Archi [tech]: Materializing Immaterial Data Streams

39 Pages·2014·9.24 MB·English

Archi[tech]
Materializing Immaterial Data Streams
J. Christopher Popa
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of a Master of Architecture at:
University of Cincinnati
College of Design, Architecture , Art , and Planning
J.Chistopher Popa
Author
B.S. In Architecture From The Ohio State University
John Hancock
Committee Chair
Professor of Architecture
© June 2014 - John Christopher Popa
The Author hereby grants The University of Cincinnati permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly the
paper and electronic thesis copies of document in whole or in part in any medium known or hereafter created.
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Archi[tech]
Materializing Immaterial Data Streams
J. Christopher Popa
Abstract
The rapid development of digital media technology is changing social,
cultural, and economic interaction from the traditional “space of place,” or material
world, to the immaterial “space of flows,” undermining the traditional ways in which
public space creates a dynamic relationship with visitors.1 This mutation from
material to immaterial is deteriorating public space and its ability to manifest the
connections among users, public space, and programmatic processes. This thesis
proposes a direct response to the dematerialization of the space of communication
through the innovative interaction of the space of flows (specifically crowd sourced
social media inputs) with the space of place (Pittsburgh’s Market Square). As a piece
of public architecture this hybrid spatial condition will act as a cultural and social
bridge between the immaterial and material.
The design of this thesis will utilize communication and information
from current Social Media sites (Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare) to create and
dynamically modify a set of architectural interventions. A dynamic conversation
between the visitors and the space will be driven by constant information flows and
responses. The dynamic dialogue will embrace temporality and constant change,
common characteristics of the virtual realm, in order to intensify public activities,
dialogues, and connections in the material world.
1 Castells, Manuel. 1996. The rise of the network society. Vol. 1. Malden, Mass: Blackwell Publishers
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Biography
J. Christopher Popa was Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before Attending The
University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning to receive
his Master of Architecture, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Architecture at
The Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture. In addition to post
secondary education, J. Christopher has obtained professional experience at Kennedy
& Violich Architecture in Boston, Massachusetts, William McDonough + Partners in
Charlottesville, Virginia, and Kohn Pederson Fox Associates In New York City.
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Acknowledgments
I would like to dedicate this thesis to my parents, Susan E. Popa and John E. Popa,
and my family. Their unbridled enthusiasm and support has proved to be invaluable.
I am grateful to my Thesis Advisor, John Hancock, for the insight, feedback and
encouragement throughout this grueling process. It is also with much delight that
I thank my previous professors at both The Ohio State University and University of
Cincinnati whose stimulating wisdom and commitment to my education has had great
impact. And, of course, I would like to graciously thank my friends and colleagues
who have inspired and supported me, but most of all, kept me laughing each day.
J Christopher Popa
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Preface
Architecture, in its most general sense, was never a real focus in the early
years of my life. However, as the son of an Electrical Engineer turned Project
Manager who has worked with NASA, Ford, and Eastman Kodak, corporations
which have embedded their philosophies in the advancement of technology and
interaction, I have been groomed, unintentionally so, to look at technology in
the most positive sense. Using that childish wonder I have always looked for
technology to enter into the most unlikely of fields. It is strong memories of
conversations with my dad about advanced systems within the space shuttle that
have inevitably shaped my ideologies within the development of technology in
architecture.
With increased development of technology within all disciplines, architecture
should not and will not take a back seat. The ability to allow interactivity,
monitoring and digital technologies to embed themselves within a discipline
that for so long has seated itself statically in society is becoming increasingly
important. The technology now exists for this collaboration between the two
only seen before in pieces of engineering, like the space shuttle. Architecture
of the future will be expected to improvise, adapt, and evolve spatially and
programmatically with the society it services.
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Archi[tech]
Materializing Immaterial Data Streams
page
1291
Despatialization of Human InterParcetfiaocne
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SM[Architecture]
space with embedded computation
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This Space of Place:
pittsburgh ‘s Market square
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Trusting the Arts
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
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Materializing the Immaterial
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Works Cited and Consulted
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Tables and illustrations
Cover
Popa, J. Christopher . Conversations of Pittsburgh. 2014
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Popa, J.Christopher. Hybrid Urban Space. 2014
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Popa, J.Christopher. Humans and Built Space in History. 2014
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Popa, J.Christopher. Online Political Ad Spending. 2014
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Popa, J. Christopher. Online Banking Numbers. 2014
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Popa, J. Christopher. Online Entertainment. 2014
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Moran, Michael. Arthouse at the Jones Center. 2011. http://www.archdaily.com/137899/arthouse-at-the-
jones-center-ltl-architects/ltl_arthouse1045_21b/
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Hursley, Tim. Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. http://www.archdaily.com/37736/dee-and-charles-wyly-the-
atre-rex-oma/2373_2_wyly-dusk-view-with-sign/
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Kennedy & Violich Architecture. Soft House. Hursley, Tim. Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. http://www.arch-
daily.com/37736/dee-and-charles-wyly-theatre-rex-oma/2373_2_wyly-dusk-view-with-sign/
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Popa, J. Christopher. Light Drift Communications. 2014
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Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. Light Drift, Howeler + Yoon Architecture. http://1.bp.blogspot.
com/_4xMBi_bnlXg/TN66NhseVLI/AAAAAAAAAzo/dUTENWLzDHo/s1600/RiverLights1.jpg
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Popa, J. Christopher. Spatial Interactions between Humans and Architecture. 2014
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Page 40
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Percy, Jonathan. Shelter. East 34th street Ferry Terminal . Kennedy & Violich Architecture, Ltd. http://
Popa, J. Christopher. Media Surface Diagrams. 2014
www.flickr.com/photos/62092813@N00/8384352964/in/photolist-dLU12J-axaLqV-axdn2E-axdog1-axaD-
dz-axdrWm-axdqKN-ahw57G-axdwgL-b53TaK
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Popa, J. Christopher. Performance Surface. 2014
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The Living. The Living Light Project. http://architizer.com/projects/living-light/media/73017/
Page 68-69
Popa, J. Christopher. Data Stream Search. 2014
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5468796 Architecture. OMS Stage. http://www.archdaily.com/114274/oms-stage-5468796-
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architecture/_02bluestage/
Popa, J. Christopher. Forest of Columns. 2014
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Page 74-75
5468796 Archtiecture. OMS Stage. http://www.archdaily.com/114274/oms-stage-5468796-
Popa, J. Christopher. Ballarina’s Delight. 2014
architecture/13night/
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Pittsburgh City Photographer. Diamond Square. May 26, 1928. http://images.library.pitt.edu.715.286922.
CP. Pittsburgh City Photographer COllection, 1901 - 2002.
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Popa, J. Christopher. Evolution of Pittsburgh’s Penn Liberty Corridor. 2014
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Popa, J. Christopher. Penn-Liberty Corridor Mass Rendering. 2014
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Popa, J. Christopher. Connecting the Penn Liberty Corridor to Market Square. 2014
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Pittsburgh City Photographer. Old Diamond Market. May 26, 1928. http://images.library.pitt.
edu.715.143816.CP. Pittsburgh City Photographer COllection, 1901 - 2002.
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Popa, J. Christopher. Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Entities. 2014
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Popa, J. Christopher. Two Weeks in Tweets, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2014
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Popa, J. Christopher. Plan:New Market Square. 2014
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Popa, J. Christopher. Dancing Column Diagrams. 2014
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Popa, J. Christopher. Dancing Column Mapped. 2014
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