Tulane University
Architecture
Reproduced with permission from NeXT Computer, Inc.
A Reference Guide to NeXT in Higher Education, Fall 1992
ยช 1992 NeXT Computer, Inc
Platform of the future for architecture
Students and faculty at Tulane University's School of Architecture-unlike many of their counterparts at other universities-believe computer use in their field needs to extend beyond CAD and basic production design.
"We want to use the computer as a conduit for our thinking processes, a way of trapping thoughts," says Jillian Burt, director of computing and publication research for the school. "We're interested in the computer as a mind-amplifying device, something that can be used to capture the architectural thought process."
The School of Architecture purchased NeXT equipment, according to Burt, because "the interpersonal computing aims of NeXT and the computer's power, ease of use, and built-in multimedia capabilities make it appropriate for the multimedia representation of architecture.
"It's just possible that the NeXT is the best design solution ever advanced in a computer," she says. "NeXT machines cut architecture free. When architects work with CAD systems, they have to design to fit the computer. At Tulane, we don't want to do that. We want to design absolutely what we want. NeXT allows that. Plus it has the power and speed we need at a PC-level cost."
The School of Architecture currently has four major projects under way using NeXT technology.
Architectural Character Portraits. Using MediaStation, 15 architecture students enrolled in Professor Javier Navarro's urban design course are analyzing a site in New Orleans and developing a character portrait of that location. In addition to MediaStation, students use a scanner and video digitizer to transfer video and photographic images to the NeXT machine. The portrait, which includes sound elements and video and photographic images from the site, helps students understand the cultural makeup and history of the area. The students' ultimate goal is to develop a plan for improving the area's design.
"Ordinarily," says Burt, "when architects conduct a site analysis, they pin the results on a wall. With NeXT machines, students are creating a multimedia presentation. The machines allow us to create a deeper character analysis of the site and ultimately a better design plan."
Computer Games as Urban Design Tools. Burt is studying several computer game simulations-including Populus, Sim Earth, Civilization, and Sim City-that rely heavily on town-planning, design, and architectural principles. She plans to apply some of the principles from these games into a NeXT-based game about Tulane's School of Architecture and the city of New Orleans. The game will serve as a tool for learning about urban design and provide a simulated environment for students to test their building-design ideas.
Architectural Music Videos. The school also plans to create four music videos that rely on architecture rather than performance artists as their principal narrative force. Tulane, working with a Los Angeles-based production company, plans to package the videos for MTV. The school is currently acquiring several NeXTdimension machines for the project.
"Since music videos are an urban phenomenon," says Burt, "and we're all subject to music soundtracks-through Muzak, store radios, or a wearing Walkman-we feel it's important to study how music has an impact on architecture. We want to show people that architecture is relevant to things they're interested in."
Architectural Press. The school is also using NeXT machines to create an architectural press-on-line locally as well as on CD-ROM. Burt views the press as an inexpensive way to disseminate the promising work of students and young professionals that otherwise might not be published. She likens an architectural press to college radio.
"College radio takes the raw, impassioned early works of musicians, which might have been crudely and cheaply recorded on small record labels or on cassette, and provides a forum for this music," she explains. "Our press will be a way to spread the works of young architects, even if their designs contain just a germ of an idea."
The NeXT organization, Burt says, "has been phenomenally supportive of us. It's a great company to help with our ideas. I feel that, like us, the people at NeXT are here to advance culture in some way. This is very important to us."
For more information, please contact:
Jillian Burt
Director of Computing and Publication Research
School of Architecture
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 865-5389