Can we create a sense of ownership and belonging within this place of higher learning?

How can we design the building to serve as a gateway between the university and Chula Vista community, while also fostering connectivity and collaboration between the students themselves?

how can i activate spaces like this?
can i continually develop the connection between outside and inside?
thanks for the puzzle memories, chula vista!
thanks for the pizza
final review is finally over!

A double quarter full of complicated questions.

Rewind:

I first started this double quarter experience not really understanding where I wanted to be, what I wanted to do, or who I wanted to become – and now I realize that that’s okay. Designing is an experience, and I’ve learned so many lessons because of it: independence, iterations, and explore.

Through this long six month trek – I’ve discovered that there are so many possibilities in design.

How can philosophical ideas become spatial design drivers?

I sought out this adventure with two questions in my pocket and a head full of ideas.

//THINKTANK

What were the primary challenges you faced in designing for Open Source Learning environments?

  1. Proportions of open spaces to fixed spaces?
    • What does open and fixed even mean?
  2. What makes people actually want to occupy a space?
    • Would I want to be there?
  3. How can you create a connection between outdoor an indoor?
  4. Can you call that a collaboration space or is that a space in the junction between other spaces?
  5. Can we challenge the traditional learning model to enforce a healthier learning environment?

There were so many questions that I’ve struggled with this quarter. I explored so many different creative outlets, found answers in places that I  never thought I’d find them in, and discovered things about myself that I never knew!

Who knew I liked pink so much?

These design struggles or what I’d like to call them design drivers pushed me to question the “norms” of design and to constantly; interpret, iterate, and invent ideas.

Over the amalgamation of these past two quarters I’ve gained so many memories from the puzzles, to San Diego to Chicago, the rainy air bnbs, the sometimes overly chilled or overly hot studios, to working with and meeting so many different people.

I loved the idea of challenging the traditional learning model, and imposing it with a project-based learning, maker environment. I’ve been challenged to think about spaces in a new perspective, and forced to take risks.

From these ideas came [thinktank pt.1], [thinktank pt.2], and [brace] for interaction. I am so incredibly proud of where I came in these short, but daunting two quarters. I feel as if I came out of this quarter with a ton of individual growth and competitive prowess. While the quarter may be over, I don’t want to stop developing the ideas of [thinktank].

I will continually be influenced by the environment, the clients, the design outlets, and the people.

“Are there any “big questions” that you are leaving this studio with?”

  1. How much further can you push your design endeavors?
    • Learning new software
    • Experimenting with new drawings style
    • Trying different methods of representation
  2. What could you have done differently this quarter?
    • Could I have taken different routes to push my projects in different ways?
  3. How will you continue to grow?
    • Never forget what I’ve done or where I’ve been
    • Always question everything, but don’t forget to make decisions
    • Take in all of my experiences

Final Thoughts

What a ride.

Between studio, arch 342, and arce 316 – I can say my brain is overflowing with knowledge and also begging for some zzz’s.

This has been an incredibly fun and incredibly exhausting two quarters. I’ve made so many new friends, developed so many new skills, and learned a lot about what architecture is, and how to always question what the big idea is.

Never forget the story you’re trying to tell.

So here’s to an insane amount of hours driven into this studio experience, and I know that all these skills will benefit in my endeavors abroad. I’ll take these two guiding questions, and keep them tucked away (but not forgotten) until the moment needs for them to pop up again.

See you later, puzzle bunch. It’s been fun!

Stay tuned for: [thinktank pt.3]