Unit 04: Analysis & Design Process

For this assignment we were asked to bring in layers from Arc Catalog and put them in Arc Map. Just a simple first assignment with GIS. Basically bringing in layers and making your own map form information that is already out there. Then we had to create a scale bar, north arrow, and legend; which you can do all that in GIS.

Unit 03: "Concept visualization"

 A. Image Enhancement 

(Image courtesy of Google)

     For this image, I copied it from Google and then opened it in Photoshop. I wasn't sure where to start so I just brightened it up a bit using the Image>Adjustments>Brightness and Contrast. So i played around with that and then I started to use the Sharpen tool on the side panel to make the image not so blurry looking. Then I erased the background on it and turned the tie blue just to add a little something to the image. I played around with the smudge, clone stamp and spot healing brush. But the only one that was affective was the spot healing brush. I used that on his face a little.

 B: Collage & Rendering

(Image courtesy of Google Earth)

      For this image I went into Google Earth and found my site that we are currently working with in studio. I took a screen shot of it and then pasted it into Photoshop. After that I re-sized it a bit to fit the requirements. Then I started making shapes around the buildings with the Rectangle Marquee tool. Then I picked different colors out for the surrounding buildings (orange) and the on site buildings (blue). I then used the paint bucket tool to fill them and then I changed the opacity to allow you to see the buildings still. Then I started making the trees with the Elliptical Marquee tool. By holding shift and dragging your cursor, it will make a perfect circle. After I used the paint bucket again to fill the circle with color, I then proceeded to duplicate that layer and make all the trees you see below. For the final steps, I merged the layers together first, then changed the opacity, and finally I dropped the shadow from the trees by double clicking the layer and selecting the drop shadow box. I also made benches, showed you where the storm water management is on site and made a life size chess/checkers board. To make the chess/checkers board i made a square with the Rectangle Marquee tool and filled it with a brown color using the paint bucket. Then I set up guidelines using the rulers, and then made the rectangles according to those guidelines, filled them with a darker brown, and then took the guidelines away.

 C. Photo-montage Perspective

(Images courtesy of Google, Photo's taken on site visit & Simon's own photo-montage)

      For these images, the reason I have two is because one is smaller than the other, and we had to do two for studio so I decided to include both so we can look at both of them. So for these I had an image I took of the site and I put it into Photoshop. I then put a guideline in for the horizon line so I knew where it was at all times. I then started to add grass textures from Simon's photo-montage. I added people and trees from there also. For the scale of everything, it was just a rough estimate, but I put the people in first and there eyes are always on the horizon line. Then I scaled the trees accordingly; same for the bottom. I scaled the cars and trees according to the people. I took some images of street lights from Google and took them into Photoshop, got rid of the background and then paste it in my image. For the final steps I took the color out of the people in the first photo and motion blurred the front people. Then added shadows from the trees, people and energy harvesters. In the second photo, I left the color in the people but changed the opacity, then motion blurred the people in front. I also changed the opacity in the cars also.

Reflection on Photoshop

     My mind gets blown every time I go to class and learn something new about Photoshop because there is just so much to learn. I feel as if I am never going to know everything there is to know about this program. There is just so many different things you can do with images, make your own, do perspectives, plans, sections (which we haven't learned yet, but I hope to soon). It's just a lot of information to take in, in an hour and forty-five minutes.

     I've made Photoshop sound bad, but it's really not. It's just hard to learn it all when you first start out because it can feel overwhelming. But it is fun once you start learning how to do things. Just last week we learned how to do a photo-montage and I didn't even realize class was over because it was fun.

    On top of class we are watching tutorials on how to do certain things with Photoshop on our own because there is just so much to learn and not enough time. Which these tutorials are really helpful so it's not bad watching them. Well, that's all I have for Photoshop!

Reflection on Research of Google Earth

      Google Earth is a program that can be used in many ways. We can look at any place in the world and zoom in and search around. So when we are going somewhere new, we can always go to Google Earth and look at exactly where we're going, what's around it, are there places to eat, anything like that.

      This is also good for site visits for our projects in studio. We can now do most of our analysis using Google Map. Yes it still is a good idea to go to the site after looking at the maps, but for the most part we can get a great idea of what exactly is around and in the site.

      We can also take screen shots, save the image, and put it into Photoshop. Then we can scale it and start drawing over, rendering, changing things, etc. Which is pretty awesome because once we get good at this whole Photoshop thing, we will be able to do things digitally that we were never able to before. It will save time, money and paper!

Reflection Unit 02: "The web we weave"

      For this assignment, I looked at many programs and have worked with many of them. My favorite to work with probably is Revit. It is a lot like Auto-Cad but you can render your design on it also. But the route i chose for this example is just a simple way of doing projects, how to save them and import them into different programs until you have your final product.

      In the example, you start off with Google Earth to find your site. You can take screen shots, research what is around it, take elevation shots, etc. Save those pictures as JPEGs and move them into Photoshop. While in Photoshop you can manipulate your pictures if so desired. Once that is done you can save that file as a TIFF, JPEG or a PSD (which I don't recommend because a PSD file is rather large). After you save that file you can then move it into InDesign, which is a program for board, magazines, brochure, etc. layouts. Once you have your pictures and drawings where you want them, you move them into this program to start setting up your boards. You save this file as an IND or you can export it as a PDF so you can print your board off down at the plotters.

     This assignment was interesting to research and find all the different programs that people use. I know I am unfamiliar with most, but I hope to learn them soon because it will help me even more with all my future designs.

Unit 02: "The web we weave"

Reflection Unit 01: "Who are you?"

     The group, SWA, that won the bid for the Pudong Waterfront Design project is a Landscape Architecture, Planning and Urban Design firm that has many locations around the world; Dallas, Houston, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sausalito and Shanghai.

     The project itself, like said in the blog before, has five different areas or "parks"; the International front, Ecological front, Civic front, Community Front and Youth front. All having different aspects about them that will help Shanghai become a better city.

Unit 01: "Who are you?"

PUDONG WATERFRONT DESIGN COMPETITION

      SWA group, has won an international design competition for a 2.3-kilometer-long new “central park” along the Pudong waterfront, Shanghai’s financial center and gateway to this global city.   The transformation of this prominent waterfront site into “Front City” – a signature mixed-use development – provides new open space amenities to a diverse group of users and a visual centerpiece for visitors. Construction is planned to begin in Spring 2013.

      The winning design by SWA and Morphosis, called ‘Front City, Five Parks’, “builds on the role of Shanghai as a place where tradition and modernity meld to form a unique cosmopolitan identity,” Hung added. Within this major new waterfront space, the design includes five key components that make up the 5 distinctive parks:

– An ‘International Front’ provides the operational and activity center of the parks, celebrating Shanghai’s friendships with international cities.
– The ‘Ecological Front’ will connect to the Huangpu River, bringing park users closer to the region’s river ecology and provide residents with informational/educational experiences.
– The ‘Civic Front’ is a dynamic landscape corridor which at one end will have a performing cultural center.  This sculptural landmark at the north portion of the park will be an iconic gateway structure for Front City and the Pudong waterfront.
– The ‘Community’ Front offers a large green space with sports facilities for low-impact sport fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, and community gardens.
– The ‘Youth Front’ presents a lively and energetic atmosphere for the future generations with sports fields and interpretative gardens.

INFORMATION COURTESY OF:

 http://worldlandscapearchitect.com/swa-wins-pudong-waterfront-design-competition/#.UPy4_GeOs1o




 



 PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

http://worldlandscapearchitect.com/swa-wins-pudong-waterfront-design-competition/#.UPy4_GeOs1o

http://www.california-architects.com/en/projects/1806_pudong_waterfront_urban_design