ARCH 1121 2015 SP

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Architecture doesn’t happen in school, in the design office or on the construction site. Architects interact with one another and discuss what is of interest to them. Architect members of organizations like the American Institute of Architects, Society of Registered Architects, or the National Organization of Architects meet to pursue common interests.

In this assignment explore this “outside” world inhabited by architects. Go to www.archinet.org and browse the site. Select three topics of interest to you. The topics can be in the same category such as built projects or the topics can come from three different categories.

Write an essay describing why you selected what you did and relating what you learned. Remember to begin with a topic sentence, so that a visitor to the site will understand the assignment. Approximately 400 words are required. Due by Tuesday March 10th at 6 am.

Also comment on another student’s post.

It’s really remarkable how in twenty years, one hundred thousand men could build such a colossal structure, have it still stand almost four thousand years later, and remain the tallest man made structure in the world. The plan for the pyramid was a secret code written in hieroglyphics which was then executed with little technology, simply with stone and lifting. With a total of 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing 2 to 7 tons, and over 5 tons of limestone. The builders had to assemble on average more than 12 blocks a day and night! (serious overtime!) The Pyramid lays on 13 acres, which is a big enough a space to build up to 30 Empire State Buildings. Knowing that, I can picture how grand this structure is in person.  Out of eighty Egyptian Pyramids the Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest.

I find that learning through videos is very helpful because it helps us to visualize the scenarios at the time.  It also allows us to see certain words or actions that are vital in constructing something. Museum visits are also  very informative because there is a lot of experts on the topic that can help elaborate the history that we see throughout the museum itself.

Arch 1120

Li, Shixin

Stonehenge

The video of the Stonehenge let me realize how big of the stones are. And even now, no one knows how ancient people created this huge structure. People thought the Stonehenge created by magic power because each of stone in Stonehenge is 4-70 tons. However, we still don’t know why they created such large stone structure in England.

This video help me to learn about architecture can relate with purpose, also need the power of people, also can relate with religion. When we study about architecture history, we need to think about how these structures created how people built them and used what kind of technique. Also need to think about why people want to create these structure, we need to know their purposes.

The video of Stonehenge is enjoyable, because I can see how people study about architecture history, and when they study about it, what kind of information they need. I think watching a video maybe is a better way than reading because sometimes reading is bored, and video you can look at the ancient building, not just a photo on the book. Also in the video there have people talk about their different opinions of the building, also tell us everything about the building. If this is reading, that will be long and bored. However, if it is possible, I would like to visit the museum, I think museum is a good way to study architecture because museum have the product from the ancient year, sometimes even just a model, still can tell you the scale, the purpose of the building, and how people used it.

From the production of these civilizations make me surprise because I think for studying architecture history, we just need to know when people built this building and why they built this building. But I think the most important thing that we need to know is how people built this building, what kind of technique did they use, and how this technique affect the architecture in the future time. When we study about history, maybe we just remember the time that the event happened, but when we study architecture history, we need to figure out the technique that people used in the building, and the purpose of people built this building. So this video teach me a lot about how people study about architecture history.

There are many theories regarding Stonehenge. Who created it? How was it created? And why was it created? It is very large and if baffles historians how such primitive people could’ve created something like it. There are also many theories to why it was created. Some say it was created to align with the stars and galaxy. Some say it may have been created as farming land and an area to keep their livestock. There are endless possibilities and reasons to why this structure could have been created, with little evidence pointing towards any of the reasons.

My personal theory is that it was created as a tactical defensive structure. The circular shape creates an overall 360 degree defense. There are also ditches that were dug out around it with some distance in between the structure itself and the ditches, I believe that was a tactical decision making it difficult for unwanted guests or invaders to make their way inside or near the structure. There is only one walkway going from the structure itself to the outside of the circle, which could’ve been used as the main passage for welcome guests. The stone structure itself is also in a circle formation, which I believe was also for defensive purposes, which could be used as protection in again 360 degrees.

This structure has caused much debate, and many theories to emerge. Some say they believe that even aliens may have created or assisted in its creation. It is very advanced for its time, just like the ancient pyramids in Egypt, which also some believe that aliens assisted in its creation. Stonehenge is proof of the capabilities of what men can do with determination, even with lack of technology. Unless it was with the assistance of aliens, then there is much more to discover.

Throughout the world there are many different forms of architecture. It is taught and learned differently from one corner of the world to the next. A lot of it is because of the different climates and terrains that regions have, so the architects must learn to work with the area they are given. There are many different reasons that someone would pursue architecture. Some want to be artists of the modern age using buildings as their canvas, others like the technical and scientific aspects, while others want to be philosophers and go into deep thought and solving problems that an architect is faced with.

I view architecture as the construction of problem solving. An architect is always faced with problems that require answers, which is essentially what he will be hired and paid to do. When a company requires a place to conduct themselves, they hire an architect to solve the problem and create a building for them. When someone needs an interior space that is both comfortable and appealing, they hire an architect to create what they dream. Even when a dentist’s office needs a sculpture to make his office unique compared to the others, an architect is there to solve the problem.  This is one major reason I am pursuing architecture, I enjoy solving problems and being innovative. I like to think deep and imagine what others simply cannot comprehend. I also like to draw and have an eye for detail, so it all seemed to tie together and point towards architecture.

Architecture is and always will be around the world. The technology may become more sophisticated, the techniques may change, and the meaning itself may also change, but it will always exist. There will always be problems to solve, therefor architects will always be needed. I believe even the most powerful of technology cannot contribute the same as a well-trained architects brain can do.

Veronica Avila

Ancient Egypt – National Geographic

Ancient Egypt history lives till his day and it will continue. Showing its riches, culture and tradition as well as history. History that has travel through time.  Pyramids that has stories behind. Stories that will continue and be pass along. From this video we learn that their form of life was different. Their expectations and their way of living different from today. As well as how they look up to certain people. Especially the people in power, the wealthiest people. Ancient Egypt is mostly known for the pyramids. The pyramids of Giza. The three pyramids mostly made for the three kings. When the wealthy people, kings died they were raped like mummies. They also believed in after life. The pyramids are where the kings are buried along with their things. Such as their furniture and jewelry. The three pyramids didn’t take that long to be built completely. Keeping in mind that their tools were not as advanced as they are today. They didn’t have the machines and technology that is offered today in the modern day. All those hard heavy rocks, materials that they used they had to move it themselves.  To move heavy things they used wood and ropes. There were many people involved. People working hard to create, make history live long. Because till this day the pyramids remain stable. As well as famously well known.

This video was enjoyable I learn the past of Egypt and how it was formed. Because when I think about Egypt I think about the three pyramids and the kings and their richest. This was an affecting way of learning things because am not just reading about it or hearing am also seeing a video am getting an image of how were things. I prefer going to museums to learn you can see things and get a better image `feeling of history.  Seeing this it changes my concept of architecture of how I used to see things. I haven’t really thought about ancient architecture I was more focus on modern and what could be called future architecture. Ancient architecture looks to be more stable and live, last for a long period of time. And it has a story behind it. The materials are different. The ways that were constructed are different and its purpose. Architecture is not just the appearance, the glass the simplicity or not. It’s the meaning behind it and what it will translate to. How people will view it.

My name is veronica Avila.