Feedback from critiques

Final Presentation (Simon Twose, Mike Austin, Jeremy Treadwell)

• Sarah there briefly: why the frames? gives a distancing effect and emphasises the words rather than the images (desired). Strategy of words is interesting
• MA: what aspects of architecture is influential in mental health environment (clarified, also clarified the statement about environment being significant for these patients)
• JT: 19th century asylums were about control though more about therapy than control really. Re-imprinting/investing the nature context on the building (eg. therapeutic walk) even though surrounded by nature. Irregularity about picturesque or therapy (therapy), cultural taste put on a 19th century model.
• ST: atmospherics - what did you do to distill your understanding of this? Is reassurance more a result of the functional than the spatial characteristics? Were the additions to the roof a critique of the existing institution? The 2 levels have a strong relationship - discuss.
• JT: question about the placebo. Comment that have retained most of the institutional aspects of the building - eg. the long axial view.
• ST: any acknowledgement of the lack of order? Discussion about the slightly unsettling mix of calm and cacophony/chatter in psych units.
• JT: comments about sedation

Midyear Design Feedback (Uwe, Camia, Jeanette B, David Sheppard, Bill)

• Questions were initially around the patient group
• Try not to romanticise the idea/building (Uwe)
• Uwe was not clear on who this project was for so perhaps I need to make this very clear at the beginning. He also didn't like the idea of 'staging' some of the rooms but I still like it, done with care though...Got the idea that he didn't like my presentation in general though.
• Jeanette also asked lots of question about the intended users of the programme - perhaps don't need to justify this so much as just define it, make it clear that there are precedents for this model of care overseas. She talked about an interesting project in the Netherlands with Alzheimer's patients - 
• had quite different treatment of spaces for different people based on how they grew up, their background - look this up
• the 'retirement' complex idea but highly customised, taking the 'cultural' considerations to an extreme, sort of
• but still with the idea of providing 'care'
• David at the end said that he liked my project, was an interesting one. His summing up also helped clarify the idea I have that this place should be out 'in the country' or at least separate to the urban community of Auckland as that is where many people's problems began
• suggested looking up the recently completed Liester Cathedral extension
• Camia did not agree with the blanket concept ie. putting something completely new and alien on top of the existing, so I have to either strengthen my resolve/justification for this or consider other options
• suggested I look at Hertzog and De Meron's Armory extension  in New York (Park Avenue)

Midterm Concept Feedback (Rewi, Deidre, Bill)

• Feedback was mostly a discussion of the patient group - Rewi and Deidre latched onto the homeless people comment but this is not intended to be a focus of my thesis
• Rewi discussed the nature element in wellbeing, being more a part of this, with a direct connection - will make note to provide direct link to estuary

Original Thesis concept Feedback from Martin Axe

• Need to define what I mean by 'cultural elements are hugely important for 'some groups of society'
• Distill/condense the overview into something more 'salient' - what really interests/annoys me about the topic of investigation
• Need to define what I mean by 'phenomenological considerations' - in my own language
• References - need to define some more specific architectural references/precedents
• Look at Bergman's movie 'Persona'
• When talking about methods for portraying the nonvisual elements of design, the question was 'what architectonic 'tools' will I use for this investigation?'
• "Overview – Good topic. Candidate really needs to “garden” their definitions of hanging terms and ensure they have a personal grasp. How to step away from the cliché and pedestrian to bring a vibrant attitude to this subject?"...

Midyear Thesis feedback from Martin Axe

1) Thesis -Clarity of intent:  Very clear and concise. I feel the key terms should be defined ( in wording or sketches ) at this point in the candidate’s own language to test her own understanding of the ideas she is investigating, ( e.g. – Magic, Assurance, etc. ). Possibly replace words with other words or sketches/models. One needs to make magic their own to be able to justify it or it stays very fuzzy.

2) Development of Critical Question:   Good, but at this point, candidate might restate and condense to the absolute core of her interest. The idea behind the idea.   Where and how does context figure in to the overall issues being explored? Recognition – navigation – assurance?

What is the developmental relationship between magic and alchemy?

3) Focus / Structure of Investigation – Key Architectural ideas; there are some fabulous architectural and architectonic concepts being bandied about – blanketing one that comes to mind. A look at how Joseph Beuys ( German artist  ) instilled his personal history and context into his work as a catharsis might be worth looking at along with a read of Ken Kesey’s “One flew over the cuckoo’s nest”  – Kesey was an orderly in a Mental institution in the early 60’s.

4) Use of research:  ( From Investigation to Discovery) : There seems to be one more layer of the onion that needs to be revealed through the research. At present, it is comprehensive but lacks fusion into an integrated proposition. I feel this may be due to a glossing over creating a personal understanding of the haptic  vis a vis the architectural. Echo, shadow, the cold of stone vs the perceived warmth of wood ( you can burn wood but not stone).

Kahn is a good place to look again, especially in regards to community and  nurturing. Specifically, I’d look at the arrangement of the space I n section of the Mellon Centre for British  Studies,( site lines and linkages / navigation/ context)  as well as it’s façade ( an acid washed stainless steel panel that feels like lead).

5) The transition and use of architectural concepts and language to express the discoveries from your investigation:   Pending.  The programmatic diagrams are a good start but need enhancing… 

6) Creative / Design Expression of Thesis ;  

7) Rigour  / Passion  ;    Pending.

8) General Comments  ;     Well research and a very interesting read. As the focus of the enquiry is assurance and how one can architecturally inculcate this via haptic experience, I’m looking forward to more focus and development on the “mechanics”  ( architecturally and architectonically) of its implementation and fruition.

The idea of the architectural placebo- the possibility of an “invasive, or at least catalytic role for architecture ( I’m not a fan of the term “ deterministic) is an interesting humanistic counter point to the deconstructivists frontal assault on interaction.

There is a Talmudic saying “We only become better once we are sick of our sickness”.

Keep going… can’t wait to see the magic