UNIT 3 SUMMARY (MATERIALS)

Material properties can create strong sense of meaning & experience in an environment. Different materials used to form a structure/ object can make us feel a certain way. As the example given in class of the chair and bench made from pencils, the one with the pencils faced upward make us feel uneasy. We see that the materials used to form that chair would not be comfortable, therefore we do not want to sit in it. We can see the materials used to form the erasers on the pencils would be more comfortable, so you would choose to sit on the bench rather than the chair. We use our senses to determine how the materials in an environment will affect us. Although they may be aesthetically pleasing, they may not be comfortable to touch, and vice versa. In this unit, I was given the opportunity to see how concrete, one of the most used materials the world, is formed and manipulated to design. Materials also play a role in the environment depending on the climate of an area. The material type used to construct a building whether it be natural, processed, or synthetic is generally selected based on the environment it will be in and how it will be affected by the climate. The scale is considered when choosing most materials, while certain materials are better for larger/ smaller designs. Principles and elements are very much considered in materials, as materials usually contain most principles and elements. A desired principle or element can be achieved with chosen materials. More often than not, designs can be described and analyzed by understanding materials and how to use them.

.We use our senses to determine how the materials in an environment will affect us. Although they may be aesthetically pleasing, they may not be comfortable to touch, and vice versa. This is example is given in these chairs. 

While working with concrete, I saw how this material is formed to create something as small as a hand shape. This is an example of a material which can be used at a small scale, but also at a much larger one as well.