Emma L Thompson

Thursday 24 March 2011

Dissertation Proposal part two

DHTP Dissertation Proposal Part 2 & DISSERTATION TEMPLATE PART 2 & 3

Sample template

Student Name	Emma Thompson
Course	Interior & Environmental Design
Supervisor name	Brigid Colllins
Email address (Supervisor)	b.c.collins@dundee.ac.uk
Date (update as you go)	13.03.11

Using the template

Enter your personal details in the box above. The email address will be used by your tutor and others to contact you. You must check this regularly for news on tutorial dates.

Read each heading carefully and type into the text box below.

Email your proposal to your supervisor and load it up on Safe Assignment of the VLE

Total final word count for Part 3: between 2000-2500 words (excluding bibliography).

Title (max 50 words)

This should give an outline of your research topic. If appropriate use a title and a subtitle. You need to get specific and refine the title to capture your research as best as possible.

“How can designers help buildings adapt?” Identifying how and why buildings change over time and what role the designer (especially the interior) can be in enabling adaptions that are respectful to the positive qualities of the existing structure and location. Considering use functionality and ethical issues.

Summary (Stage 2 = max 1000 words, Stage 3 = 1500)

Here you should indicate what you already know about the topic. You should already have done some reading around it. Summarise this reading with regards to the research topic and describe the research area. This will provide the basis for a literature review.

When looking at intervention in terms of adaption, more so through the relationship the designer has with a building, is the area of focus I feel is most important in understanding the idea of intervening on existing buildings. By doing so they are changing it in some way that creates a completely new form altogether, the way in which people interact with it and also the way time is represented from its creation to its present day. The problem with this is that many designers that tackle the redesign of an old building have many issues to consider. Not only do they have to look at sustaining the historical nature as such but the way in which they plan on highlighting the main features of such extraordinary buildings, maximizing the use of existing materials, reducing waste and carbon emissions and yet still keep a sense of the identity of what was once there within the building and around. They also have the challenge of using the building in whatever state it may be in and engaging with complex contents to create a completely new approach. What they all want to achieve is an exploration into new ways to adapt and create inventive and refreshing responses to all ready existing buildings and to show to people how great this change in form can be. Through interior adaption it can create a positive effect all round and regenerate each building and the surrounding area. In the case of a public intervention it could perhaps attract tourists to the area bringing in revenue.

Designers have to use the old to inspire the new. Older buildings already have a sense of history to work with, whereas new building basically all look the same. The way they are quickly manufactured, the standard designs and the use of cheap materials are many reasons that prove that many new designs have no individuality and support the reasoning for preservation. The character of older buildings should therefore be retained to improve the final outcome, using the best of both: the new features to help improve the old. Through adding on to a building, thus creating a new addition to the existing structure clearly defines the old and new. Keeping the appearance of the existing building the same but the interior has perhaps gained a new purpose altogether, or looking at how you can change the appearance of the existing built structure are all common concepts involved in intervening. Designers are perhaps more inclined to work with existing structures than to demolish buildings to rubble in today’s society. Scarcity in terms of affordable materials, wealth and even land are becoming a major issue in the world of design and architecture so they have to consider the limitations they may have. What makes a designer better than the rest? I suppose one that can deal with these issues yet not hinder the design of the final outcome.

All buildings evolve with time whether it’s due to natural deterioration, expansion in terms of accommodating the occupants, a new purpose or function i.e. conversion or just the fact there’s no need for the function within and so it has to adapt with the times of change. There are many benefits to reusing buildings and most designers more so interior designers can see the great potential they have. Reusing what’s already there instantly comes with less waste, pollution and more recycling. Like the WBDG historic preservation subcommittee says “ Sustainability begins with preservation”. Designers encourage evolution within a structure; they introduce new ideas, new materials in terms of sustainable technology that does not compromise the character of the build and prevent rapid deterioration. Creating cleaner environments to work and live designers now have to become more ecologically friendly and this is becoming apparent in the way they adapt buildings through time.

Through reading more into the nature of intervention into old buildings iv come across many people who have dissimilar views on the whole act of preservation towards buildings. Depending on the purpose for which the building was originally built for can affect people’s view’s dramatically, more specific to sacred buildings. In the book How buildings learn: what happens to them after they’re built, by Stewart Brand. He gives critical views on the modernistic approach. He homes in on innovators such as Frank Gehry and Le Corbusier for their impractical designs that’s been hard to maintain and were not fit for purpose. In this book he criticizes French development round about the 1980’s whereby they also did not serve their purpose and did not take local conditions into account. Brand strongly supports the views of post-modernists. Buildings that have simply four walls and can be easily adaptable in terms of scale and function are better suited to the ever changing world.

(Continued over)

Aims: Why are you doing this? (max 100 words)

These are a general statement on the intent or direction for the research – why are you doing this? Refer to theoretical aims and practical ones where relevant. For example: How might this improve your design practice? How does it contribute to the discourses within your discipline? Who else might benefit from your research? Is it aimed at an academic or a wider audience? What do you hope your research will achieve? State your aims concisely, perhaps using bullet points.

To find out the impact designers have on buildings overtime.

A greater understanding of reusing buildings.

Show how intervention can create a link between past and present.

Greater understandings into the affects of rejuvenating buildings have on communities/ surrounding areas.

To find out the benefits of reusing existing buildings compared with a new builds.

Objectives: What will you produce? (max 100 words)

Objectives are the things you will produce in doing the dissertation, e.g. a review of the relevant literature, a collection and discussion of people’s experiences/opinions, an assessment of a debate or collection of work etc.

Like your aims, these will help your tutor (and you) assess your success. They may change over time but aims and objectives are useful to keep you focussed. Again be concise here – you may want to use bullet points.

Case study looking into a comparison between two buildings maybe one an intervention and the other a normal build, perhaps looking into the way both are like to experience.

Discussion about views on historic buildings and whether or not they should be left to degrade into ruins or be put to a new use, related more to sacred buildings.

Discussion about whether or not intervention brings together the past and present.

Discussion about the views on designers being able to reinvent buildings in whatever way they choose.

Visit sites related to intervention to the designers influence.

Keywords (min 5 and max 10)

This should be a list of key terms that help us see if you are aware of where your research ‘sits’. For example, if you are writing on depictions of women in advertising your list might include ‘gender, feminism, representation, advertising, semiotics’. Keywords will help you when doing electronic searched for research materials.

Intervention, building adaption, regeneration, existing structures, environmentally conscious, sensitive to the surroundings, evolution of buildings, contrast of old and new, preservation, post-modernism.

Expanded Bibliography (min of 24 books, articles, websites)

Place here alphabetically a list of materials which you intent to use for you dissertation. Format these according to the Harvard Method.

Please make sure you have critically assessed these as being appropriate for your topic and write a short paragraph for each one summarising the content and its relevance to your research area.

Eds. Ames, D. and Wagner, R. (2009) Design & Historic Preservation: The Challenge of Compatibility. USA: Associated University Press.

This conference publication held at Glouster college, Baltimore, Maryland, USA (March 14-16 2002) highlights important issues to do with the views of Post-modernism and post modernistic views towards architecture and design and their thoughts on preservation.

Brand, S. (1997) How buildings Learn: What happens after they’re built, London: Phoenix Illustrated.

How buildings learn: What happens after they’re built does basically that. It explores what happens to buildings over time proposing that buildings adapt best when their occupants constantly nurture their solid surroundings. Its more surveying how buildings ranging from farmhouses to military surplus buildings evolve. The main statement he puts forward throughout is that buildings improve with age.

Brooker, G. and Stone, S. (2008) Context + Environment, Switzerland: AVA Publishing SA.

This book aims to investigate the practice of designing Interior Spaces but by analysing and also understanding the inside and outside elements of existing buildings that influences or have an effect on the Interior space itself. It looks at hpw a setting in which interiors are situated provide its context.

Brooker, G and Stone, S. (2007) Form+Structure, Switzerland: AVA Publishing SA.

This book investigates into the practice of designing Interior spaces, while analysing and understanding existing buildings. It reveals the process that goes into organising and redesigning spaces and looks at the results of selective and discriminating purposes of existing or proposed spaces.

Contal, M. and Revedin, J. (2009) Sustainable Design, Basel. Boston. Berlin: Birkhauser Verlag AG.

This book highlights the importance of Sustainable Design looking more towards the scale of urban structures or the execution of buildings and our need to use materials and construct in a way that conserves resources that build on existing values.

Daykin, T. (2010) Closed church buildings re-open with new purposes, [online], Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/hampshire/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8700000/8700180.stm. [27 Nov 2010]

This article talks about the restoration of closed churches around England. It shares people’s views on whether or not they should be left to decay or put to another use.

Dernie, D. and Carew-Cox, A. (1995) Victor Horta, London: Academy Group Ltd.

This book looks into Victor Horta’s work by highlighting themes, conflicts and inspiration behind his buildings. It looks at his Art Nouveau designs between the periods of 1889 to 1923.

Douglas, J. (2006) Building Adaption, 2nd edition, Burlington: Elsevier Ltd.

The book talks about the additions made to improve on the 1st edition and focuses on adaptions to buildings. The format is similar to that of a textbook and it’s more for helping people learn about adapting buildings and the different forms within. This book would give me a better insight into the way conversions work.

Duffy, K. (2009) Vienna Gasometers Converted to New Homes & Shops: Original Architectural Design Saves Viennese Gasometers, [online], Available: http://www.suite101.com/content/vienna-gasometers-converted-to-new-homes-shops-a168155.

This article talks about the conversion of Gasometers into new homes and workplaces in Vienna and how they are trying to create a purpose for them rather than demolishing the buildings.

Haribson, R. (1991) The built, the unbuilt and the unbuildable: in pursuit of architectural meaning, Thames & Hudson: MIT Press Edition.

Robert Haribson looks into topics such as the pristine, the ruined, the ephemeral and the notional within this contribution to architectural literature. He gives a new perspective in this practical art open to new interpretations, by exploring buildings that are either real or imagined, that can then evade or surpass the functional necessities within them while sometimes satisfying them.

Hayes, H. (2009) Sacred Destinations: Hagia Sophia, Istannul, [Online], Available: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia [28 Nov 2010].

This article looks into the conversion of the Hagia Sophia from a Byzantine church, to a former Ottoman mosque to now a Museum. It’s a good example of a sacred building showing the successful transformations.

Jencks, C. (1996) What Is Post-Modernism?, 4^th edition, London: Academy Editions.

This book looks at how new world views, an outgrowth of the Post-Industrial Society, a shift in philosophy, arts and architecture plus many other forces have exploded since the 1960’s. It gives us a great depth of analysis into the evolutionary, social and economic forces of this new stage of global civilisation.

Jencks, C. (2002) The New Paradigm in Architecture, New Haven and London: Yale University Press.

It explains the story of a movement that has somehow changed the face if architecture over the last 40 years or so. Jane Jacobs starts with the counter cultures of the 1960’s and the need for complex urbanism and then followed by Robert Venturi who goes on to talk about complex architecture. This then shows how these demands became recognised by the 1990’s with the help of computer design. It also shows us key projects that define post-modernism.

Jencks, C. (1991) The language of Post-Modernism Architecture, 6^th edition, Great Britain: Academy Editions.

This is the 6^th edition of this book. It looks at the failure of Modern Architecture in communicating with it’s users and the attempt of many Post-Modernists to overcome this failure. It also looks into the problems occurred from success, more so the reasoning behind the death of modernism.

Kincaid, D. (2002) Adapting buildings for changing uses: Guidelines for change of use refurbishment, London: Spon Press.

Most of the research for this book was taken from the University College of London. They looked into use adaptions within greater London about the mid 1990’s where by solving one of the biggest problems with housing shortage they converted a large amount of offices, reusing existing space. This book came about by investigating aspects of the built environment that has never been highlighted before. The aim of writing this book was more for analysing the current practice going on in the uk at present and showing different ways they have approached the implementation and decision making within the property industry.

This has great relevance in highlighting how this approach to reusing existing buildings is due to the lack of space and how this process goes about within the uk.

Klanten, R and Feiress L. (ed.) (2009) Built-on converted architecture and transformed buildings, Berlin: Gestalten.

This book is a collection of works from around the world demonstrating transformed buildings and the way they came about to undertake their new purpose. This book gives us many different examples of large-scale renovations that have been turned into hotels, working spaces and even housing solutions. It shows the creative structures produced that demonstrates the changes between the past, the present and the future.

The book gives great examples of conversions, using space cleverly and demonstrating the unusual but creative interior uses.

Lai, W. (2006) China Converted spaces, Singapore: Page One Publishing Private Ltd.

This book looks at the conversion of old industrial buildings focusing on specifically in China and looking at how these conversions are transformed into something unique.

Through looking into industrial buildings giving examples both in text and images of their transformation into a used building. This shows the relevance towards the interior adaption.

Majumdar, M. (ed.) (2001) Energy-Efficient buildings in India, New Delhi: Tata Energy Research Institute and Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources.

This book looks into 41 different projects giving detailed insights into different contexts as well as the benefits and techniques used within energy efficient buildings. The insight into the way India goes about this shows a different side to energy efficient buildings.

McGowan, M. (2008) Design Intervention: Revolutionizing Sacred Space (volume 1), United States: Plainjoe Studios.

This book refers to god and intervention, while also referring to the old testament. It explains how churches are buildings that are effective in using their stories from the bible to share to everyone the story of god. It gives an interesting take on churches and hold religion responsible for the design interventions.

Musee d’Orsay (2006) From station to museum, [Online], Available: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/history-of-the-museum/from-station-to-museum.html [28 Nov 2010].

This website explains everything you could want to know about the conversion of the railway station to the museum situated in France. It’s a good representation of an intervention on an old public building.

Rodenburg, A. (2011) The Pier Arts Centre Reiach and Hall architects [Online] Archdaily, Available: http://www.archdaily.com/118010/the-pier-arts-centre-reiach-and-hall-architects/ [Accessed 12 March 2011].

This article looks at the refurbishment of historic pier buildings as well as the creation of a completely new gallery building in Stromness that was transformed ino an arts centre.

Schittich, C. (ed.) (2003) Building in Existing Fabric, Switzerland: Birhauser.

This book looks into how all around us there are many buildigs that are no longer used for their intended purpose and so can then create new uses. Looks more into the reusing of existing buildings.

Stone, S. and Brooker, G. (2004) Rereadings: Interior architecture and the design principles of remodelling existing buildings, London: RIBA Enterprises Ltd.

This book was broken down into four chapters, analysis, strategy, tactics and case studies. In each breakdown there is a case study for each chapter and another sub-heading that then looks into works relating to each specific topic. It looks at the association between the old and new and an insight into why certain decisions were made within specific designs. It also helps us to understand the process and understanding that designers and architects make.

It gives great examples of work and an insight into the process, which is very informative.

Thompson, K, E. (1977) Recycling Buildings: Renovations, Remodelings, Restorations and Reuses, United States of America: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

This book looks into using existing structures rather than creating new ones and preserving the buildings heritage by looking into restoring historic sites and structures. It documents the creative ways that architects have given, once again life to buildings left to age.

I feel this book has great relevance to what I’m interested in. By preserving the buildings heritage I feel is what a change in the interior purpose does and highlights to people how simple and also visually attractive it is to combine the old and new.

Tonkin Zulaikha Greer. (2010) Carriageworks at Everleigh, [Online], Available: http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?Options=showawards&entryno=2008026687 [Accessed 12.03.11].

This article looks at conservation and reuse of the Greer former carriage works at Everleigh, Australia that was then used to create the new contemporary performing arts centre.

WBDG Historic preservation Subcommittee (2010) Sustainable Historic Preservation, [Online], Available: http://www.wbdg.org/resources/sustainable_hp.php [Assesed 12.03.11]

This article looks Sustainable Historic preservation giving a valued insight into the reasoning and benefits that come with preserving buildings.

Wednesday 23 February 2011

What defines a Post Consumer

Within our group session we looked into what type of person we believed a Post Consumer would be in terms of what types of produce they might use, what interests they have, what they do for a living and how they go about living their own lives. There are no rules to say what a post consumer should be or not but from brainstorming and understanding more about post consumerism, we raised some interesting theories.

A Post Consumer for us would be someone that is resourceful, makes conscience decisions, contributes to charities, more 2nd hand users in terms of clothing. These were a few ideas we had about this type of person. The poster below shows the best way we thought as a group, to define a Post Consumer.

Group Discussion

Images of our working session.

Monday 24 January 2011

Learning Styles

Pragmatist

They want to see if ideas, theories and techniques work in practice. They seek out new ideas and take the opportunity to try them in practice as soon as possible. They like to get on with things and act quickly and confidently. They take ideas away from courses, events, discussions and at the earliest opportunity experiment with them in practice. They want to get on with things, so are impatient with long winded discussions.

After taking part in the questionnaire, adding up my individual score and looking into the four different categories, overall I came out top as a Pragmatist closely followed by a reflector and joint Activist/ Theorist. I do agree that I learn best through taking part and seeing the processes put into practice. I also believe that the main attribute to my nature is the way I try to act quickly and confidently in most things I do and I greatly enjoy taking away the beneficial things from courses and discussions and coming up with ideas that I can then put into practice within my own course work. My weaker area or less engaged area would have to be my activist side. Although I would disagree with this slightly as I usually am up for trying new things and getting fully involved in new experiences, I do think the others take more of an important role in my life. Seeing as most types of my learning were scored closely together I do find other roles taking a more dominant approach in different situations and mixing between all four regularly.

A lot of people within our group found the categorising challenging because although we have spent a semester together it’s hard to work out what people’s styles are from brief encounters. The louder more involved people within our group where then stereotyped as being the activists whereby they take the role of acting first and then consider the consequences later. They are also enthusiastic about new things and involve themselves fully in new experiences. The quieter more reserved people for me were quite difficult to identify but after studying them more closely certain aspects of their personality labelled them: - reflectors, theorists or pragmatists.

After everyone came together and discussed what each person’s style was within our group, the dominant modes were equal between the reflectors and activists, with myself being the only pragmatists.

I think everyone can learn a lot from one another in a group that is very similar within their learning styles or very different, it’s just really what the individual takes away from it. People labelled as activists are used to jumping into things and I suppose taking control with in certain matters but these people especially in my group will have to work with others similar to them and learn to delegate different roles within a task, which may lead to certain individuals being left outside their own comfort zone. In order to complete jobs within a time scale these people will have to learn to work differently to obtain a better result and the same goes for others with similar learning styles. For me, being the only pragmatist I think being around people that are eager to learn and act straight away will encourage me to do the same in order to keep up and have a say in the final outcome. Thus also being the same for them.

Monday 6 December 2010

Dissertation Proposal

We have produced a template for your dissertation proposal, a copy of which is reproduced below. The sections relate closely to the work you did in Level 2 where you investigated a topic by doing a literature search, and using primary research methods such as observations and experiments.

Submission deadline for the final proposal: 5 pm Wed 1 December 2010 - submit via email to your supervisor and to Safe Assignment on the VLE

Please download this form from the VLE.

Please save as a word.doc and change the title to your full name, e.g.: John Smith.doc - do not email the proposal without changing the file name.

Sample template

Student Name	Emma Thompson
Course	Interior & Environmental Design
Supervisor name	Mike Press
Email address	e.l.thompson@dundee.ac.uk
Date	30/11/10

Using the template

Enter your personal details in the box above. The email address will be used by your tutor and others to contact you. You must check this regularly for news on tutorial dates.

Read each heading carefully and type into the text box below.

Email your proposal to your supervisor and load it up on Safe Assignment of the VLE

Total word count: between 250-500 words (excluding bibliography).

Working title (max 25 words)

This should give an outline of your research topic. If appropriate use a title and a subtitle. You don’t have to be too specific at first and you don’t have to word it like a question - but you can if you want.

I want to look at Intervention into old public buildings and how important the interior adaption can be in helping create a positive effect all round and regenerate each building and the surrounding area. Also looking at how important it is to consider the benefits of reusing existing buildings not only on an environmental level but to preserve a sense of identity.

Summary (max 250 words)

Focusing on Intervention for this dissertation, I came across many areas linked with the word intervention and so to achieve a better understanding I looked into all. Intervention is the act of intervening in some way. When you relate this to art it becomes an interaction with a previously existing artwork, audience or venue/space. With regards to other areas the terms to come between two periods or points in time or to be involved in a situation as to then alter or hinder an action or development can also be used. All of these relate to this term when talking about the architecture of a building. By intervening on an existing building you are changing it in some way that creates a completely new form altogether, the way in which you interact with it and also the way time is represented from its creation to this present day. There are many areas to intervention but for me the book ‘Built On’ helps define probably the mot common separations. Engaging more with the built environment through complex contents or looking more so at the reuse and recycling side whereby transforming existing buildings to then create a completely new approach. What they all want to achieve is an exploration into new ways to adapt and create inventive and refreshing responses to all ready existing buildings and to show how great the change in the form can be. This can be done through adding on to a building, thus creating a new addition to the existing building that clearly defines the old and new. Even keeping the appearance of the existing building the same but the interior has gained a new purpose altogether. Or looking at how you can change the appearance of the existing built structure.

(Continued over)

Aims: Why are you doing this? (max 100 words)

Investigate the importance of interior design within existing environments.

A greater understanding of reusing buildings.

Being more conscious as a designer, respectful to the environment.

Working within existing environments creating different boundaries.

Designers, architects, historians, tourists, the general public I’m sure would value some insight into the results /outcomes of intervention.

Show how intervention can create a link between past and present.

Objectives: What will you produce? (max 100 words)

Case studies looking into a comparison between two buildings maybe one an intervention and the other a normal build, perhaps looking into what each are like to experience.

Discussion about views on historic buildings and whether or not they should be left to degrade into ruins or to be put to a new use, related more to sacred buildings.

Discussion about whether intervention brings together the past and present.

Keywords (min 5 and max 10)

Intervention, existing structures, old public buildings, regeneration, interior adaption, environmentally conscious, potential use, old and new.

Annotated Bibliography (min of 12 books, articles, websites)

Place here alphabetically a list of materials which you intent to use for you dissertation. Format these according to the Harvard Method!

Please make sure you have critically assessed these as being appropriate for your topic and write a short paragraph for each one summarising the content and its relevance to your research area.

This article talks about the restoration of closed churches around England. It shares people’s views on whether or not they should be left to decay or put to another use.

Douglas, J. (2006) Building Adaption, 2nd edition, Burlington: Elsevier Ltd.

This article talks about the conversion of Gasometers into new homes and workplaces in Vienna and how they are trying to create a purpose for them rather than demolishing the buildings.

Hayes, H. (2009) Sacred Destinations: Hagia Sophia, Istannul, [Online], Available: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-hagia-sophia [28 Nov 2010].