Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/733
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Item Y ECO: Yellowstone Ecological Center for Observation(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2008) Kahler, Bradley Scott; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Bill Rea; Ralph Johnson (co-chair)The Yellowstone Ecological Center for Observation (Y Eco) is designed to function as an educational facility that employs sustainable and ecological methods. Y Eco incorporates a living machine (an all-natural water purification system utilizing micro-organisms, various plants, etc.), various alternative energy resources (i.e. photovoltaic arrays, vertical wind turbines, hydro-electric in-stream turbines), as well as other passive and active sustainable and ecological design methods. An elevated pedestrian bridge forms Y Eco's "spine" and provides direct access to over 700 acres of public land on the opposing shore of the Yellowstone River. Y Eco is to be the means to better educate a public predominantly rooted in oil refinement and coal fed power production industries. The need is dire to begin a transformation of habit, an awareness and respect for one's own contributions to a society enveloped in its currently fragile nature.Item Westernization in sub-Saharan Africa : facing loss of culture, knowledge, and environment(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2007) Scott, Meghan Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ralph JohnsonSub-Saharan Africa faces many challenges; among them is the struggle to westernize. But is westernization really the answer for this large 'third world' population? Westernization has stripped many of the cultures that make up sub-Saharan Africa of their knowledge bases, knowledge of tradition, and pride in culture. The principles behind International architecture indicate to this part of the world that the way they are living (with sensitivity to earth, season, and hardship) is uncivilized. That instead of grass huts that can be rebuilt if a drought causes a family to move, they must build multi-story buildings in town centers, out of concrete in order to be considered civilized. Instead, the loss of this pride in culture can be reversed. This thesis investigated whether or not architecture can be created in this third world region that gives thought to aesthetics, environment, culture and socio-economic situation; Can a building in sub-Saharan Africa be constructed for more than just the function of shelter, no matter what the aesthetic costs? Can it be functional, affordable, easily constructed and take into account design aesthetic? A new generation of architecture can emerge in Africa: a generation of sustainable, aesthetically sensitive buildings that educate inhabitants about their heritage and environment; a generation of architecture that begins to return pride in culture and heritage to populations in grave danger of losing knowledge of both.Item Architecture in context(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2007) Neergaard, Nathan; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Ferd JohnsToday, technology and science have elevated us as humans to incredible heights; we have gone places that centuries ago would have been undreamed of. We have landed a man on the moon, an unmanned rover on mars, and now have begun to explore the outer reaches of the galaxy looking for the origin of the known universe. When you think of the universe in general, architecture seems pretty insignificant, but it is an important element that keeps our society interconnected. "Design manifests culture, and culture rests firmly on the foundations of what we believe to be true about the world." (Van Der Ryn, Cowan, pg 9) Today architecture appears to be diverting in two directions: one is aiming towards an external image focused on aesthetics, with the space it creates internally and its resource consumption being secondary. While The other is focused on a more sustainable design, based on reducing resource consumption, but lacking attention to aesthetics and spacial quality. "Even the most advanced advocates of ecological design are still struggling with ways to integrate environmental technology, resource conservation, and aesthetic content. Without all three components in place, there is little chance for a truly enduring architecture. A major factor contributing to the longevity of buildings that have survived from the past is their fusion of nature and art." (Wines, pg.9) In society today it is evident the pressure humans put on nature to provide and protect.Item What's next? : thinking beyond the box: landscape of exchange and consumer waste as food for cultural change(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2007) Schwanda, Peter Benjamin; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Christopher LivingstonThe current state of architecture is pregnant with possibility for its future. As technology and innovation give shape to a malleable landscape of digital media, the world surges onward, pioneered by high-tech industries and everready consumers. International political and commercial forces are colliding and entwining in new ways as globalization increases and borderless commerce gains momentum. As the power struggle over consumer dollars and sociopolitical control has intensified a "one planet" mentality, globalization continues to exhibit our interconnectedness. However, another significant power struggle ferments between the human race and the planet itself and the impact of the former upon the ecological state of the latter.Item Architecture's ecological footprint(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2007) Tharp, Sean Patrick; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Tom WoodA word that has become mainstream to members of the architectural community is Sustainability; but what does this word mean and why is it so popular? The root of this word is 'sustain,' which by definition means: to give support or relief to, to supply with sustenance, to support the weight of. Still, what does this mean to the architectural community? This thesis project will explore an alternative approach to design, in order to create an environmentally responsible high school, located in El Centro California. It will do more than just be "less bad." Like McDonough's approach to design, this thesis project will use nature as an example of how to design. Using strategies that allow this high school to function more like nature and strive to the ideal of a, "living building," a building that exists as if nature itself created it. These strategies will be as important to the design of this high school as other building components. They will create an outline from which the building will be designed. Using environmentally friendly strategies, systems, and technologies as the form generator for this high school will allow the building to become part of a solution to environmental issues facing architecture today, not just prolonging its destruction. This high school will be at least 30 percent better than California's energy code. It will provide enough daylight so that every classroom will function without the need for electric lights during school hours, run completely on clean energy from renewable resources. As well as convert waste or byproducts from one system into resources for another. Testing, modeling, calculations, and computer analysis will be used to prove that the design of this high school meets these goals.Item Altering a person's environmental mindset utilizing an architectural/ecological system(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2007) Hintze, Kenneth William; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Thomas R. Wood; Tom McNab (co-chair)The Camp Grayling Eco-Lodge investigates how an architectural/ecological system can be utilized to alter a person's mindset. A person's mindset towards our natural resources can be influenced if you introduce alterations to their lifestyle. As visitors observe more efficient and less costly methods, they are more likely to implement them into their own lives. The human race has taken for granted that we must pump oil and gas from the ground; that power plants pollute; that our cars pollute; and that our skied are clouded with smog. Is this simply the price we must pay for the convenience that our current technology offers? With changes in the way we design buildings, we can move towards buildings that generate more pollution-free power than they use.