Bio-terrorism, Interior Design, and the Mexican Ghetto.

So my *ephem* program called Archeworks has begun. Let's just call it my Design Program. Much better name, simpler, and not as... well... trendy and cute.

So basically, it involves two parts. First, is a project. There are 15 participants involved, divided into 3 teams. My team's project involves working with Chicago Public Health on Bio-Terrorism issues. The second part is an ethics/morality course and a future studies course.

This Design Program is so intaresting on so many levels. The people involved, for one. Everyone there has some sort of ethical thing going on in their heads, and has some sort of bent in their intarest toward design. That is all we have in common. People are all ages...I am one of two fresh-graduates. And all sorts of types of jobs or other things ranging from architects/interior designers/art gallery people/artists/computer people/lanscapers/health care workers/community developement people/ city workers/ oh, yeah, and ME! So, that alone makes it pretty intaresting right there.

So, today "class" was the morality class. It was just fasinating to be in an academic discussion with people from such diverse backgrounds about morality, absolutes/relitivity, ethics, you know. We acually went around the circle, and all said our own stance/beliefs on ethics. I was first in the circle, not by choice. It was very strange and exciting to hear what people said. It felt like some weird sort of reality tv show.

And the projects are awesome the other two groups are working on: sustainability w/ the Museum of Science and Industry and the the other on: everyday stuff for stroke victims w/ some big stroke research place here in town. It's basically a giant year-long charette, and if it's good enough, it has the possibility to be implimented. My project has some money behind it, so i hope that helps too.

Anyway, this is getting really rambly, so I will stop soon... but I also wanted to ad that I got a job, so if anyone is worried about there spelling abilities and how that will affect their future job prospects... whatever. I am the office manager at an interior design firm, yeah, i don't get excited about interior design, but i look at it as a way to learn how to run a small business. I am just cleaning up a business degree or something.

And now I am at home, in the mexican ghetto.

Book reviews

I was looking at the Urban Planning Research blog this morning and saw some book reviews (on a very old post, and an even older book review - 2002). I thought some of you might have read some of these books; I know alot of you have read Suburban Nation. The book Picture Windows looks very interesting and i was wondering if any one else had read it.

B... Be.... Bee....Beee.... Freeeeeeeeeee!

Okay, the title is better, BUT... I still feel we could do better... Much better. ( Hi Matt and Will!! How are you guys doing?? How's California? Job? Surfing??? Ecuadorian endeavors? I am going to take up wind serving!!! )

My job-fetching saga continues:
Today I had an interview at a temp agency that deals only with design firms. I had my Work-Place-Stylish ON ( at lease I thought so ), you know, the little suit and stuff. I took the train downtown, and rode the elevator up to the 14th floor. *good so far*

After 1 hour of paper work, .5 hour face interview (they had jobs I wanted), *good so far*... Then: tests. I aced them all: Word, Excel, Power Point, I type 50 WPM ( I was excited about that.), arithmetic... I was a dreamboat to any and every employer in every way. *good so far* .........Then... A SPELLING TEST???? WHAT? AM I IN 2nd GRADE??? .... And hey, at least in 2nd grade I got the words a week in advance.

I Failed. I guess you can probably tell from this post. I retook it. Failed again. SPELLING.
I was so pissed, the interviewer told me they don't every take people that can't SPELL. (discrimination, I say) That's what I use spell CHECK for, I told her. I was so pissed, I didn't want to burst into tears, so I headed for the door, not saying anything. She walked me out. She told me I could retake it in two days. I just boiled.

So that's my story morning glory.... Apparently, everything you need to learn you learned in kindergarten. I am overly reliant on the computer, but I'm okay with it. Spelling, for the 2nd-grade-me, was more of an exercise in personal growth rather than an exercise in how-to-spell. I think my 'person' definitely benefited from the exercise. Therefore, the spelt-word and I can get along with the aid of spellCHECK. In fact, spellCHECK acts as a sort of mediator, a Christ-figure, if you will, in my life. Perfection of written communication is the ultimate goal, and spellCHECK is the bridge humble servants of written communication MUST take.

hilarious. Really, very hilarious. \\\

spellCHECK is your friend. And my friend. Just reach out and give it a little lovin.

Caught In A Pickle. tickle. tickle.

the problem with this blog is the name. it needs something snappier. what is "Calvin Architecture".... uh, boring.

maybe if it had another sort of theme... we are all graduates with varying Degrees, but of the same level of employability. (even though mine, i'd like to remind everyone,... is a Pre-Professional Degree. yes.) Dispite my seemingly professional-bound degree, we are all in the same boat. so we have that in common.

Any thoughts folks??? i'm getting OLD sitting here!!!

it smells of corn tortillas...

i appreciate will's enthusiasm. well done, will.

so i am currently in Chicago. soon, i will be starting a program with a name SO cheesey that i ALWAYS try to avoid saying it out loud... ARCHEWORKS. uuuuuugh. i get chills in my spine. HOWEVER, it's gonna be sweet. It's all about studying the ethics of design, and doing practical projects.... like acually researching and building something..... wooooooo!

and i am working on getting a job.... yeah, i've been looking forEVER, it seems, maybe i'm too short. or a girl. or... oh yeah, i got a BFA... I find that getting a job is rather like trying to fit yourself into a nicely packaged box that has to better than eveyone else's box. I am so exicted to get a job, if for no other reason than to pass the poverty line...

speaking of being a girl... it's kind of an issue in my nieghborhood. if, lets say, you are a female, and you decide to walk down the street, you are constantly reminded by evey male that you are a fleshy thing. it's annoying. and repulsive. i mutter all kinds of atrocities in their general direction. expecially if they have small children with them and they are wagging their tounges in the air at you??? i think not.

other than most men. i love my neighborhood, and highly recomend moving here. it's the cheapest in chicago, and has super good eats. i live above a grocery store where i am becoming friends with the owner... and it's 2 miles from the lake.

so... life after calvin is a good thing... you know what I heard??? I heard calvin is becomeing an evalgelical school of sorts. ... as in they're adding a church planting minor, a youth ministies minor.... uuuuuh, are those academic studies??? these kids should get majors in religion and sociolgy. and acually get some substance. go to bible school if that's what you want.

okay kids.. post i say...post!!!

When I said, "boy, this blog worked out great," I ment just the opposite. So, life is life... I'm getting a job in Southern CA for the time being. Haven't found one yet, but I'm still hoping, praying etc. I'm just trying to get something to hold me over for a couple months. I'm planning on going to Ecuador in January.

I want to hear what every one is up to. Lets hear updates...
(although I think zoe is the only person who checks this. HI ZOE!)

I also am having fun taking panoramic pictures... so maybe I'll take some of something interesting at some point... here's a few i've played with. One is in Prague, one is on lizard head pass in CO near telluride.

boy... this blog worked out great.

Here are some pictures from my recent trip that people may or may not be interested in. I was lucky enough to visit the Centre Pompidou, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Venturi's addition on the national gallery, and the horrid facades facing the rear (not an alley but actual streets with shops), St. Peters and Bernini's canopy, Piazza de Compidoglio, modern architecture in prague (gehry's dancing house), among other things...

How was other people's summers?

Education, Check. Job, Umm....

Boooo liberal arts education. Feeling good about my personal breadth of knowledge while sitting around jobless hardly seems worth the 80k. Maybe if I had just gone to ITT tech and actually learned how to do something real...eh, what's the point.

Potential Employer: Nice sketchbook. So where's your portfolio?
Me: Umm...

Potential Employer: But at least you've been trained in AutoCad, right?
Me: Umm...

Potential Employer: How about this, talk to me about post-modern complexity and how it relates to deconstructivism and I'll hire you right now.
Me: Well, the shift from the fatally flawed modernist paradigm produced a climate of ambiguity...

[Just kidding, of course that would never happen.]

Post Script (June 26, 2006)
My interview with W. Holloway (Bernardon Haber Holloway) a couple of weeks ago caused me to initiate this post. I never got a distinct "no" from his office, and now after a few telephone conversations with him, I am going to another office on Wednesday to meet K. Haber. I'm tenatively optimistic, even after so much time has passed, that I'm going to get some sort of work at this office. Part of the reason for this is an apparent Calvin connection on the part of Haber's wife. So if I get a job because of an arbitrary "Calvin-In" do I have to retract my "boo liberal arts education" statement, or does it still stand?

(?) Donde Esta (?)

Guess the state which corresponds to this image and win a $5,000 gift card to Applebee's Neighborhood Restaurant.

Thanks and good luck!

Faking It

Who votes for changing the title to Calvin Architecture? I just woke up from a nap and am annoyed by the "Arch"... [looks like it's already been changed]

Anyway, I plan on sympathizing with Pete and writing about how "I don't know what to do with my life...lol" which is relative and should be put in context. How many people really know what they are doing and how many are 'faking' it? It's a lot easier to fake it. I could go into advertising and be 'sucessful'...I'm almost sure of it. I look at more as trying to tackle my "Mid-life Crisis" now instead of when I'm fifty. Perhaps this isn't the right way to look at it though.Erm...whatever...I didn't pick a major until junior year (made a mistake btw), I haven't done a whole lot of career/grad shool/"arch" school research, and I do not have clearly defined strengths and weaknesses, and I can write run-on sentences so maybe I'm not at the stage to make some of the big life decisions yet. Or maybe I should pick something and run with it and stop being so cautious.

Maybe I can write something like that and ask for advice when I figure out how to post on here.
--
Written by Matt, posted by Pete

What's Next?

Sorry I missed the lunch, everyone. Sounds like Matt and I are in the same boat, unlike all you other go-getters : ). After graduation I am moving back home to Delaware -- a compulsory maneuver orchestrated primarily by my parents (to whom I still owe mad $$). This summer I will be trying to find a job of any kind, but naturally I will be looking first to local arch/design firms for a "foot-in-the-door" opportunity. I actually do have an interview arranged on May 25th at a Wilmington architecture firm, which I will be using as a shield to deflect my parents' career inquisitions on the twelve hour drive home.

I've already been thinking about my next move after this summer -- one possibility is applying to UofM Arch grad school. Another is staying in Delaware to complete a full engineering degree at UofD (I am graduating with an IDIS ARCH/ENGR, not an actual ENGR degree).

I am still seeking a sense of purpose, however, as I transition into the working world.
--
Pete V


A project by Bernardon Haber Holloway (the firm who is interviewing me). Their website is linked.

So, whats every one up to this coming year. This is what our lunch discussion was about...

Missy has some exciting news. She got accepted to Berkley. Hopefully she can fill us in on some of the news.

Chris is working with a Mission Design Orginization in Colorado Springs. He should post a link to a website or something to see what he'll be doing, and if some of us are interested in doing that type of work we can have some one on the in... I know I'm very interested in it.

I'll be heading down to Ecuador in January to work at HCJB world radio. They have a health care unit that is involved in a clean water initiative, and they thought they could use me as a design resource. I think it will be more of a learning experience.

Matt doesn't know what he's doing with his life... lol.

Green architecture

I just read that Chicago is known for trying to be the "greenest" city in the US. I had no idea. This is chicago's dedication to the enviroment.

Has any one done any reports on LEED. All I know is that they have a system to evaluate buildings, and you can get gold, platnuim, silver, lead, nickle... or whatever designations they have.

Do you guys think it could have any negative reprocutions? One highschool teacher of mine one said "our enviroment is not our God."

All I know is that sustainability is going to be a big problem some time in our future. We could probobly do something about that now... or leave it up to the last second to get everything straightened out. I think LEED is a form of anticipating that, and will only be more important as time goes on. I think it would be wise to get LEED certified, not only because its important to our enviroment but because there will be a demand for LEED certified architects in the future.

Who thinks this is a little over the top (McDonough's pre-planned town)?? *raises his hand* Its like corbusier slapping on a green roof. Thats my initial reaction. I don't actually know what he proposes in the rest of the building or the city. After reading "the production of houses" anything mass produced on a large scale feels like its going to be inherently inhumane and a terrible place to live.

Ok. I looked at pete's blog... and its interesting. He writes much more eliquently than I do, so I think he should make some posts. I don'tk now if any one reads these.

GL on exams every one...

Its a community garden

Its my first day creating posts and I'm finding so many interesting things for people to read about, so here's another post.

I think Ben Schofsma would think this is interesting.

I found this on Urban Cartography...

"For thirteen years, in the depressed inner city of south central LA, 250 families have been feeding themselves on with organic fruits and vegetables grown on a farm that was once completely paved and considered completely useless for growing anything on.

The farm has almost zero fossil fuel imput and zero transport cost. It's a model the whole world should be copying, but instead the city has decided to give them an eviction notice. The sheriff's office delivered the notice on March 1st. This farm does great things, and its in everybody's best interest that it survive.

The city wants to replace it with a Wal-Mart."

The rest of the story is at here

And this is some one covering the story.

We'll start out with suburbia!

“The cities will be part of the country; I shall live 30 miles from my office in one direction, under a pine tree; my secretary will live 30 miles away from it too, in the other direction, under another pine tree. We shall both have our own car. We shall use up tires, wear out road surfaces and gears, consume oil and gasoline. All of which will necessitate a great deal of work ... enough for all.”

—Le Corbusier, The Radiant City (1967)

Here's a good introduction to what sprawl is...

I'm moving to L.A. area in August, and this article talks about what problems they are facing right now in terms of sprawl and its affect.

This is an interesting thread to read... residents of California talking about there own enviroment.

Pictures of the places they are talking about

Check out the new and improved title bar

This is a good idea -- I'm in. These blogspot blogs are pretty cool, too -- should be able to get some good stuff going on. No titles for posts, though?

--
Pete Van Dyk

“Architects are pretty much high-class whores. We can turn down projects the way they can turn down some clients, but we've both got to say yes to someone if we want to stay in business.”

- Philip Johnson

Just some blogs I have bookmarked... matt has a ton... he should be posting them...

http://archidose.blogspot.com/
http://planningresearch.blogspot.com/
http://greeneconomics.blogspot.com/
http://jameshowardkunstler.typepad.com/
http://archi-hell.blogspot.com/2006/04/sam-in-search-of.html

When you guys join... I'll set it so every one can make posts, post pictures, links, el todo!

This is a blog for all Calvin Pre-Arch Graduating Seniors... so we can all stay in contact, post our recent activities, post interesting arcticles/blogs/books, and possibly retain some of the wonderful community we have had the past 4 years.

I will give you guys the password and log-in name so that we can all post on here when ever we feel like it.