Final Project notes

Students:

I just wanted to reiterate what Professor Herzog said in class today regarding your final projects.
If you're having trouble thinking of a site, and how it relates to our course topisc, you should begin by thinking about what's been said in class that is interesting, consulting the course texts, or looking through the references in the syllabus for starters.

Either that or just start going out into campus and greater San Diego and start to think critically about what public spaces look like, how they're being used, what kind of people are/are not there, and keep that ball rolling. Remember a key task is for you to put your spin on what the meaning seems to be for that space. Here are some additional ways of thinking about that question:
--is the space used in tension, or calmly functioning? what are people doing in this space--staying there, en route to somewhere else, on the phone, walking sitting, etc? start by making simple observations like these
--if it is being used in some kind of routine stability, does that seem planned or somehow spontaneous?
--if people enjoying the space, does the space seem designed for that kind of activity and pleasure or are people improvising?
--what surrounds the two spaces you're comparing? how does the larger built environment affect the behaviors and uses you see in the spaces you're considering?
--does the architecture seem functional [probably modernist] or playful [possibly post-modernist]?
--what's public about the space you're observing? how do you and the people who are using it seem to think it is indeed public? and how does that produce or inhibit certain behaviors?

This concept might seem kind of fuzzy, but one of the things we want you to think about is architecture as a 'social discourse': this means that spaces both reflect society AND help shape it. Take Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, which only emerged in its current form as a highly coordinated response to a variety of projects undertaken by the government and corporations, often with little regard for residents: The Coronado Bridge, a CHIPS facility, the ship yards, industrial and toxic sites, and more. So it is possible to see Chicano Park as a result of community struggles to create public space and thus representing a social discourse. But struggle is not necessary for social discourse: Horton Plaza, created by a public-private partnership [PPP] between the Center City Development Corporation [public] and private capital very much represents a social discourse, but one very different from Chicano Park.

I hope some of these thoughts are helpful in spurring your topics.

Remember I want to see quality, thoughtful paragraphs with sites selected, REASONS why your comparison is interesting and relates to class, and the sources you're using [so far]. Please also feel free to include any questions you're having, pictures, maps, etc.

Take a notebook and a camera with you! Don't trust yourself to remember, but take down your observations while they're fresh and rich. You never know what will strike you as interesting later. Mark down the time of day too.

Enjoy, and have a fun holiday-
ac