spaces with full-spectrum lighting increase alertness and help guard against depression and, later in life, against cognitive decline. Conversely, rooms intended mainly for relaxation should feature darker colours, dimmer lighting, fewer sharp edges on furniture and bookshelves (these activate the part of the brain that alerts us to danger), and more carpeting. We could use light-colored paint, for instance, to make the room look more spacious. 

Daylight synchronizes our sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, enabling us to stay alert during the day and to sleep at night. Nevertheless, many institutional buildings are not designed to let in as much natural light as our mind and body need. A lack of light can be a particular problem for schoolchildren. “You take a child who probably didn’t get enough rest, dump them off in front of a school where there’s very little natural light, and guess what? They have jet lag,”

http://blog.ounodesign.com/2009/05/02/how-rooms-and-architecture-affect-mood-and-creativity/

Interior

The bedroom gives a nice and cozy feeling just like home. It makes you at ease and allows you to sleep easily.

The restaurant has a nice and bright lighting to allow customers to come in awake and enjoy their meal. The Lighting itself can give the food a nice explosive taste as people consume them.

Exterior

The vine roof gives the building and walkway a nice peaceful and calm feeling. It makes people feeling nice and at ease as they walk along it.

The court has a nice and and wide feel as there is bright light which allows it to be felt like it is very impressive.

Colour

If your room is not very big, then a light and airy interior design color will have the effect of pushing out the walls and making your room look bigger.

If you have white plasterwork in your room, around your ceiling lights for example, you can make them stand out if you paint your ceiling a very pale version of your wall color.

Warm, dark colors give your room a distinguished look. 

Warm, dark colors give a feeling of comfort. For example, you could use a dark striped wallpaper in an office or room you use as a library. 

Using an interior design color such as rust-red will make your room seem intimate and comfortable. In climates where the winters are long and dreary this is a useful way to color your room.

Long, hot bright summers? Using white, pale blue, green or yellow colors for your room during summer will make it look cool and airy. 

Adding wicker furniture with yellow, blue, white or green cushions you will make it seem even more open and relaxing.

If your room is light and rather bland, you can improve its looks by painting or staining the floorboards a dark brown. 

In this example the rich red color of the walls gives a warm and inviting feeling in a house. The richness is balanced by the yellow/cream of the wood paintwork, ceiling and fireplace surround. 

Source: Interior design color and you!. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ideas-for-home-decorating.com/interior-design-color.html

The Warm Colors

Red – associated with passion, heat and energy. This color is very bold in its pure form. It can be very elegant and add a lot of character to a color scheme – both traditional and contemporary. It’s a great accent to the green family which lies opposite red on the color wheel. Even in its softer tint of pink, red can add much character to a design scheme.

Orange – associated with vitality, activity and adventure in color psychology. It is believed to have healing qualities and is supportive of the immune system. When used in its more muted shade it can be less overwhelming. Terracotta flooring, apricot fabrics or other muted varieties of this hue can be quite pleasing to the eye. Pure orange may work well in a contemporary setting but often doesn't sit well in a traditional one where a more muted form works better.

Yellow – associated with cheerfulness and sunshine. In its pure form yellow can be overwhelming. Perhaps this is because it requires the most complex visual processing by our eyes. Its lighter tints, however, can look clean and fresh. As anaccent color, yellow can provide a nice level of pop in a design scheme.

The Cool Colors

Purple – associated with tranquility, opulence and fashion in interior design color psychology. Because of its position on the color wheel where warm and cool meet, its bias towards red or blue will determine its degree of coolness. With red undertones it takes on warmer characteristics than when the undertones lean more toward blue. Some tones of violet can be quite intense, but pastel lavenders can give a very fresh, uplifting feel to a room.

Blue – associated with calm, trust and sensitivity. It is the favorite color of millions of people. Blue can easily be paired with many other colors and is therefore a common choice in a color scheme. Common pairings include blue and white (porcelain china), blue and green (reminiscent of flowers in nature) and blue and yellow (evoking the warm sun in a bright, blue sky).

Green - associated with nature, relaxation and rest. Green is very versatile in working with other colors as it is in nature. It can be strongly traditional in feel or even a bit contemporary, as in the case of its more acidic forms. When designing, consider using a splash of red from the opposite side of the color wheel to create a dramatic accent for a green based color scheme.

Source: Skillful use of interior design color psychology can alter the perceptions of your space.. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.interior-design-tutor.net/interior-design-color-psychology.html

Texture

Texture

Texture can be used to…

• Define shapes or space
• Add visual interest
• Create a mood and emphasize
• Create a tactile response and add realism

A successful design will layer different textures in a room. If a living room was made up of only glossy, smooth materials it would feel cold and uninviting, but pairing a glass table with a chenille sofa will add warmth and contrast.

Texture is the visual or tactile characteristic of a surface. Every surface has a texture whether it be smooth, rough, nubby, gritty, matte, shiny, hard or soft. Like pattern, incorporating a variety of different textures like rough and smooth, adds balance, interest and sophistication to a design

http://creativecurio.com/2007/08/why-bother-with-texture/

http://www.foodandhome.com/article/using-color-pattern-and-texture-interior-design

Interior

The kitchen has a nice and cozy feel thanks to the homely texture.

The girl’s bedroom gives the room a nice and girly feeling to it.

Exterior

The wooden housing gives it it nice and old cozy feeling to it.

The glass of the building gives it a modern and complicated feel.

Architectural Values (Group Eugene, Imran, Norman, Jun Hao)

Norman

Ascetic Design 

Visual Quality

Look nice and correct

Dimension correct and functional

Function Design 

Craftsmanship

Material to build building

The Designer 

Good experience with the location

Example

Eco friendly house

“Home” Theater

Imran

Spirit of Time design (theme)

Old 

Structural and Function of the building must be correct and working

Simplicity 

Save space 

Natural looks (eco)

Example 

Sydney Opera House 

Eugene

Aesthetic Design Value

Psychological and Sustainability 

Social Design Value

Cultural

Environmental Design Value

Eco-Friendly and Sustainability 

Traditional Design Value

Restoration and Preservation 

Gender-Based Design Value

Gender-friendly

Economic Design Value

Economically Efficient 

Novel Design Value

Emphasis of Design Solution

Mathematics and Scientific Design Value

Safety and Sustainability

Example

Esplanade

Jun Hao

Functionality and Aesthetics 

Blend in to the surroundings

Sustainability and look attractive despite time

Example 

Ridge-House that blends into the surroundings.

Values of Design

Aesthetic Design Value

Psychological and Sustainability 

Social Design Value

Cultural

Environmental Design Value

Eco-Friendly and Sustainability 

Traditional Design Value

Restoration and Preservation 

Gender-Based Design Value

Gender-friendly

Economic Design Value

Economically Efficient 

Novel Design Value

Emphasis of Design Solution

Mathematics and Scientific Design Value

Safety and Sustainability

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectural_design_values

Example  

 I chose this picture because this picture of the Esplanade, Singapore fulfills most of the Design Values I stated above. Aesthetically pleasing, fits the cultural aspects, is sustainable, economically efficient, is safe and long lasting structure.

What is Architectural Design?

A Concept that focuses on the components or elements of a structure or system and unifies them into a coherent and functional whole, according to a particular approach in achieving the objective(s) under the given constraints or limitations. 


Source: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/architectural-design.html


Architecture design refers to the actual design and layout of spaces. Architecture encompasses many different elements including construction, design, and the manipulation of light as it relates to shadow.


Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-architecture-design.htm


The profession of designing buildings, open areas,communities, and other artificial constructions andenvironments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect. Architecture often includes design or selection of furnishingsand decorations, supervision of construction work, and the examination, restoration, or remodeling of existing buildings.


Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/architecture