design happiness

What does make me really happy as a person who is dealing with designing things?

so far,

an acceptance letter from the department of interior architecture at UNCG,

living on the earth,

my classmates,

my 5 senses,

my smiling studio professors with A+

an empty space,

smiling people(clients)

It was really awesome chance to think about what I am doing in the U.S. to be an architectural designer.

I decided to study in America since my heart told me that "Young, it will be the first step to be a

person who does what I really want to do." and I think I am doing okay even if I am not a very

outstanding student, I am learning, feeling, communicating, knowing, and so on.

Today was the last day having Suzanne Buchana Cabrera as my professor who gave me a lot of encouragement and she made a last studio statement with her postcard.

Suzanne, I was lucky to have you as my professor, thank you...

the key to travel

My Design Strengths

My design strength is that I have two different cultural backgrounds which are Korean and American cultural background. It helps me to understand a particular thing in two ways based on my various cultural background. For example, when I think about the floor material, carpet does not come to first in my mind because I have ever since carpet as a floor material before I come to America. With these two different cultural backgrounds, I believe that I can design more powerful and more unique things even though I have not designed any greater things so far. However, as I am studying and experimenting, I will be able to design at least one memorable design in my entire life. I am a person who wants to be a perfectionist, so it helps me to craft and design very clean and look good that makes sense.

Unity Village

[US] reflection

On Monday, 15th February, 2010, I visited My Sister's House which is built by Interior Architecture students for the Urban Studio project.

I started to observe the house through the viewfinder rather than my eyes. It was very impressive opportunity because Iarc students did it for five teenage moms to contribute something to the society as an architectural designer. Overall, the house had a modern look and a good combination of colors. The style of the design is very close to my own way of design.
I finally saw a real design that I can do someday as an architectural designer and I really hope that there will be another opportunity for me before graduation.:]


The use of natural light was the biggest part which grabbed my attention.


Moreover, the consideration of harmony between the man-made structure and the nature was also very impressive.

It was a very awesome chance to me...

Fostering commUNITY video

http://pariswilliford.blogspot.com/2010/02/fostering-community_15.html

Fostering commUNITY

CommUnity

View more presentations from cgust.

Honeycomb Apartments
Izola, Slovenia
2006
Ofis Arhitekti









About Honeycomb Apartments
• Located on the coast of Izola, Slovenia. This seaside structure appeals to young, small families and couples.
• There was increased need for small, affordable housing for these young families.
• Constructed for low-income residency.
• The concept of a rhythmic beehive was an attempt to foster community by paralleling the drive of worker bees in the hive, but was unsuccessful.
• The Honeycomb Housing Complex brings together people of similar backgrounds, and social and economic standing in one building, but gives them no reason to interact or form a community.
• The staggered elevations of the balconies is successful for creating private space between neighbors.



Slovenia's Past Housing Challenges
• By end of 1980s housing inefficient
• Home ownership based on favorable credit
• Home ownership in urban areas were not affordable, over priced for most people
• Rental units affordable, but scarce
• cost to construct & maintenance was higher than the rental cost
• housing shortages underestimated



Maritime Youth House
Copenhagen, Denmark
2004
Bjarke Ingels Group









About Maritime Youth House

• Scandinavian architecture has been one that increases its program for years. The architects continually try to combine many public places into one functional whole.
• This architecture focuses on form and functionality, and inspiration.
• The Maritime Youth House was a special challenge because it was essential that the space focused on two clients: a sailing club and a Children’s center.
• Some important programming issues were giving the children enough safe space to play and also allowing mooring space for the boats.
• Another issue was the site. The site of the construction was riddled with polluted topsoil, which the architects ingeniously decided to build over.
• The architects decided to build a large, elevated wooden deck over the contaminated land, allowing a sprawling space for the children to play and openings underneath for the boats to moor.
• The gently sloping deck fosters community by allowing a great space for the children and center supervisors to interact.
• Indirectly, the space allows sailing club members to interact with the Youth House as well by keeping them connected.
• The fascinating deck serves as the focal point of the project. It is unexpected, inviting, and draws many people to come enjoy the space together.


Citations

Mandic, S., & Rop, T. New housing challenges in Slovenia
Cities, Volume 10, Issue 3, August 1993, Pages 237-245
http://libproxy.uncg.edu:2100/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1194305163&_sort=d&_st=1&_acct=C000033084&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=628623&md5=1d564b65dd568f26608ac2f6a34e08ee

Paulsson, Thoman. Scandinavian Architecture. 1st. Bristol, England: Western Printing Services Ltd., 1959. 239-244. Print.

Lobodzinska, Barbara. Family, Women, and Employment In Central-Eastern Europe. 1st. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1995. 230-231. Print.