Module 7 Video Review

Questions and Topics for Your Blog Posting:

1. For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Architecture: The Science of Design- 

This video was interesting and gave a lot of detail about what goes into building skyscrapers. It was interesting to learn about how the wind is the primary concern when building the highrises, not simply the weight of the structure itself. Buildings over 100 stories high can sway a full meter back and forth because the wind pressure is 4 times higher at 100 stories than even 50 stories. 

The "smart apartment" segment was also very fascinating. The technology invested in making these buildings comfortable to live in is amazing. 

It was also cool to learn about the physical properties of the architecture being built. Learning about reinforced concrete was interesting, because I never thought that there was new science going on when it comes to concrete, something that seems so plain and simple. It's cool to see what new kinds of technologies we are coming up with in order to make buildings more efficient and stable.

Last Call For Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture-

This was a very interesting video discussing what we need to be doing in the near future, in terms of architecture and design, in order to make building construction more eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable. This video included many people who obviously see a need for change in the way we construct buildings in order to benefit the earth. These people all seemed very passionate about their work, and the things that they have come up with are extraordinary. 

It is nice to see that there are people making an effort to physically create a world in which we use less stressful resources for the environment and a world that is less focused on the divide between those who have a lot of money and power and those who don't. I enjoyed the sociological aspect to this video a lot. 

2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The video's relate to the readings in the text in that they provide a more practical example of the more theorized stuff from the text. The text did have a lot of correlating information in it, with chapters focused on new technology and materials, architecture and community and sustainability. The video's were a great way to see some real world application of these concepts. 

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?

I really enjoyed the videos and they both definitely enhanced my understanding of Architecture in general, which is a subject I previously knew little about. Both films, much like previous videos from earlier in the semester, were organized very well and had a lot of useful information available. They were actually interesting and it wasn't too boring for the most part. 

4. Why did you choose the films that you watched?

I chose these videos because they seemed appealing and interesting to me. I chose the Last Call for Planet Earth video because it seemed like it had a modern 21st century spin on it, and it dealt with real environmental issues that I normally wouldn't really think too much about. That video did not disappoint. The Architecture: The Science of Design video, I chose because it seemed to have a nice amount of technology associated with the material, which was interesting to me.