VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Braaten, Ellen B."

Browsing by Author "Braaten, Ellen B."

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"Angel Urn" by Ellen Braaten. Collegiate Legacy: Emeritus Faculty Exhibition.
Architecture as a Unifying Thread
Stright, Jeana Marie (Virginia Tech, 2008-05-09)
Buildings exist because humans have a natural desire for shelter and safety, but what sets one building apart from another? Expression. Whether it is a conversation about place, material, program, or a fanciful idea- architecture offers an interpretation of the ordinary, inviting questions, appreciation, or controversy. With the introduction of a position, a conversation begins, yielding a discussion. Ideas continue to grow and form, creating and reinforcing the continuously evolving world of the built environment. This project offers an interpretation of a way to blend the disparate elements of walls, program, and experience. This project achieves unity through a series of architectural gestures that reinforce the program of the building and strengthen the architectural thought of connecting unlike elements. Great spatial opportunity can be found in both the building of barriers and the destruction of them. Tension between opposite conditions has great power to set the static in motion. The age, texture and weight of the existing walls are contrasted by the lightness of the new structure that breaks through the old, revealing its nature and opening it up for appreciation. The constructed nature of the new structure is contrasted by the fluidity of the poured concrete wall that ends the building and holds the project above the old. The old then becomes a tool for appreciation, while the new represents a tangible journey through the design process. The stair is the mediator between creation and display providing a sense of rest and a new perspective. An architecture of stitches is created, forming a fabric that speaks to the past, the program, and the stated intention to maximize the coexistence of each.
Collegiate Legacy: Emeritus Faculty Exhibition
(Virginia Tech. Moss Arts Center, 2014)
Exhibition of work by College of Architecture and Urban Studies faculty celebrating CAUS' 50th year.
Envisioning the Mind: Children's Representations of Mental Processes
Rice, Rebekah R. (Virginia Tech, 1990-03-14)
Inspired by writings on creativity and by Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, I conducted a series of ten "exercises" -- each of them a guided visualization followed by an opportunity to produce -- with nine- and ten-year-old students. The visualizations, which were designed to encourage the students to explore some of the many ways our minds have of knowing and learning, began with a simple relaxation exercise and proceeded to more challenging exercises involving, for instance, kinesthetic learning, sensory awareness, the logical and linguistic mind versus the spatial mind, and intra- and interpersonal intelligence. Following each visualization the students discussed what they had experienced (transcripts of the visualizations and the discussions are included in the thesis). The students responded in visual terms as well: after each visualization, each student created a two- or three-dimensional piece of art from materials such as matboard, construction and origami paper, glue, felt-tip pens, pipe cleaners, and plastic-coated wire. These visual responses have been photographed, described, and scored according to the number of materials used, the number of colors used, and the dimensionality of the piece (photos, descriptions, and scores are included in the "Gallery". I found, surprisingly, that the visualizations in which the students were the most imaginatively engaged did not always produce the most interesting art, and that girls were much less likely than boys to create three-dimensional pieces, although girls tended to use more colors and occasionally used relief on otherwise two-dimensional pieces.
The House: to be accompanied and to be alone
Feng, Zhenzhen (Virginia Tech, 2018-06-19)
It is the house that has spaces above ground and spaces beneath the ground. The part above ground is separated into three volumes. The first space is for the owner to accompany with friends and family members, which is a significant part of one's life. The second space is the owner staying with close friends where they can work and design together. The third space is only for the owner where he can sleep, read and relax. Sometimes, the owner feels depressed, he prefers to run away from sadness like a child. Thus, I design a series of spaces for the owner to get away like a child. He can take a journey to get rid of sorrow by going through the underground spaces. The journey of the owner, created by a series of experiencing spaces underneath, starts from the third space. The owner will travel spaces containing different lights, sounds, and views. The owner can stop by during the journey to experience the spaces. He will gradually forget sadness and sorrow by the pleasure created by various experience. The owner will hear echoes when he sings in the spaces and will notice the sound of his footsteps and will view different scenes from various light tubes. Finally, the owner will reach a destination; it is a tower without a roof. He can experience starry night, rain, sunshine and so forth. He eventually reaches a place near nature, which is still one part of The House.
Industrial Design: Tableware
Sullivan, Martha Lynn Luttrell (Virginia Tech, 2006-11-14)
The goal of my graduate thesis is to design a dinner service set suitable for mass manufacture. The purpose of completing an academic study of dinnerware as an industrial designer is to gain a mastery of a product used everyday in and out of the home. With such a rich history in ceramics, it is challenging to design a new dinner service set that is functional, enhances the aesthetics of a meal and sustains the intimate relationship of everyday use by adapting to lives. My particular design ideals are expressed in the line quality, section, volume, breadth and visual language of the Galaxy Collection. This document is a record of the research and decision making process for the design of the dinner service.
Interview with Ellen Braaten, January 2014, CAUS 50th Anniversary
Braaten, Ellen B. (Virginia Tech. College of Archiecture and Urban Studies, 2014-01)
Interview with Ellen Braaten, Assistant Professor Emerita of Virginia Tech's School of Architecture and Design, on her teaching activities.
Lines
Merryfield, William R. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990)
The thesis contains a series of ideas & conclusions: The introductory statement suggests four criteria for the pursuit of producing good architecture. These criteria are not in the realm of problem solving. But rather address issues of the heart & mind. It is through a struggle with these measures that architecture becomes true and encompasses a realization larger than the problems at hand. It is only then that architecture exists in a continuum across time. The projects in this book make a meager attempt to begin to understand a pedagogy for spirit. responsibility. making & judgement.
Lines of Site
Mingo, Ryan J. (Virginia Tech, 1997-12-12)
Architecture in today's urban environments exists through, and must respond to, the interaction of contemporary constructs occurring within the context of the urban fabric of the established city. The opportunity residing between these concurrent systems of past and present offers the flexibility of countless modes of response to the ever-changing city Concerns of today"s architectural possibilities to the protection of the past, while enabling the evolution of the urban setting afford the designers of our cities a diversity of options in response to the needs and desires of modern society. Context is of primary concern, and must be addressed not only as the physical characteristics of the "site
A Market in Nairobi
Ohumay, Sibie Matley (Virginia Tech, 2014-06-24)
This is an exploration of the circle through the lens of the African vernacular. The geometric circle is inherently rule based and requires only objective, geometric manipulation. The archetypal circle is subjective, an interpretation based on given characteristics of roundness. The archetypal circle is where abstraction and exploration occur. The plan of traditional African vernacular architecture is a circle, and as such, was the starting point. Rational manipulations of the geometric circle made the building. The mandala studies were subjective manipulations of the archetypal circle made to explore and develop the architecture. This became a Market in Nairobi.
Mobility with Dignity: A Re-formation of the Standard Walker
Blasko, Tanya Nicole (Virginia Tech, 2002-11-07)
As the population ages, the need for intelligent solutions to mobility concerns increases. Many existing products succeed in targeting the functional aspects of use but fail to address critical psychological and aesthetic elements in the design process. This thesis asks the question: can a walking device address concerns of dignity, beauty, and functionality?
Nyack River Front Park: a conversation between land and water
Mullins, Kerri Ann (Virginia Tech, 2001-04-02)
This architecture thesis is an exploration of an idea, an event, and a place. The idea was to explore design with water. The design had to be thoughtful and have an impact: an event. My place is on the waterfront. This thesis confirmed my ideas about site-specific and site-inspired architecture. I looked to my thoughts about water and tried to incorporate them into my design and enhance it with them. In my design I began to think about materials, about the senses, and about how we experience places through sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. My exploration led me to design a public park on the Hudson River in Nyack, New York. *note* the printed version of this book is in the format of double sided pages and is best viewed in the format of facing pages.
Patterns of continuity: revitalizing the underlying principles of Kuwaiti traditional architecture and applying them to a contemporary community
Abdul-mehsen, Abdullah (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990)
This thesis describes an approach to the planning and design of a Kuwaiti community that fosters a return to the value system established by past generations but being neglected in current planning and design concepts. This design approach focuses the specific environmental factors that exist in Kuwait, as well as being concerned with the values of the community. Islamic teachings are built on the concept of unity in creation and purpose. All creatures are created by One and are linked in worshiping the Creator. In the design, all the housing units in the community and the souq develop from the principles of geometry and are linked by unity of purpose. Contemporary architecture and urban structures in Kuwait should not only rely on local physical materials, but also express the valuable principles of Islamic culture. Islam considers each community to be one family, the relationship Islamic community's between architectural individuals.
a place for creation: artisans' retreat
Lindsey, Robert Spain III (Virginia Tech, 2004-11-04)
through the act of separation architecture is born This thesis is a study of separation, asking the question of whether the act of separation can elevate the composition of material, space, and light to awaken the mind, eye, and soul. The vehicle for this study is an artisans' retreat placed on the ridge line of Brush Mountain located in Blacksburg, Virginia. This project explores the idea of separation and the moments it creates at many scales: man to nature, maker to made, public to private, structure to skin, and detail to whole. This project consists of two lines. One houses the makers and one supports the place for the making, consisting of studio spaces for sculpting, painting, and creating ceramics. Lastly, this project contains two other structures for the public to partake in the celebration of the creations: an outdoor amphitheater and a gallery which displays current and past work of resident artists.
A place of balance
Ryan, Mary Powers (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991)
To create a place of repose through the balance of architectural and natural elements. Repose- peace or calm; harmony in the disposition of the parts, colors, etc. such as gives rest to the eye or ear. Balance- state of equipose as between weights different elements or opposing forces; equilibrium, steadiness, as in one’s emotional balance.
A Precious View
Fang, Yihuan (Virginia Tech, 2021-01-20)
Architecture can be significant in defining a particular place. While architecture typically offers basic shelter, its value and contributions to culture lie beyond these basic needs. The thesis proposes that by specific framing of a scenery, a view of the city can be a contribution which inspires a Precious View.
Premanufactured housing, or, Living in 6 1/2 ounces of pure architecture
Flueckiger, Urs Peter (Virginia Tech, 1996-12-05)
This project attempts to bring back forgotten values and not just supersize them.
Putting the pieces together: the parts and the whole of student housing, Lexington, Virginia
Mott, Jennifer Baines (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992)
One of the most daunting challenges an architect faces in the design process is making harmony of the myriad parts that make up a building. A small student apartment and stable building for an equestrian center was the subject of an investigation into the extent of the architect's mastery of a project. The parts and assemblies of the structure were studied in detail. This investigation showed that a building's beauty must run more than just "skin deep," and that an architect, in order to have a successful project, must consider even the most minute parts of the building, exercising as much design control as possible.
The Ratio of Forces: Their Application Within the Initiation of a Village
Shirley, Bruce Jarrett (Virginia Tech, 1997-09-23)
In discovering and forming thoughts about architecture I came to harbor a theory for all things around and within me. A complimenting ratio of forces that, thought their union, create a third equally important force. 1 + 1 = 3. This concept is presented here in its raw form thought the use of analogies and examples, then separated into five simple categories demonstrating its use within architecture: Preservation, Restoration, Renovation, Addition, New Fabrication. Architectural integrity of any given project is reviled by the character and skill of the architect's manipulation of the contributing forces present. As an in depth example of how these ratios of forces can be applied to an architectural project, an abandoned coal mine sited in Montgomery County, Virginia is selected for the initiation of a village. The historic forces of the Tower and Plaza are transferred to the individual and private scale aiding in the development of the village unit. Existing structures and site features compliment new elements creating the town fabric of units and streets as well as the village's own towers and plazas. A community created trough renovation-complimenting forces.
Relive The Past, Reimagine The Future
Liu, Susan Siru (Virginia Tech, 2023-07-11)
By shifting from a static, preservation-based approach to one that emphasizes the dynamic process of decay, architecture can be given a second life through a more human-centered perspective. This approach acknowledges the symbiotic relationship between human decay and architectural decay, and can lead to new possibilities for adaptive reuse and revitalization. Architecture and human remains have the potential for new life through the cycle of death and rebirth, so by repurposing abandoned architecture and utilizing human ashes as a sustainable resource, a cemetery can become a vibrant space that celebrates life and the natural world. This approach embraces the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of all things. The cycle of life and death is an inherent part of the human experience, and the built environment is no exception. As buildings and infrastructure age and become obsolete, they are often left to decay and deteriorate. However, this process of decay can be transformed into an opportunity for new life and purpose. A proposed cemetery on the existing ruin that incorporates these principles can become a vibrant space that reflects the cyclical nature of life and provides a sustainable solution for honoring the dead.

Browsing by Author "Braaten, Ellen B."

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