First Draft of Approach + Schedule

The approach is trying to simply state what will happen and the framework in which it is being conducted in.  The schedule is still in the works, there are many holes because the project is still trying to be worked out to be understandable within one semester.

Analyzing and gathering data is the main idea in this project.  Interviews will be conducted to gather information that cannot be reached from the everyday sources.  The interviews will be in person, conducted with people that know and have access information about the architecture of the selected church.  Asking questions about why certain design choices were made and the integration of technology into the sacred spaces.  Because it will be looking at the change of the church over the recent years, using the architectural expression theory will be useful in connecting the evolution of the church and architecture.  Not only will the information from these conducted interviews be important, but the analyzing and creating diagrams for visual representation will allow the audience to understand the changes through depiction, not just data.  Interviews may also be conducted with members within the church.  Asking about how certain spaces are enjoyed, not enjoyed, what their opinions are on the architecture of the building and the reasons of emotional connection.  Other questions will involve the use of technology and how that aspects in the modern church makes one feel within a sacred space.  Using this information from individuals, diagrams and drawings can be created that give a visual of the described feeling.  These drawings will be easily understood by both architects and those without architectural backgrounds, making the research have a broad scope of understanding on all levels. 

             By exploring how individuals perceive space, the affordance theory will easily allow the reader to understand the significance behind the interview process and the diagrams created.  The idea is to look at the shift of the modern church architecture through the lens of technology, and functionalism will also be in effect as well.  The stability and order of the church hasn’t changed, but the representation and operation have evolved with the inclusion of technology.  The churches being selected will also be highlighted if there have been any major renovations of the space, which will open doors in the interview conversations about the perceived first hand change of the church.  This will further the gathered information that can leave the research open ended for further discussion. 

            Precedent studies will be the greatest part of the research.  Looking at two churches that are able to be compared to one another in the time frame of 2015-2025.  This restriction will focus on the technological shift that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.  While technology was always rapidly evolving, human interactions changed dramatically during this time period.  These shifts also changed the way in which the church is today.  Modern churches in the area, such as Cross Church and St. Thomas, will provide the audience with vivid imagery and distinction from the past to the present.  Both of these churches have been built within the past couple of years, and will be a good baseline for understanding of modern architecture.

            By weaving together the interviews within these precedents, and creating deliverables that can be understood by a range of viewers, this will allow a complete comprehensive project.  Theories such as functionalism, architectural expression theory, and affordance theory gives the reader a comparable source of information about how these changes are being made and the impact they have on the public.  Precedent studies furthers this conversation by giving the audience visuals and an understanding of what is being researched.  Diagrams, drawings, and other visual media will be conducted to strengthen the visual ideas being highlighted, while also communicating the views and opinions of others in another way other than interviews.  These drawings will not be created by the individuals, but by the interpreter.

 

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:

·       Find Chair/Committee

·       Narrow down precedent studies to two

·       Narrow area of focus

SCHEDULE:

Week 1: Meeting with chair

Week 2: Full committee meeting

Week 3:

Week 4:

Week 5:

Week 6: Full committee meeting

Week 7:

Week 8:

Week 9:

Week 10: Full committee meeting

Week 11:

Week 12:

Week 13:

Week 14:

Week 15: Submit Final Draft

Week 16: Defense

Week 17: Public Presentations + Submission to ScholarWorks