9/22, 9/23 – measurement, observation, and analysis
9/24, 9/25 – turn in 2 sheets (the beginning of studio)
References – Scale: your body – i.e., the length of your steps, the width of your arms, etc.
Book: Reid, Grant W.. From Concept to Form in Landscape Design
To design spaces for human use we need to have an understanding of the size and scale of familiar spaces. These spaces will give us a reference from which to start new design assignments. You can’t understand the meaning of a monumental space by just reading about it; you need to stand in it, move through it, watch people experience it.
Scaled Drawing and Section
The class will divide into a few self-selected teams (each team will have four or five persons each). Each team is responsible for a set of measurements, a rough schematic plan and section of the space and the elements in it and group impressions. A suggestion for organizing the group work is to have one person pace off the space, one person to indicate the dimensions, one person (or, two persons) to organize the graphic presentation into the 11″ x 17″ format, and one person to record group impressions of the space.
Each team has to major the area covered the Mall and the Patterson Hall slop. You have to pay particular attention to the elements listed which impact your experience of the scale of the site. Be sure to include the main elements of the site in the drawing even if they are not included in the descriptive list of questions (i.e., sidewalks, planters, planting beds, trees, grassy areas, fountains, sculptures, etc.
The Mall & The Patterson Hall slope (Patterson slope)
What size is McKeldin fountain (overall length, width, length of each level, height above the ground)?
How far apart are the Willow Oak trees (along the path, across the path); how big are the trees (height to the lowest branches, overall height, width of the trunks at chest height)?
How big is the sundial (diameter)?
How high is the seating wall behind the sundial; how wide is the top of the wall?
How big are the columns in front of the building along the mall (diameter, height); how far apart are they?
How far are the two sculptures away from each other in the Patterson slope?
What size is the garden area in the Patterson slope?
What are the sizes of the paths in the garden?
How far are the benches away from each other in garden area?
What size are the stars in the front of the HJ Patterson Hall?
Each team is responsible for turning in two sheets which summarize your team work as follows:
1. One 11″x17″ sheet which shows a plan view of your site drawn roughly to scale and a section drawn from one direction through the entire site. Include a title block and border which indicates the name of the site, scale, north arrow, team member names, and course info (title, semester, professor’s name).
2. One 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheet which summarizes the responses to the following issues pertaining to your site:
· Relative scale – intimate, human, public, superhuman
· Degree of enclosure – enclosed, implied, open
· Type of space – Reid’s principles of organization
· Elements of enclosure
ground plane - flat, elevated, depressed, sloped/tilted, steps
paved, grass, etc.
vertical plane - low, eye level, high
near, distant, absent,
opaque, translucent, pierced, implied
buildings, walls, plants
overhead plane - low, high, absent
solid, translucent, pierced, etc. structures, plants
· Reactions, emotions experienced
positive, negative experiences
comfortable or uncomfortable
pleasant, dramatic, dynamic, awe, serene, etc.