INTRODUCTIONS

So, to start this all off, for those of your who don't know me (I can't imagine why you would be reading this if you don't know me, but the internet is a strange place...) my name is Tiffany.  I am an architecture student, pursuing a Bachelors of Architecture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.  A BArch is a 5 year, professional degree, meaning that no higher education is necessary to enter into the field, and it typically culminates in a year-long thesis project.  At Cal Poly, these thesis projects correspond to an actual thesis paper (in the form of a magazine) which, of course, is a research-based attempt to answer some new or pressing question within the field.  The project then, is the physical manifestation or application of this research.  As of Monday, September 19th, I begin my final year at Cal Poly, and therefore, my thesis.

This blog, for me, will hopefully function as a sounding board (whether anyone is listening or not) for ideas, problems, and research.  I have learned more and more over time that I am not the only person in the world who knows things.  In fact, I probably know very little.  So, contributions (in the form of tactful, tasteful, and helpful comments please!) are always welcome.  The blog will also, more than likely, be changing gradually over time.  From the title (which is so uninspired at the moment) to the typeface, to the images and all the other details, I will be tweaking things as I go along.  Largely, this is due to the fact that I don't know the direction the project will be taking at the moment.  That will evolve over time, and therefore manipulate how I present myself and my work in this venue.

The reason, if you want to know, that I choose not the speculate too much on the nature of my project is that, as of now, we don't really know what we will be doing.  I have ideas, of course, but a thesis is a collaborative effort between a student and a professor.  Having not met with my professor yet, I can't say what will happen.  The process of being assigned a professor was rather stressful (involving applications and priority lists without much promise of success), and really just resolved itself less than a week ago.  There are 9 studios of about 18 students each, which we stay together with (for the first time in our college career) for the entire year.  I was assigned Jonathan Reich, and am really happy about it.  He gives excellent, thoughtful reviews at crits, and seems willing to give students freedom to explore and express themselves through their work.  I have had him a professor twice before, for my minor classes in Sustainable Environments, but never for studio.  I'm looking forward to whatever surprises the year brings.