I Have Seen The Rain

Beautiful performance by Pink and her dad, Jim Moore.

I have never really been into Pink's music, but lately keep noticing myself gravitating to her sound; she's now my new favorite. This song, in particular, makes me cry; enjoy!

whats breaking my back today:

it's a dental office reception desk. This is what I have to do to get my design built (in theory) - 20 hours and counting, even though you can't tell by what it looks like! I only have the specs left, haleluja, then onto (in no particular order):

a) building the floor of my wood frame house model

b) building a light fixture

c) drawing a 3D model on cad for design projects

d) drawing a bathroom in vectorworks

Dear Anthropologie:

Can you please give me all your stuff?

Well, thanks for the daydream anyway.... click

How my Term is Looking...

Blah, blah, blah (school's back in) start your engines!

This week was a good start to the last 20 weeks of school (ever)!

I have my Mondays off now, so the week started on Tuesday with Vector Works. Its a computer program that is used for 3D drawings (among other things, but that what we're using it for). This is the 3rd - THIRD - different piece of software for 3D renderings I'll be learning. Gotta hone those skills. Gotta hit all the bases. Gotta have a listy resume. . . !

Our instructor (also the president of AIBC - Architectural Institute of British Columbia) went through all the different commands and buttons on the program which was quite confusing, because some parts of it are like AutoCAD and some are completely opposite. Anyways, as we start to use it I'm sure it will be easier. It's supposed to be a lot more user-friendly than AutoCAD but that wouldn't be too hard now, would it?!

After lunch we started Interior Construction & Renovation class. In it, we look at how homes are built in wood framing. We took a bunch of notes about wood grades, spans and lengths and different framing styles, etc. By the end we will have completed a model that is a 3/8" = 1'0" scale model of a framed house with a foundation. She showed us examples of some and they were so cute!

Wednesday all day we have Design Projects. It was exciting to think of having a brand new project to design from conception to final drawings... at least that is what I was expecting. Instead we were given the assignment of revising our floorplan that we did on our IDEC competition (the eating disorder centre) and then adding more design elements, creating working drawings, ceiling plans, material and finish boards, millwork drawings, 3D models (which we now have the opportunity to do by hand, not computer) .... the whole works. So, it is pretty neat because we get to get detailed with what we've already done, and make it more 'finished'.

Thursday was Building Code. We will be taking lots of notes and memorizing a lot.  This isn't something always included in design school; at least not this in-depth, but just another thing that makes us more valuable to prospective employers. Done at 11:30 Thursdays so the afternoon is for going to the gym!

Friday (today) the morning we have Lighting2; a continuation of the last lighting class. Our first assignment is to build a light fixture. It needs to be 80% recycled materials. Yay! I'm excited for this. And the second assignment, in partners, is a research paper. The topic we got is lighting for seniors; what is required and why. I kind of love this topic actually, because its all psychological and interesting. Older people need brighter lights because their eyes yellow. Some older people are even depressed because of the lack of light getting into their eyes. So if you feel like nursing homes are cold and bright, that is why it's done.

This afternoon we had Millwork and Furniture Design. It's an exciting one (even though it lasts 20 weeks and goes until 5:30 every Friday afternoon). We are doing millwork drawings for a dental office reception desk first. Then the millwork for our Design Projects (so the eating disorder centre's kitchen, library and reception desks). Then we get to go have classes in the joinery shop and build something! So excited! Once again, just  another thing added at BCIT, nobody else gives Interior Design students this kind of hands-on joinery experience.

And that's it! For 10 weeks! And also, I get to go for a field trip to Palm Springs in there - February 18 - 22 to attend Modernism Week. We will see some amazing modern architecture and design from the 50s and 60s. I signed up for a tour of one of William Krisel's butterfly houses, like this:

I love it when design lasts like that! It's unreal. Seeing a home like that today would look modern. Imagine seeing it in 1960.

Holiday Pics

I don't really feel like typing anything right now really, so here's just some pictures of what the holidays looked like for me. It was MIGHTY relaxing. Didn't do a very good job of getting pictures of much though...

Pile of handmade gifts! (we did well!)

 

Ruger's turkey! 

He actually liked me a lot more than it shows here ... hehe loved havin him around (a guest pet as my cousin's family was out of town) 

A typical moment in the living room...

The view out the window ...

Lynella and Tara - best mom/daughter duo ever! 

Canmore's show on our way home... pretty! 

New Years buddy, Elijah! 

Ron and his buddy Sheldon, bringing in the new year...

Lonny Magazine
It's more than anyone bargained for.
It's super inspiring every time I look at it.
It's ecologically sound, as prints are only made to order (for $34.95 a pop) and are on FSC paper.
It's free online.

Go see the holiday issue - so good!
And also the website has extra goodies!

Yay!

Feeling out Fonts

the idea came to me the other day: what if i used a font that totally didn't match the thought associated with it; that could be kind of funny right?

So off I went to dafont

And I had a little fun...

I was surprised a little by the impact made by the font! I tried to think of something SO opposite of what that font was, but then I'd type it in, and sometimes, it really didn't look all that off! Y'think?

Beautiful Things

The last 3 days I've done ab-sa-loot-ley nothing! Its wonderful! Well, actually I did read a Shopoholic confessions thingy book. I don't normally like them, I think I tried reading one before, but this time I just soaked it up - hehe but I find myself wanting things now. Its not a real good thing. But, let me tell you, I'm not just wanting measly fancy clothes and shoes, I mean things that are like crazy awesome too . . .
Par example . . . (I think I just threw in a little French there!)

This pantry. Now, don't ya'll be phoning me at once complaining that I brought on the jealousies with you too! Its tough this wantin' businness!

from this blog, house of smiths

Tomorrow I shall organize my life - school stuff, papers, bills, clothes, printers (there are 2 sitting on my bedroom floor right now not in operable condition!), cupboards, purses .... so there!

Arbutus House: Centre for Eating Disorders and Depression

The final product. . . and then we had enough time to sigh with relief and do a little happy dance for about 4.8 seconds. . .

On the plus side - only one big submission and 2 exams left!

Healthcare Facilities Research!

Today marks the start of a new project.
An international student competition sort of project. And this year's differs from others because it has pretty well no parametres other than being a healthcare facility. we have this week to research and find out what our community needs, where a good location would be, and how we plan to implement our solution. They are giving us such a broad topic to make us think about helping others and the need for doing pro-bono work at times and what that might entail. So I definitely have a lot of research to do (yay for living with a nurse!) to find out what our healthcare system is lacking at the moment and how we can offer something different in the form of a facility.
We will be judged on :
- Quality of Research & Sources
- Support of goals and design concepts in the executed design
- expression of the clients needs expressed in project
- space planning: functionality/flexibility/accessibility
- aesthetics: imagination/creativity
- life safety, health and welafre issues successfully addressed
- sustainable decision making
- presentation & craftsmanship
All sections are worth 10% (with a grand total of 80% - ok so math isn't our strong suite?!)

And you thought interior design was all vases and cushions :)

now to finish up all the assignments we kindly got extensions on ... : P

If you can, please pass along any info you may have or contacts that I could talk to about what other healthcare services/facilities we need in the lower mainland!

"Aint got no...." (time)

A very good reminder for me! Even though I aint got no time....

Happy weekend!