Here is the cooked level if anyone wants a behind the scenes look
JulesEXP4Level.zip
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Short Circuits
The proposed design is for a health care facility to treat and observe sufferers of dementia and has been informed and developed through the four preceding exercises.
Exercise One laid the groundwork for the importance architecture plays in a healthy society and the pain that poor architecture can inflict, physically and emotionally.
Exercise Two identified opportunities of the site that could relate to a health care facility and helped confirm a dementia treatment facility as particularly suitable:
The site exhibits evidence of its past, the building up and layering of materials and textures, and the wearing and erosion around the exhaust stack. A balance is achieved between the degradation of the site and its renewal through maintenance and produces a visible trace of time and layering. This balance presents the passerby with instances where the site can be understood as having a memory or being a record of activity.
This record of activity has given the site its own vernacular that can be extended to influence the development of the health care facility. The role of memory to the dementia sufferer is a critical consideration in the health facility’s design and there is an important link between the mind, the body and architecture. Memory is made stronger by strong experiences. The spatial experience of architecture is a major contributor, from the ability of landmarks to improve path finding to the decorum of a building serving to reference ideas or activities that take place within.
Exercise 3 strengthened the ideas of isolation and layered story-telling but also introduced community activities and personal experiences of the site. The visual linking between apparently isolated activities on site is another important consideration for the treatment of dementia and gave rise to the communal participation as opposed to individual linear goals.
Exercise 4 is an attempt to incorporate all these ideas of the site with the needs of a dementia treatment facility to produce a design that belongs to the site and enriches the community.
The approach of the proposed design is to encourage independent decisions among sufferers but to facilitate this independence through community involvement. The innovation for dementia treatment is the constant testing carried out in scenarios where life skills are developed and improved through everyday activities. The separation between activities to ‘keep the mind active’ and general life skills is no longer evident. The advantages of mind exercises such as scrabble, in that they can be easily monitored and engaged in, is carried over to path-finding and other activities where the technology of simulation and circulation testing can be gauged and measured to personalize the experience for each patient to produce a complex and diverse system of communal individuality where each patient has access to their own sense of belonging and their own connection with the past, but connections that are made richer by their interactions with the broader community.
Exercise One laid the groundwork for the importance architecture plays in a healthy society and the pain that poor architecture can inflict, physically and emotionally.
Exercise Two identified opportunities of the site that could relate to a health care facility and helped confirm a dementia treatment facility as particularly suitable:
The site exhibits evidence of its past, the building up and layering of materials and textures, and the wearing and erosion around the exhaust stack. A balance is achieved between the degradation of the site and its renewal through maintenance and produces a visible trace of time and layering. This balance presents the passerby with instances where the site can be understood as having a memory or being a record of activity.
This record of activity has given the site its own vernacular that can be extended to influence the development of the health care facility. The role of memory to the dementia sufferer is a critical consideration in the health facility’s design and there is an important link between the mind, the body and architecture. Memory is made stronger by strong experiences. The spatial experience of architecture is a major contributor, from the ability of landmarks to improve path finding to the decorum of a building serving to reference ideas or activities that take place within.
Exercise 3 strengthened the ideas of isolation and layered story-telling but also introduced community activities and personal experiences of the site. The visual linking between apparently isolated activities on site is another important consideration for the treatment of dementia and gave rise to the communal participation as opposed to individual linear goals.
Exercise 4 is an attempt to incorporate all these ideas of the site with the needs of a dementia treatment facility to produce a design that belongs to the site and enriches the community.
The approach of the proposed design is to encourage independent decisions among sufferers but to facilitate this independence through community involvement. The innovation for dementia treatment is the constant testing carried out in scenarios where life skills are developed and improved through everyday activities. The separation between activities to ‘keep the mind active’ and general life skills is no longer evident. The advantages of mind exercises such as scrabble, in that they can be easily monitored and engaged in, is carried over to path-finding and other activities where the technology of simulation and circulation testing can be gauged and measured to personalize the experience for each patient to produce a complex and diverse system of communal individuality where each patient has access to their own sense of belonging and their own connection with the past, but connections that are made richer by their interactions with the broader community.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Budda Bing
Here is a link to my Exp 4 Mashup, its called Exp4-1280x720
500 words will come tomorrow so you get a chance to experience the video in its own right, and have a day to draw your own conclusion.
*there is a better quality cut so if you want it let me know
Jules Out
http://hosted.filefront.com/julescromo/
Exp4-1280-720.wmv
500 words will come tomorrow so you get a chance to experience the video in its own right, and have a day to draw your own conclusion.
*there is a better quality cut so if you want it let me know
Jules Out
http://hosted.filefront.com/julescromo/
Exp4-1280-720.wmv
Friday, June 13, 2008
Finally
Here is all the stuff guys.
Sorry about the wait, if i could have done it quicker i would have but the computers were really buggy this arvo.
If anything is less than self explanatory let me know and i'll give you a hand finding stuff. Hopefully the zipped file organises itself back into its folders so everything is referenced properly.
I will be in saturday probably from 9am onwards if you couldn't be buggered downloading the zip you can get the real thing from me. Or it is saved to the d drive of the computer i was using today.
http://hosted.filefront.com/julescromo/
Its called SiteModelZip
Get into it:)
I will parobably have a max file of the site and adjacent buildings, as Russell suggested, for saturday to make our circulation stuff around or you could all fix something up with the files provided.
Just a tip: Jasons file scales at 0.9 in UT and Dennis is at 25.0
SiteModelZip.zip
Sorry about the wait, if i could have done it quicker i would have but the computers were really buggy this arvo.
If anything is less than self explanatory let me know and i'll give you a hand finding stuff. Hopefully the zipped file organises itself back into its folders so everything is referenced properly.
I will be in saturday probably from 9am onwards if you couldn't be buggered downloading the zip you can get the real thing from me. Or it is saved to the d drive of the computer i was using today.
http://hosted.filefront.com/julescromo/
Its called SiteModelZip
Get into it:)
I will parobably have a max file of the site and adjacent buildings, as Russell suggested, for saturday to make our circulation stuff around or you could all fix something up with the files provided.
Just a tip: Jasons file scales at 0.9 in UT and Dennis is at 25.0
SiteModelZip.zip
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Structure of the mind
Below are some images created by Dr Anne Adams who was a teacher and bench scientist but was also a sufferer of frontotemporal dementia, a form of dementia that reorganises brain connections. "The disease apparently altered circuits in their brains, changing the connections between the front and back parts and resulting in a torrent of creativity." The circuits reorganise resulting in reduced ability for speech, and motor skills, and experience behavoural changes. Meanwhile the creative part of the brains connections are strengthened.
The article is sourced from The New York Times at
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/health/08brai.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Of particular interest is the focus on structure and repetition. My Gran who is also suffering from dementia was often frustrated by patterns in materials that seemed wrong. Too many tiles of one colour or lines in the pavement not meeting objects placed on them symmetrically. I often find myself looking for similar patterns and wonder if there is a connection between this pattern structuring and the development of dementia.
The first of the images is a representation of 'Bolero,' a piece of music by Maurice Ravel, who was also suffering from frontemporal dementia.
"'Bolero' alternates between two main melodic themes, repeating the pair eight times over 340 bars with increasing volume and layers of instruments. At the same time, the score holds methodically to two simple, alternating staccato bass lines.
'‘Bolero’ is an exercise in compulsivity, structure and perseveration,' Dr. Miller said. It builds without a key change until the 326th bar. Then it accelerates into a collapsing finale."
Bolero
Earthworm
Migraine
Pebbles
Pi
The article is sourced from The New York Times at
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/health/08brai.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Of particular interest is the focus on structure and repetition. My Gran who is also suffering from dementia was often frustrated by patterns in materials that seemed wrong. Too many tiles of one colour or lines in the pavement not meeting objects placed on them symmetrically. I often find myself looking for similar patterns and wonder if there is a connection between this pattern structuring and the development of dementia.
The first of the images is a representation of 'Bolero,' a piece of music by Maurice Ravel, who was also suffering from frontemporal dementia.
"'Bolero' alternates between two main melodic themes, repeating the pair eight times over 340 bars with increasing volume and layers of instruments. At the same time, the score holds methodically to two simple, alternating staccato bass lines.
'‘Bolero’ is an exercise in compulsivity, structure and perseveration,' Dr. Miller said. It builds without a key change until the 326th bar. Then it accelerates into a collapsing finale."
Bolero
Earthworm
Migraine
Pebbles
Pi
Monday, June 9, 2008
Cuba Paper?
Bit of a start on the abstract. Could do with some feedback on this, and what is required in general
This paper explores potential improvements in path finding and articulation of circulation spaces that can be achieved with the testing of schemes in an interactive virtual environment. It proceeds to suggest opportunities that can extend the use of such tests to combine them into an integrated architectural system that can benefit extensive areas of the community. The health care community forms the focus as the architectural system, which expands upon a Master of Architecture body of work, but the application of such systems are also analysed for their benefits to commercial developments and current organisational systems in general.
This paper explores potential improvements in path finding and articulation of circulation spaces that can be achieved with the testing of schemes in an interactive virtual environment. It proceeds to suggest opportunities that can extend the use of such tests to combine them into an integrated architectural system that can benefit extensive areas of the community. The health care community forms the focus as the architectural system, which expands upon a Master of Architecture body of work, but the application of such systems are also analysed for their benefits to commercial developments and current organisational systems in general.
Word on Health Care Facility
Here is a bit of waffle that i will tighten up over the next few weeks
The design proposal is for a facility to treat, manage and observe those suffering from various stages of dementia.
The site currently exhibits evidence of its history, the building up and layering of materials and textures, and the wearing and erosion around the exhaust stack. A balance is achieved between the degradation of the site and its renewal through maintenance and produces a visible trace of time and layering. This balance presents the passerby with instances where the site can be understood as having a memory or being a record of activity.
This record of activity, the alternating erosion and build up of materials has given the site its own vernacular that can be extended to influence the development of the health care facility. The role of memory to the dementia sufferer is a critical consideration in the health facility’s design and there is an important link between the mind, the body and architecture. Memory is made stronger by strong experiences. The spatial experience of architecture is a major contributor, from the ability of landmarks to improve path finding to the decorum of a building serving to reference ideas or activities that take place within.
Dementia sufferers generally experience the gradual loss of memory, among other functions, that starts by affecting the short term memory. Long term memories remain largely intact for a longer period and may provide a base to build on to help offset the loss of basic skills. Path finding is on such basic skill that seems to suffer enormously. The ability of the dementia sufferer to move from one place to another is affected by several factors. The lack of short term memory means it is likely that during the journey the destination will be forgotten. Similarly, the typical situation of admitting a dementia sufferer to a facility when the disease has taken hold, makes it difficult to have much recall of the building layout. This is made more difficult by the design of such facilities to be as simple and uncluttered as possible, resulting in them being consistent and repetitive and difficult to distinguish one room from another as a result.
The approach of the proposed design is to encourage independent decisions among sufferers and to help facilitate this independence and the sense of achievement and satisfaction that dementia sufferers should feel. Factors and experiences that encourage various activities will be explored to provide a system of structuring space to aid in intuitive path finding and to give support as required.
The almost derogatory idea of ‘keeping your mind active’ to offset the effects of conditions such as dementia, has usually been done with activities such as scrabble and crosswords. Perhaps a more useful approach is to keep the mind active by subjecting it to a system that tests everyday skills that are more beneficial to the sufferers quality of life. Much like any learned habit, the habit of doing a crossword is just that. The challenge eventually becomes an activity of repetition and of going through the motions.
The design proposal is for a facility to treat, manage and observe those suffering from various stages of dementia.
The site currently exhibits evidence of its history, the building up and layering of materials and textures, and the wearing and erosion around the exhaust stack. A balance is achieved between the degradation of the site and its renewal through maintenance and produces a visible trace of time and layering. This balance presents the passerby with instances where the site can be understood as having a memory or being a record of activity.
This record of activity, the alternating erosion and build up of materials has given the site its own vernacular that can be extended to influence the development of the health care facility. The role of memory to the dementia sufferer is a critical consideration in the health facility’s design and there is an important link between the mind, the body and architecture. Memory is made stronger by strong experiences. The spatial experience of architecture is a major contributor, from the ability of landmarks to improve path finding to the decorum of a building serving to reference ideas or activities that take place within.
Dementia sufferers generally experience the gradual loss of memory, among other functions, that starts by affecting the short term memory. Long term memories remain largely intact for a longer period and may provide a base to build on to help offset the loss of basic skills. Path finding is on such basic skill that seems to suffer enormously. The ability of the dementia sufferer to move from one place to another is affected by several factors. The lack of short term memory means it is likely that during the journey the destination will be forgotten. Similarly, the typical situation of admitting a dementia sufferer to a facility when the disease has taken hold, makes it difficult to have much recall of the building layout. This is made more difficult by the design of such facilities to be as simple and uncluttered as possible, resulting in them being consistent and repetitive and difficult to distinguish one room from another as a result.
The approach of the proposed design is to encourage independent decisions among sufferers and to help facilitate this independence and the sense of achievement and satisfaction that dementia sufferers should feel. Factors and experiences that encourage various activities will be explored to provide a system of structuring space to aid in intuitive path finding and to give support as required.
The almost derogatory idea of ‘keeping your mind active’ to offset the effects of conditions such as dementia, has usually been done with activities such as scrabble and crosswords. Perhaps a more useful approach is to keep the mind active by subjecting it to a system that tests everyday skills that are more beneficial to the sufferers quality of life. Much like any learned habit, the habit of doing a crossword is just that. The challenge eventually becomes an activity of repetition and of going through the motions.
Site Model with Poles
I've uploaded a zipped file with all my site model (and some of Jacobs) to file front.
It includes Solidworks, Max and UT3 files of all my poles and some general site models that helped me locate meshes in UT3.
Also included is a photoshop file that catalogues all the poles and trees if you ever want to check or change locations yourself.
I've organised it all so it is hopefully self explanatory where and what everything is.
Apologies for the file size but what are you going do :)
Should anything be unclear or if anything you want is missing let me know
ModelMaterial.zip
It includes Solidworks, Max and UT3 files of all my poles and some general site models that helped me locate meshes in UT3.
Also included is a photoshop file that catalogues all the poles and trees if you ever want to check or change locations yourself.
I've organised it all so it is hopefully self explanatory where and what everything is.
Apologies for the file size but what are you going do :)
Should anything be unclear or if anything you want is missing let me know
ModelMaterial.zip
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Memory and Virtual Reality
For a proposed Dementia health care facility the following article was particular relevant. “Virtual reality can improve memory” from Science Daily discusses the benefits of virtual reality to demonstrate the uses of a digital camera over the more conventional manual in text and photo form. The findings were, in a nut shell, that the virtual video improved memories of the camera’s functions. But while it improved these memories “it also increased false positives -- that is, more people believed it could do things that it couldn't do.” This creates the problem that after having a virtual experience it may be difficult to distinguish between real and imagined memories.
The use of virtual reality needs to be carefully managed to limit the impact that it may have on confusing the users, particularly in regards to dementia patients where memories are already confused enough.
The use of virtual reality needs to be carefully managed to limit the impact that it may have on confusing the users, particularly in regards to dementia patients where memories are already confused enough.
Virtual Path finding
An article from Science Daily at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases2007/09/070909214527.htm provides an insight into the practical applications of simulations in the car industry. Navigation systems are tested in a virtual environment rather than put out to be tested in the real world which is time consuming and expensive.
“Our VR system not only simulates the instruments,” explains IAO project manager Manfred Dangelmaier. “Every level of this system is virtual. The user is seated in a virtual driving simulator, surrounded by a virtual world, facing a virtual dashboard with a virtual control system.” This allows the engineers to simulate every conceivable situation in order to test the man-machine interfaces.
The benefits of such a system are applicable to our design for testing path finding and circulation in the designed space. Even the in car navigation system could be transferred to the built environment in some form to ease circulation and reduce confusion. A significant achievement in my proposed Dementia treatment facility.
“Our VR system not only simulates the instruments,” explains IAO project manager Manfred Dangelmaier. “Every level of this system is virtual. The user is seated in a virtual driving simulator, surrounded by a virtual world, facing a virtual dashboard with a virtual control system.” This allows the engineers to simulate every conceivable situation in order to test the man-machine interfaces.
The benefits of such a system are applicable to our design for testing path finding and circulation in the designed space. Even the in car navigation system could be transferred to the built environment in some form to ease circulation and reduce confusion. A significant achievement in my proposed Dementia treatment facility.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)