From the Paper "Introduction
The Memphis design studio in Milan was started in 1979. As with many European design studios and movements, the Memphis design group appeared to have a greater tolerance for abstract design than did American groups of the time, but in fact the European groups generally looked to American style of the 1950s for inspiration.. Ettore Sottsass was the leading figure of the Memphis design group, and much of what he embodied in that group derived from his earlier experiences as a designer. The ideas he implemented in the design group were ambitious and adventurous. The designs produced were highly successful, but for Sottsass this success was itself only a beginning. While the public clamored for more, he was already looking to the next mode of expression. The Memphis design group had a considerable..."
An examination of theories and applications, examples and architects (focuses on Bernard Maybeck), styles, influences and schools (focuses on the Arts and Crafts movement in California).
7,425 words (approx. 29.7 pages), 21 sources, 1994, $ 135.95
From the Paper "American Architectural History, 1860.1915
In the late nineteenth century, many artists and architects in America were influenced by the ideas of transcendentalism. These ideas, as contained in the writings of Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman, were based on a belief in individualism and self.reliance. Transcendentalism called for a return to nature, and it urged its followers to adopt a simple and honest way of living. This return to simplicity and human values was seen as being a reaction to the problems of rapid industrialization. Regarding architecture, the philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson felt that buildings should be expressive of nature and natural forms (Burchard and Bush.Brown, 1966, p. 59). In this way, he rejected the classical approach to architecture, which strove for standardized proportions in building design."
This paper is a research proposal to determine bases for location decisions for public housing projects: Opposition from the rich, well-being of tenants or economics.
2,025 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 11 sources, 1995, $ 71.95
From the Paper "The location of public housing projects is a contentious issue in the United States. Advocates for the economically disadvantaged contend that society would be better served if affordable public housing was located out of the inner cities and in more affluent neighborhoods. Critics of policies affecting the location of public housing projects frequently charge that inner city locations are selected because of strong opposition from the residents of more affluent neighborhoods. Defenders of inner city locations for public housing contend that ... "
Abstract The paper begins with a general overview of air pollutants and the discovery of "sick building" syndrome. Next the paper focuses the pollutants known as on MVOC's - microbial volatile organic compounds, studying their impact on human beings. It looks at the effects of molds on human health; namely, allergy, infection, irritation of the mucous membrane and sensory, or toxicity. It looks at the products of mold called mycotoxins, and their influence on health. The paper then turns to discuss analysis techniques, listing eight reasons why sampling is difficult. It also records criteria for ensuring the reliable measuring of indoor air VOC?s. The third section of the paper deals with the growth and metabolism of indoor fungi and bacteria, focusing on the breeding and multiplying of molds. The paper concludes with a discussion on what can be done to minimize the problem and on the processes involved in treating a "sick building".
Table of Contents
Introduction
MVOCs as Indoor Pollutants and Their Impact on Human Beings
Analysis Techniques
Growth and Metabolism
Conclusion: What Can Be Done
From the Paper "Air pollution pertains to substances and gases in the air that threaten health and life. Among these are pollutants and irritants, such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide; particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toxic substances and some natural substances, like pollen. But most of the pollution comes from the by-products of industrialization ? fossil fuel combustion, transportation, transportation, power plant emissions and those from other industrial processes. The burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity alone is the greatest source of air pollution in the USA. These outdoor pollutants can undermine health and cause environmental disturbances, such as acid rain, and are toxic."
Abstract This paper examines arches, one of the most common and familiar architectural formations to the eye whether outside a building or in the shape of a bridge. It looks at how arches are generally of three types, rounded, pointed and segmental and evaluates their structural advantages. The robust nature of masonry in constructing arch structures is illustrated by the longevity of the many ruins in Britain, many dating from the dissolution of the monasteries. It shows how arches have also been much used in modern architecture, usually in public buildings, such as the Sydney Opera house, where a striking appearance combined with strong acoustical support is critical.
From the Paper "Arches are also evident in doorways, forming the curved top to a door or an open entryway. An entryway that is not supporting a wall is obviously less in need of material reinforcement than one bearing down a wall. A rounded arch shape, rather than a square shape always provides more support and reinforcement than a straight edge, because the pressure is distributed across more pressure points along the curved as opposed to a straight edged entry structure. This is one reason why a rounded shape is so popular for entryways. (Durkin "Architectural Terms")"
Abstract Discusses the life and body of work of 19th Century architect Richard Morris Hunt. His successful career; contribution to city architecture (especially New York City). Key works he designed and created. His aesthetic views. Background of 19th Century architecture & role of the architect. Impact of the Industrial Age. Appendix with illustrations of some of Hunt's major buildings.
From the Paper "Richard Morris Hunt (1827-1895) was born in Brattleboro, Vermont into a prominent family. He went to study in Geneva, Switzerland and later he enrolled at the prestigious Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris France. In fact, he was the first American to study at this prominent institution.
Hunt was the most respected architect of his time and was popularly known as ?the dean of American architecture.? He was awarded many professional honors and was one of the most highly acclaimed Americans of the nineteenth-century. In the forty years of his practice, he designed and created buildings remarkable for their wide variety of styles and types. The fact that many of his buildings are now seen as national treasures is a tribute to the man and his work. As..."
Abstract Discusses the importance of this Mayan architectural site in Mexico. Its variations from the Mayan norm. Its utilization of new forms of architecture and art-forms. Innovations. Describes the site. Composition of its structure. Excavations of the ruin. Discoveries, including a Pyramid. Intricate hieroglyphs found. Historical and cultural value of Mayan glyphs.
From the Paper "Palenque is the most important Maya architectural site in Mexico, surpassing even Chichen-itza in its grandeur. Discovered by the Spaniards in the late eighteenth century, Palenque has amazed archaeologists for generations. Palenque's main attraction for archaeologists lies in its many variations from the Maya norm. The Mayas who constructed the Palenque compound utilized new forms of architecture, unveiled new kinds of art-forms, and left behind perhaps the finest sarcophagus in all the Americas. Because of the sheer number and scope of the revelations that Palenque has provided on the Maya who built it, the site stands as arguably the most important Maya architectural site. Regardless of its standing among its peers, Palenque remains unique because of the hauntingly beautiful nature of the site's plan and scope."
A description of two prominent examples of public space shaped by aesthetic and political forces: St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy and the ULM, a German design and art college.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 8 sources, 2002, $ 47.95
Abstract Describes two prominent examples of public space shaped by aesthetic & political forces: St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy & the ULM, a German design & art college. Detailed descrption of the Square, its architecture & sculptures, its evolution, its place as the center of Venetial social life. Describes archtect Mies Van der Rohe's design for ULM; emphasis on environmental design.
From the Paper "Public space is shaped by a number of forces, but primary among them is the use to which the space will be put, the political forces able to make this work, the aesthetic forces prevalent at the time, and changes that might take place through history. The Piazza San Marco and the ULM are public spaces both shaped by prevailing political and aesthetic forces and developed for specific purposes, and Piazza San Marco has been reshaped by history, while the ULM has not been in existence long enough to be so affected by time, though there have been changes in its short life just the same.
The Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark's Square, in Venice is not a strict rectangle but instead opens wider at the basilica end, thus enhancing the perspective and creating the illusion that it is even longer than it is. The square is bordered by..."
Abstract Discusses the work of the Scottish architect and designer. Influence on his work of the Arts and Craft Movement and Japanese design. Aspects of the Glasgow design style. Use of materials. Analysis of three chairs designed by MacKintosh; their style, simplicity, materials used. His famous high-backed chair and its design innovations.
From the Paper "Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928) was a Glasgow-born architect and designer of furniture and interiors whose work was carried out primarily in that city and its environs. Mackintosh, who collaborated in much of his design work with his wife, designer Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh (1865-1933), attended the Glasgow School of Art. He joined the architectural firm of Honeyman and Keppie in 1889 and in 1896 he won the competition to design the new building for the Art School (1897-1909). The school was his most important commission but others included William Davidson's home, Windyhill (1901), at Kilmalcolm and Catherine Cranston's Hill House (1903-4) at Helensburgh. Mackintosh also took on a fair number of design commissions for furniture and interiors and Cranston was his most important client. All three of the chairs discussed in this essay were ..."
Abstract This paper discusses the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) as a prominent example of Beaux-Arts architecture in New York City. Located at 37 West 44th Street, the building, which opened in 1901, was designed by Whitney Warren and Charles D. Wetmore. It explains how the clubhouse is a historical landmark, and is best known for its Model Room and Library.
From the Paper "Warren and Wetmore were typical of the leading architects of their time, most of whom established offices in New York after studying at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. A They specialized in the design of buildings inspired by historic European and American colonial styles as well as contemporary French Beaux-Arts ideals, setting the stage for an academic revival that had a far-reaching influence on American design, particularly in the 1890s and first decades of the 20th century.@ (Philadelphia Online/Books/Chapter One)"
Abstract This paper looks at the personal life and professional achievements of Mercer. It tells how he was founder of the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works (1912), where he was the chief designer for many years. This paper discusses his interests, how they ranged from architecture to archeology and how his work was influenced by various architectural schools, especially the Art and Crafts Movement.
From the Paper "Mercer was heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and became an important proponent of its style and ideas in America. The pottery works flourished and Mercer's designs for decorative tiles became popular. They were featured in a number of public buildings but the most notable installations of his tiles are to be found in his castle-like home, Fonthill, in Doylestown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This home, Mercer's museum, and his tile works all reflect the eclectic 'medievalism' that characterized much of Arts and Crafts architecture in England and the United States. And, although he drew on many sources of inspiration, his tiles often display themes and stylistic features similar to those of the movement's designers. Mercer's accomplishments in design have never earned him wide fame, yet the work is very fine and an excellent example of how the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement flourished in America."
Abstract When considering the variables that influence the outcome of a major construction project, it is important to recognize that a project is nothing more or nothing less than a one-time job that has definite starting and ending points, clearly defined objectives, scope and a budget. In order to determine what distinguishes a successful major construction project from one which fails, two projects are compared in this paper. The first is the Golden Gate Bridge, completed in 1937, under conditions which would try the patience and test the competencies of its designers, builders, and sponsors. The second construction project is the Eurotunnel, also known as the Chunnel, the underwater tunnel linking England and France. Completed in the early 1990s, the Chunnel stands as an excellent example of a major construction project which was ultimately successful in the sense of structural integrity and to an extent, customer satisfaction, but a miserable failure in terms of scheduling and massive budgetary or cost overruns.
From the Paper "In 1989, Andrew Phillips (1989) reported on major problems which were seriously disrupting the completion of the project. Initially, the engineers and managers faced technical obstacles that delayed start-up and construction of the project. Though these obstacles were overcome, soaring costs had added approximately $1.9 billion to the cost of the tunnel itself. To make matters worse, Phillips (1989) maintains that the estimated costs of a planned high-speed rail link between London and the Chunnel's English terminal near Folkestone, more than doubled. In 1987, the company building the tunnel put the total cost of the project at $9.1 billion - this was raised to $10.2 billion in 1988, and in 1989, analysts predicted that the cost of the Chunnel would ultimately reach $11 billion."
Abstract This paper examines the finalist proposals for two plans, both of which intend to build the world's tallest buildings, on the World Trade Center site in New York. It also discusses the nine preliminary proposals in which several approaches were suggested to replace the 16-acre site in lower Manhattan, and all included memorials.
From the Paper "The two firms behind the plans were Libeskind and the international THINK team, led by New York-based architects Rafael Vinoly and Frederic Schwartz. Libeskind's proposal features a 1,776-foot spire overlooking several smaller steel towers. The THINK team proposed two decorative steel towers, reaching 1,655 ft. Both included significant plans for a memorial. The winning design was announced in late February and Libeskind's plan was the chosen project.
The selected plan for the World Trade Center site includes a museum at the epicenter of the site, as well as two large public spaces dubbed the Park of Heroes and the Wedge of Light, which would be built in such a way that the sun would shine down on them unblocked on the anniversaries of the attack. This is considered one of the most unique memorial proposals in history."
This research paper explores the significance of architecture in the urban renewal and development of Savannah, Georgia. It also includes a historical overview of the city and how urban development came about.
Abstract This paper presents a historical analysis of the urban plan for Savannah, Georgia. The writer emphasizes the role that architecture played in the development of the master plan for the city. The discussion begins with a brief history of the city, and then focuses on the creations of the first city planner, George Oglethorpe. The research also discusses how the economy shaped the architectural design of the city. It reviews several different landmarks and explains why there construction influenced urban planning. Finally the writer discusses more recent urban renewal projects and reviews the impact that they may have on the historic district of the city.
From the Paper "It was believed by the colonists that Georgia would prove to be a profitable colony because of the production of silk and fine wines. Eventually the colonists found that the most profitable area of the colony was at the port of Savannah. In time Savannah became an ideal place for the production of rice, cotton and forest products.
Eventually the city of Savannah was captured by the British in 1778 and it was held by the British until 1782. By 1860 Savannah had began to prosper economically from the production of cotton and was heavily dependent upon slavery. In 1864 Union troops entered the city threatening to destroy it. The troops in Savannah surrendered on Christmas Eve and General William Sherman offered Savannah as a Christmas Gift to President Lincoln. The telegraph that presented the gift read, ?I beg to present you as a Christmas Gift, the City of Savannah with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition; and also about 25,000 bales of cotton.?(War and Occupation) Thought the city was not destroyed the remnants of war caused great turmoil to the economy of the city. However by the 1870's the city was again benefiting from the production and export of cotton. (War and Occupation)"
Abstract This paper discusses how Oxford and Cambridge universities in the United Kingdom share many features, since Cambridge was built by students from Oxford. It considers the various prominent features of both universities in order to identify the similarities and differences. It also examines how both are great examples of different building styles over the centuries. It looks at how Oxford is the oldest university city in the UK, how it features wide streets and has more than 650 buildings listed for their historical or architectural merit. In contrast, Cambridge was not founded as a university city, but as a city of the Roman Empire, founded in 43AD by the Roman emperor Cantabrigensis. The first university was only built in 1134, although many of the fairly insignificant features of the city remained in place.
From the Paper "Sir Christopher Wren was also involved in the building of the Sheldonian Theater. The classical theatre was Wren's first large scale work. It opend in 1669, and was modelled on the roman theater of Marcellus. Robert Streeter painted the ceiling to give the impression of an open sky. The cuppola gives a view of the city's spires. The theater is currently used for degree cermonies. Additionally, Encaenia, a ceremony taking place during the month of June, takes place here. During this ceremony the founders of the university are remembered, while famous and deserving people also receive honorary degrees. Concerts and lectures are also held here (Pictures of England, 2003)."
