Diagram
The use of conceptual diagrams is a technique in design that helps to outline the virtual evolution of a project. The diagram’s content can be of architectural or cross-disciplinary origin but translates into material, structural and spatial nature.
Its implementation generates a development of possibilities and potentials for the design in nonlinear progression. One needs to learn how to read the content and to explore tactics for the activation in the design process. Where does one look for its material configuration. There is always a certain relationship between the information it contains and the transformation it instigates. Which are the critical patterns to be implemented for a successful evolution? What is the underlying principle that activates the diagram? How does one isolate and direct its strategy of transformation?
As one of the primary influences on organizational developments the use of diagrams accelerates dynamic forces, behaviors and relationships. It is a like a mathematical ‘function’ to the process or similar to a generative expediting device or catalysator.
Emerging systemic qualities leave the ignitioned process loose in a certain uncontrollable vague-ness that is expected to generate a surprise.
According to Deleuze this implementation of diagrams is working like a schematic statement or an abstract machine in the role of a primitive function. It is however not a direct translation or an instrumentalized diagram.
Students are supposed to search for the generating diagram, to construct “the abstract machine” as an evidence of dynamics that give the decisive change to the process of developing the project. Related to project aspects of infrastructure, material, structure or program it proliferates organizational effects. (line- image- technical diagrams etc…).
1.1 Introductory exercise:
Which treatment is best for me?
You will analyze spiritual and physical treatments and their therapeutic activities, actions, potentialities and instruments with an aptitude toward health & relaxation.
Relaxation implies the choice of a place, methods and an atmosphere, but also the idea of immersion into a holistic medicine, which attempts to treat the mind and the body. A holistic ecology views humans and the environment as a single system. (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holistic)
Massage is the practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical (anatomical), functional (physiological), and in some cases psychological purposes and goals.[1] The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle" or from Latin massa meaning "mass, dough".[2][3]
Massage involves acting on and manipulating the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids.
Mapping the movement within, “diptych”, one diagram and one concept model.
“Must understand that this new architecture will primarily be based not on free, poetic lines and forms –in the sense that today’s “lyrical abstract” painting uses those words –but rather on the atmospheric effects of rooms, …atmospheres linked to the gestures they contain. Architecture must advance by taking emotionally moving situations, rather than emotionally moving forms, as the material it works with. And the experiments conducted with this material will lead to unknown forms”. Debord Guy, Report on the Construction Situations p.23.
Choose your favorite treatment situation and abstract it through the process of visual mapping.
1. Diagram; a two-dimensional digital line drawing
2. Concept model: a quick translation into a physical abstraction
Process
Compose an assembly of 8 x 5” images, combined with digital or hand drawings/sketches, and diagrams representing the narrative of your selected treatment.
Mount your process of visual mapping on a horizontal cheap-board stripe, max length 36” (3 ft), max height 5”.
Use colors only in selected areas/zones/parts, to emphasize a concept running through the entire stripe.
In the next step take the information of the two-dimensional diagram and construct a physical three-dimensional model. (materials: chip-board, Plexiglass, metal wire)
References
Massage methods
3.1 Acupressure
3.2 Anma
3.3 Ayurvedic massage
3.4 Balinese massage
3.5 Barefoot Deep Tissue
3.6 Bowen therapy
3.7 Breema
3.8 Champissage
3.9 Deep Tissue Massage
3.10 Esalen Massage
3.11 Hilot
3.12 Lomi Lomi and indigenous massage of Oceania
3.13 Medical massage
3.14 Meso-American
3.15 Myofascial release
3.16 Postural Integration (PI)
3.17 Raynor Massage
3.18 Reflexology massage
3.19 Russian Massage
3.20 Shiatsu
3.21 Stone massage
3.22 Structural Integration
3.23 Swedish massage
3.24 Thai massage
3.25 Traditional Chinese massage
3.26 Trager Approach
3.27 Trigger point therapy
3.28 Visceral manipulation
3.29 Watsu
Bibliography
Tschumi, B.; Manhattan Transcripts, Academy Editions; Exp Sub edition (September 18, 1995)
Allen S.; Points + Lines: Diagrams and Projects for the City, Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (January 1, 1999)
Eisenman, P.; Diagram Diaries, Thames & Hudson; Reprinted Ed edition (September 30, 1999)
Due Tuesday, Sep 1
Class pin-up
