Olympic Precedent

While it's not The Triad, right now Beijing couldn't be more a part of our community if it was our next door neighbor.

As we sit in front of our televisions until 1:30 a.m. coming together as a nation to cheer on one athlete, one team (whether we realize it or not) we're coming together as a world cheering simply for one goal, the opportunity for every country to compete together as if we were brother vs. sister. The architecture for the 2008 Summer Olympics has been designed and built for the purpose of bringing together this family of competitors and their supporters. In The Triad we catch glimpses of the Birds Nest and the Water Cube during the daily broadcast from Beijing and by the end of these two weeks those images will not feel foreign or strange, but will inspire hope and pride.

You may have never realized how effective design really can be in our lives, we should take the inspiration from this and aim to create those same influential buildings in our community.

Overwhelming Weekend

I was out of town and I just got in from NJ/NYC after driving from 1:30-11pm. By myself.

I was surprised by the friendly-ness in Flemington NJ....such a quaint northern town, very historical, and definitely beautiful. They agree that the south is so much friendlier though and I was proud to be driving around with NC tags.


Here's a picture, standing on the roof of a friend's apartment building in NYC (obviously, no?)

We could call it "touring"

or driving around, going for a car ride, Sunday stroll...you pick.

I love jumping in the car to go somewhere (particularly if I get to be in the passenger side seat because THEN I'm not responsible for watching the road! [though I'll probably still tell you how I'd like the car to be driven....call it the woman in me if you want])

ANYWAY- I love it because it means there may be the chance that I see something I've never seen before or at the very least it means I'll be driving past SOME building and THAT building, even if I only drive past one, was probably designed by an architect and I appreciate that. What sparked this post was my recent trip to High Point- I had to map quest some directions from W-S to photograph a few churches in the area, well wouldn't you know I found a rather beautiful established residential neighborhood. Now normally when I talk about driving around its more leisurely than planned, choose to do it however you like but there is always the opportunity to get to know your community and built world better (unless you're the driver in which case I advocate keeping YOUR EYES on the road). Our world isn't just what we see on tv or in books or movies- it's what is around us, what we drive past everyday. We should appreciate the style of architecture, the look of our communities, and the benefit of life here in the south. Be proud in The Triad and the next time you don't know what to do on a Saturday, go for a ride, don't feel the need to leave town to find something, find it here-

PS. It's spring out and The Triad looks BEAUTIFUL in bloom!

Adaptive Use

I was given a flyer for Preserve Historic Forsyth, an organization doing...well...exactly that, preserving the historical landscapes, neighborhoods, and towns of forsyth county. While I will support those working towards a cause and goal they believe to be worthwhile, historical preservation isn't quite my thing. I've been there, done that and I thought "why try to make it LOOK original." I'd rather take a building, with lots of character, history, etc. and make it work in today's time. Restore it for a new use, you don't use that old barn? why not turn it into a spa?! In downtown Winston-Salem The Nissen building is one of the most prominent adaptive reuse projects I can think of and in downtown Greensboro you'll see an awesome example in the high rise.

Aside from my philosophy I still feel the need to give you information to support PHF, since the person who gave me the flyer is the same person who gave me a start in the professional world of architecture.
visit their website www.preservehistoricforsyth.org and see what they're doing-

Thanks for reading-
The Intern

Part One

of getting to know The Triad

Downtown Winston-Salem, see http://www.dwsp.org/

Building Highlight

• Wachovia Center- designed by Architect Cesar Pelli

Design

• The Moravian Arch influence is seen in the dome and entrance and the Moravian Christmas Star is mirrored in the marble mosaics in the lobby.
• The exterior is clad in olympia white granite from a single quarry in Sardinia, Italy.
• It is the only granite domed skyscraper in the world and the building surpassed Winston Tower as the tallest building in Winston-Salem.

History

• Built by Wachovia in 1995 they now only lease space in the building having sold it in 2004 to American Financial Real Estate Trust.

On the DWSP website check out the Places to Go tab, its my personal favorite for getting to know more about the local community-

Enjoy!

The Intern

Through young[er] eyes

I took a trip to Washington, DC with a group of high school band kids. (thanks for the sympathy but really they were a great group)

One observation I made watching them is that teenagers seem to hardly notice the architecture or design of a building and city. (Ouch, it hurt to see them not interested in "that detail right there", I guess we can't ALL love design)

But more seriously, I think we need to approach our school systems with a program/plan for educating our students about architecture. Whether that's a guest speaker a few times a year, a one month cross-curricular study of a city or building, or an optional class. Their knowledge and appreciation enables the future of design.

They go to a city and are wow'd by what they see. Amazing structures, beautiful pieces of art, thousands of people, etc. Part of their excitement is simply because they aren't sitting in class and the other part is because they are in a city they've seen and heard so much about. Obviously, it isn't the right outlet for them to take time to focus on scale, detail, and experience...what with 30+ other friends, the packed three day schedule, and all the fun to be having. But I hope after that trip to the Holocaust Museum one of them, at least just one, noticed how the architecture of the building made the experience, gave life to the building, and was "really cool." The opening from dark to light space, the high ceilings and lower ceilings, the soft material versus hard material, and I only wish I had been there a week before (in a classroom where their attention span was greater than 20 seconds) to explain the design, the decisions the architects made, and the collaboration with exhibit designers, then they really would have had something to be excited about.

I am...

...taking some time this evening to [advocate?] tell you about some thoughts from the day. Today, I attended a seminar on daylighting given by a professor from UNCC. He spoke a little about the public library in Mt. Airy (I consider that local, don't you?). After the passive solar building's ground breaking in 1981, it has far succeeded it's planned abilities to save and use energy wisely (which has been documented through studies and beneficial research...something we should all be more interested in and funding...but THAT isn't what I'm advocating for right this second).

I'm advocating for us to all take notice of the architecture we use daily (public library perhaps) and in places we aren't looking (maybe somewhere like...Mt. Airy, NC).

On the other hand, I was impressed with the Professors observations during his initial visit to this building. He had noted, prior to the construction of the new library in '81, their daylighting controls were manually operated by the persons using the building. There was a row of switches behind the reception desk, on sunny days or at the brightest part of the afternoon, a librarian could say "Hey, we've got plenty of daylight, I'm going to turn these florescent fixtures off and enjoy the warm glow from the sun." Thus, saving energy and building costs before we were a community concerned with that notion. NOW, with it's "passive solar design" and no individual control the library's lights stay on through all business hours. The controlled sensors and automatic dimers dictate when and where there is light in the space. So have they become more sustainable? Probably...through better fixtures and new design. But, have they overlooked the whole essence, in pursuit of what society is marketing as sustainable, of well planned and integrated sustainable design? I'd say, yes, a little.

This is what I am here for

To use my passion for design and my belief that design is in everything to tell you, my dear Triad, that even choosing a fence for your backyard is a part of architectural design. It's beauty has an impact on your joy (and pride) in being a homeowner/business owner/or...other such persons who might so happen to need a fence!

Let's look outside, would you say your fence is one of beauty? one of carefully thought out planning? one of good/innovative design? does it improve the look of your house/yard?

Thanks for reading (scroll over highlights for links),
The Intern

On the Governmental Level

AIA (American Institute of Architects) members are meeting with members of congress this week. According to The Angle, a weekly email newsletter I receive (cutting down on the amount of paper!), three areas are being highlighted-

• Enact Incentives for Energy Efficient Buildings (extend tax incentives to promote energy efficiency + to cosponsor legislation that will provide incentives for home builders and homeowners to design, construct, and renovate energy-efficient homes and neighborhoods)
• Eliminate Retainage Rules on Architects and Engineers (pass legislation to eliminate the 10% retainage fee on architects and engineers who contract with the federal government)
• Promote Healthy and Safe Communities Through Transportation Funding (oppose proposals to raid the Mass Transit Trust Fund to shore up the Highway Trust Fund and support provisions in next year's highway bill that provide incentives for projects that build safe and prosperous communities)

OK- so this is all good news, long and in depth (I bet you skipped the part in parentheses), but good for US- you/me/North Carolina. So I felt like bringing this to our attention with the first bullet point advocating obviously for sustainable design. I know some people are skeptical about the new "because it is popular" "green movement." But before you categorize sustainable design, buildings, and product as "just another green thing" look at what it is really doing, how is it "working" for you and for the community. I know that sustainable design is beneficial, I've experienced it. As I sit here typing you (from my office) I can attest for the day lighting (the 5'-10" x 6'-0" window I have) and its benefit to my mood, my productivity, and to saving money on energy. To really understand how sustainable can benefit us, our community, and our environment- I challenge you to find a space that feels good to you and identify what it is you like about that space, what you would change to make it better, and how it is working for you instead of costing you money. I think you'll find that "sustainable" isn't a just a fad.

It's a Friday and time to enjoy the weekend!

Always,
The Intern

A place to start

As I entered the world of Architecture, after completing 5 years of education to obtain a Bachelor's of Architecture and experiencing practice from 4 different perspectives [firms], this June [2007] I have already seen many designers get so involved in a project, so worried about sustaining a business, and so busy with life, that the passion and theory which drove them into architecture is too easily lost.

It is difficult to know how to approach the public and community in which you live with a passion for good design. It is even more difficult to find the time and resources to make a difference.

This blog is where I am starting in my effort to advocate for architecture in my area of North Carolina. I'm here in a place that might get overlooked [architecturally] but that has such a great opportunity and while there are others who are here with me designing and shaping our triad I think my energy and passion for advocacy will be an even bigger benefit to the area.

With passion,
The Intern