Architecture Resources (for 9th grade ds)??

[Beth S]

Our ds is interested in studying Architecture, possibly as a future vocation.

 

He has recently read Annotated Arch, but would like some actual practice.

 

Any suggestions for a book? Or should we invest in software?

 

Any experience with Architecture schools? (Preferably near western KY!;))

 

(He is eager & self-motivated.)

 

Thanks for the help!

[Lux Et Veritas Academy]

Bumping...because we are interested too!:)

[Alphabetika]

You can see it at Timberdoodle.com or google it and find the author's website, which I can't remember right now. We haven't used it yet, but we do have it, and my dd completed Practical Graphic Design by the same author earlier this year.

 

HTH!

[Sylvia in CA]

Well, here in CA (far from KY) there are the Cal Polytechnic colleges. Someone we know from here went to Oklahoma, but I can't remember the name of the college ... sorry!

Sylvia

[Kathy in MD]

Our ds is interested in studying Architecture, possibly as a future vocation.

 

He has recently read Annotated Arch, but would like some actual practice.

 

Any suggestions for a book? Or should we invest in software?

 

Any experience with Architecture schools? (Preferably near western KY!;))

 

(He is eager & self-motivated.)

 

Thanks for the help!

 

a variety of buidings and spaces.

 

Architecture is not 2 dimentional, it's 3 dimentional. To really learn about architecture, you have to go and experience it, you have to observe how people react to spaces, you have to experience how light, color and materials change your experience of space. You need the vocabulary of space and that is gained by experiencing it. You can look at pretty pictures in a book, but that won't tell you how they feel, how they make you feel and how people react to them.

 

You don't live that far from one of the best concentrations of contemporary architecture in the country, Columbus, IN. Spend several days there touring the buildings and spaces. If you can find a special in depth tour, try to join it. If you go to Chicago, check out Richardson's rustic buildings. He influenced Wright. Then go check out Wright's Prairie homes. Go see historical buildings and check how they compare.

 

See the mundane, every day buildings. Tour open homes. Go to shopping malls and other open spaces. Observe how people react and interact in the different spaces. See if their behavior changes with the different times of day. Go into nature and observe and feel the spaces made by forests and grasslands.

 

Then when you can't travel and experience spaces, work on drawing and sketching. Architects communicate through drawings and models. Sketching allows the architect to quickly draw and note special things about new spaces. It allows him to quickly communicate ideas when brainstorming with a client, a collegue or himself.

 

Then just pick a pencil and draw plans and sketches of an ideal house or library or ......?

 

Architecture is a very complex field. An architect needs the math and science skills of an engineer (well, not that much ;) ), the artistic eye and skills of an artist, the ability to comunicate with clients and take their vague needs and wants, analyse them and develop them into concrete plans. Then he needs to be able to communicate and supervise all the engineers and contractors who will take his ideas and turn them into reality. Finally, he needs to be a good draftsman because that's how he'll start his career. Even though I lacked in the artistic area, I loved it. I loved working with people, preparing plans and watching my ideas come into reality.

 

BTW, you were asking about schools. Ball State in Muncie, IN has a good 5 year program. A 5 year program typically emphisises the technical aspects of architecture as well as the artisitic portion. A 4-2 program is usually more artsy. With a 4-2 program (4 year BS before acceptance into an architectural program), you don't recieve an architectural degree until you finish a 2 year masters degree.