Single Track

To continue to establish the breadth of topics that we will attempt to cover within this blog, today’s post is all about single track. All of us who contribute to this blog are avid bicyclists, especially the off-road type and although it has been more difficult since leaving college, we enjoy getting together to ride occasionally. Unfortunately, the current Monroe County laws prohibit off-road cycling in any of the County parks, however the Genesee Regional Off-Road Cyclists (GROC) are working hard at petitioning the policy-makers into respecting the rights of this growing user group.

My Ride

Actually, it is due to this difficulty of finding proper locations to fulfill this off-road riding urge that I have taken to reading and learning about the sport that I love so much. When I moved to this city I was able to encounter my first true experience with single track. Prior to joining the metropolitan landscape as a “city-dweller” my only experiences with off-road riding consisted of mountainous hiking trails, littered with massive jaw-jarring root sections and nose-diving runoff ditches, and on the other end of the spectrum, wide, flat gravel trails that once supported the expansive rail-road infrastructure. Hardly exciting in any case, but I didn’t know any better.

Single track riding, I have discovered, has become for many a way of life. Much as activities such as rock climbing, white water kayaking, or back-country snowmobiling can, single track riding is the essence of pure euphoria for most Mountain Bikers.

When the snow finally melts, the spring rains run their course and the narrow dirt trails finally drain of all their retained moisture, all that is left is a small, hard packed, dusty trail. But that is enough. The rolling contours of a well-designed single track trail, the tight corridor cut through the dense wilderness, and the communion with nature experienced from the saddle of an iron steed.

For those who follow a more logical path, Single Track is exactly as the name suggests: a narrow path that moves with the contours of the wilderness, designed for single-file use, wide enough only for a single hiker or biker to travel at a time. These sort of trails bring the rider, or hiker closer to nature, enveloping them in a tunnel of green that is impossible with larger ATV trails or fire roads.

I have come to enjoy, even crave the thrill of carving around the sharp turns and negotiating the challenging technical areas of the trail. With a group or solo, the experience is compelling for those aware enough to recognize it.

As a closing, here is a video of one of the great memories from our college riding experiences for your enjoyment and our reflection. It is good to remember to always wear your helmet because the laws of probability will eventually catch up with you.

VotI

Graffiti Creator

J. Ruskin

This is the first page of Audels Masons and Builders Guide published in 1924 that I recently acquired from my Great Uncle's estate.



In today's fast-paced lifestyle and rush-job project schedules,
I believe it is a good reminder for Architect and Builder alike.

Zoology

Each time I visit the Buffalo Zoological Garden I am overcome with nostalgia and the powerful sense of history. This past weekend I did just that, in a sort of follow up visit to my research trips last year.

RESIDENTS DURING MY LAST VISIT

During my last year at school I spent many hours studying the forms and functions of the Buffalo Zoo in anticipation of an attractive new addition to the facility. My senior thesis design project was based around this new addition, as well as the revitalization and reorganization of the zoo. As the construction company was building Rainforest Falls, the new walkthrough exhibit that utilizes the concepts of immersive design and natural barriers, I was developing an alternate project. Using the same zoological concepts I incorporated a bit more “architecture.”

THESIS PRESENTATION BOARD

The history of the third oldest zoo in country is a great one, and while I find the story fascinating, unfortunately there are far too many intricacies to fully develop a competent discussion on this venue. The original Zoological Garden, as well as many of the other public parks throughout Buffalo, was designed by the great American landscape architect Fredrick Law Olmstead in 1875, and until now, very little of the original form has been altered. Olmstead’s formal organization and symmetrical balance have been preserved, I believe, to the benefit of the zoo.

HISTORY OF BUFFALO ZOO

COURTSEY OF CANISIUS COLLEGE

VIDEO INSTITUTE

So many of the “modern” zoos simply result from a series of disconnected additions and renovations as funding becomes available. As a result the visitor circulation, exhibit organization, and overall cohesion of the facility suffer greatly. The advantage of age that the Buffalo Zoo has is clearly apparent, from the large iron gates at the entrance ticket booths to the universal rusticated buildings. Unfortunately, due to size limitations, the newly opened Rainforest exhibit had to compromise some of the primary organizational principles of the sites. Fortunately, the designers saw fit to use similar rustication techniques on the exterior cladding of the exhibit as on the existing buildings.

GOOGLE EARTH VIEW OF BUFFALO ZOO

PRIOR TO RAINFOREST FALLS

The Design Thesis I presented last spring featured a very literal interpretation of Olmstead’s formal symmetry as well as a rather fantastical budget for the sparse funding of a small zoo. The design was based on the most ideal conditions available, a feature I am afraid was lost on the limited vision of the guest critics. I spent much of the allotted time studying zoo design principles, learning much about topics such as deep green design, landscape immersion concepts, naturalistic enrichment, and basic zoo visitor circulation. Many of these lessons were taught by Jon Coe, a renowned Australian landscape architect who specializes in zoo design around the world. I am sure in the posts to follow I will discuss several of these concepts. It is an extremely interesting and inciting opportunity to design a common area for the human program requirements and that of any number of additional species with a vast array of additional program requirements.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO INTERVIEW THE ZOO CURATOR

DURING CONSTRUCTION. I WAS GIVEN A TOUR OF THE

FACILITY WHILE THEY WERE BUILDING THE CLIFFS

ANGEL FALLS IN BUFFALO NEW YORK

At some point in the future I hope to break into the zoo design arena. Have the opportunity to combine architecture, landscape design, and environmental program requirements in a cohesive project. To blend the lines between human visitors and animal residents. To weave the circulation paths of animal, visitors, and zoo keepers. To weight the sensitive balance of priority between animals and humans. To tackle the problem of creating a regionally distinct exhibit within a larger uniform context.

Alright, it has been a little more than a week since I was supposed to start posting pictures of some of the places I have been...but the wait is finally over. This picture takes us to one of my visits to Venice, Florida. The first picture should help warm some things up as we sit here in the cold of Upstate New York. Also, did you ever wonder how pineapple grow?Check out the picture below...

Upcoming Posts

I am currently working on a few post ideas that should hit the blog in the next week or so. One of which will likely be a weekly/bi-weekly posting of pictures of places which I have visited. I think that Mr. T will be doing the same, as each of us has a vast number of cool photos from across the country. Check back regularly to see what new adventures we chronicle next!

Friday the 13th...

Not only is this Friday the 13th, but it's also the day before Valentine's Day. For those of us who do have someone, it's the last-minute time to get gifts before the big day and make any remaining preparations. It's also just a great time to think of your special someone, or anyone in your life which you love. For anyone who stumbles upon our blog, enjoy the big V-day whether or not you have someone. Be appreciative of all the gifts you get (physical or emotional) and tell the people closest to you that you love them.

Image Practice

I started playing around on wordle the other day at work. Using my vast resourcefullness I used what I had and made this word cloud out of the door hardware specification I was working on.

Links

In our continuing endeavor to learn more about this magical process of blogging, I am using this post to practice creating a link. I have decided to dually share some background with those precious few of you out there who may happen to stumble upon this page. I live in the smallest city that has ever installed a subterranean subway system. Is there anyone out there who knows where I live? Further, if you removed all of the trees from this image, you would be able to see my apartment.

Post up

Mr. T and I will be posting on this blog as an exercise to further our exploration of all things architecture and design. We hope to find some fulfillment through the written word and discussion of everything from the banal to the most profound of topics. Eventually, if you do follow our rants and thoughts, you should see us develop through this experience. At least, that's the idea...