Midterm.

This semester has been flying by. I guess that's what happens when you have a year to work on one project. Now that I am 1/4 of the way done (time wise, but not necessarily work wise) I should update this page with a snippet of where I am currently.

I have been scouring the internet and the library of congress for information that I could use in my research of LeDroit Park. I found that the neighborhood was developed in the 1870's by Amzi Barber, a member of the board of trustees of Howard University. Most of the original homes were designed by DC architect James McGill. My home that is on my site however was built sometime in the 1890's, and I am almost positive that it was not a James McGill design (however I could be completely wrong).

The "twin" caught on fire sometime in the 1940's and suffered severe structural damage. The damage was so bad in fact that the home was demolished and the site left vacant. The firewall that separated the two halves actually worked. It still stands today as an ode to the past.

On top of the research that I have carried out, I have also begun documentation of the structure. By counting the bricks of the facade, I have started to lay out some measured drawings that show the existing circumstances. I cannot tell you how helpful this process has been to me. I have been trying to draw every brick in order to gain a better understanding of the existing conditions of the site. I should be completing these drawings in a few weeks, and be able to begin my design.

The midterm review went very well... better than I expected it would. I received a lot of good feedback concerning my research, and where I can take it. Looking at theories of twins, others, and doubles, I feel like I can approach the future design with a perspective that would allow me to create the best possible solution to the design situation I find myself in now.

My next step is making a model of the structure when I am finished the documentation drawings, and studying its interaction with the site throughout the days/weeks/months. I hope that my next few steps lead me to a good solution that can begin to evolve into my thesis.

I can't wait to get into the detail drawings (and hopefully makings) sometime next semester.