So this last month (October) was the beginning of my final year at the Newschool of Architecture & Design, and I am now actually getting ready to enter my fifth week. Since I have not posted an update on this blog in a while, I have decided to give a brief update of some of the things that have happen here since the fall at Newschool. I will then follow with a brief description about my thesis project and what I hope to accomplish from this thesis exploration.

Week 1
This first week begun with everybody trying to get situated, selecting instructors, as well as introducing our topics for thesis and identifying our objectives for the year. After dealing with all the madness associated with first week thesis studio came the chance to relax and look at what Newschool has planned for the year. So we headed out to our annual convocation with this year’s ceremonies being held at the Copley Symphony Hall. This year guest speaker was AIA president Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA, who gave a great speech on the subject of architecture and the education of architecture. He encouraged us to think outside the box and look at some of the new ideas being pushed in the industry as a way to help us develop a more innovative and better informed design process. If I remember correctly he talked about embracing the ideas that revolve around performance-based design and the tools that consume them. He then finished up his speech with a reminder to us about enjoying these experiences, to have fun.


Week 2
Then the second week for many consisted of researching material for their thesis projects. While others worked on case studies as well as further identifing design rationale and goals. The end of the second week brought the first lecture presentation that featured architect Teddy Cruz on the subject of “Radicalizing the Local beyond the Politics of Style”. This lecture was sponsored by the Friends of San Diego Architecture. If I remember correctly he talked about community engagement and addressing the needs of communities as oppose to addressing needs perceived by city politics.



Week 3
The third week brought the rise of the cardboard city; the invasion of the cardboard people. These cardboard people were projects that were being constructed in the first year graduate studio. Walking past their studio you could see these students working together to create these corrugate versions of themselves. This honestly seemed like a lot of fun. These projects continued on till week 4. Mean while in the thesis studio we continued with thesis research as well as identifying potential sites for our projects



WEEK 4
This fourth week in the thesis studio consisted of more thesis research as well as site analysis and looking at program. With midterm review a few days away people (myself included) began working on editing or reworking earlier studio submittals that might have fallen short. Then midweek brought our next lecture which was presented by the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture. This lecture featured a presentation by architect Gordon Chong FAIA as well as neuroscientist Dr. Fred "Rusty" Gage. This lecture was honestly a very informative as well as interesting discussion on the ideas of evidence-based design and the connection between neuroscience and architecture. With Gordon Chong FAIA explaining how these ideas of evidence-based design can be used as a way to enhance innovation into a better informed design process. Then following Gordon Chong was Dr. Fred "Rusty" Gage who talked about the connections between environments and stimulations in the brain.
Evidence-Based Design




Thesis Project
So this year is already running quickly and with our thesis projects in full throttle. My thesis exploration will look at the idea of kinetic (dynamic) or self-organizing architecture that adapts to social as well as environmental conditions in-order to enhance experiential and performative qualities. The current conditions of finished built structures tend to be static in nature which can at times lead to limits or barriers of how people experience space as well as how buildings perform. This exploration will look at how to potentially integrate parametrics, fabrication, and performative strategies as a way to develop high performing architecture that can maximize the experiential qualities of the built environment. My goal is to be able to take the knowledge I gain during this study with me into my professional career (whether applied or not).

Some of the books that I am currently reading for my research are as follows: Performative Architecture | Beyond Instrumentality (Kolarevic), Architecture in the Digital Age | Design and manufacturing(Kloarevic), as well as a long list of many others.
until next time.
View full entry

As most schools seem to be beginning their fall terms here at Newschool we are still working on our final two weeks of summer. This summer besides working on research for my thesis topic (which I will write about very soon) I had to take a light load of classes to finish lightening up my thesis... View full entry

Last week on June 20, 2009 I had the opportunity to attend the Graduation ceremony of my former classmates and friends finally complete the mission of getting through architecture school. The ceremonies where held at Louis Kahn's Salk Intitute. It was something special as I could see the happiness... View full entry

Robots on Steroids no not really. I just thought the title sounded cool (haha), but as the fall approaches and thesis life arrives (for many of us) don’t be surprised to see super buff robots building models in your studio. With band aids covering cuts and metal fingers glued together. If... View full entry

This last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Flux workshop(s) held at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. They had a series of digital design workshops which included: Intro to Grasshopper, Advance Grasshopper, Rhinoscripting, Digital Project, as well as intro classes to... View full entry

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Solatube office here in San Diego. I found this trip to be a good learning experience so I thought I'd share. Solatubes are used to bring natural daylight into spaces which could help in reducing energy usage from artificial lighting. They work by... View full entry

LiveArchitecture.Net This weekend Live Architecture Network - LAN-IN-FLIGHT digital fabrication series will be stopping in San Diego. This workshop will be great - as it will give us the opportunity to see how we can utilize and integrate digital modeling with fabrication. This will also provide... View full entry

So just like everyone else around here - I have been really busy(not as much with school stuff, but more with things work related), but recently I was able to take a short break a very short break - with a trip to Seattle. This trip was so short that I really did not get a chance to explore the... View full entry

Recently many people at NewSchool have been asking me "How can I create a 3D topo for my project" So I figure I would post a simple Rhino tutorial here to share the steps I go through in creating 3D terrains so that other students with the same question can see how I do it. It might not be the... View full entry

Last night I was going through my external hard drive trying to organize and clean out. As I was going through files after files, I started thinking about how architecture school has been for me. It has honestly been one of the best experiences and adventures of my life. Like anyone who has gone... View full entry

This last Saturday that passed was the day of the Rhino training workshop (pushing rhino/ push the rhino) that I had setup. With about 30 or so people who attended the workshop which I took as a good sign. I was hoping for more, but still good. This workshop was an attempt to help people see the... View full entry

Today has been a very busy day for me and just about everyone with all the post election day aftermaths, but the big thing in my house is that today is my anniversary of being with my wife (4 years/ long time) so spending time with her and the kids is crucial. We headed out to the New Children's... View full entry

At the beginning of the summer, I was approached by Avery Caldwell who is one of the program chairs and the person responsible for new software at Newschool - about the possibility of bringing Rhinoceros to our school. As of right now Newschool offers classes in Revit Architecture, FormZ... View full entry

Since I am not in studio I found that I have much more time. With this light load that I have - I have been able to spend most of that free time studying for the LEED exam which I will be passing OCT31 - Yes that’s right passing. With so much free time (not really just feels like it) I have... View full entry

Whats up people, My name is Fabian (sometimes seen in the forums as Difficultfix) I am here in San Diego studying at the NewSchool of Architecture and I have been studying here since the fall of 2006. NewSchool is located in downtown San Diego in area known as the East Village. Here at NewSchool... View full entry