I haven’t visited Charlottesville since my eleventh-grade tour while exploring undergraduate colleges. That was fourteen years ago. Since attending Virginia Tech, conversations about Charlottesville and UVA have become a frequent staple in my life. There is an ongoing comparison between the two schools. They both… Read More »Footsteps and Facades: A Self-Guided Architectural Tour of Charlottesville
Ten years ago, I started this blog. It’s been a decade of blogging. I wrote my first blog post just before I left to get my TEFL (teach English as a foreign language) certificate in Costa Rica. To quote my past self, “I am not… Read More »A Decade of Blogging: Reflecting on the Journey
This exploration in rebuilding marked a departure from my research-oriented work. It started on September 18th and revolved around the concept of altering something that was destroyed. At the beginning of the semester, I focused on collaging destroyed buildings, classifying them into four categories: war-induced,… Read More »An Exploration in Rebuilding: The Destruction of 3 Cubes
Mastering the Tools of Architecture To succeed in architecture school and the profession, you have to not only learn how to make architecture, but also learn how to master the programs that aid in idea generation and project visualization. Luckily, there’s a multitude of platforms… Read More »My Software Learning Odyssey: Mastering the Tools of Architecture
I recently stumbled upon a thought-provoking blog post that resonated with my own reflections on the principles of Post-War Reconstruction and inspired me to write a similar piece. The blog was written by Lebbeus Woods and it is titled, “War and Architecture.” Who is Lebbeus… Read More »Architectural Insights: Exploring Lebbeus Woods’ Principles of Post-War Reconstruction
There is an indispensable connection between architecture, war and memory. Memory is defined as, “the ability to acquire, process, store and retain information.” It is indispensable for learning, adaptation and survival. It is also what ties us to our sense of place, our cultures and… Read More »Architecture, War and Memory: Exploring the Indispensable Connection
People say summer in Blacksburg is delightful, a sentiment often shared by professors and administrative staff who each summer eagerly anticipate a couple of peaceful months without students. As the semester ends, families seem to appear out of hiding, a semester’s long hibernation to enjoy… Read More »Summer in Blacksburg
I am constantly thinking about thesis. It is a persisting presence, taking up a tiny portion of my mind. I don’t want to go into the fall semester without a clear focus, wasting that first half like so many of my friends before me, directionless,… Read More »Thinking about Thesis: The Unpredictable Journey Ahead
It is amazing how quickly time moves when you reflect on what has passed. I have now finished two out of 3.5 years of my architectural education. This summer marks the half-of-year, but there will be no internship opportunity for me. We have an integrated… Read More »Two Years Down: Reflections on an Architectural Education
Making an architectural model is difficult. It’s also not cheap and requires a significant amount of time. Our current professor is the king of models. Before we had him, you could tell which and where his studio was in the building based on the large… Read More »In The Nature of Making: An Architectural Model