P2B Review

ATTN: SHAWNA

Check out this article written by my good friend and former co-worker Jay Pitter in Spacing She is the co-founder of a new organization called The Placemakers. The article is high-level, talking about design for mental heath on a macro-scale, however you might find some of the language to be useful as well as ideas for a thesis focus moving forward. 

full article: http://spacing.ca/toronto/2014/03/20/designing-cities-positively-impact-mental-health/

Designing Cities that Positively Impact Mental Health

MARCH 20, 2014 | BY JAY PITTER

A critically important conversation topic that we should begin to engage in is how we can strategically use the design of cities to positively impact mental health.  This assertion may seem counter-intuitive given that cities are often associated with a number of factors that are popularly believed to agitate, and sometimes even spark some mental health illnesses: The noise pollution. The stressful hustle and bustle on public streets. The increasing disconnection between ourselves and our neighbours. The lack of affordable housing. The competition for well-paying and satisfying jobs in an unstable economy.

These and other popular, but not entirely accurate, perceptions about cities largely informed the ways that mental health facilities were designed, and also, the ways that people living with mental health issues were previously treated. Historically, mental health institutions were built outside of cities, enclosed behind high walls with overt surveillance, and no public thoroughfares. Recently, individuals have begun to reconsider the efficacy of this approach for a number of key reasons. Cities have undergone massive outgrowth and so areas formerly considered a “refuge” from the central core have become urbanized. At the same time mental practitioners and caregivers noticed that in-patients had a more difficult time reintegrating into their urban communities after being secluded during treatment. Also, designers recognized that brutalist and isolated building structures inadvertently reinforced discriminatory attitudes that people with mental health illnesses should be locked away.

Thankfully, our collective thinking has advanced in some important ways. Progressive mental health institutions like CAMH have dramatically transformed the sector’s approach to treating and collaborating with people living with mental health illnesses. Grassroots programs have organically emerged in local communities.  Bell Canada exemplifies the growing commitment of corporations to openly discuss and raise funds for mental health illnesses. That stated, perceptions of the negative impact of cities on our mental health persists.

It is incumbent on professionals engaged in design and city building to work more closely with mental health professionals, youth, individuals living with mental health illnesses, educators, and other members of the community. In so doing we would be able to cull existing knowledge across disciplines and lived experiences. We would also be able to develop best practices and strategies, which show the ways that cities support mental health.

This is not to suggest that urban design, architecture, and citizen placemaking can “cure” mental health issues. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that urban places – physical and conceptual – can be used to support the 1 in 5 of us who will experience a mental health issue within our lifetime.

The first step to realizing this goal is by transcending narrow silos and collaborating across professional disciplines and lived experiences. Next, design and city building professionals must expand conversations pertaining to issues such as transportation, affordable housing, and migration to cities. Interestingly, these, and other issues, directly intersect with mental health determinants. For instance, transit plays an integral role in connecting people to work, social networks, and services, which all contribute to mental health and wellness. Instead of having polarized transit debates comparing Light Rail Transit (LRT) to subways, there should be deeper investigation into how each option facilitates the ability of people to be mobile in ways that support their mental health. Another example of an intersecting issue is urban development and revitalization. With an unprecedented number of the world’s population migrating to cities over the next couple of decades, we must design communities to support them. Given that migration, poverty, and culture are all mental health determinants, it will be important to address these factors through thoughtfully designed, affordable, mixed-use communities.

These, and a number of other examples make the case for designing cities that contribute to our collective mental health. As we continue to address these issues let’s look to the city as a resource. Urban ecologies provide us with new treatment facilities interwoven into city life.  Informal gathering spaces and local hubs foster relationships. Transportation arteries and well-designed neighbourhoods are “connectors”, which promote accessibility. Built forms and strong local economies increase personal and community resilience. If these resources are optimized, design and city building may well emerge as an integral strategy for improving mental health.

Ceramics School Development

Looking at ways to more intentionally integrate the ceramics process into the building. One of the obvious ways moving forward is to engage the ground in a more meaningful way, but also highlighting key parts of the ceramics process. I am focussing particularly on the firing process which is such a critical element with its production. Beginning to imagine the central atrium as a "kiln" for the building which could glow at night revealing the process within. As well as actually venting the kilns through the atrium space so the excess heat can be seen from the exterior. Sketching out ideas so far. 

Traditional kiln sketches

 Re-envisioning the plan

Subtlety of Kinetic Facades - Soft Robotics

My apologies, I was intending to post this precedence during my progress of P2B. Never too late!

This was my inspiration for my pneumatic component - developing a pneumatic system that responds to the occupant in real-time. Again, for the final iteration (P2C), I will step back from this and begin to resolve my micro climates in my space with a higher degree of resolution.

Nonetheless...

Check out the link below for more animations and images!

Shannen Koostachin Elementary School

An Installation on the Digital Age

Very briefly,  this would be an interesting piece (courtesy of Architectural Record) by OTA+ and UTSOA (you may recall from ACADIA) that those of you looking at commentary on the digital and physical issues pertaining to social engagement might find as inspiring. Though not a building, the Caret 6 project (and to a lesser degree the Waller Wall in the same article) brings about commentary from David Epstein that is notable: "In the digital age, people still have a need to connect with each other on a human level, and the human component is the utmost basic element of architecture."

READING SUPPORT IN STUDIO AND CERTAINLY BEYOND

Design in tandem with research is the key modality this studio is operating under. The purpose of the studio is not to reinforce a "research-THEN-design" paradigm, but instead promote a "researched design" or better yet, a "research-AND-design" paradigm. To design is to create based upon an intent - ideally one that is informed. It is invaluable for students to have concurrent processes where design and investigation genuinely occur.

These are a few additions to the library that have come in this term that may help some of you in pursuit of recent discourse on your research issues. Some resources may be applicable to more than those outlined in the description while others may be missed in this quick survey/review. If so, speak with the instructors to better outline options for your development.

ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE: From Form to Place + Tectonics
This would be a worthwhile document for those of you who need to firm up a sensibility on the resolution of form beyond the schematic. Some of you are struggling with moving from box/planning diagrams into real architectural propositions. First of all, if your building design revolves around the use of program as the functional driver, you are doing a project. Secondly, it would appear that the architecture is not driven by design and worse still, lacks the ability to manifest a clear architectural position. This might be relevant for Ashley B. and LeeAnn who will be refining design beyond their architectural gestures (i.e. the relentless wall and the overarching roof respectively). This might also relieve Steven, Eranga, and Bijan of their very program-organization obligations.

OLD BUILDINGS: NEW FORMS
What is interesting in this book is that it goes beyond the case study model and projects directions (in some instances) on how architects can transform larger contexts than a built space on its own. This might be relevant to students such as Kat as she seeks a method to resolve a larger scale proposition with respect to older remnants of buildings.

UNITY FOR ARCHITECTURAL VISUALIZATION
For those interested in animated/navigational studies that outline narrative or movement through a space, we have discussed options of importing material into game engines to adequately visualize things. Coinciding with a recent trip to Atlanta in response to some research initiatives, Stefan Boeykens was brought to the forefront once again. His book outlines the method that many architecture students use the Unity gaming engine to import and display their architectural ideas. Those interested in narrative and visual qualities of space, including Shawna, Ryan A., Siavash, and possibly Ria may be interested in this as a source for their work in the future. Better yet, it's an e-book for Ryerson students!

CREATING YOUR HOME WITH STYLE: Taste is Timeless
As the title implies, this is a great compilation Loos' works that provides a defense of his work in light of temporality and taste. Though he is rather nebulous about notions of what truly can determine timelessness, it is worthwhile as a support for students dealing with the topic, especially from such an authoritative source. Jeff may find this as an affirmation of what he had projected in Project One however it might need expanding when articulating larger architectural strategies that unify all typologies.

HOUSES MADE OF WOOD AND LIGHT
Despite the scale shifts, this compilation may be of some modest value to Fil and Tony as they proceed with their respective works in wood. Though the projects themselves are rather bland, the interesting things that do emerge are the finer details such as how the architects deal with roofs, tectonic expression of detail/joinery, and the odd instances where wood grain behaves like poorly placed UV-mapping...
Clearly not a winner but it does raise questions about the material properties of wood relative to other architectural media including light/shadow and synergies with other materials.

AD: SYSTEM CITIES: Infrastructures and the spaces of flows
This is older however it holds relevance to projects dealing with the larger urban contexts especially in light of the "new" wave of design paradigms focused upon urban metabolisms. This obviously has value to Sivan, Kevin, Iris, and Steph as they all deal with the idea of architecture as parts of larger ecosystems or ecosystems onto themselves. Don't forget that the entire AD series is available through the Ryerson library such that you can download PDF sections...

THE FORCE OF THE VIRTUAL
As a number of you are interested in exploring the virtual realm relative to tangible architecture, it is important to remember that the challenge lies in how one paradigm has not only replaced another, but that there are supplemental capacities that prove to be complementary. Refraining from gadgetry and gimmicks will be a difficult exercise in restraint. Though likely requiring more time beyond the extents of the studio, there are some notable authors that should be addressed including Manuel DeLanda, Gilles Deleuze, and of course Felix Guattari. The reality is there works are dense no matter how one takes them. A thorough investigation would require time and likely discussion however a few good starts would be this compilation (The Force).

DISAPPEARING ARCHITECTURE - FROM REAL TO VIRTUAL TO QUANTUM
For something less dense but still dabbling in the realm of the digital negotiation in architecture, a very good source that has been used by graduate students in the past is Peter Webel's and Georg Flachbart's great compilation of articles that are curated in a great way to make a compelling case for contradiction in this spectrum "from presence to absence" and "location to nonlocation". Of course having supplemental information from William Mitchell (yes, THAT Mitchell) and Stuart Veech with design insights from folks like Rashid and Diller always helps too! This would likely help out (if they don't already have this great compilation already) students including Jason, Ryan L., and Julia.

THE EMERGING ASIAN CITY: Concomitant Urbanities & Urbanisms
Perhaps more a function of the variety of projects situated in Asia based upon natural disasters, air quality, or other social factors, it may be of use for some students to take a look (again, likely many of you have read this in seminar) at this book as it offers a great range of case studies which articulate the various environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by the region and the host of ramifications on the built world. Going beyond Ashley A., Steph, and Iris, this is a great resource as many of you will be compelled to address/assert your positions in your theses in extreme conditions such as those found in Asia.

LANDFORM BUILDING: Architecture's New Terrain
Even though not very many of you are proposing true blob-itecture, it is apparent that for some of you there is a compulsion to create something monumental. Be wary of this not in the sense that conservative design should reign true, however it is to ensure that architecture may serve as a communicative (and an extremely powerful one at that) larger cultural issues. This compilation has a few articles that make it fairly clear on why and how architecture accomplishes this. Eranga and Ashley B. may be at odds with this but it certainly is worth s quick glance.

 

KENZO TANGE AND THE METABOLIST MOVEMENT
Given the extensive discussion on the failings of Prefab, it is still worth mentioning the gorilla in the room which is the Japanese Metabolist movement and how it fits into several studio projects whether consciously or not. Jeff and Ashley A. may both find this worthwhile as it describes the conditions that gave rise to this movement and (to a certain extent) provides an outline of why and how it lost momentum. With the component and crux foci of your respective works, this may be a useful supplement to your work.