Ken Walsh, Civil and Environmental Engineering

The courseThe course

• CON E 101, New GE course

• Part of new degree program

• Catalog description:

• CON E 101, New GE course

• Part of new degree program

• Catalog description:Cultural context of construction, emphasizing its centrality in the evolution and expansion of built environments as expressions of ethical and historical value systems. Relationship between culture, geography, construction materials, and built expressions of cultural legacy. Interdependence of built environment and society.

The Big Picture:The Big Picture:This class is not about how things are built, it’s about why, and what happens afterwards.

InnovationsInnovations

• Augmenting text with “video readings”

• Journaling in a “virtual blog” format

• Panel discussions via a “virtual panel”

• Augmenting text with “video readings”

• Journaling in a “virtual blog” format

• Panel discussions via a “virtual panel”

Video “Readings”Video “Readings”

Video readings augment the text with a more engaging medium. Sufficient content is available for frequent interaction.

“Virtual blogs”“Virtual blogs”

Blogs ladder to a final project analyzing a

structure.

“Virtual Panels”“Virtual Panels”

• Both synchronous & asynchronous content

• Two planned– Balboa Theatre– Sunrise Powerlink

• Both synchronous & asynchronous content

• Two planned– Balboa Theatre– Sunrise Powerlink

Virtual PanelsVirtual Panels

• Economic value propositions

• Non-economic value propositions

• Confrontations of perspectives

• Economic value propositions

• Non-economic value propositions

• Confrontations of perspectives

Architecture and eloquence Architecture and eloquence are mixed arts, whose end are mixed arts, whose end is sometimes beauty and is sometimes beauty and

sometimes use.sometimes use.

We cannot ask ‘We cannot ask ‘WhatWhat?’ in the ?’ in the presence of any architectural feature presence of any architectural feature without also asking ‘without also asking ‘WhyWhy?’… If we ?’… If we

ask the reason why, we are brought ask the reason why, we are brought at once to the study of the at once to the study of the

constructional facts.constructional facts.

Not infrequently men have hit upon Not infrequently men have hit upon new methods of construction in new methods of construction in endeavoring to meet utilitarian endeavoring to meet utilitarian

necessities, and these new methods necessities, and these new methods have stimulated new artistic have stimulated new artistic

expressions.expressions.

Mechanical invention and aesthetic Mechanical invention and aesthetic feel were never separated in the feel were never separated in the

minds of the Gothic builders… The minds of the Gothic builders… The Gothic movement, though wonderful Gothic movement, though wonderful

as a structural organism, is as a structural organism, is even even more wonderful as a work of art.more wonderful as a work of art.

The ribs and bars and shafts are all The ribs and bars and shafts are all at bowstring tension. A mason will at bowstring tension. A mason will

tap a pillar to make its stress tap a pillar to make its stress audible; we may think of a cathedral audible; we may think of a cathedral

as so ‘high strung’ that if struck it as so ‘high strung’ that if struck it would give a musical note.would give a musical note.

When I say artist I mean the man who is When I say artist I mean the man who is building things -- creating molding the building things -- creating molding the earth -- whether it be the plains of the earth -- whether it be the plains of the west -- or the iron ore of Penn. It's all a west -- or the iron ore of Penn. It's all a big game of construction -- some with a big game of construction -- some with a

brush -- some with a shovel -- some brush -- some with a shovel -- some choose a pen.choose a pen.

Noble life demands a noble Noble life demands a noble architecture for noble uses of architecture for noble uses of

noble men. Lack of culture noble men. Lack of culture means what it has always meant: means what it has always meant: ignoble civilization and therefore ignoble civilization and therefore

imminent downfall. imminent downfall.

Architecture in general Architecture in general is frozen music. is frozen music.

Architecture is the will Architecture is the will of an epoch translated of an epoch translated

into space. into space.

She well knew the great She well knew the great architectural secret of architectural secret of

decorating her constructions, decorating her constructions, and never condescended to and never condescended to

construct a decoration.construct a decoration.

Old ideas can sometimes Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New use new buildings. New

ideas must use old ideas must use old buildings. buildings.