Sunday, September 30, 2018

Want to Study Architecture? Online Learning Could Be Your Answer!

So, let’s start with this question. Are you interested in architecture, but you have already studied something else? Don’t think this ends it. We have heard before how great architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, or Mies van der Rohe had paved their way in the field without getting a proper academic education. It is true that times have changed, and you cannot practice architecture, now, without a license. It is also true that the basic way to obtain a license is to go through a 5-year Bachelor program, but it is not the only way. There are many other methods you could get licensed. However, skipping the bachelor degree in architecture does not mean you will do just fine without learning all you were meant to learn in those 5 years. One easy and affordable way to seal the gap in your knowledge is online learning!

How to Become an Architect If You Don’t Have a Bachelor Degree

If you want this whole “online learning” thing to work, then you need to be organized about it. First, you need to know what you would like to study in order to enhance your skills in practice. Are you more interested in the larger scale or the smaller scale or simply architectural design? Would you rather design cities or home interiors? You also need to know what topics are mostly covered in architecture school. Perhaps, there are interesting topics you are not aware of and would like to learn more about or, more importantly, essential topics that you absolutely need to know about.

Via pexels.com

Here is a long list of some the topics that are probably covered in undergraduate architecture school. You may not necessarily need all of them, or not with the same importance at least.

Design basics and principles
Architectural drawing
Architectural design
History of Architecture
Visual Perception and Art
3D Modeling
CAD Software
Interior Design
Building Construction
Urban Design
Landscape Architecture
Housing
Urban Planning
Environmental Studies
Sustainable Design
Structure Systems
Mechanical Systems
Building Technology
Smart Design
Acoustics and Lighting

This is in addition to topics like technical writing and research, which could be beneficial if you are interested in obtaining further academic degrees or research work. Some knowledge in management and marketing could also be essential for practice, especially if you have ambitious plans to run one of your own.
Second, you need to see how you are going to cover these topics through online learning. You may have assumed that the lately trending Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC) are your only way to online learning, but that is not true. They are one valuable and important way but there are other ways. Here are some suggestions:

1. E-books

Via pexels.com

Books have never lost their value as a learning asset since the ancient times when they used to be scrolls and manuscripts. Now, they have taken the new form of “e-books” which can be purchased online, or not. Some books, especially the older ones, are actually available for free, under what is known as a “Public Domain” authorization.
Here, on Arch2O, we have gathered sources for 500+ architecture e-books which you can check in the following links:

2. MOOC Courses

There is one way we have already talked about for online learning. MOOC courses are offered by worldwide leading educational institutes, and they cover all sorts of subjects. They are mostly accessible via massive online course providers like Coursera and Edx. They do not merely provide academic content and lectures but also give assignments, arrange online class activities, and hold examinations. Students can audit MOOC courses for free or pay fees to receive a certificate.
Here are collections of free online courses which could be beneficial to your career:

3. Video Tutorials

Youtube is your key-provider here. You can specifically search for whatever you need to learn for the moment on Youtube, and you will most likely find not just one but many video tutorials to choose from. This can be particularly handy when you are trying to self-learn drafting and design software like AutoCAD and 3Ds Max.

4. Governmental Resources

Via Pinterest

In order to be a full-fledged architect, you need to be well aware of your country’s building codes. You also need to be aware of the ethics and legislation that regulate the practice of architecture, so that you wouldn’t fall into the pit of breaking the law.

5. Project Libraries

Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

It is one thing when you read about dynamic facades and shell structures, for example, and completely another thing when you see them as part of a project. Checking successful and non-successful architectural projects alike can be quite educational for you. It would give you an idea how all of those things you’ve learned about from books, papers, or online courses actually work in real life.
Here on Arch2O, we have a selection of various architectural projects by leading architects from all over the globe. Be sure to check them!

6. OpenCourseWare

A number of worldwide renowned universities are now offering some of their course materials for free online learning. Some of these universities hold the world’s top-ranking architecture schools, like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). The downloadable course materials may include readings, lecture notes, projects, and assignments. However, these materials could be only available for the older versions of the courses. So, put that in mind while making your best out of them.
Here are links to the OpenCourseWare online centers for three of the world’s top educational institutes:

7. TED Talks and Public Lectures

Chilean Pritzker Prize-winning architect Alejandro Aravena in TED Talks

If you are more into listening than reading, then online public lectures are your best bet. And for a different, and possibly more beneficial, learning experience you’d better check TED Talks. The media organization acts as a platform for entrepreneurs, innovators, and thinkers to spread their ideas and inspire others. All TED talks are accessible for free on TED’s website, and needless to say, you will find a good share of talks about architecture and design.
Check our selection of TED Talks for architects in the following links:

8. Documentaries

Via Youtube

Is listening not enough? Then, watch documentary movies on different architectural eras, architects, and trends. Again, Youtube is probably going to be your best friend. You can search for documentary movies on whatever topic you like, or type a general keyword, like “architecture documentaries”, and explore!
Here, check our suggested documentary movies for architects and architecture lovers:

9. Web Resources

Your sources for online learning needn’t be books, lecture, or movies. You could simply find what you need on web pages. Many websites could offer you the knowledge you need for free and in the easiest possible way. However, you need to make sure they are credible enough to use as references. Examples of credible web sources are those run by esteemed non-profitable organizations like the United Nations or leading corporations like Autodesk and Adobe.

10. Google Scholar

If you are interested in deeply researching a particular topic and need credible scientific references, then this is where you begin your research journey. Google Scholar will lead you to plenty of scientific articles and publications on whatever topic you are researching. However, not all of the search results are accessible for free. Accordingly, you might need to purchase the publications you need or subscribe to an academic database to access them for free.

11. Pinterest

Yes! You can learn a lot via Pinterest. The image-based social network could be your source of inspiration. Create your own design, architecture, interior, and landscape Pinterest boards. Then, whenever you start working on a project, check your boards to gain ideas. Beware though; you could get distracted by all the eye-popping illustrations and images, then end up wasting an hour or two before getting to your boards.

12. Internet Archives

That is one place full of hidden gems of all kinds: video, audio, books, web pages, TV records, and more. You could dig in there and find loads of resources about all sorts of architecture and non-architecture-related topics. Check out how to set up an account here.
Finally, we would recommend you check Arch2O’s category: Learning Station regularly for more learning resources, materials, and tips. Good luck with your online learning!

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3XN Wins Competition to Design Lemvig’s Waterfront Climatorium

A design that tells a story about climate change while celebrating the cultural history of the area; 3XN, in collaboration with Orbicon and SLA, submitted this design for the new waterfront Climatorium Competition in Lemvig, Denmark, scheduled to open in 2020 and won.
Also, read:

The design pays tribute to the nature of the area and the culture, while also abiding by the climate conditions and local building codes. Serving as a strong information center, The Climatorium will host exhibitions and conferences about climate change. The Climatorium has a cafe and hang-out space so that it could become a local meeting place in the future. Moreover, it will also host concerts and events.
The entrance is shaped like a wave, reminiscent of a ship’s hull, waves of a sea or the fjord. The wave lends a distinct identity to the waterfront. Moreover, they have used a light-toned wood which is inspired by the boat halls nearby.
The structure is predominantly timber. The structure is a modern interpretation of local culture and serves a dual role – as a public amenity for science and arts and as a working laboratory, working towards mitigation of climate change.
“The wave tells the story of the site and also refers to the serious challenges we face as a result of climate change,” says Jan Ammundsen, Senior Partner and Head of Design at 3XN. A “climate landscape” flows into the building, inviting in the visitors. Inside the structure are an open auditorium, an activity and exhibition area, and a multifunctional room. The multifunctional room will host workshops and other events.
The Lemvig Climatorium is part of “the Coast to Coast climate challenge (C2X CC), a 6-year project that runs until 2022” and seeks to secure assets from the negative effects of climate changes. The climatorium’s main purpose is to collect knowledge about the salt water. This knowledge will be relevant to the trade, industry, local population, and tourism. of this fishing town.
It is a simple 2 story structure; however, the height and placement of the building are designed with keeping in mind, the adjacent buildings on the waterfront. The undulating terrain around the building is given the name “Climate Wedge” and it represents the wind conditions in Lemvig. The soft lines of the nearby skate park also feature in the design.“The Climatorium will become a signature building that reflects local traditions and adds a contemporary element to Lemvig Harbor.”
The Climatorium waterfront project is developed for Lemvig Byråd (Lemvig city council) and Lemvig Vand Og Spilde and (Lemvig Water and Wastewater). This is scheduled for completion in 2020.
All images courtesy of 3XN.

3XN Wins Competition to Design Lemvig’s Waterfront Climatorium

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11 Leaning Towers That Aren’t the Leaning Tower of Pisa

When we think of leaning towers the first image that comes to mind is probably the leaning tower of Pisa. But this famous landmark is actually not the tallest and definitely not the only leaning tower out there. Visually, the angle of the Pisa tower appears startling because the area of land around it is bare. However, there are other leaning towers that exist around the world, standing on less stable grounds, and are, also, the result of a man-made error. They stand with barely noticeable tilts to this day, but if there is no intervention to stabilize them they could end up tumbling and crashing. On the other hand, there are extraordinary towers that were actually designed to be leaning. Falling between both categories, here are 11 leaning towers across the world that are totally worth seeing.

For a glimpse at one of the world’s tallest leaning towers, check out: “Capital Gate” Hyatt Hotel + Offices | RMJM

1- Nevyansk Tower- Nevyansk, Russia

via wikimedia commons

There is little that is known about this tower save that it was commissioned to be built by the Demidov Family in the 18th Century. Of course, there is some speculation amongst the locals as to the purpose of this tower. Some say that it was a prison. Others believe that it was a watchtower or a bell tower, while a third group claims that it was a secret lab where the Soviets conducted experiments. The tower deviates at a 3-degree angle between the base and the middle.

2- Suurhusen Church Tower- Suurhusen, Germany

via wikimedia commons

The church tower in Suurhusen holds the world record for the most unintentionally leaning tower in the world. The tower is part of a Gothic Church and leans at a whopping angle of 5.19 degrees. The angle of the leaning tower of Pisa at 1.22 degrees is nothing compared to this structure. The church was built on stable oak logs in the Middle Ages, but during the 18th century, the swampland that the church stood on was drained causing the famous tilt.

3- Big Ben- London, England

via shutterstock

It’s hard to believe that this iconic landmark is actually leaning, but it is! The Elizabeth Tower or Big Ben, as it is widely known, is tilting at a rate of 0.9 mm annually. The leaning is probably due to the several expansions of the London Underground and parking lots around the area. However, engineers are not too worried about the rate of this tilt, since they believe it will take around 4000 years before it even catches up to the leaning tower of Pisa.

4- Tiger Hill Pagoda- Souzhou, China

via wikimedia commons

The Pagoda owes its name to the hill it resides on. The Pagoda itself was built ages ago—in 960 CE, and it leans by around 3 degrees. The reason for this tilt is due to the cracking of two of the tower’s support columns, as the tower resides half on rock and half on the soil. Fortunately, there have been successful attempts to stabilize the tower. By reinforcing the soil it stands on with concrete, the tower is not leaning any further. But there is a difference of roughly 2.3 meters between the body of the tower and the foundation.

5- Oede Kerk- Delft, Netherlands

via wikimedia commons

The church that this tower is attached to was originally Catholic but became Protestant during the reformation. The leaning tower is the main tourist attraction, with a large central spire flanked by four turrets on its corners. The tower took around 25 years to build from—1325 to 1350, and it was actually leaning while the builders were constructing it. Though there were several attempts by the builders to remedy this tilt, the tower is still visibly leaning. The reason for the inclination of this tower is supposedly due to the fact that the canal had to be adjusted to accommodate the building of the tower.

6- Leaning Tower of Toruń- Toruń, Poland

via wikimedia commons

This leaning tower was built in Medieval times. The reason for its tilt is because it was built on loamy soil that couldn’t support the tower’s weight. Accordingly, the red brick tower’s top is displaced from its bottom by about 1.5 meters. The tower has served many purposes throughout the time it’s been standing, from a garrison to a women’s prison and even a café. The lore surrounding it gives a less mundane reason for its tilt. The legend suggests that the building of the tower was a punishment for a monk who betrayed his faith. Naturally, since the monk was viewed as a sinner his tower tilted. Also, the lore suggests that sinners who visit the tower find it hard to keep their balance when standing there.

7- Belfry of Bruges- Bruges, Belgium

via shutterstock

The Belfry of Bruges has been a cornerstone of the city. The tower itself has undergone three instances of reconstruction since it was erected in 1240. Leaning at approximately 87 cm eastward, the tower has been the site of several incidents. It was struck by lightning, and it is the site of not one but two fires. Thankfully the Belgian people have regarded it as a timeless treasure worth rebuilding every single time.

8- Leaning Temple of Huma- Odisha, India

via holidify.com

This temple, dedicated to the God Shiva, is one of the world’s two leaning temples. The body of the temple’s tower is leaning, but the pinnacle of the tower is actually perpendicular to the ground. The reason behind the tower’s tilt is probably due to the flooding that occurs in the area since the temple is built on the banks of a river. Also, the site of the temple has witnessed a few earthquakes, so natural disasters could be the attributed cause for the tilt

9- Millennium Tower- San Francisco, U.S.

Via Daniel Ramirez/Flickr

This skyscraper—completed in 2008, has not only tilted but has sunk into the ground. The structure itself serves as a condo complex that several people call home. But owing to the rate at which this tower is leaning, many residents have opted to sell their condos well below market value. Engineers have proposed a solution of incorporating micro piles into the bedrock to remedy the tilt, but residents still remain wary of this quick fix.

10- The Two Towers of Bologna- Bologna, Italy

via shutterstock

The leaning tower of Pisa isn’t the only tower in Italy that stands at an angle. In fact, the two towers of Bologna—’Le Due Torri’, are the symbol of the Italian city. The two towers are named after the families that funded their construction. The taller tower is named after the Aisnelli family, while the shorter tower, leaning at a sharper angle, is attributed to the Garisenda family. The Aisnelli tower has been the site of turmoil from acting as a prison in the 14th century to a watchtower during WWII. Because of their famous tilts, the two towers have also been cited in literature several times, from Dante’s Divine Comedy to Dickens’ Pictures from Italy.

11- Bad Frankenhausen Church Tower- Frankenhausen, Germany

via Fotocommunity/Rainer Beneke

The underground spring winding its way under the town is the cause of the church’s steeple reaching a 4.8-degree angle. There have been efforts to restore the tower and realign the steeple; however, it is likely that the steeple will either collapse or have to be demolished since all implemented solutions to stabilize the structure have failed.

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Daniels Lane | Blaze Makoid Architecture

Designed by Blaze Makoid Architecture, Daniels Lane is sited on a narrow, one acre, an oceanfront lot. The design of this house was one of the first projects in the Village of Sagaponack to be affected by the 2010 revision to FEMA flood elevations, requiring a first floor elevation of approximately 17 feet above sea level with a maximum height allowance of 40’ and all construction required to be located landward of the Coastal Erosion Hazard Line. The location of Daniels Lane within a high velocity (VE) wind zone added to the planning and structural challenges.

Photography: Marc Bryan Brown

Nearby inspiration came from both the 1979 Tarlo ‘Wall’ House by Tod Williams and Norman Jaffe’s Perlbinder House, completed in 1970. The two-story travertine entry façade is accentuated by a six foot real and is detailed to appear to hover off the ground, accentuating the condition of the elevated entry. A ‘cut and fold’ in the wall plane bends to allow for one large glass opening, from which an over scaled, wood aperture containing the main stair landing cantilevers.

Photography: Marc Bryan Brown

In a nod to Louis Kahn’s Richards Laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania, a layer of service spaces run parallel to the wall plane creating a threshold prior to reaching the horizontal expanse of the ‘served’ entertainment spaces of the open plan living room, dining, and kitchen. Fifteen foot wide, floor to ceiling, glass sliding panels maximize the ocean view and open the house onto the ocean side patio and pool.

Section

The second floor is imagined as a travertine and glass ‘drawer’ floating above the glass floor below. Three identical children’s bedrooms run from west to east, setting a rhythm that is punctuated by a master bedroom balcony that projects out from the wall plane, clad in the same afrormosia wood as the stair landing. Interior materials include poured in place concrete floors, Calacutta marble cladding, and afromosia millwork.

Photography: Marc Bryan Brown

Project Info:
Architects: Blaze Makoid Architecture
Location: Sagaponack, United States
Project Year: 2012
Photographs: Marc Bryan Brown
Project Name: Daniels Lane

Daniels Lane | Blaze Makoid Architecture

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RB House | Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos

Designed by Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos, RB House corresponds to the ambitions and life project of a young heir and collector. The site, exhaustively searched, is located beside Graciosa Country Club, the most exclusive club with the golf course most centrally located in the city. Its particularities: dimensions, format, legislation, and neighborhood shaped and conditioned several design decisions.
The idea of a house for large parties and receptions would also be central to the development of the project.
The house entirely built with reinforced concrete was a proposal of the office, which saw in this project an alternative to a powerful architecture for its volume and without the conventional stylistic concessions.

Photography: Alan Weintraub

The site of 1200m2 was relatively small for the large program to be installed, and the triangular shape with one side in an arch did not facilitate the design of the building. A narrow strip of maintenance sheds of the golf course along a high wall would only allow the desired views from the second floor of the house. The vertical guideline of the project came from the relationship between the difficulties presented by the lot, together with the most important requirement of the client: to make the most out of the views of the golf course.
This way, the main uses only happen on the second floor of the building.
The RB house consists of five floors – the ground floor and four more. The ground and the first floors were intended to access, patio and car shelter, services, staff apartments and facilities, and with an independent entrance from the same square that accesses the house, the gallery for the private collection.

Photography: Alan Weintraub

The gallery space was not included in the initial scope of the project. The main idea was to install the artworks among the different spaces of the residence. However, due to the surplus of areas in the first floors and the inclusion of large-scale art pieces to the collection, the architects thought it would be good to suggest the creation of a gallery, an idea that was rapidly absorbed by the client. Thus, the exhibition space was installed in a “T” shape plan with double-height ceiling, with one leg of the “T” reserved for a garden between walls, planned for sculpture exhibitions, water mirror, and water garden. The coverage of this gallery, a roof garden, recreates the site two floors above the ground, providing a grassy area accessible from the floor of the rooms and from the main hall installed in a glass box.

Photography: Alan Weintraub

The contemporary art collection began to be formed twenty years ago when the owner assigned Marcos Bertoldi Arquitectos to design his first apartment. It started with a series of local artists from the 80s generation. In the next years, the collection has housed a series of artists with a national and international scope and has become a reference to local museums and important Brazilian artists and merchants.
The RB house, of approximately 1,750 m2, was designed for a couple and two girls.
On the ground floor, apart of the vehicle access, a large square partially covered by the glass box with no walls and monumental proportions is the access to the main lobby, (also accessible for those who come by car from the back of the house), and to the private art gallery. The four upper floors can be accessed in three different ways: by lift or ramps to the main areas, and by stairs to the service areas.

Photography: Alan Weintraub

From the main lobby on the ground floor, you go up two floors to access the level with the rooms separated by the magenta woodwork, ripped by a ribbon window of 26 meters long with the first views of the golf course and access to the secret garden. This one contains 3 species of Pau-Ferro (Caesalpinia Ferrea), a native tree from the Brazilian Atlantic Forrest. This floor is dedicated to the daughters’ rooms, the guest room, and the rooms that accommodate daily uses such as the main kitchen of the house, which connects itself with the other two kitchens by a freight elevator. There is still a fourth kitchen for staff use.
The third floor contains the larger spaces and it is the floor dedicated to the bigger family interactions and large receptions. It is the floor with the double-height glass box, which runs transversally through the large concrete block, poring over the golf course in one end and facing the city skyline at the other end. This floor also houses the master suite of the house, with access to the secret garden containing the external staircase to the rooftop swimming pool, and access to the side terrace with views of the golf course.

Photography: Alan Weintraub

The fourth floor accommodates the social and family activities for daytime use, such as deck and swimming pool, lounge and bar, all of them with broad prospects of the golf course, plus sauna and kitchen with a barbecue grill for lunch. The pool is covered in glass mosaic from an original drawing by the artist Paolo Ridolfi. It was executed, disassembled and boxed in São Paulo and brought to Curitiba for its final installation. The internal space, in the mezzanine between the two voids of the glass box, houses a table for a DJ and a dance floor.
The plastic language adopted prioritized the volumetry of solid blocks made out of reinforced concrete in a work of additions and subtractions of masses, where the circulation tunnels of the ramps and the vertical circulation volumes of the stairs rip the main body of the RB building, causing the facades to be represented by the circulations that run through the building.

Photography: Alan Weintraub

The front facade, more volumetric and sculptural, has few openings as opposed to the glass box, aerial and transparent, which covers the triple-height entrance square. This is where the two stainless steel doors are – one to access the RB house and the other to access the private gallery – with the background of a 12 meters high U-glass cladding.
The rear facade, more extroverted and permeable, is volumetrically more stirred, conditioned by the shape and proportions of the site and by the urban legislation. It includes several openings and terraces for a better integration with the landscape.
The proposed furniture, also understood as a collection, is a mix of international furniture brought from the previous houses of the owners, and a collection of Brazilian copyrighted modernist and contemporary furniture, created by leading architects and designers of the twentieth century and the present generation.

Photography: Alan Weintraub

Project Info:
Architects: Marcos Bertoldi Arquitetos
Location: Curitiba, Brazil
Area: 1,750 m2
Project Year: 2012
Photographs: Alan Weintraub
Project Name: RB House

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