Courses

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Reflection on bridges 1-5

by rochl778

Bridge Archive:

archivecebridges

I thoroughly enjoyed the semester-long process of developing a design intervention in connection with research on public spaces. I think that the thing I am most proud of is that I worked toward every assignment as if it were going to be implemented in real life instead of just creating something that I think exists better on a computer screen. Creating and designing a space is something that I had not done before in such a long process but I have found that the result is so rewarding.

I look forward to the rest of my time at Parsons in the School of Constructed Environments and I feel that this class benefited my future self and taught me about creativity and expression while also learning restraint and thoughtfulness.

Ted Talk reflections

by rochl778

After watching these videos,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZjr2CIEflc & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7fRIGphgtk

I felt opened up to new possibilities for my design intervention. The need for shared outdoor space where people can eat, socialize and appreciate art is or should be expanded on in a big way. I loved seeing this happening and the idea of taking any space we can get. The point about designing for people and the constant fight for public space is eye-opening. As a designer, we must think about how real users of space will interact with it, and not how well it will be for economic development. There can be cooperation between businesses and the arts, and I think these videos demonstrate that at that intersection is where public spaces find something special.

Bridge 3: Studio

by rochl778

Final bridge project pdf:

BRIDGE 3 project

Reflection:

Through Bridge 3, I learned a lot about the exploration and expression process of designing a space. This step gave me insight into different ways one can go about ideation and process, even using paper clips or q tips. This forces you to get creative which I think is beneficial to the final product. Doing simple renderings from a photo of a prototype is an easy way to get a better idea of what the final renderings might look like and how you can improve these.

polyhedron project

by rochl778

Final Project and process:

Reflection:

reflection on technical challenges and skills acquired:

I spent a lot of time focusing on the details for the piece, using invisible string was very challenging as well as using a traditional sewing technique to attach all of the pieces together. I learned a lot about model making which will be helpful for my major.

description of surface treatment and/or concept of final piece:

I painted and stained the wood base, and I added plants inside using tweezers.

 

social space project

by rochl778

choice of location:

I chose this location because I grew up going to this park and always wanted to be able to climb on the big rocks covered in algae without fearing that I would slip off.

Idea generation and construction:

I wanted to create a set of rocks that could be climbed on or sat on by children and adults. I used plaster and cast the different rocks using geometric shapes then while they were still slightly wet, I shaved off the edges to round them out. I finished by painting them and adding the fake algae by using hot glue and then firmly pressing the greenery into it. I painted the base made out of extra wood I had on hand and nailed the rocks to the board.

Urban Hack: Community Solar

by rochl778

Research

Why community solar

What is community solar

  • Collective array of opanels installed in an offsite location that produces energy!
  • Anyone in that general area can access it and receive credits towards their electric bill

 

Benefits

  • Go solar without installing anything on the property
    • due to space, lack of sun exposure or ownership limitations
  • Save money on your electric bill
  • Support clean, locally generated power
  • Pay-as-you-go subscription options 

How Do I Get Community Solar?

  • Find a community solar project in your area and ask about rates and subscription plans
  • Subscribe to a plan that works for your business
  • Save. Electricity will still be delivered by the utility, and your business will be credited for its portion of the community solar project right on the electric bill.

 

HOW DOES IT WORK

Community solar

Community solar consists of groups of solar panels connected to a local power grid. These solar panels are installed in a nearby community, one with large surface area and unrestricted access to sunlight. Groups of solar panels connected together through this grid implies grid flexibility, which helps bring solar energy (and other sources of energy) to properties without the typical direct access to solar energy. The solar energy from the grid will go towards solar credits, that goes towards lowering your monthly electricity bill. This means that the electricity that fuels your property may not always be the same ratio of solar energy to other sources of energy. For example, in the summer months, you may find more solar credits on your bill because of the longer periods of daylight.

 

Some simple steps to getting community solar energy for your building include:

  1. Find a community solar project in your area and ask about rates and subscription plans
  2. Subscribe to a local project and plan that works for your business
  3. Save. Electricity will still be delivered by the utility, and your business will be credited for its portion of the community solar project right on the electric bill.

 

Installing Panels

 

Installing solar panels can seem like a daunting task, but may be worth considering if you’re interesting in receiving rebates and other incentives for having solar panels on your property. Commercial solar means direct access to electricity, increased property value, and a way to ensure your building is meeting emission goals set by the New York Climate Mobilization Act. 

 

Some simple steps to installing solar panels on your property include:

  1. Check if your roof/property is suitable for solar panels through an inspector or on the NY Solar Map (nysolarmap.com). If it is not suitable, please consider shared community solar plans.
  2. Check with your local municipality for specific rules and regulations for solar panel installation. Typically processes must be completed with a solar installer or contractor who works with you to submit relevant paperwork. 
  3. Understand costs. Costs will vary depending on the project and municipality (look at rebates and tax deductions). Soft costs, such as permitting and zoning account for over 50% of costs. Hard costs include equipment like solar panels. Check NY Solar Map (nysolarmap.com) for more information.
  4. Understand payment options. The three most popular payment options including leasing, loans, or power purchase agreements. Check NY Sun (nyserda.ny.gov) for more information.
  5. Get your solar panlels installed with an eligible contractor. Check their references and reviews and request proposals for your property
  6. Complete the project application (relevant paperwork necessary to install the solar panel system) with your contractor
  7. Get your project inspected and approved by the municipality in order to get credits towards your property’s electricity bill. 

How it works

  • Solar cells, the building blocks of a photovoltaic (PV) system, consists of semiconductor materials
  • When solar cells absorb sunlight, the solar energy effectively knocks electrons out of atoms. The electrons then travel into the solar cell’s circuit to form an electrical current
  • Panels consist of multiple solar cells in a grid, and are wired together into an array of panels to generate more electricity. 
  • This solar energy system can store power in the grid and power the building even when there is no sun out. Net metering also allows consumers to exchange excess electricity generated for credits that lower electric bills

Polyhedrons and Tetrahedron Mini-Project

by rochl778

Platonic Solids:

Tetrahedron Mini-Project:

Process for tetrahedron:

For this project I used plywood and polyester to construct the solid, I connected the sides with ribbon and thread. I struggled with working with the polyester and bending it correctly. I learned a lot from this project and will use the same materials for my final project. I want to explore the use of the natural wood texture and appearance in the final project. I completely forgot to take process photos but they would have consisted of sanding, painting, sewing, and sawing.

Systems Map

by rochl778

Final Map:

Map Draft:

While creating the map, I found it hard to find specific metrics about manufacturing tea in less-developed countries. This could be due to less reporting in these countries. What I could find was biased towards the Lipton corporation or was not specific enough to certain tea practices. I found it interesting that Lipton aligns itself with organizations to preserve and maintain sustainability. I trusted their sources because of the fact that before looking at their sustainability approaches, the company did not appear to be greenwashing.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_processing
https://twinings.co.uk/blogs/news/how-is-tea-made#:~:text=The%20orthodox%20tea%20making%20method,%2C%20rolling%2C%20oxidation%20and%20drying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAID_gUolRM
teavivre.com/info/the-making-process-of-black-tea.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6024313/
https://www.lipton.com/us/en/our-purpose/our-approach-to-growing-tea.html
https://www.lipton.com/us/en/our-purpose/looking-after-tea-farms.html
https://www.lipton.com/us/en/our-purpose/good-done-by-lipton-tea.html

Kombucha Leather and Mycelium Casting – Progress Report #1 and #2

by rochl778

Progress report #1:

Here are the two photos of my kombucha leather process. The first one is of the tea mixture brewing and the second is of the SCOBY forming in the container. I put the container next to the radiator in my room so the process has gone faster than I expected. The photo is 2 days after I initially put the kombucha in the container. A question I have is do the measurements have to be precise? I scaled down the recipe because my container was slightly smaller (about 5 cups).
 

These two photos are of the mycelium mixture. The first one is the mycelium soaking and the second is the mycelium in the mold. I used a pickle container with a can inside to form hopefully a small little pot I can use for a plant. Question: Are there too many coffee grounds in the mixture? I thought it was supposed to be lighter in color than it is.

Progress report #2:

Kombucha leather:

I plan to create a hair accessory with the leather, overall the process was simple and easy, I think I took the leather out of the tea mixture too early because it ended up being very thin and flimsy.

Mycelium casting:

My casting did not end up working out, I think there was not enough air circulation in the container so a weird kind of mold ending up forming at the top and the mycelium never grew up or at all. I was planning on making a little pot for a plant.