The Wall

Concept

The wall was originally conceived as the final touch for the project. No matter what the design was, the living sculpture would always have vegetation that produced fruit and this wall would be present. The wall is a practical form of the argument I mention in the “Why Build anything at all?”. The sculptures provide spaces which life can be fostered and take form in. The wall will be the final statement, regardless of the statement of the sculptures, “Nature does not need humans to sustain it. We just need to get out of the way.” It will no longer need the arrogant imposition of man to do anything, as it never did. Over time, I expect the vegetation to take the form and cover the wall, concealing the space and forming a physical, contemporary “Garden of Eden” a place of wonder, and sustainability that we may be able to participate in time when we mature a little bit more. The original idea would section only a small part of the plot, however, I recently decided to extend the borders of the wall to the borders of the plot to strengthen the concept. I choose to have edible vines, and vegetation planed along side of the walls and a tree planted in the sculpture to grow along with the Pecan.

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Strengths

The concept embraces the idea of leaving the land alone and appreciate the environment, as well as provide an opportunity for the environment to sustain itself. The space would be considered sacred, in regards to human interaction with it, as both the wall and the policies used to prevent people from having the ability and authority to trespass and set foot on that land.

Threats

The concept could backfire as it does take away access to the sculpture. The viewer will be able to see it until the vegetation grows over it in time. Then the land will be a visually blocked by the wall.

Materials

I look into hard woods for the strength of the wall’s structure, yet is biodegradable and can be eaten away by the vegetation. Like the Mandala, I expect and desire for the wall’s life to end and give back to the nature it swore to protect.

Eden Tower

Concept

After several periods of being stuck, I stopped everything one night, and just started drawing. I felt like making straight line, wanting to feel like I still had some order in this situation,  and thought about architecture. Structures in this day have such an arbitrary shape. They have these tall and over imposing statures and appearance. They remind me of the obelisks in Egypt. I also thought about the freedom tower supposedly built near the twin tower memorial.  When Freedom tower first was mentioned, it seemed to commemorate the twin towers after the terrorist attack, and I started thinking of a tower that commemorates the trees that are taken down for our consumption. So with these straight lines I drew, I decided to make a drafting of a tower, designed to house a tree at the center of its base and in time, the tree will grow from the inside of the building and when it reaches to the top, the upper box will shield the leaves and the most essential parts of the tree without depriving the tree from any form of nutrition. The box will provide shade in the summer, and help resin warmth in the winter, until the tree is supportive and has grown to adulthood, and will also be home to many insects and birds who build their nests in small corners and spaces that are covered from the elements. Over time, the tree, and the vegetation around it, will consume the tower, or perhaps grow and be a forever integrated tower upon itself, capable of fostering other trees in the future. The cuts in the box, as well as the panels, are based on the minimalist, and art deco styles.

Part of the plans for Eden Tower included the cut designs, inspired from primarily the art deco period, that would allow the light to enter through the upper box and give an open access for both the branches of the tree and the wildlife that would rebuild the natural community of animals native to North Carolina and rebuild the food chain. Prior to the first drawings of Eden Tower, I looked into the designs of other spiritual symbols, as I had recently finished the concepts for the Mandala project. I looked into various sculptures and illustrations from the Art Deco, Futurist, and considered the concept of sacrifice. I was entertained about the concept of sacrifice in general. In multiple cultures, sacrifices to the forces of nature were very common in the ancient world. In the old Testament of the bible, the Jews use to sacrifice animals as a form of repenting from previous sins. The Mayans and Meso-American nations performed human sacrifices to assure the sun’s return for the next cycle and bring forth the next harvest. The ancient Greeks sacrificed animals to appease the pagan gods, which is currently related to the forces of nature. The idea of sacrificing something in recognition, and reverence to nature, as one would to a spirit was interesting to me. I later designed a small shrine sculpture

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Materials

The materials for this would be made out of wood strong enough to shelter the tree from the elements but organic so that it may not harm the environment and provide substance for other life to use in this small community.

Threats

Although the idea is full of good intentions, the concept is premature, as the concept of the wall was considered to apply only to Eden Tower before the final decision was made that the wall should be applied regardless of the concept. It is intended to address there should be responsibility on infrastructure, however It is not clearly expressed that nature doesn’t need it.

Mandala

 

 

Concept

The mandala was an idea that came shortly after the Natural City. The idea of building an urban community of wildlife was fun, but my mentality and perspective about it was off. I thought of that concept more so as a way to create more convenient resources for humans to consume (By the way, I found some interesting information about plant urban spaces and the concept of consumption briefly mentioned by James Kunstler). and I realized I needed produce conceptually stronger material. I looked into the spiritual tool, the mandala, in Buddhist culture. The Mandala is a manmade illustration of the universe, containing all the life and spirits within the four gates, or corners, of the earth. It is made of coloured sand and can take months to make and when the monks are done. The stop and rest briefly before wiping it away, without taking a picture, or preserving it in any way. It is in that moment the important lesson is taught that “all things are temporal”. It also is an act of letting go, as manmade things should dissolve into the world and does, despite our efforts. It is to say that perhaps we should do the same with everything we do. We must stop preserving our food and materials, for they are temporal and must dissolve away.

Materials

The materials for this was to have reinforced concrete, similar to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling water, as it is made of only natural materials and in time the roots of the pants will be strong enough to break it apart and the piece will dissolve into the land. During this long process, it will provide space and room for the vegetation to grow.

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Strengths

The mandala design is more conceptually sound. The 3D redesigns without the color were

Nature’s City

Nature’s City was the original idea I investigated in my interactive design class my Junior year. I am fascinated by the concept of nature living like humans.  In Milan, There are two towers that are being build to house both trees and people. The buildings are designed to allow as much lighting for the plants, without interfering the necessary circuitry and waterways the building needs for its human tenants. Looking back at the city, I could appreciate the simplicity. Conceptually, it has the dialogue of man coexisting with nature by providing spaces for nature to come in and live. In the center Circle, I plan to put a Bonzai tree in the center, since the foundation is small and till not overtake the confined foundation. There were many opportunities with this concept, as the clay disks would provide nutrients for plants and moss that grow on rocks as oppose to soil. Each tray is designed to collect water from its inner pipe, in order for the plants that are stacked in the trays can receive more water and have an equal opportunity to live.

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The proposal

After reflecting from my personal interests, and the work I have done in the past three and a half years, I’ve come to realize my few passions. I have a strong desire for social, and spiritual growth in people, and I have an appreciation in architecture. After working towards understanding my passions, and how to apply them in my work, I finally have an idea of what to do.

    One previous project was to develop living sculpture for the Biological Engineering Program, under the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design at North Carolina A&T State University, that is cohesive to a vision Dr. Manny Reyes shared with me and several other artists. This vision was for urban environments to support agriculture capable of producing edible, and healthy, food in these areas for its’ inhabitants. One concept he shared to help achieve this goal was the idea of a sofa bed. This device is a miniature Greenhouse to support plant life and can be applied to various parts of urban environments. After his presentation, and his request for building a living sculpture, I immediately thought of living architecture. My Senior capstone and current project, is to research into methods and ideas to produce Green architecture and structures that match our standards of living but also helps the natural world as well. During this project, I will research, and produce a concept to fabricate and use as the living sculpture Dr. Reyes request. My full body of work will be either Illustrations, or scaled models of these concepts. Included in my body of work will be a life scaled living sculpture that will be built by an open space near Sockwell, or any location Dr. Reyes chooses. This Life scaled model will be my legacy, and my first step to exploring living architecture. In total, this life-sized model, at least four smaller models, and all their illustrations, will be my body of work for the senior show at the beginning of April.

    Professor Roy Carter is my mentor and the class professor who will be monitoring my work and giving feedback regarding my design decisions. My Advisor, Todd Drake, will aid me in researching materials and artist who have worked in this field of living sculpture, green building, and Humanity’s relation with Nature. In addition, I will receive any, and all advise from him, as well as the professors I have on my board.  Finally, I asked Dr. Reyes to be on my board as a committee member and I will work with him on constructing the life-sized living sculpture. I may also work with him as well for researching methods to construct the living sculpture.

    Living sculpture and Green Architecture will be my focus for this class. I believe this project has the right ambitions and enough work to suffice as an adequate project, and will serve as my first step in making a statement about this topic. The materials for constructing the full-scale model will vary, but I do intend to use as much natural materials as possible to build the models In addition to that I will also use traditional drawing materials and a digital rendering software, to produce illustrations of these design ideas.

    I chose this project out of other topics I want to explore because it seems more practical. I already have work exploring these concepts, artists/architects in mind to research and this will open more opportunities for my development as an artist.  Dr. Reyes mentioned the potential this project and could be presented in the Earth Day Symposium that is hosted by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design on the 17th of this April. There are other presentation opportunities Reyes mentioned to me that would help my CV. My goal is research solutions already found, make any necessary changes to improve them; or apply them to existing structures, and choose one of the concepts I have researched to fabricate into the full-scale living sculpture, leftover materials will be presented and re displayed for my part of the Senior Show Exhibition.

    With the scholarship money I received last semester will be used to acquiring necessary materials, such as wood, soil, seed/plants, and clay. Additional funding will be acquired through possible grants from the Foundation Community in the arts, which funds projects for the arts up to $10,000 Dollars,  or by receiving Grant money from the honor program. Other grants may be used to help fund it. The materials, as stated before, will vary but are all used in producing small models of the concepts researched with the potential of supporting life. From this point on, I will begin research and developing models addressing the idea of a natural city and supportive structures. By March 8th, I should have all the developmental materials, and have chosen a solution to make into a full-scale model. Then I will begin construction of the living sculpture.

    As stated before, my desire interest is growth and progression for humanity and myself through architecture, and other media as my medium to serve the communities. From high school, I remember Mr. Harvey Gantt’s advice to me to this day. More or less, he stated, ”Architecture reflects culture, and by understanding the culture and its ’health’. The infrastructures an architect designs must respond to Society’s health and current state.” I have taken this to heart and with the help of ”good people” I have encountered in my budding career, I am maturing  and look forward to designing for good.