The monolithic forms of Brian Mackay’s architecture stand in elegant contrast to the stark, ancient landscape of Nova Scotia.  The buildings respond to the landscape through the use of traditional materials and forms.  His building create the essence of a ghost by recalling images of Nova Scotia’s history.  This is shown in The Howard House.  Its shape and structure are reminiscent of a boat shelter, a traditional structure of the region.  The exposed traditional wood framing create a dialog with the landscape.

The highline is a very interesting project. We can learn a lot from this as far as salvaging structures and buildings that were previously termed “ugly”.

The Kasahara Municipal Elementary School article had more meaning to me after hearing Hannah’s presentation last Tuesday.  ”A school is a little city within a big city” reminded me of the different school layouts and how they relate to the teaching theology.  It’s important for the Architecture to support the activities inside yet relate to the surrounding scenery.

All of these examples had strong, open relationships to the outdoors – integrating the natural exterior with the interior.  The Nago City Hall reading mentioned grasping the natural features of Okinawa “not just as data, but also with your body”.  Some of our other readings in class have alluded to the technology advancements assisting in designing sustainably.  While I think this is helpful, especially in proving energy savings, I fear there may become an over reliance on technology.  At some point, we lose a connection of our bodies with the site.

I think it would be helpful for designers to live in the projects they create.  If an architect designs a school, let him/her camp out for a while after it’s completed to fully experience the full range of their design.  Is it comfortable?  Does it function as intended?

Team Zoo uses nature as a center design concept in their buildings.  I always try to respond to nature in the work I do.  Like the Nakijin Community Center, I use nature as a symbiotic element in the building and not only as an afterthought.  At the Nakijin Community Center, the earth flows onto the roof, creating thermal mass and insulation and brings the building to the landscape.  In Nago City Hall, natural ventilation helps cool the building with less need on mechanical systems.  The building itself is designed around these patterns and they are integral to the design.

From a very early stage in the design process, I start thinking about how natural element can shape the building.  In previous studios, this is shown in my diagrams.  Pictured here is a diagram from a past studio project showing how wind, using the chimeny effect and proper orientation can be used to cool a building.

The Nakijin Community Center embodies aimaimoko, or ambiguity, and blends so well with the surrounding forested area that it is difficult to discern buildings from trees.  I felt the most important concept of this building was to change its expression with the change of seasons.  This is a common landscape architecture concept, and one that I am personally interested in pursuing professionally.  While common to imply different passive systems based on season, the change in facade is an interesting idea, one that perhaps could be pursued past variation in vegetation.

I can see concrete block being a useful tool in low-income or designs relating to a similar context, but it is a heavy material, and must be used carefully.  The Nago City Hall project is extremely revolutionary, and seems to fit the cultural context very well.

For my case study I will be presenting Alvar Aalto’s evolution of style demonstrated through his projects.

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I’ve really enjoyed the field trips in this class.  I think seeing parts of the city that relate to the readings is helpful.  There is sometimes a disconnect between theory and practice….