BP 7

in the pursuit of happiness...



in our debotton reading, he suggests that there is an architecture of happiness.  I believe that there is such a thing, although it is different for everyone.  clear proof of this is that during class on friday, our instructors took us to some of their favorite places on campus.  the feeling and atmosphere was greatly influenced on the architecture and the way people interacted in the environment.  there was also a question if the idea of happiness ties to the rules about architecture and design.  as my group and I were walking around campus, a lot of questions came to mind like what makes a space or place happy or delightful? the architecture? the socializing aspect of it? incorporation of nature? serenity? the feeling it gives you? this lead to what does it mean to have architecture of happiness? it could be a variety of different things, which makes it so hard to say what exactly it is.  for music majors it could be the library filled with vinyls, for art majors it could be the weatherspoon museum, for business majors it could be, umm...regardless, each person had their own idea of happiness.

for most people, I think a happy place would be the fountain outside the cafeteria.  that is where a lot of people gather around when it gets warm outside or even when it's cold.  the area in front of the fountain is a circular shape, which could imply unity and a sense of connection.  the layered step surrounding it have grass on the tops instead of concrete or brick, which welcomes students to sit and socialize, which I think is the main attraction of this place.  it is placed near main areas of uncg, including the cafeteria, the dorms, the library, and the academic buildings.

for me, the happiest place on campus is the lobby area of studio.  the two-story-high ceilings as well as the windows makes it feel really open and spacious.  I always enjoy the art that is always placed in the gallery, as well as the lobby floor.  it sometimes gives me inspiration for projects and I am always impressed by the work that people from the two different departments produce.  the place places community needs before personal ones, although it still had a place for individuals work.

the happiest space for me on campus is the park area outside our studio building.  the trees are all very interesting and have very unique shapes, and the brick fits well with the surrounding.  I mainly like this area because it is outside in nature and is a convenient place to take a break from long days at studio.  the benches are placed far enough apart to have your own personal space while still feeling connected to the other people enjoying the space.  the space expands your inner world and gives you a sense of peace and calmness.  it also celebrates the surface and materiality of the space by letting nature be the main focus and having the walkway weave around the trees.