4th Year Critique Vance-Chavis Library

4th year critique December 6, 2010

The project addresses a problem due to community growth, and technology advancement with an effort to engage the community by reconstructing and redesigning the vance-chavis library. The students worked together during the semester collecting data and doing research on better ways to improve the current library. In their discussion, I was inspired by how well they communicate their ideas and the excitement the showed concerning the project. They spoke about their ideas in great detail showing the amount of research and time they put in. Their effort showed a great deal in their work because the plans concerning space issues, age differences, and changes with more technology were addressed thoroughly. They talked to the people in the community who would be using the library to find out what it was they were looking for in the library and what would be most beneficial to them. They used this information to find sustainable ways of creating these designs by incorporating grey water systems and designing the spaces so that they would be most useful. They designed the children's area in a way that would best fit the needs of the children and their parents. The adult section was located right next to the children's so their parents were able to watch them. Ceiling heights were also accommodated to fit the children's preferences.

An extremely important part of their process to me was the data that they took concerning light angles at different times of the day and documented computer use. The data showed them exactly where fixtures or windows would be most useful and they considered trees for shading part of the sun. This work is very important to a design because it will change how community members are able to use the area. Incorporating so much detail and thought into these designs makes them most useful to the community which also allows the building to be economical which is important.

My favorite part of the presentation was their interest in what they were designing. They showed to have great inspiration and care for the designs and wanted to improve them. I think this shows that they have well explored the area and done large amounts of research to improve their ideas and put a lot of work into them. I really like the thought that went into the design. If someone did not think of one thing, another group member would add and with the questions that were asked during the presentation, It was easy to see that they had encountered many problems and worked through many different solutions in their process to come up with their best solution.

ba rum ba rum dum

I have been listening to holiday music since Thanksgiving and it is doubtful that my radio will change channels any time soon. Instead, as the snow falls, the streets get slicker with ice and shoppers, and Mondays seem to become a barrier to what families really want to do (WE DON'T WANT TO WORK), I find myself listening to more and more Xmas music to make me happy. It brings calm to the chaos of December.

With this said, I post Bing Crosby and David Bowie in their old-skool duet. I've never seen the video, but I do like the harmonizing they bring to the song. I will listen to it today as I try to kick everything into gear for another crazy week.

It's always beautiful the first few times

Waking up, sipping coffee, catching up on the news, and watching snow flakes falling steadily in lake-effect squalls is always a strong way to begin a Sunday in December. It makes couch-marinating that much more enjoyable. The white coat creates a beautiful blanket over the fallen leaves, hardened soils, and gray everything.

Karma is the return of winter: scraping windows, snow blowing, shoveling, sliding, freezing, and complaining.

3-6 inches this morning and 3-6 inches overnight. It makes me want to build a fire and wrap presents (but with no presents purchased at this point, there's nothing to wrap). It looks to be a day of testing out my snow blower and warm socks.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere we go. La la la la la, la la la la la la la.

Stockyards with the Cos...

My last night in Ft. Worth, Texas, I was picked up so I could get a burger. Truth is, there were burgers everywhere because the Stockyards are nothing but bovines. The smell of beef could be detected for many miles. Definitely cattle and cowboy country. Beer on the streets and Marlboros in the bars.

I wish I had an opportunity to see my aunt and uncle, but they were driving in from Vegas and our paths wouldn't cross. Next time, for sure.

Texas has a charm and I will miss it. There is a lot of life in these parts of fourteen million people. I'm glad, however, I learned it in December and not the summer when it is 117 degrees.

In the meantime, I head back to the karma of lake effect and wind chills.

zoom

As I texted KC, this is an intellectual nerd fest and it's like being in a college bar, but there's not alcohol. Everyone is looking over everyone's shoulder for the more popular nerd. Well, college wasn't like that. It was like looking for the most interesting alcoholic to get crazy with...but you know what I mean.

Elizabeth Stevens and I were looking for lunch when we came across this painted marker on the sidewalks. The city is preparing for the Super Bowl and it would explain the construction that began outside my hotel room at 4 a.m.. They've got a paradise to build for football fans.

My hotel changed my room to the other side so I can get better sleep tomorrow.

In the mean time, I continue with the festival of geekdom. It's somewhat fun.

Year three

For the last four years I've lived my life in theory and books. I attend these conferences envisioning the names I read as mythological creatures and sprites. Last night, however, I felt like a part of something that is bigger. Meeting with and dining with people who I only know as names has been a fascinating process. Karma is knowing that the communities I live with in my head, are actually people who are willing to break bread and open a bottle of wine. It's hard to describe, but it is a family of sorts...a small world...and I am slowly becoming a part of it. I feel blessed indeed.

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Although it's colder than I expected, I do like the Ft. Worth area a lot. It seems very alive, and when I found this sculpture of cowboy hats in the shape of a star, I had to photograph it. Yee Haw!

And, I have internet! And it's free! Bite your nose, Mickey. Turn over in your grave, Walt!

But I'm posting this a day early and going to bed. I need sleep bad. Karma comes with travel, especially when you need to be at the airport by 5 a.m.. You don't sleep.

I did, however, remember to pack underwear at 3:00 a.m.. It would have been interesting if I failed to do that.