REFLECTION 5_4900_SUMMER.2014

For a design of a rooftop garden, we suggested that the client also input landscaping on top of the entrance canopy so people would be able to view the plants and it would also serve as a sign of a larger event at the rooftop.

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By the end of the project proposal, I learned that sometimes the best way to get an idea across is to create very simple and clear diagrams. There are times, as students, when we go out of our way to produce photo realistic renderings and our idea/concept is still not understood by the critics. Diagrams are actually a pathway for others to arrive at a state of cognitive equilibrium in respect to our perspective.

REFLECTION 4_4900_SUMMER.2014

While designing the green wall for Future Plaza, I focused a lot on how the finished face of the wall would look. But when we visited the site as it was finished, I discovered that my inner self appreciates something else rather than the finished face of the wall. I was appreciating the technical aspects of the wall such as bracing, irrigation and its structure. People were gathering to view the wall and everyone loved how it look. I understood that these smiles are being caused primarily by the structural aspect of the wall. The structure and technicality of the irrigation is what makes the green wall beautiful.

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REFLECTION 3_4900_SUMMER.2014

As I was helping with the installation of the plant space in the restaurant I was able to experience how diagrams and 2-D line drawings are coming to life. We used a new and innovative moisture barrier for the soil which is net like mesh with a type of cloth attached to it. This new material is good against movement of soil too.

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When I was at the site of the installation, I realized that we did not really analyze the rest of the building’s design when we designed the space for the plants. I then wondered if it was maybe possible that when inputting natural amenities such as plants, we do not need to worry too much about how it will fit in. Sometimes, natural items automatically fits in and forces its surroundings to coincide in harmony.

REFLECTION 2_4900_SUMMER.2014

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A construction of a new restaurant in downtown Brooklyn was taking place and the owner wanted a landscape design in the interior of the restaurant. Our idea was to put landscaping in a elevated platform so that people can see it from the outside as well as from the inside of the restaurant. There will be a attached ladder for a good look and for maintenance. We will also put a automated timer for watering the plants that will save time, money, and water in the future.

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Since the owner was a enthusiast in being green and doing things for the environment, I decided to choose plants that would be good for the environment.

I chose to input the following.

  • English Ivy: Good for air quality
  • Snake Plants: Releases oxygen during nightime
  • Golden Pothos: Clears formaldehyd

LAD

REFLECTION 1 _4900_SUMMER.2014

A client wanted well crafted large planter boxes for a patio space design and each part of the project demanded teamwork and proper coordination even though the work may have been done individually. The person cutting the wood had to think about how the carpenter would be able to assemble it, the carpenter had to think about how it would be easily stained, etc. I personally dealt with the detailing of how it should be assembled and the requirements for irrigation. I also assisted with assembling and staining the wood, which gave me a deeper understanding about what I was drawing on paper.

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This project was more of a furniture design assignment for me because I had to deal with choosing the type of wood and making it look rusticated. Since the planter boxes was the main attracting, the design of the landscape around it had to compliment the wooden boxes instead of competing with it. The staining process took the longest and I realized that the value of a sculpture increases as the craftsmanship increases. Our client was concerned about quality, not quantity.

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