Title: Reagan High School Outdoor Classroom
Medium: Digital Date: April 2023 Reagan High School is building an outdoor classroom alongside sports and science facilities as part of its expansion project starting in 2023. This design aims to solve the issue of usability in inclement weather, taking into account the location of the classroom, Wisconsin. It uses natural lighting and windows as well as a permanent structure to blend architecture and nature, aiming to create a pleasant but focused environment for students to study.
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Planning
For this project we were tasked with designing a concept for the future outdoor classroom at Reagan High School. To plan my project I asked my fellow classmates what they would like to see in an outdoor classroom. Many pointed out that we already have a courtyard at Reagan High School, however, the courtyard is often unable to be used due to cold Wisconsin weather and rain. This prompted me to design some sort of structure that could be used even during inclement weather.
I considered how to best execute a design that was both protected from the elements while being connected to the outdoors. I decided that making use of windows would be an excellent way to blend both the indoors and outdoors together. An idea I came up with was to feature removable windows into the design so that in the warmer months of the school-year the classroom could be more outdoors while being protected during cold winter months. I also began to think about sustainability and environmental impact, I decided to incorporate solar panels and water collection into my design. A rain barrel could collect runoff water to later be used in student grown gardens which would accompany the outdoor classroom. These gardens could be used by student groups and science classes to learn about plants and urban growing. The solar panels mean there could be lights and electricity in the classroom, without the need to rework the schools electrical systems. The classroom is going to be accompanied by a large green space and I believe gardens would complement the area and give it a more nature oriented aesthetic. |
Inspiration
When creating this piece I was inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and his prairie style architecture. Wright was one of the most famous architects of the 20th century, he designed over a thousand buildings in his seventy year career. His unique style featured prominent windows and overhangs as well as horizontal lines. He is also known for his natural oriented buildings, often basing his projects off of the surrounding landscapes.
I attempted to invoke elements of his style when designing the outdoor classroom, I included prominent windows and a roof similar to many of his buildings. I thought that his work fit well with my project due to its focus on nature and the surrounding environment. Wright did not include solar panels in any of his designs, however Fallingwater, one of Wright's most famous buildings was outfitted with a solar panel array in 2022. Wrights designs are often much larger than this project, however it is still quite similar in style.
I attempted to invoke elements of his style when designing the outdoor classroom, I included prominent windows and a roof similar to many of his buildings. I thought that his work fit well with my project due to its focus on nature and the surrounding environment. Wright did not include solar panels in any of his designs, however Fallingwater, one of Wright's most famous buildings was outfitted with a solar panel array in 2022. Wrights designs are often much larger than this project, however it is still quite similar in style.
Process
When beginning this project, we first needed to figure out what the problem was that we needed to solve. I surveyed some of my classmates on what they like about their classrooms and what they didn't like. Many said the chairs were uncomfortable and that they had a hard time focusing with the harsh lighting and boring environment. This led me to factoring natural lighting into my idea for an outdoor classroom, many also brought up the fact that our current outdoor learning options (Reagan's courtyard) are not usable for most of the year. That is what really drove the idea for this outdoor classroom, usability despite inclement weather. The next phase of the process was actually formulating my ideas in a coherent way. My classmates and I each drew our ideas on whiteboards and received critiques from our peers and other school faculty. My idea was well received, with many saying that they realized that it was an issue that we couldn't utilize an outdoor space in our climate. Most of the criticism my idea received was people saying that while the issue was clearly determined, the solution remained unclear. I then began to formally write my ideas and actually put them down on paper. I created a simple poster with some sketches emphasizing the components to my solution including a heavily windowed structure, removable windows, sustainable energy solutions, and other green building techniques inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. This first poster was then brought to the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design where I presented it again to my classmates as well as MIAD professors and faculty. This critique also went well with most of my feedback being supportive and approving of my ideas. The only criticism I received was that my ideas needed to be built on and solidified more, as they seemed still early in development. I then began to create a more complete and professional presentation, with cleaner more thought-out posters. I designed the color scheme after the blue in the MIAD logo, with blue also being part of the Reagan High School color scheme. This presentation was more heavily focused on solving the initial problem of useability in inclement weather. I moved away from the sustainability concepts focusing on a more greenhouse-like design. My goal was not to create a full design for an outdoor classroom but instead design a component that could be utilized in my classmate's ideas, this component was of course the removable/movable windows and natural lighting that would both give the space atmosphere and combine both indoor and outdoor spaces into one environment for students. |
Experimentation
Throughout this process I learned techniques for ideation and sketching that would become useful as I developed the idea for my outdoor classroom. These techniques included drawing accurate grids to map out areas, drawing straight and precise lines without a ruler, general sketching and ideation, and understanding how objects exist in a space and their three dimensionality. I did many sketching practices to further explore and understand the techniques I was learning all with the goal of being able to record ideas quicker and easier. These sketches included, rooms, objects, and other general shapes all to try to broaden my understanding of the concepts of layout and creating clean,a ccurate depictions without straight edges or exact measurements. This practice eventually led to my final poster design and the sketches that with went it, I used many of the drawing techniques I learned to create sketches of my final poster layout.
ACT Connections
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
I initially took inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright whose designs led me to focus on the concept of blending architecture and nature. This was an important general baseline for my work as I believe that natural elements may create an inviting atmosphere for students to study in.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Wright heavily focused on the environment and his natural surroundings when designing his buildings, you can see the clear effect these have on his work through the differences in color and materials he uses. Taliesin West is primarily made from colors that invoke the image of its desert surroundings, with strong tans and oranges similar to the dry landscape. This is also seen in Fallingwater, where wright uses bricks that are the same stone as the rocky areas the house is built on to merge the two structures into one, making the construction seem like a definitive part of its surroundings.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered and further explored the complex elements that went into the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. With him being a famous Wisconsin architect, I had always been familiar with Wrights Work, however I never really understood what made his designs special. After conducting my inspirational research, I more clearly realized how he utilized shape, color, and setting to elevate his designs.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The main purpose behind my research into Wrights work was to explore the ways in which he utilized outdoor elements to create architectural works. This was a vitally important part of the issue I was attempting to solve as I needed to find a way to merge indoor and outdoor into one coherent classroom design.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I needed to find connections between my own projects and Wrights work to better use his techniques and understand the way he was successful with his designs. I found this primarily through the environmental aspects of his work as well as the sustainable practices he employed and that were used by his successors on his designs, such as the solar panels installed at Fallingwater long after Wrights death.
I initially took inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright whose designs led me to focus on the concept of blending architecture and nature. This was an important general baseline for my work as I believe that natural elements may create an inviting atmosphere for students to study in.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
Wright heavily focused on the environment and his natural surroundings when designing his buildings, you can see the clear effect these have on his work through the differences in color and materials he uses. Taliesin West is primarily made from colors that invoke the image of its desert surroundings, with strong tans and oranges similar to the dry landscape. This is also seen in Fallingwater, where wright uses bricks that are the same stone as the rocky areas the house is built on to merge the two structures into one, making the construction seem like a definitive part of its surroundings.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered and further explored the complex elements that went into the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. With him being a famous Wisconsin architect, I had always been familiar with Wrights Work, however I never really understood what made his designs special. After conducting my inspirational research, I more clearly realized how he utilized shape, color, and setting to elevate his designs.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The main purpose behind my research into Wrights work was to explore the ways in which he utilized outdoor elements to create architectural works. This was a vitally important part of the issue I was attempting to solve as I needed to find a way to merge indoor and outdoor into one coherent classroom design.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
I needed to find connections between my own projects and Wrights work to better use his techniques and understand the way he was successful with his designs. I found this primarily through the environmental aspects of his work as well as the sustainable practices he employed and that were used by his successors on his designs, such as the solar panels installed at Fallingwater long after Wrights death.
Reflection
This was a very unique and interesting project to work on as it fell away from the traditional route of fine arts focusing more on aspects of design and architecture. I believe I solved the issue I was presented with well and think that the ideas I created could easily be used to better designs for the Reagan Outdoor Classroom. While my idea evolved and changed over the course of my working, and despite my final piece not being a full outdoor classroom design, I would consider this incredibly successful as I created a useable solution to the initial problem I was attempting to solve. This was my first time doing anything of this nature and I really enjoyed learning the concepts behind design and architecture. In the future I would like to further explore these fields and develop my skills as I believe design especially may be useful to utilize in areas beyond art. If I were to do this project again, I would likely try to be more focused in my initial planning and stick to one concept rather than branching out into other areas like I did with trying to make my design more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Bibliography
“About Frank Lloyd Wright.” Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, 22 June 2020, https://franklloydwright.org/frank-lloyd-wright/.
“About Taliesin West.” Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, 29 Sept. 2022, https://franklloydwright.org/taliesin-west/.
Misbrener, Kelsey. “Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater Is Now Solar-Powered.” Solar Power World, 28 Apr. 2022, https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/04/frank-lloyd-wrights-fallingwater-is-now-solar-powered/.
“What Is Fallingwater? - Learn More about Frank Lloyd Wright's Masterpiece.” Fallingwater, 1 Aug. 2022, https://fallingwater.org/what-is-fallingwater/.
“About Taliesin West.” Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, 29 Sept. 2022, https://franklloydwright.org/taliesin-west/.
Misbrener, Kelsey. “Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater Is Now Solar-Powered.” Solar Power World, 28 Apr. 2022, https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/04/frank-lloyd-wrights-fallingwater-is-now-solar-powered/.
“What Is Fallingwater? - Learn More about Frank Lloyd Wright's Masterpiece.” Fallingwater, 1 Aug. 2022, https://fallingwater.org/what-is-fallingwater/.