Robert F. Evans
I have chosen the Gazebo as the subject of my unit because it can be used in a number of ways to familiarize the student with the complex design area known as architecture. If we can see architecture as a reflection of culture and teenagers as a reflection of our culture then we can see why it is worthwhile for the student to be able to gain some control and understanding of this element of environment.
It is the purpose of this unit to demonstrate how the student can do this through the analysis and design of a simple structure such as the gazebo. The first year drafting student in an eight week marking period should also be able to:
1. Measure and scale
2. Develope Orthographic Drawings
3. Develope Pictorial Drawings
4. Build a Model
5. Develope Avocational and Vocational Aspects of Drafting
Many of the values, expectations and fears of todays citizen and student can be said to emanate directly out of the physical environment of the community of which architecture is one element. Therefore, if the student can learn to control and design three dimensional space in the classroom, the student can control and understand the use of space in the community and use those classroom skills to exercise change in and around the home.
Today’s student in general has little conscious experience in three dimensional design either from school or play. Television has to a great extent taken the place of hands as a medium for game playing and fantasy. Where young people once sat building things out of play dough building blocks or erector sets now they sit and watch. Two dimensional images. The same can be said of time once spent reading but now spent watching. This is an important factor in trying to educate today’s student, for in order to build effective teaching units one must analyze carefully the strengths and weakness of the student. The student will use the gazabo as a focal point around which to integrate imagination reality and drafting skills.