Nature vs Nurture

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Nature vs Nurture is an ongoing debate, with both sides having good points which make it hard to decide whether success is just down to a persons gifted DNA or influenced by their life experiences, environment and hard work. Two examples are Leonardo DaVinci and Jimi Hendrix who both took a natural understanding of art and music respectively to the highest level. The fact that they were able to perform to this high level at an early stage in their lives suggests that it may purely have been down to their genes. However the argument to this is that these two individuals had to put a lot of time into practising their craft before they reached peak performance. With Jimi Hendrix, it would seem he was given a natural ability to understand the rhythms and beats associated with music, but to become such a famous guitarist he had to spend the majority of his life practising and working hard to perfect his skills. It was said that he never put his guitar down and took it everywhere he went, even to the bathroom. This highlights how nurture plays a part in achievement. Another example is Richard Branson who seems to have been gifted with a natural talent in understanding business, whether this is down to DNA and that he was always going to strive in that sector, or whether it was down to him having a passion for the subject and enjoying what he was doing. We know that as a result of him failing school at a younger age Branson had to work extremely hard to get to where he is today. Even if he did receive his talent through DNA, he had to put in the hard work, which shows that it may be the case that you need both nature and nurture to get to the top.

With regards to good architectural design it is very similar, with no one knowing whether it is down to inspiration or perspiration. Frank Gehry is an architect that seems to have a naturally gifted design process, as he is able to conjure up uniquely shaped buildings very quickly. Although it could be argued that this is due to the hard work he put in earlier in his life that now leads to his bursts of inspiration. Good design could be purely from inspiration in naturally gifted individuals, as it could be said that people are born with or without an artistic flair. This means that good design would only be done by those that have the natural ability to draw, as it is a very hard skill to learn if you don’t have a natural feel for it. The argument against this could be that people don’t need to physically draw out their design on paper as with the developments in technology they could produce a good design using various programmes on a computer. However, many people could sit there for days on end and still not come up with an idea. Even with their hard work and ambition they may not be able to come up with a good design, whereas other people such as Gehry could throw down a piece of crumpled up paper and produce a design from that in a matter of minutes. This helps argue that it could be inspiration that influences good design as even with continuous hard work it will be one flash of inspiration that will come up with the initial design.

I think it all depends on what you mean by good design, whether it is the initial idea or the final outcome. Perspiration will definitely be required to produce the final outcome, whereas the initial design could come purely from inspiration. I personally believe that it is required to have both to come up with good design, as even if you are naturally gifted you still have to work hard at it to insure that your work is the best it can be. Also, I think everyone that has come up with a good design has had some form of spiritual inspiration or ability passed down through genes, but has also had to work hard to produce that design. 

Maggie's Centres

Maggie’s Centres are designed to provide a drop in service for those who have been affected by cancer. They provide caring environments with practical, emotional and social support. Maggie’s Centres are spread all across the UK and further and they have all been designed by well-known architects throughout the years.

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Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow received a Maggie’s Centre in 2011, designed by Rem Koolhaas of Page\Park Architects. The building is designed as multiple L shaped and rectangular rooms that interlock to create one continuous space that rotates 360 degrees around a central courtyard. This was to create a homely feel within the building as all rooms are linked together, which in turn would create a more comfortable environment. The building is located in the woodland grounds of the hospital which is just “far enough away from the hospital to create another world”. This allowed glass facades to be used. The majority of the building has glass walls that enable users to look outside and into the internal courtyard, as well as this, the use of glass maximises the amount of light entering the property which creates large, bright open spaces. Concrete was used as the main structural material to create a plain simple surface. This makes the external natural environment stand out and bring life and colour inside the building. Wooden interiors were used to decorate the ceilings; this was to match the woodland area and blend the two environments into one to create a peaceful, natural space. Rem Koolhaas has designed the building with context in mind and has fully succeeded the brief. By using the glass walls he has produced large open, bright, airy spaces that allow people to feel calm and relaxed. The use of the interlocking rooms also means enclosed spaces have been created for counselling rooms which allows people to receive support in a private environment where they can feel at home and relaxed.

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Dundee is another city within Scotland that has a Maggie Centre. Frank Gehry designed a white cottage like building on the grounds of Ninewells Hospital in 2003. The walls of the building have been covered in white render and have elements of timber cladding throughout the main structure. These two materials complement each other and blend into the natural surroundings to create a soft look to the building that makes it fit into the scene. Many windows have also been positioned around the entire building so natural light enters the interior from every side to illuminate the space. Frank Gehry has placed his mark on the building by designing a very unique metallic roof that waves from one side of the building to the other. The use of the reflective metal reflects the sunlight that illuminates the entire roof. This particular design of the building is one of the main features that attracts people to the centre. It creates interest and excitement which makes people feel welcome and invites them to spend time there. The building was designed with a Scottish theme with a similar look to the butt n’ ben dwelling that keeps the history within the area and makes the centre have a greater depth of meaning. The inside has been designed to maximise the size of the space. The technique of leaving the timber roof trusses exposed, creates a large open area and you can see from floor to ceiling, meaning the space is airy and calming. The centre also has a main central tower that expands above the ceiling creating peaceful views of the surrounding landscape which is therapeutic to the occupants. The building has been designed around the context and the clients brief to produce a welcoming centre that can provide care and support to people affected by cancer. This was done by creating a remote area where they can come and relax in the cottage style building that is only surrounded by the natural environment with landscaped gardens. As well, the unique design of the building creates a peaceful environment that reduces the levels of stress and allows people to come and free their minds from everything else. 

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Maggie’s Centres have become a very important place for some of those affected and previously affected by cancer. From the BMJ article Inspiration, Maggie’s Centres by Edwin Heathcote the main importance of these centres is highlighted. With hospitals being a place where we are spending an increasingly large proportion of our lives, they are extremely depressing and grim. No-one wants to go to hospital as it is not a pleasant environment with the plain décor, sterile bureaucratic corridors and unhomely feel. This is why the Maggie’s Centres are designed to create large, open welcoming spaces with pleasant interiors, kitchens and sofas, so that the user can feel safe, relaxed and as if they were in their own home.  This helps reduce the levels of stress that come with the illness and help the individual enjoy their time there. The Centres are all designed to maximise the levels of natural light as well as exposing the natural elements surrounding the building.  This is due to the research that has linked views of trees, greenery, the sky, and natural light with quicker healing. By creating these centres it allows the patient to remove themselves from the gloomy hospital to the bright spacious area that allows them to feel better as they are in a nicer place. The fact that it is a free drop- in service and no appointments are needed is another important factor, as it means the care and support is available at any time and if help is needed they can come directly to the centre for individual support. This also makes the building informal which further helps people to relax as there is no control, and the individual is free to do what they want without being confined by time. Edwin Heathcote spoke to many people that work within the Maggie Centre as they said how they were profoundly and deeply affected by the quality of the building and the thought that went into the design. This is an example how the use of good architecture can make you feel better. Good architecture with natural sunlight, views and art along with a relaxed atmosphere that allows you to drop in and out as you please is all an attempt to help play a part in a patient’s recovery.

The Maggie’s Centres have been a success since they were first introduced. Edwin Heathcote said when he visited the centre it was occupied by many whom had finished their treatment. This shows the importance that the Maggie Centre had on their healing process, that they wish to return to see friends and have a cup of tea, and also highlights the depth of the charity, that those who defeated cancer want to help those still in need by using this building. The architectural design is extremely important for the user, as unlike the curtain enclosed beds of the hospitals, the architects have created open, illuminated spaces that look warm and welcoming, as well including design features that allow elements of nature to be seen to create a peaceful, stress free environment. Here the user can sit and relax with friends and family allowing them to forget the worries of their illness.

With allowing well known architects to design these charity centres, it allows exciting and interesting structures to be placed within the landscape, as well as performing their function. This also helps the charity as the building stands out from the rest, interest grows and the organisation and its plan become better known. This in turn could potentially  influence future projects to occur to help even more people in need, and could also have an direct impact of the design of future hospitals, as they can see the impact of good architecture on people’s health, and improve the design of the traditional hospitals today. The public’s perception on Maggie’s Centres has been mainly positive. Due to the buildings being unique with exciting designs they help bring life and energy to the hospital scene which makes the area slightly more attractive to the eye. The fact that the Centre also helps those in need, it is seen as a beneficial addition to the area as it helps improve the lives of those affected by cancer. 

"Plagiarism is intellectual theft"

Plagiarism has been around ever since the introduction of artwork and the written language and has become a lot more common with the evolution of the internet. Plagiarism is seen as taking someone else’s material or information from an alternative source and presenting the information as your own original work without correctly citing the place of origin and crediting the original owner. If you do not reference and credit the owner it is seen as a serious offence and is seen as stealing, which the quote from Breach in 2009, “plagiarism is intellectual theft” sums up perfectly.

There is many different ways of plagiarism and these include the copying of books, websites, photos, videos, essays and even speeches. You will be seen as plagiarising if you take any information/visuals and do nothing to change them, unacknowledge the author and attempt to pass it on as your own original work, then you will be seen as a plagiarist weather you mean it or not. The most common form of plagiarism is when someone takes a passage of text from a book or website and puts it within their work.

There is a way to prevent your work from being plagiarism when you want to use information from an alternative source which is called referencing. To prevent your work from being described as intellectual theft you have to acknowledge such sources and make it clear, this can be achieved by following a reference system such as Harvard referencing, by using this you will display where you received the information from and you will not be seen as stealing intellectual information and your work will be legal and creditable. 

Other References Question 1:

George Orwell, 1949.  Nineteen Eighty-Four. 1^st ed. London, England: Secker & Warburg.

Forget Your Sadness, Dec 2013. Funny Cats Compilation [Most See] Funny Cat Videos Ever Part 1. Youtube. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tntOCGkgt98 [Accessed 16 Feb. 2016].

Laura Alvarez, 2015. Here's how we can learn to fall in love with shocking buildings. [online]. The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/heres-how-we-can-learn-to-fall-in-love-with-shocking-buildings-49723 [Accessed 16 Feb. 2016].

Hufton and Crow, 2015. UK Pavilion Milan Expo 2015. [digital image]. designboom | architecture & design magazine. Available at: http://www.designboom.com/architecture/uk-pavilion-expo-milan-2015-wolfgang-buttress-05-01-2015/ [Accessed 16 Feb. 2016].

AT_NTU, 2016. Day 2 of 3 at NCN Basford Hall for the first years undertaking bricklaying, plumbing and carpentry. [Twitter]. 16^th February. Available at: https://twitter.com/at_ntu. [Accessed 16 February 2016].

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, 2015. [Film]. Directed by J.J. Abrams. USA : Lucasfilm Ltd. [Additional production companies Bad Robot and Truenorth Productions ].

RIBA Sterling Prize Winners

My favourite RIBA Stirling Award Prize winner is Zaha Hadid’s, Evelyn Grace Academy that won the prize in 2011. Evelyn Grace Academy was a 10,745m² project situated in London, to create a building to provide education to four individual schools that would occupy the same building and make use of a shared outdoor space. The first thing that drew my attention was the overall aesthetics of the building and its unique style and shapes. The materials used for the main structure were steel and concrete which can be seen throughout the entire building, the walls of the school have also been created using glass for various different reasons. The exterior of the structure has been constructed using reflective materials such as metal and glass which reflects the sunlight and creates a strong visual and makes the building stand out in the residential area. Glass façades have been used to allow maximum amount of sunlight to enter into the interior to create bright spacious areas that create an environment that helps engage students in learning and creates an atmosphere for progressive teaching. The structure has been designed into a Zig-Zag pattern that runs throughout the entire building which gives it a futuristic look and greater aesthetics. One of the main features of the project is the relationship between the school and the surrounding area. The building has been designed to work around the outdoor space and has a running track that flows underneath the bridge of the building. I believe the main purpose of wrapping the building around the landscaped area was to create an environment that follows the phrase, ‘work hard, play hard’ showing that you can have fun and study in the same place. There are also many internal details that have been put in place to help fulfil the brief of creating a space to learn and study, The corridors inside have been made wider than regulations state, classrooms have been positioned beside large windows and the ceiling to floor height has been nearly doubled. By using these features they have created a large open space that allows greater levels of light and air to filter through the building, creating a well illuminated airy space that will reduce levels of stress that comes with school and enable the students to further engage in their studies. It is these smart internal features as well as the architectural design used to enhance the aesthetics of the building that make this my favourite RIBA Stirling Award Prize winner.

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My least favourite building that has won the award is the Scottish Parliament that won in 2005. The main reason I dislike the building is due to the materials used and the design. The building is constructed using a wide range of materials from metal, concrete and timber inside and outside and organised in a variety of random oval like shapes. I don’t think it is a very aesthetically pleasing building as it looks too compact and messy, as the materials are all used at different levels and there are no flush surfaces. The use of shiny metal for the roof on the inside and highlighting structural elements in yellow looks very scrappy and the building look like an industrial factory. The Parliament is a room within the building I particularly am not fond of. The way that all the lighting barrels and fixtures are on display and not covered up take away from the pleasant looking roof trusses and make the overall room look unfinished. Although I respect the design put into creating the wavy roof structure and how it works, I just don’t appreciate how it looks from above or from the inside, as it looks strange and uncomfortable. The design features put into the external windows are very unique and interesting but my personal opinion is that they are random and look slightly out of place on a parliament building. With regards to it being a parliament building you would usually expect it to be a very grand, professional building, but as it is a very busy and stressful area the attempt of using unusual, funky shapes is a way of trying to brighten up the space and give something to look at whilst at work. I do believe that the project fulfilled the clients brief as it is a fully operational parliament building with sufficient space and offices. It is also a very unique style of building that stands out within the area, which could be an attempt to draw more attention to the building and improve the local environment, but personally I just don’t like the style used and see it more of an eyesore than an aesthetically pleasing development.

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Off-grid Housing

                                                                            

Chuckanut Ridge House

Off-grid housing refers to homes that are designed to function without being connected to the National Grid (‘grid’) for electricity, mains water supply, sewage or natural gas. This creates a stand-alone, fully functional, independent eco-friendly living spaces that adopts alternative methods to provide renewable energy sources.

As the house is build off the grid and renewable sources are used instead of the main supply, there are many advantages that come with it. One of the main merits of off grid housing is the stand alone power systems used to generate electricity on-site by using a wide range of renewable energy sources, such as sunlight. Solar panels are used to capture the energy produced by the sun and transforms this into alternative energy which can be used for electrical goods or to produce hot water. Geothermal energy is another method that utilises the natural heat produced beneath the earth’s surface to create electricity and also heat and cool homes directly. The main benefit that comes from using these solutions is the reduced energy costs, as it works out substantially cheaper than using energy produced on the grid and can sometimes not cost anything to run these systems. Wind is another natural energy sources that is used on off-grid houses. Wind turbines are used to achieve this, as the wind rotates the turbine which in turn produces energy which can be used within the home. If you have a suitable site which is locates near to a river, stream or creek a micro-hydroelectric system can be installed to gather the monument from the flow of water and convert it into energy. The most predictable and cost effective way to make renewable energy as the flow is relatively constant unlike the wind and levels of sunlight which can vary day to day. Another quality of using the stand alone systems is the lowered risk of power cut outs and lower demand. If there is a storm and the national grid losses power, an off-grid house will still have supply of electricity.

Off-Grid housing also employs greater eco-friendly solutions to supplying water as they use natural resources such as streams and lake. A pump and infiltration system can be installed to collect water from these natural reservoirs and deliver fresh, clean water directly to your taps. Wells can also be used to collect rain and groundwater which can be collected and used once filtered. Rain water harvesting is the final way to collect natural water. Large containers are placed outside to catch as much rainwater as possible, which leads into a filtration system and into the taps, eventually to be returned to the water cycle unless consumed, this is a more sustainable method to producing water as it is recycles the water and is not damaging to the environment.

Another merit of off-grid housing is the ability to live wherever you want, as you are not restricted by to the limits of the grid, this allows you to live in remote areas. With managing alternative energy systems, living more simply and learning the best ways to conserve offers hand on education and if done properly can also help reduce your carbon footprint and reduce damage to the surrounding environment. Although there is a lot of credit associated with off-grid housing there is also very few cons with living off-grid. The first is the cost, although in the long run you will end up saving money, at the start the cost of the RE systems are very high and you also may need to buy a backup battery system (depending on your energy needs) for when you alternative energy resources are unavailable. Another disadvantage may be the space requirement of some of the systems and you may be limited to where you can place your home depending on the space for the systems to operate. The last disadvantage can be seen either way, is the conservation and maintaining of the systems as they sometimes require attention to make sure they are fully functional and reaching maximum potential.

The merits of off-grid housing outweigh the cons and it is a sustainable alternative to use alternative energy sources instead of the main supply and create a eco-friendly home that is self-sufficient.

My Sketchbook

As part of my Architecture in Context module in term 1, I had to create a sketchbook by following weekly seminar tasks. I decided to use an A5 sketchbook to gather my sketches and ideas and received a Low 1^st for my efforts. I produced a lot of drawings during the time period and I believe my most successful drawing is the pen study of the Nottingham Council House. I believe this is the best outcome as it is a realistic resemblance of the building although it has a rough and scribbled style. I was able to capture the depth and size of the building by using different sized pens and showed good use of shading to produce the 3D effect. This image also stands out by me as I enjoy creating this piece due to the fact I was interested in the building itself.

 On the other hand I was disappointed by some of my work as I was unable to achieve the result I wanted, I think my least successful work is the section on Georgian Architecture as I failed to produce high quality sketches. Looking back at them I can see the lack of detail and design as I have produced simplistic sketches of the features. An example of this would be the Large Chimney Stacks and the Sash Windows, I can now see that I didn’t spend enough time on the artwork and have lowered the standard of the overall sketchbook.

 Moving on from Georgian Architecture to Gothic Architecture which was the style of architecture I found most interesting. I really enjoyed studying this style and being able to see first-hand examples around Nottingham which I was able to include in my sketchbook. I was very interested in the design techniques used to decorate the walls of the buildings and create large dominating buildings, which I tried to capture in my sketch of St. Mary’s Church.

 Throughout my sketchbook I preferred to use pencils and pens to create my sketches and ideas, this was due to my ability to produce quality drawings that fulfilled the objective and I was confident in using them. Now that I have completed my sketchbook I regret that I was not more experimental with the materials that I used. I believe I could have greatly improved my sketchbook by using alternative methods such as watercolours, acrylics and collages. I will learn from my mistakes and break my trend of using materials that I am confident in and explore other methods.

                                                                                            

 Although our sketchbooks are “complete” and marked I will not stop using it. From last term I have learned how useful and handy having a sketchbook is. It is like a diary in which you can record your ideas and sketch something that interests you. Due to this I am going to constantly add to my sketchbook and build up a collection of design ideas, architectural styles and information that will help me in future projects. I will hopefully keep my sketchbook during my whole academic career and continue to produce high quality sketches and develop my skills in using new mediums that will become a book off all my ideas and interests that could influence my future works. 

 Yorkshire Sculpture Park 

 Columns

 Nottingham Council House 

 Byron House, Nottingham 

Yorkshire Sculpture Park 

Sir John Soane

Sir John Soane (1753-1837) was an English architect who was known for his Neo-Classical style. In the 18^th Century he experienced many different architectural styles whilst on a grand tour of Italy which inspired his work. He also became a professor of architecture at the Royal Academy and an official architect to the Office of Works before receiving his knighthood in 1831. The following buildings are examples of Sir John Soane’s work:

Bank of England

On the 16^th October 1788 he was appointed architect and surveyor of the Bank of England where he remained for 45 years. During his time he rebuilt much of the bank and extended the site, he also decided to enclose the building in 1828 by building a windowless wall. The bank was a very grand building with columns covering the façade. From the plans and paintings you can see the attempt of designing an open airy space with plenty of sunlight illuminating the floor space as shown in Fig.2 illustrating the Banking Hall. He also focused on the heating element within the bank by designing decorative stoves and flues. Unfortunately none of this work can be seen today as the building was demolished in the 1920s for renovations.

Dulwich Picture Gallery

This building was the first purpose built public art gallery in England constructed in 1817. From outside the building you can instantly recognise John Soane’s style of architecture as the walls are enclosed with window openings filled with bricks. Like the majority of his outer buildings the inside space is open with natural light shining throughout the rooms due to windows being placed on the roof. The building consists of five rooms that are connected by a series of arches that create an endless sense of space. Due to using a natural top light this was ideal for viewing paintings and maximised the wall space for hanging artwork. Many art galleries have since have been influenced by the designs used in the Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Pitzhanger Manor

This House & Gallery is a major cultural venue in West London, and was once owned by Sir John Soane. The House shows many features associated with Soane’s architectural style that where influenced from his tour of Italy including the Columns, Statues and decorative features on the walls. Pitzhanger Manor has many similarities to the Soane’s Bank of England building, although windows have been placed on the front facing wall. Inside the manor is a series of very decorative rooms some with curved ceilings with unique designs and patterns. Soane’s idea of using natural light to illuminate the building has been used again within this piece of architecture.

After looking into the life work of Sir John Soane and his neo-classical style of architecture, I have come to appreciate his methods of design. I am interested in the way that he makes the most use of natural light by careful positioning of windows, to allow the sunlight to filter throughout the building. From the outside you get the impression that his buildings are dark and cold due to his use of materials and the use of the enclosed wall, which then creates a pleasant surprise when you see the inside and are greeted with large, open, bright grand spaces. 

Fig.1 - Sir John Soane

Fig.2 - Bank of England

Fig.3 - Dulwich Picture Gallery

Fig.4 - Pitzhanger Manor

Other examples of Sir John Soane's work:

Fig. 5 - Sir John Soane's Museum (1813)

Fig.6 - Piercefield House (1792)

Fig.7 - Tyringham Hall (1792)