Author Archives: Anne Leonard

Monday, March 13 – sketches and Brooklyn Public Library

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On Wednesday we spent some time ā€œturning off our brainsā€ while sketching from upside down paintings. Turning the painting upside down helps us overcome preconceived ideas about what we see. We also looked at Javierā€™sĀ postĀ comparing contemporary and historic street scenes in Jackson Heights and discussed what makes the contemporary scene more pleasant and how we could draw analytical sketches which emphasize particular aspects in the scene such as shadows, windows, trees, etc.

For Wednesday, revisit Javierā€™sĀ post. Draw 2-3 sketches from each image in the post (they can be quick sketches) ā€“ in each sketch emphasize one particular aspect of the scene that you find significant for the discussion. Bring the sketches to class on Wednesday. Be sure to keep all of your sketches together.

On Monday, we’re visiting the Brooklyn Collection at the Central library of the Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library at Grand Army Plaza (directions). We’ll meet at 1:15 in the lobby. Our appointment with the librarian begins at 1:30 sharp. The Brooklyn Collection is on the 2nd floor of the library. Groups will have time to research and begin to fulfill the research objectives you came up with in class. Be sure to bring the research objectives, as well as your charged phone or camera, something to take notes with, your sketchbook and pencils, and a USB drive if you wish to scan anything from the collection.

Don’t forget! The Wikipedia Art+Feminism edit-a-thon is happening all over the world starting today! New York City events include one on Saturday 10-5 at the Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd Street in Manhattan and one on Sunday from 2-6 at Interference Archive, 131 8th Street in Brooklyn. Come help improve Wikipedia, no experience necessary!

Blogging the archives – assignment due Wednesday, March 8

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Regular blogging on the course OpenLab site is part of your class participation grade. Please review the blogging guidelines or get in touch with your instructors with any questions. For Wednesday, please complete the activity described below and write one blog post of approximately 100 words in response to the questions that follow.

Activity: Using one of the digital archives websites we reviewed in class (NYPL.org,Ā  dp.la, brooklynhistory.org), do a keyword search to locate a digitized primary source that is relevant to your topic. In your blog post, provide a link to the item you choose and address the questions below.

Blogging questions: Identify the topic, theme, or purpose of the source you chose. Hypothesize about its origins, purpose, and how others have interpreted it or responded to it. How does it fit in with the topic you have chosen to research? What questions does this source raise? Where would you look for the answers?

Looking ahead to next Monday, March 13, please be prepared to meet at 1:30 SHARP at the Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library at Grand Army Plaza. Our class meeting takes place in the Brooklyn Collection on the second floor of the library. Please review the website of the Brooklyn Collection before class on Wednesday 3/8.

Place-based research recap, and readings for Monday 3/6

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Today we learned about zoning in New York City and explored the zoning resolution text and maps.Ā  Review selected pages from the zoning handbook that explain districts and define terms and use groups. We also explored OASISNYC.net, a portal for map-based research on New York’s land use, buildings, infrastructure, community data, and much more.

For Monday, please read through the following two websites:

Digital Archives Materials
What are archives and how do they differ from libraries?

Don’t forget! Site report #2 is due by 5 pm this Friday, March 3. Download and save a copy of the site report template, give it a new filename, complete the report, and upload as a reduced file size PDF. See instructions from a previous post.

Preparing for Wednesday, March 1

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Site report #2 is due, posted to the OpenLab, on Friday, March 3 by 5pm. Make a copy of the site report template, complete the document with your own text and images, save as a reduced size PDF, and upload to the OpenLab course site, as you did with site report #1.

This site report includes a map. You can edit the map by opening it as a drawing in google, then use the line and shape tools and word art or text boxes to edit and annotate the map (help here). Use Snagit or your favorite image editing software if you prefer. It is fine to print out the map, draw and annotate it, and then scan and paste it into your report.

On Wednesday, we’ll discuss how to use the internet for place-based research, including real estate and buildings research. Please review the guide to primary, secondary, tertiary sources and also take a look at the place-based research guide.

Themes, Topics, Groups & site visit on Wednesday, February 22

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If you did not post Site Report #1 to our OpenLab site, you have a short extension because of the snow day and various technical issues. Please post by 6 pm on Thursday, February 16 for full credit.

Questions & hypotheses emerged from our discussion

Today we investigated questions and hypotheses from your site reports and discussed themes and topics that emerged from your first site visit. Topics and groups are below:

 

 

  1. Navy Yard & Vinegar Hill – relationship
    1. Armend, Mohammad, Jarryd, Mark
  2. Preservation vs. Development (including land use and zoning)
    1. Stacey, Aya, Pedro, Caitlin, Javier
  3. Art & gentrification
    1. Deandra, Jovani, Aissa
  4. DUMBO & Vinegar Hill
    1. waterfront
    2. Cesar, Jeferson, Inkary, Jim
  5. Farragut Houses & DUMBO/VH
    1. walls & barriers
    2. Lana, Moe, Stephan, Colin

On Wednesday, February 22, we return to Vinegar Hill/DUMBO for our second site visit. We meet at 1pm SHARP at the corner of Jay Street and John Street. Please come prepared with sketchbooks & pencils/pens and a charged phone or camera. If you don’t see our group on the sidewalk, check the Brooklyn Roasting Company at 25 Jay Street.

Preparing site report #1 for next Monday, and short readings for Wednesday 2/15

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In class today we recorded our thoughts about the site visit in this document and learned about urban renewal through a variety of case studies.

Your first site report is due, posted to the OpenLab site, on Monday, February 13. Here are the steps to open, complete, save, and upload your site report:

  1. Open the Google doc from this link
  2. save a copy with a new filename
  3. add your content (text and images)
  4. Save your site report as a Reduced Size PDF
  5. Post your site report to the OpenLab course site
    1. Once you are logged into the OpenLab, add a new post from the Dashboard or click the + sign > Post from the top menu
    2. title your post
    3. Add Media > Upload Files > Select your PDF > Insert into Post
    4. Be sure to click Publish on the right side of the screen

On Wednesday, February 15, we meet in A543 as usual. Please review the following websites:

Architectural Technology Subject Guide
How Search Works
Evaluating Internet Sources

Preparing for our first site visit on Monday, February 6

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In class today we reviewed the NYCHA Wikipedia article, learned about representations of buildings such as plans and elevations, learned about one-point perspective, and drew our footwear. On Monday, February 6 we will visit the site we’re studying and surrounding neighborhoods. Please meet promptly at 1 pm at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Plymouth Street. Bring an unlined notebook and pencils for sketching as well as your phone or a camera.

To reach the meeting place from campus, exit the college at 300 Jay Street and turn left. Walk down Jay Street, under the Manhattan Bridge overpass, and take a right onto Plymouth Street. It is just under one mile from campus; about a 15-20 minute walk. You can also take the F train to York Street and walk down Jay St. to Plymouth St., The B57 bus to Navy Street and Nassau Street or the B67 bus to Bridge Street & Front Street will also get you partway there.

On Wednesday, we meet in A543 as usual.Ā  Please read the following pages in Visual Notes for Architects and Designers: Appendix: tools and techniques, pp.188-225. You’ll find a copy of the book on reserve in the City Tech library: NA2750Ā .C76 2012.

 

Welcome to LIB2205/ARCH2205!

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Welcome to the Spring 2017 semester and to the course! Assigned readings/viewings and information about the upcoming course meeting will usually be posted immediately after class. For Wednesday, February 1, please read the following Wikipedia articles and be prepared to discuss them:

NYCHA
Urban Renewal
Public Housing
Downtown Brooklyn

You should all have received an invitation to join the course site; please check your college email account and follow the instructions to join. Once you are a member you’ll be able to participate in conversations that take place here and you’ll be able to message your professors and classmates.

Looking forward to a busy and interesting semester studying Brooklyn with you all.

~Prof. Leonard