fifth year statement of purpose
PAIGE TAFF
M
y 4th year was spent in Florence, Italy. I adapted and came to appreciate their lifestyle. I found it fascinating how Europeans can live in such a large and dense city, but still feel at home on a smaller scale. Large city life is also much more invigorating than the typical American city. And while watching the countryside of the Czech Republic whir by on a train, I realized how small we are as individuals, but what large impact we can have on the world if we use our gifts, talents, and careers for a good purpose.
O
ver the past 4 years of college I’ve challenged myself to think sustainably. I’m really passionate about finding ways in which architecture can effect social customs and change the inefficient aspects of society that many have become accustomed to and taken for granted. I feel that I would be misusing my talents and training as an architect if I didn’t use my knowledge and abilities to enact good in the world for those less fortunate that me.
A
mong other hobbies and interests, graphic design and photography have been at the forefront. During my 4th year, I worked alongside another student and faculty to design brochures for school functions. This design work was done pro bono. I have also done photography work per diem for my family’s business.
G
rowing up I had the experience of volunteering both through my school and our church at orphanages in Mexico. I learned very early on that I am extremely lucky to be who I am and where I am. My parents instilled in me the necessity to give back to others that were not as fortunate as myself. Our family also has done charitable work through our church by funding wells to be drilled in both Haiti and India as well as donate money to the Haiti Endowment Fund.
about
me
second year troy peters
W
hile this project’s main focus was to create a small sustainable space, the point of it being a dense housing project demonstrates its ability to enact social change. Increasing the density of our communities can help reduce urban sprawl and our dependance on cars and oil while refocusing our communities on each other and their environment.
stairs
unit
unit
cooling tower
unit
unit
unit
unit
unit
elevators
unit
cooling tower
stairs
patio
bedroom
T
bathroom
kitchen
living room
& sustainable
his design maximizes both view and ventilation while providing adequate shading in one of the most extreme climates in the world: Saudi Arabia. The floor plan encourages natural ventilation. A small patio with a mashrabiya screen encourages evaporative cooling as well as provides an outdoor living space. Modularity and massive materials are both vernacular qualities that encourage thermal cooling.
small
nt future develo peme
future develo peme nt
future develo peme nt
single unit
double unit
third year richard schmidt
S
aint Louis is a city that is seeing hard times. Population has been steadily declining for years and is currently at an all time low. The Pruitt-Igoe project of the 1950s was designed to meet a certain need for low income housing. However, because of various political and social issues, the project was seen as an enormous failure and the architecture was deemed the culprit.
R
for social change
ising above this omen, I am seeking a solution to the social and architectural flaws of the area by reestablishing a sense of ownership and pride among the low-income society. Working both metaphorically and practically, this project has the potential to be inexpensive to construct as well as establish a process that reinvests people in the areas that they inhabit.
sustainability
third year richard schmidt
T
his project really sparked my interest in architecture that can invoke social change. With the decline of many American cities, an affordable means of living is becoming increasingly more important. After studying the dynamics of midwestern living, I developed a solution that involves an efficient, sustainable, and interactive community.
site plan
student & community farms//groves public gardens concept generation
fourth year csu ip florence
T
he program for this project was to provide a multitude of services for the Florentine community. Included were a culinary school, restaurants, food tasting, markets, and stores. The form was to bridge the gap both literally and metaphorically. The building created a space for both commerce and consumerism; and the distribution and consumption of natural goods. This building sought to create a space to educate both students and citizens.
A
lthough the focus of this project was not sustainability, efficiency, or social change, I saw the potential of this project to have a large impact on needy societies. This project’s focus was to educate and promote healty and sustainable living.
center
gastronomy
fourth year csu ip florence
P
hotography is my most passionate hobby. I hope to complete my minor in this area of study and hope that I can use it to help document the world we live in as well as the positive impact architecture can have on a society.
N
o matter what I do, in any area of study, I want to do something for the benefit of the world. If that means shedding light on important issues through photography, then I would be glad to share a picture. If I have the opportunity to build schools and health clinics in impoverished societies, then I would be more than willing to design an economical and sustainable solution. I want to help others, but also to teach them to help themselves
D
uring my fifth year, I would like to undertake a project with Journeyman International. As mentioned, I really desire to help others less fortunate than myself and I feel that this organization takes the values that I’ve grown up with and makes it a reality. I love vernacular applications towards modern uses and the fact that these people use their talents towards the betterment of others is something we should all aspire to achieve.
A
& objectives
fter college, I would like to find work in the field of architecture hopefully pursuing more charitable projects that both influence the environment and the community in which they are built. I am also entertaining the idea of pursuing a post graduate degree in City and Regional Planning
goals