September 2006

Architectural History Student Symposium

I'm at the first annual student symposium, sponsored by the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians. It's more interesting than it sounds. There are talks on pattern books, vedic influence on modern Indian architecture, art deco in the Twin Cities, the architecture of White Castle... and a lot more.

Student work is usually rather invisible. People get a grade in a history seminar for a paper they've spent months on, then no one ever sees it again. It's great to be able to see and hear some of the rigorous and innovative work that that students are doing all the time.

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September 2006

On Choosing the Right Graduate Program

You know you've found the right graduate program when the material requirements for your first assignment closely match those of a student aged 5.

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September 2006

M.Arch. Year 2

This year is shaping up to be a good one. My courses:

Thermal Design
Lighting and Acustic Design
Architecture in the Enlightenment (with Robert Ferguson, who has a great mind for history)
Studio (with Jennifer Yoos of VJAA)

In the enlightenment course we'll be primarily writing a research paper.

Studio will center around the notion of "interactivity" and how digital tools can help bring interactivity into architecture.

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