1 beller fifth year studio 2010-2011

AGGREGATION + OPTIMIZATION

―When we try to pick any one thing out of the Universe, we find it is attached to everything else.‖ John Muir, 1911

ag·gre·gate ‗collected together from

different sources and considered as a whole.‘

―To have a fine idea is nothing special…But to develop the idea well and make something great of it; that is the hardest part – that is art!‖ Antonin Dvorak Czech composer

op·ti·mize ‘ to make something function

at its best or most effective, or use something to its best advantage.‘

Our post-industrial society requires an ecologically appropriate architecture–one that celebrates the interdependence of people and place—a diverse architecture that allows for variations and cyclical processes. This implies a paradigm shift from a mode of architecture that deals with discreet concepts and distinct parts to one that embraces complexity and seeks a dynamic, metabolic equilibrium with place. Fifth year thesis is a time for each student to research and explore individual meaning in architecture--to develop an idea well. This requires an understanding of the character of all of the major components of the design and their holistic integration. The intent of this studio is to develop projects beyond an outline of form--beyond a rudimentary understanding of the scale and relationship of the major components-to a level that aggregates and optimizes the major components of the design.

Glenn Murcutt, (1)

,

Genzyme Center

2 beller fifth year studio 2010-2011

―Our approach to design is conditioned by an emphasis on the ‗particular.‘ We have adopted this emphasis in an attempt to balance the tendency towards generalization, which is becoming an increasingly dominant characteristic of Western culture. We begin with a search for the ‗found potential‘ of a project— a search for those aspects of the site, climate, building context, program, or local culture, etc., that will facilitate the development of an architectural order which is specific to circumstance. Patkau Architects

cited by M, Guzowski

in “Daylighting for Sustainable Design”

Found Potential

Architecture does not exist in isolation -- it is based on a thorough understanding of the interaction between human development patterns and natural systems. We seek to create architecture that is respectful of our relationship with the rhythms and patterns of our surroundings. An ecological approach considers natural relationships at various scales, beginning with a bioregional understanding, progressing through increasingly precise viewpoints to site specific ecology. The goal is to understand the relationship of the site ecology to the expression of architectural form and space.

Patkau Architects (2)

Sidwell Friends School Shaw, Washington, DC

3 beller fifth year studio 2010-2011

―The past is the cause of the present, and the present will be the cause of the future.‖ Abraham Lincoln

Sustainable Systems

Systems that are considered and developed separately, even if well defined, are not efficient—they are discreet and wasteful. Given the complex nature of buildings and their impacts on the environment, it is imperative that architects consider the integration of individual building systems and components in order to reduce waste, dramatically improve energy efficiencies, and enhance human comfort. How might individual building systems be integrated with one another and optimized to achieve significant reductions in energy use, maximize natural ventilation, increase day lighting possibilities and enhance human comfort? What are the possibilities for dynamic integration of building components across multiple systems?

The concepts of sustainability have profound implications on the built environment. An understanding of the principles of sustainable architecture enhances the ability of designers to create buildings that enliven our interaction with place, are oriented toward life-processes and integrated with the environment. Design explorations will focus on the integration of sustainable design principles in the built environment. The objective of this design studio is to develop a deeper understanding of the concepts of sustainable architecture.

―Sustainable architecture involves a combination of values: aesthetic, environmental, social, political and moral. It‘s about using one‘s imagination and technical knowledge to engage in a central practice- designing and building in harmony with our environment. Samuel Mockbee, Auburn University, Rural Studio

Samuel Mockbee, Auburn University, Rural Studio (3)

4 beller fifth year studio 2010-2011

―Education is that which remains when one has forgotten everything s//he was taught in school ‖ Albert Einstein

Prototype + Development

pro·to·type ‗An original

on which a thing is modeled.‘

arch·e·type ‗The original

model, form , or pattern from which something is made or something develops.‘

We seek creative approaches that have the potential to be developed to the prototype stage and ultimately to be built. Possibilities include prefab faculty offices, nomadic research labs, temporary housing, portable classrooms prefab child care centers, refugee affordable housing, prefab rural schools, portable health clinics, prefab community centers, movable outdoor classrooms for environmental centers, portable homeless services centers and others??? We seek creative approaches to building materials and systems research such as operability of facades, phase change strategies, façade agriculture and others ??? The ultimate goal is to create the seeds of an archetype. The work of this studio has the potential to be developed to the prototype stage by future students across multiple disciplines. The archived work of this studio can serve as the precedent for a design/build institute at Cal Poly that provides opportunities for students to assist in the accelerate deployment of promising ideas.

SOLAR DECATHLON IMAGES (clockwise from top left:) Germany,-09, Virginia Tech-09, Cal Poly-05, Cal poly-05 (4), Germany-09, Germany-07

5 beller fifth year studio 2010-2011

Thesis Seminar: Shaping Buildings

.

―We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.‖

Winston Churchill, 1941

Buildings that are well used, desirable and economically viable have long lives and enrich the fabric of the community—they are ―life-enhancing.‖ The principles of sustainable architecture enable designers to create buildings that enliven our

interaction with place, are oriented toward life-processes and integrated with the environment—buildings that ‗shape us‘ in myriad ways. This method‘s based seminar course will focus on the relationship between architectural design

and sustainability at three different scales. The first third of the course will deal with bio-regional

approaches, community and site ecology. The focus of the middle portion of the seminar will be

on the integration of sustainable design principles and architectural design. The final portion of

the course will be concentrated on design strategies for building components that enhance

sustainability.

Berlin Jewish Museum

German Reichstag

6 beller fifth year studio 2010-2011

Iteration + Feedback: Studio Culture

This architectural design studio involves the creative expression of ideas and themes that are based

on an iterative design process requiring insights, desire, imagination and the expression of social and

cultural values. After all this time spent in architectural school, we know that the design studio

environment is a unique place of exploration and creative learning. It is my hope that this year

together in studio will provide us all with opportunities for feedback, personal growth and expression;

and that all members of the studio will

encourage the development of a spirit of

collaborative learning. I believe that much can

be gained from the spontaneous exchange,

analysis and critique of ideas in architectural

studio. It is important that each of us strive to

establish and encourage a spirit of cooperation,

respect and consideration in our daily

interactions in order to fully take advantage of

the design process of iteration and feedback.

Schedule in Brief Thesis Seminar: ―Shaping Buildings‖ Precedent research, program, and site explorations Design Studio Fall: Ideation Explore sustainable systems with a series of topical seminars and charrettes In depth archetypal and precedent research Fieldtrip(s) Program development Site exploration analysis and modeling Conceptual design explorations Thesis proposal review and juried reviews Submission #1 thesis ―book‖ Design Studio Winter: Development Re-evaluation of conceptual ideas Demonstrable development of design proposal(s) Fieldtrip(s) Submission #2 of thesis ―book.‖ Juried reviews Design Studio Spring: Synthesis and Refinement Completion of thesis Submission of #3 thesis ―book‖ Juried reviews and final exhibition

Congregation Beth David

Top and bottom images of computer model by xuan Lam NGUYEN, Arch 451 exchange student from France. All other images are WAAC students‘ work .

7 beller fifth year studio 2010-2011

Bio: Richard Beller AIA, LEED AP I am a practicing architect, general contractor and builder with over 30 years of diverse, multi-faceted experience, with a design-build practice concentrating in the design and construction of commercial and residential projects in the San Luis Obispo region. I have been associated with San Luis Obispo Sustainability Group for many years. My most recent work with this firm was in the position of project architect for the design of Congregation Beth David, the first LEED certified building in San Luis Obispo County. Recent projects include construction manager for the San Luis Botanical Gardens Educational Facility, which was built with the help of Cuesta College students. I was the construction manager for Cal Poly‘s third place entry in the 2005 Solar Decathlon in Washington DC. During the 2007-08 academic year, I was Cal Poly‘s faculty member in residence at the Washington Alexandria Architectural Collaborative (WAAC). I studied music composition at UCLA and architecture at California Polytechnic State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree with honors, and earned a Master‘s degree in architecture at Cal Poly with a concentration in real estate development. I am a licensed architect in the State of California, a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction. Suggested Sun, Wind & Light Brown and DeKay John Wiley + Sons (2001). References Architectural Design Strategies

The Architect‘s Studio Companion Allen and Iano John Wiley + Sons (2007). Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design

Heating, Cooling and Lighting Lechner, Norbert. John Wiley + Sons (2001). Design Methods for Architects

Strategies for Sustainable Architecture Paola & Sassi Taylor and Francis (2006). (Principles and Case Studies)

Fractal Architecture Haggard & Cooper Booksurge (2007). Design for Sustainability Cradle to Cradle. McDonough et. al. Northpoint Press (2002). Remaking the way we make things Daylighting for Sustainable Design Guzowski, Mary. McGraw Hill (2000). A bioregional focus

Design with Climate Olgay Princeton Univ. Press (1963). Bioclimatic Approach To Architectural Regionalism Regenerative Design Lyle, John John Wiley & Son (1994) for Sustainable Development. Glenn Murcutt: Buildings & Projects Fromonot Whitney Library of Design (1995) Integrating Architecture with Place The Nature of Design Orr, David Oxford University Press (2002) Ecology, Culture and Human Intention The Green Studio Handbook Kwok & Grondzik Elsevier (2007) Environmental Strategies for Schematic Design Building Codes Illustrated Ching & Winkel John Wiley & Son (2007) A Guide to Understanding the International Building Code

Collapse Diamond, Jared Penguin (2005) How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

Photo Credits: 1. Fremonot; 2. Patkau Architects 3. Rural Studio, Auburn, 4. Cal Poly Solar Decathlon team members. All other photos by R. Beller

Cal Poly Solar Decathlon team members (4)