Life Becoming an Architect

Resume

2011-11-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

Here is my updated resume on the web! Comments welcome below.

Finally CB-Crochet is working well.

2011-11-16T15:48:00.001-07:00

After much hard work, the WordPress.org based site is finished for CB-Crochet. It integrates three sites, the main site, blog, and a VIP area. Questions and comments welcome below.

If you need to reach me.

2011-02-04T15:23:00.002-07:00

Feel free to leave a voicemail and I'll get back to you. (323) 393-3009 or e-mail me at Samuel@sseverns.com. No Spam, no soliciting please.

Collaborative Effort::RelevantThings

2010-11-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

Started a blog with some collegues and fellow graduates of University of Colorado. Check it out.

Resume and Portfolio

2010-09-10T15:18:00.003-06:00

Here is my newly designed resume, it's still a work in progress but u can see what i've got so far... Here Ya Go.

~Sam

UPDATE! - I've put an updated version of my resume up for you to view, also my current portfolio is here... feedback is encouraged on both items.

Flat Pack Desk

2010-08-20T12:49:00.000-06:00

This idea came to me one weekend when I realized that I had had the same desk since middle school. Time for an update. I had one 4' by 8' panel of 'Green' laminated vineer lumber (LVL) for the whole desk. Being a college kid, I thought about how many times I'd be moving in the near future so i wanted to be able to move the desk easily and assemble it with out hardware. I tend to lose hardware so I didn't want to risk it. I began playing with various ideas and designs for desks but soon noticed that most of them used fasteners, wood and metal. I was going about this all wrong. How do I fix two pieces of wood semi-permanently? I went through peg systems, interlocking systems, and stacking systems. Finally, I settled on a slotted and interlocking system that is reminescent of this old play cube I had as a child.

It worked, now sizing the piece to fit on a 4' by 8' standard sized panel and still useable. I began investigating the appropriate heights, widths and depths and found that I needed to be creative on how and where these piece came from in the panel. 10 or so iterations and it fit on 1-1/2 panels. More problem solving, and it all fit on the panel, but would it work full scale?

I had built many 1/4 scale models with masonite and laser cutters that assembled great, but the real test was the full size. A CNC Router machine would make quick work of my 4' by 8' panel.

Final assembly was tough, some hand finishing was required, but it fit like a glove. The more that I assembled and disassembled the desk the easier it became. It was a dream come true.

Green tech and such

2010-04-07T21:11:00.000-06:00

finished the wood bike and the final work begins on the jean bike. i posted the plans for my flat pack desk in a photo gallery to the right. i'll post some from the art show in the gallery. check it out....

Green Tech Update

2010-04-01T19:47:00.005-06:00

so work continues on the wood bike with recycled integrated steel parts, not to be confused with the Blue Jean Bike. It will be in an art show tomorrow, April 2, 2010, at the Dairy center for the arts here in Boulder. I'll put pictures up as soon as I finish the bike and take pictures. so there...

Digital Fabrication

2010-04-01T19:44:00.003-06:00

Our project, pictured on the right is a large art installation piece made of 100 lb paper triangles scheduled to be 9 feet tall and 2 feet wide. It will connect from floor to wall. It was all done in Rhino and Grasshopper scripting. Check it out.

Music appreciational thought

2010-03-02T11:49:00.001-07:00

Music and architecture are closley linked. There exists musical
dissonance, can there exist architectural dissonance?
~Sam S.

Honors Journal Results

2010-02-19T22:54:00.001-07:00

So the results of my submission to the honors journal came back......
Drum roll please.

None of my pictures were chosen. Too bad. You can see the submissions
in one of the feeds to the right.

Must have been a stiff year. The e-mail said that they had a record
number submissions so I don't feel so bad. I'll send some of my
architecture projects next time.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

~Sam S.

More Reflections

2010-02-16T19:53:00.004-07:00

I understand that the school want to produce well rounded graduates but it is getting ridiculous. Other topics just aren't cut out for me. I'll just say that they don't like me and I like them. When I sign up for classes I get all excited about something like Asian History. I want to learn about Korean history, particularly, the history of architecture. It turns out to be only Japanese and Chinese culture. The only mention of Korea is when it was occupied by Japan in the '70s. They didn't even mention how the Japanese stole a lot of Korean artifacts that, to this day, they refuse to give back. The only other mention of Korea was in passing, as a joke, about Koreans being Communists and Nuking the world. I'm so glad that they didn't cover Korea, mostly because they have no knowledge about the area.

It was funny looking around the classroom. There were two types of people, the Asians that were there to learn about their culture, and the Anglo people who wanted to be Asian.

Another attempt at being well rounded was War and Society. No this wasn't a social darwinism class or anything. It was about every major battle since man's domination of the world. It was a great class but contributed very little to my life becoming an architect. It was taught by a couple ex-naval guys that really got into strategy analysis. It was very interesting.

Where, oh where has my college life gone...

2010-02-15T23:58:00.001-07:00

Oh where, oh where can it be?

So today I turned in my outstanding items for the application to
graduate school. I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the time I've
had here at CU Boulder. It's been real, it's been a blast, but mostly,
it's gone real fast. I'd like to say I have a lot of great memories,
but I really don't; it has nothing to do with alcohol or drugs. It's
not like I didn't have fun, quite the contrary. It has dawned on me
that I am an academic at heart. The most fun I've had at CU is
architecture projects.

I can, now, fully understand the saying, do what you love and you'll
never work a day in your life.

Today I spent 9 hours in the CINC, center for innovation and
creativity, without even flinching. It's seems like I got nothing done
but time flew by. If you ask any architecture student about time spent
on projects they will atest to an interesting fold in the space time
continuum that speeds up everything around you, including time, while
you move in slow motion. In other words, you get a handrail built in 3
hours on a good day. ...and you thought you could get model done
today, drawings tomorrow, and ski on Friday... That is the difference
between freshmen and even sophomores in the school. The ability to
better calculate the rate time passes when working in The Fold.

I love every second in The Fold.

More to come, sleep to come now,
~Sam S.

The Blue Jean Bike... Patent Pending

2010-02-15T14:45:00.001-07:00

So i've begun work on building a bike. It is make of blue jeans and a foam core. I'll keep you updated...

The Fall 2009 Semester part1

2010-02-09T11:16:00.001-07:00

It has been a while since I last posted anything so I will up date you
on what has happened with the Life Becoming an Architect site, (lba).
With graduation only a few months away, I've got to get my stuff in
order.

The end of last semester got a little crazy. I finisted my final
studio, arch systems, and technical photography. I'll post about those
later on. Those classes kicked my butt and forced me to drop the other
class I was in, social constraints of sexuality. I wanted to learn the
subject matter but couldn't handle the extra work.

The quality of work that came out of this semester is my best so far.
In studio I developed a good concept that I was told to explore as a
firm basis. The idea of modular housing that has a plug and play
aspect to it. Plug, unplug, replug, remove, add, and store are some of
key ideas behind my project. For more information see the posts about
final studio drawings.

More to come.

~Sam S.

Final Studio Model

2010-02-09T10:49:00.001-07:00

The Model was laser cut Acrylic with integrated LEDs. it was detachable and arrangeabl by modules.

Enjoy

Final Studio Drawing 1

2010-02-09T10:46:00.001-07:00

Final Studio Drawing 2

2010-02-09T10:45:00.001-07:00

02SEPT09 Studio 4 update.

2009-09-02T20:47:00.001-06:00

Studio 4 The Project

2009-08-27T18:46:00.001-06:00

About the Project.

Studio 4 Process 1 - Research Phase

2009-08-27T17:46:00.001-06:00

Allen Harlow's Studio 4. Detached Single Family Residential Design Exercise.

Wave Building

2009-03-30T21:30:00.002-06:00

So spring break just ended and i spent it working on a model. i posted some pics so check it out. it is a building with body work rooms on the upper floor and saunas on the lower floor.

Finals, Finally, Done

2008-12-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

So finished finals and went home. it has really been a while since i wrote. They went well i hope.

I was thinking about riding my fixie the whole week and every time i was going to ride it snowed. I envy the people in lower elevations and further south, they can ride year round, well i guess i have to settle for skiing in the off season, until the Boulder velodrome opens. went the other day and it wasn't open but it looks sweet. i really can't wait to put in some laps.

I've never really explored Denver and i'm beginning to believe that i should now that i have a bike and i can get around faster. i'll really try over this break.

Sorry, been in studio more than at home

2008-12-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

today i spent 12 hours working in studio and got home a little while ago. Things are too crazy, so i'll up date with other posts later. i hope to finish things soon... don't know how much i can take. Looking forward to break.... need another one.

Environmental Design

2008-11-19T00:58:00.000-07:00

just wanted to show you a drawing from studio 1 of the auditorium project... i'll write more later.