YALE MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE I STUDENT | ATHLETE | ARTIST |
I can’t get enough of MASS Design Group and what they’re doing for humanity, health and the field of architecture. I first heard about them four years ago while I was working at Vignelli Associates - who designed the graphics for the Butaro Hospital in Rwanda.
For more about MASS Design Group, click here.
This book has been rocking my world. It does a fantastic job assessing the role of architecture in relation to health, medicine, landscape, infrastructure, consumption and suburban vs urban living conditions. My friend Matt had it on his desk, and in a moment’s glance, I knew this book was exactly what the, um, doctor ordered? I am fascinated by the way the human body works: i.e. the way it heats/cools itself, the extent to which it can handle physical and emotional pressure and pain, and ways in which it adapts to particular circumstances subconsciously. The book begins by comparing diagrams of the circulatory system of the human body, Manhattan Island and a car by O.M Ungers (see above). From the living organism, to a city, to a mechanism, we are manifesting situations in our environment that carry similar functions - green space akin to lungs, nature akin to peace of mind, city center akin to the human heart and so on… This is not a new philosophy, nor can it be overlooked as an old one. Today we are seeing that people are learning to “pave new paths,” start over, and restore their youth through a deep understanding of their bodies and minds. What this primarily entails is returning to the basics, such as eating local, consuming less, being more active and spending more time outside. This way of life is what architecture should provoke.
San Francisco has totally derailed me from my east-coast-based “life track” with all the beach runs, mountain hikes, wine tours, scenic views, nice people, fresh markets and organic food! Already looking into SF firms to work for in two years… getting ahead of myself? Definitely.
My first week of my spring break was composed of tons of fresh fruit and veggies, yoga and running, and friends and family. I feel awesome! I am completely recharged to spend the remainder of the break back in New Haven trying to get ahead on my work. Being unplugged helped me regain my focus, reaffirm my goals and get pumped up for the rest of the semester/summer. It’s the same effect that my afternoon runs have on me. Taking time out of your day for yourself to meditate, read some fiction, or exercise does wonders for your health, both mentally and physically. I don’t mean go talk to your studio mate about where to eat dinner or about class work. Really take a break… alone. I find I return to my work with a fresh mind, more focus and tons of energy each time I take a break for myself.
Before matriculating in architecture school, all I heard was how grueling it was, how little sleep students got, and how students graduate with no increased opportunity of employment. I vow to change that perception. Yes, it is grueling. Yes I get very little sleep. And yes, I will probably have trouble finding a job when I graduate. But I do not want those things to define my time here. I have learned so much already from my courses and studio that I’d rather have my progress be the benchmarks during my time here. There is no reason to even think about school in a negative light because no good ever comes from it. Being positive is the key to staying focused on the long term goal and appreciating the opportunity you’ve been given.
For some people, things just balance out naturally. I am not one of those super-people. So, like a design project, I have to design my time. I map out what needs to be accomplished in the day and am aware of how I spend my time in relation to what is actually getting done. I maintain a consistent work schedule as best I can, rather than base it around my deadlines. I cut myself off at 1am, and force myself to go to bed, even if I am in a groove. I wake up early and start fresh again. I eat regularly and healthily (thanks to my mini-fridge, the best investment yet). And, I also exercise in the evening to wake myself up for “round two.” A routine has allowed me to feel fresh every most days, organized, grounded, sane and human. It’s comforting knowing what to expect during the day and being prepared for it.
Finally, I write and post to my Tumblr blog. This has helped me reflect on my projects, put words to my scrambled thoughts, get positive feedback, quote some wacky statements, and at times, make fun of myself for further comic relief. It has been a great way for me to chronicle my progress, as well. For now, the studio is my shelter, my classmates are my family, my mini-fridge my means survival, and my blog my means to communicate the progress I am making, keeping me focused on the light at the end of the tunnel. And so far, it’s been fun!
Harvard GSD students work to redesign hospitals in Rwanda to reduce poverty through architecture. Vote for MASS here. Check out MASS Group official website here.
MASS is an architectural design firm working in resource-limited settings to build social value through design. We work in these contexts to incubate locally-grown design communities, and to train architects to be culturally sensitive and committed to applying their skills to improve the quality of life of underserved populations. MASS asks architects the hard questions: if design is a service, who does it serve? If offered only to a few, what is the value of good design? We believe good design is the synthesis of complex problems into solutions that support well-balanced communities.
In 2007 there were fewer than 10 architects in the entire country of Rwanda, as many had fled or been killed during the genocide, and the status of most buildings were, as a result, poorly designed and creating health hazards for their inhabitants. We address this two-fold problem holistically, creating training programs to cultivate a next generation of Rwandan design leaders, while providing solutions to real projects in the training process. Our design of medical facilities in Rwanda with Partners in Health will not only serve the patients of the facilities and their families, but will benefit a global community by seeking solutions to diverse problems – from the airborne transmission of Tuberculosis to job creation and economic development in a community. Between the local and global scales, we recognize that a sustainable commitment to social change is made not only through the holistic design of buildings, but also through the design process’s capacity to generate reverberant impacts. (via social innovation)
harvard economist and obama advisor, david cutler on the health care bill to cap off the year…
paul graham writes about the things we own, the stuff we accumulate over time, the value we place on our belongings, the money we spend acquiring them, the time it takes out of our lives, and the burden we feel by being weighed down by them. growing up in a household with four older bothers - hectic, uncontrollable, dirty boys - an image of a sprawling array of toys, balls, and damaged walls immediately pops into mind for most. but actually our parents, minimalist modern architecture enthusiasts, despised clutter. we were discouraged from keeping things for long, and i have to say, i don’t miss anything i ever threw away. we had an active youth, spending a majority of our time outdoors wandering around our neighborhood or most notably, playing sports. there was little for us to do at home, no video games, board games, toys or junk to play with, so as a result, home became a place where we simply slept and spent time with the family.
even in college my brother only had a tree stump (yes, a tree stump) and a guitar in his room, while he crammed his matress and the few clothes he had in his closet. extreme, i know (how thoreau-chic!)… so his “home” was a place for him to sleep and study. today, i keep my life simple too - no clutter, no unnecessary belongings, no distractions, but a soothingly bare, white, tiny, sun-drenched apartment… and a wall of books! i feel free when i have less. i prefer that my daily activities define my life along with interaction with others which i feel ignites a kind of education that “things” and “stuff” cannot stimulate. no photo collage, snow-globe, indian dream catcher, stuffed animal, decorated lamp can reflect my life better than words i speak or the things i do. it’s not the belongings that i come home to that make me feel at home, but instead, its reflecting on the day’s thoughts, interactions and experiences that help define who i am.
outside the 62 m deep rock-cut well, designed by sangallo the younger overlooking orvieto with dewey…
