Don't Be Alarmed

In my findings about the AIA and Ethics, recently they have produced several initiatives to promote sustainable architecture. I have decided to take my research in a slightly different direction and recommend that the AIA create it's own credentials for "green" design. Hope you enjoy reading it later today.

Continued Research

I've found several interesting articles in previous months issues of NewsWeek and have also studied "eco-structure", "plenty", and "The Plan" (from Italy!). I've downloaded the Hippocratic Oath. I've also researched the Doctor's "Do No Harm" Philosophy and am looking for the "Architect Do No Harm" article.

Books I'm reading for research:
"The Right Thing" by Jeffrey Seglin
"Science Under Siege" by Todd Wilkinson
"Professional Practice" by Andy Pressman, AIA
"Sustainable Construction" by Charles J. Kibert
"There's No Such Thing as Business Ethics" by John C. Maxwell
"The Little Green Handbook" by Ron Nielsen
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Global Warmin" by Michael Tennesen

Just trying to keep everyone informed.

MY INTERNET IS FIXED

Sorry everyone... my router went down over the weekend and I had to re-setup my network at home. I'm BACK!

Paper Preparation

Topic: Changing the civic responsibilities of the Architect to better our environment.

AIA Code of Ethics
http://www.aia.org/SiteObjects/files/bookmark_ethics_final.pdf

I’m not going to post the whole list of rules the AIA has written and finally revised 2004, but please follow the link and review the codes governing our profession. One item you might notice missing is our responsibility to maintain a consideration and promote the environment while creating these magnificent structures for our client, society, and advancing our profession. It is interesting that whatever we do, as long as people like it, is okay for the earth to be graced by its beauty. Only until recently did the environmental concern REALLY become universal in architecture and materials. My goal and persuasion for this paper is to identify some universal codes of ethics to include with the AIA set of rules and prove their validity to be included in the above document.

Why We Buy

I see many characteristics that Paco Underhill is identifying with current retail stores. I just noticed several of these as I was at the mall yesterday and things like where the placement of merchandise and kiosks blocking other kiosks became evident. I will have many more compariosons coming soon...

Intense Regurgitation

Several concepts and ideas have attracted my attention during the first few days in Boston here at the BAC. Oddly enough, I was expecting a 6’2” professor and I still don’t know why you wrote this in your profile. I guess females on internet dating sites post more comments to taller men but why I believed this, I can only attribute to the resultant information posted online…

So, I haven’t slept in a while and that probably explains the random start.

I have carried something from every discussion with me this week. It hasn’t been the entire lecture, recorded in my notebook for future use I add, but an intimate meaning or concept that is new and discussed in class to further spark my interest. I have even gone as far as to incorporate findings from the video, “Social Life in Small Urban Spaces” by Whyte. Rules such as “Sitting” and “Congregation” have started to influence my design for the Copley Square Apple store. I found the visual proof much more stimulating than the articles, persuading me to believe. The scientific evidence over vast periods of time and varied locations, similar to Paco Underhill’s research, has stuck with me this week. I do remember the Bickford and Duncan articles proving many valid points about residential living and urban impact. As I stated in previous posts, “Pocket Parks” have increased social interaction in locations, where previously linear travel is the best description for the space, around Columbus, Ohio. I see why they are successful now after discussion about Whyte’s research. I plan on incorporating these ideas into my project and will prove to extend the activity of Copley Square into the already social gathering space that is the Apple Store.

A revelation came to me at the Apple store and study of human interaction. I see there are so many other reasons to convene at the Apple store than just for immediate purchase or research. In as sense, hanging out around the product and others using the product can be research, but how does Apple close on the sale? This is what I will continue to study.

Now back to my knives and long metal rulers. Items which might brand me dangerous in a public setting!

Duncan Landscape and Class

Duncan truly identifies the situation my sister and brother-in-law have chosen to live in, however I would not associate their location as a division of social status in the community. My sister lives in the "middle of no where" Iowa, just outside Cedar Rapids. She has chosen to live in a small development of houses with large yards in one of the few "forests" of "middle of no where" Iowa with approximately 30 other homes. To arrive at her community, one must travel the never ending rows of corn, take three numbered paved roads and four dirt roads before arriving at a tree line. Both she and her husband’s upbringing where residential suburbs of major cities and both were very active in public school activities. I myself had the same upbringing and chose to live in the same environment in Columbus, Ohio that I knew in Minnesota. Why are we so different in the appreciation of Landscape? I see a major difference in social activities as I would rather meet friends at a sporting event or bar where as my sister will sit in her living room reading a book. I see distinct characteristics of Alpha/Beta tendencies in this respect however economically we are similar in working class.

It is easy to identify various regions of Columbus, Ohio that mimic the effects of Alpha/Beta relationship. As Bickford has defined our suburbs are attracting individuals away from the older established neighborhood. I chose to live in a 1928 home because I value the architecture and more so, the trees taller than my house. I again am a “middle class” citizen but show characteristics of both Alpha and Beta social divisions in my selection of “Landscape.” My street describes Beta and my appreciation for older historic “scenery” would suggest Alpha given Bickford’s division of class in our current society. I would suppose a true Alpha social member would live on a large property with very little interaction between neighbors, but as Duncan describes, I fall under the Beta category.

I feel the person defines who they are, and from their upbringing suggests a “Landscape” they select as adults. Both social interaction and socioeconomic status growing up or achieved in life defines their habits and actions within the community. This exemplifies a pre-selected geographic location they have a tendency to select.