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Wouldn't it be nice to draw the images in our heads?

Your Checklist to Get started

Your checklist to get started checklist for this course…

Before  we prepare a checklist to get started for this Current Issues journey, let me give you a little

Before we get started
I studied architecture at this beautiful US National monument some 40 years ago. Little did I know I would draw so much inspiration from these walls. The steps lead to our studios

background. About 17 years ago, I taught a compulsory course titled Critical Evaluation of Architecture. It was an architectural theory course at 300 level. I had never taught this before and had never been taught the same and so I saw it as an opportunity to evolve the issues that ran through my head when I was a junior (300 level student) in college (university) in the 1980s in the deep south of the USA.

 

 

 

Before we get started
Many an architect wannabee dreams of designing a house. I had my first  such dream at 9 years

Start your checklist -Dream!

I had always been a dreamy sort. The “head in the clouds” girl often lost in thought. Some said even then I had the makings of an absent minded professor (talk about self fulfilling prophecies). I always wondered what were the components of architecture. The get started checklist for current issues is a result.

 

 

 

The forest and the trees? – Your checklist for Architecture

Before we get started
Studying architecture makes it difficult to tell whether we are looking at trees or a forest

Architecture is like  a mysterious forest full of esoteric flora and fauna. The flora can be called structures, design, theory and history, components, materials and the list goes on.The problem of being in a forest therefore is the seeming inability to appreciate the totality of its essence. Hence the proverbial saying, “cant see the forest for the trees!”

And yet the trees make up the forest. Current issues in architectural thought and expression evolved from the Critical evaluation of Architecture to enable us see both the forest and the trees! The key elements can be identified through a  getting started checklist.

Getting Current in Mode and Content

To get us to see both the forest and the trees we are using the most current tools available to convey the content of this course: The Internet. When this course first started, we went on a field trip to Abuja with the late Arc Eche Ameh and the legendary Arc Amos ‘Toye.  We did not have the opportunity of watching slides and films due to our economy back then. Therefore field trips are vital.

 

Getting on board

Join the train and upgrade your technology skills as well. You are in good company.  The video shows the  checklist instructions. Remember, the sky is your stepping stone!

 

 

 

Dr E.O. Ola-Adisa

Erekpitan Ola-Adisa is a US trained architect and researcher domiciled in North Central Nigeria. She combines practice of Architecture where she's actively involved in construction waste recycling and lecturing at the University of Jos, Department of Architecture for almost 20 years. As an architectural theoretician she seeks to demystify the "mysterious forest of Architecture" by getting the students to see both the forest and the trees using Gestalt principles. Equally important is her advocacy for best practices in Architecture to ensure viability of Architecture as a knowledge-based profession against Post COVID-19 realities.

This Post Has 82 Comments

  1. Dokotri Niri

    Wow,inspiring. Learning made easy

      1. Miracle Daniel Akowe

        Inspired

    1. Cyrus Agandu

      Thank you ma’am for the video guide

  2. Kuti ELAIGWU Elijah

    We are really lucky

  3. Babayemi Taiye Elisha

    The instructions given have been taken note of, thank you ma.

  4. Phinehas Ijere

    The idea of learning and interacting online is vast and more productive
    I hope we maximize it’s uses

  5. Monasor Iyesomi Merry-Claire

    With the emergence of advanced technology are field trips no longer relevant? Because some slides and presentations don’t relay the message completely

    1. Dr E.O. Ola-Adisa

      Virtual reality may address some of your concerns in a Post COVID-19 reality

  6. Dalis Emmanuel

    Ma why do u relate architecture to a mysterious forest

  7. Dalis Emmanuel

    Ma why did you relate architecture to a mysterious forest

  8. Uj2017ev0578

    Thank you for the video guideline ma.
    Please based on the “forest” analogy, is this course also a tree in the forest?

  9. Uj2017ev0578

    Thank you for the video guideline ma.

  10. Sule Philip Itopa

    This video was very helpful. Thank you.

  11. Shemfan Israel

    I really appreciate the work going on here ma.. Really helping

  12. Ukpoju Adam Emmanuel

    Ma, I don’t really understand the statement; ‘Can’t see the forest for the trees’

    1. Dr E.O. Ola-Adisa

      This is a colloquial expression to describe someone so caught up in the minute details that they can’t see the big picture. Don’t get bogged down with design, structures, components…they’re only parts of the whole that makes up Architecture.

  13. Uj2017ev0021

    Thank you for the guideline na, but I don’t understand the link or the concept behind a forest and architecture

    1. Dr E.O. Ola-Adisa

      I believe the focus group discussion will help understanding. Do participate

  14. Sandra Sabo

    This is helpful ❤️

  15. Nathan Falang

    Thanks a lot ma, this is really helpful especially being able to liken architecture to a forest.

    1. Dr E.O. Ola-Adisa

      I hope you have a better understanding of the analogies. Your concept is the root of your design. Your product is the fruit of your design

  16. Ben-wiwuga Nadumlebabari

    This is very insightful! The analogy to trees and forest couldn’t be more apt.
    Thank you ma😁

  17. Jekreh Japhet Magaji

    Thank you very much Ma

  18. Jekreh Japhet Magaji

    Your Comment Here…thank you very much ma.

  19. David M Shaldas

    What a great analogy,thanks

  20. MNYAMCHIE DAVID SESUGH

    Inspiring! Thank you ma and also ICT today for making learning much easier.

  21. Onche Nissi

    Thank you ma this is inspiring and educating

  22. Mnyamchie Sesugh

    This is very insightful. Thank you ma.

  23. Longji Aaron

    Field trips are indeed vital. Hope we go on a few of them.

  24. Onuh patrick

    Ma with the emergence of slides for teaching students,is field trip not necessary anymore for architecture students

    1. Dr E.O. Ola-Adisa

      It’s still necessary so that you can touch the buildings. The human eye is still the best camera

  25. Constance Christopher

    Thank you for the video guideline ma.

  26. Jesse Wazoh

    Thank you ma for using the internet to teach us and enlighten us. It is something we really need to use more in Nigeria.

  27. Joshua Eunice

    Thank you ma, very insightful!

  28. EZEKIEL OYEWALE

    Been helpful.
    Thank you ma

  29. Adams Daniel ngbede

    Thank you ma

  30. Othman

    A good analogy…it sends home a deep meaning

  31. Hiangya Aondona Kevin

    Thank you ma

  32. Uj2018EV0072

    Really inspiring ma, thank you for this!

  33. AMINU UMAR UMAR

    Much appreciation ma with the help of this slide I think our mode of understand will be better thank you very much

  34. Akullah Orseer

    Thank you ma, this course will help me change my perspective on how I view architecture and tackle my school related issues

  35. Nathan Sati

    Can’t wait to explore the nitty-gritty of this course!!

  36. Uj2018EV0072

    This is very true, while in a forest, we find it difficult to appreciate the individual trees, rather we just see a forest

  37. Olumide Akosile

    I really admire the parallelism to the trees and forest as it relates to architecture.

  38. Chentu Nanmet Nguvugher

    This is really helpful ma’am. Thank you

  39. Precious Shok

    This content helps me to understand the mysterious tree relating it to the Gestalt theory, thank you ma.

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