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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

A place for learning: a phenomenology of geometry and material

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This work is comprised of two parts: The Inspiration and The Institution. The Inspiration concerns what originated the work—the conception of the idea. It lies within the realm of those things which are timeless. Therefore, it is what gives character to the building of the place or the institution. The inspiration is the beginning. The Institution is the formulation of the work--the "building" of the idea. It is a place crafted with the methods of its time. ln this sense, the institution is circumstantial, and therefore representing the end. However, in its completion there is the reflection of its beginning, its inspiration. What we call the beginning is often the end And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.¹ What inspires this work is the architecture of the ancient communities of the Anasazi. More specifically and fundamentally, the inspiration for this work lies in the phenomenon of geometry and material in these ruins. Further, it is seated in such ideas as concentricity or nestedness and the opening of a wall. These are the ideas which are timeless. This is the beginning and the end. What formulates the work is a school. As an institution of learning, it already constitutes fertile ground for teaching. Therefore, with architecture as the medium, the building can teach about the play of geometry and the use of material. The function of the school is purely circumstantial, and it has little to do with the inspiration. Still, the geometry and material of the place made are founded in the inspiration. Hence, the architecture will continue to be a place for learning regardless of the functions of its past or future. The aspiration of the work is the development of a work of architecture as a place which nurtures the position of learning and as an institution which becomes a revelation of its inspiration.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Architecture
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Architecture
Department dc:contributor.department
Architecture
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Year dc:date.issued
1986

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Vernon, Mitzi Renee

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en_US

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10919/53112
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/53112

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Vernon, Mitzi Renee. A place for learning: a phenomenology of geometry and material. masters thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/53112