Browsing by Author "Ransom, Harry S."

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Architectural programming: problem definition and its relation to design process
    (1969) Karp, Peter Irwin; Ransom, Harry S.
    There is, currently, considerable evidence of confusion and conflict within the profession of architecture. This conflict stems from three major factors. These are: i) The Technological Age ii) The Complexity of Problems iii) The Client. Each of these is examined; the conclusion being that for architecture to develop, defined Process or Method is needed. Scientific Method is then examined to find the roots of Process. The argument is that architecture can, and must, learn Method or Process from the Technologies. The conclusion is that for any Process, the first step is the initial definition of the problem. This problem statement (with respect to Architecture) is difficult, since it involves non-quantifiable goals statements and concepts. The Process whereby this Problem Statement is achieved has been defined as Programming. This definition involves Areas of Concern and results in Criteria for Programming, which are: a) Flexibility b) Feedback c) Experience d) Communication These criteria are then used for evaluation of the Case Study. The first part of the case study examines, in detail, the Programming process of a large architectural firm. Part two examines four other Programming Processes, in less detail. The study is then evaluated by re-stating the definition of Programming, and describing various potential uses of Programming and concludes in the statement of two over-riding considerations for Programming. These are:- 1) The Statement of the Problem is the product of Programming. 2) Programming and Design are Processes within an overall Project Delivery System. The envelope which contains them is Management; and their interface is the Statement of the Problem. The appendix contains illustrations of techniques used by the firm for the specific case study, together with documentation and evaluation of three different uses of their Programming Process. A comprehensive bibliography completes the document.
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    Authority and autonomy: Basic concepts in the plan of development for the Autonomous University of Guadalajara
    (1965) Camarena Ramirez, Francisco Javier; Todd, Anderson; Ransom, Harry S.
    THESIS: Authority and Autonomy: Basic concepts in the Plan of Development for the Autonomous University of Guadalajara. ARGUMENT: By tradition there is a powerful authoritative structure in the Latin American University. This authority has been appropriated and abused by the State. There have been developments in Mexico, and especially at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara, that indicate a trend toward autonomy. CONCLUSION: The forces of autonomy and authority are not unreconcilable or mutually exclusive. They both can exist under the concept of the transcendental "common benefit" for society. DEMONSTRATION: A development plan for the University.
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    Redevelopment of an urban area in Monterrey, Mexico
    (1971) Rodriguez, Jacques; Ransom, Harry S.
    The disordered and deficient growth of Latin American cities, fundamentally provoked by intense migratory influx and a lack of realistic planning, justifies reconsideration of the premises and goals of technical plans which are being developed for many of these cities. The most pressing necessities facing Latin American cities in the near future ought to be given priority in an objective hierarchy of both short range and long range needs of the population of these cities. The conditions under which new immigrants and poor people live in these cities requires the immediate attention of planners and policy level governmental officials. The plans they make and the priorities they set should be addressed to the problems which the people themselves indicate are most pressing. Planning and governmental action to solve these immediate problems should be related to long range programs which are designed gradually to upgrade the quality of life in cities. This study focuses on a slum neighborhood in a typical Latin American city, Monterrey, Mexico. The study addresses itself to the problems of one neighborhood in the overall context of city wide planning. A central purpose of the study is to compare the immediate problems of a typical poverty neighborhood (as expressed by the people in the neighborhood and my own observations) to an overall plan for the city recently developed by the Monterrey City Planning Department. Another objective is to compare my own ideas for redeveloping the neighborhood with those of the city master plan, on the one hand, and what I learned about needs from neighborhood residents, on the other. My purpose is to lay the ground work for a redevelopment plan that is realistic in the short run and feasible in the long run. The Comprehensive Plan for Monterrey has not been officially adopted by local authorities. Once the plan is adopted, actual implementation would require a housing code, land control, specific exercise of power of eminent domain and other legal instruments, as well as the appropriation of resources for both short range and long range follow through. However, is the conclusion of this study that no such actions should be taken until modifications are made in the present Plan which take into consideration the needs and desires of the people who live in the community, because most of them are in such precarious circumstances that disturbing them would require prior planning involving rehousing, relocation, or some other specific form of assistance.
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    Search for new community
    (1968) Santelices, Jose Luis; Ransom, Harry S.; Todd, Anderson
    The accelerated growth of population in the contemporary world, by the introduction of mechanized transportation and communication means, has destroyed the city's unity as a human habitat. The city no longer possesses the sense of community. "Search for New Community" defends the thesis that the sense of community is based on man's comprehension of the complete system together with his participation within it. The possibility of achieving the new community depends upon integrating man's personal world with the larger settlement by-means of space with specific qualities. To achieve this, it will be demonstrated that: -the urbanized region must be the new settlement of the community. the whole space of the urbanized region must be a projected image of those spaces each of which represents a container of the three stages of man's vital cycle: threshold space, cell space and activity-release space. the qualities of space which represent his relationship with both, the technical and natural worlds, must be exaggerated in order to integrate and develop the potentialities of the community man within the settlement. The spatial exhibit will consist of a design for such a new community in Houston, Texas.
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    Study of town planning concepts for Mexico; the case of Jalisco
    (1968) Gonzalez, Jose Morales; Ransom, Harry S.
    The migratory phenomenon is a process unchaining unprecedented forces in the formation of the Mexican urban structure. To master these forces and convert them into a tool that will properly shape the nation, it is necessary to assess a directing concept. This thesis is a search for a feasible concept. Migration is in depth a blind search for urban conditions. Today, these conditions must be proliferated to an enlarging number of settlements. The quality of the city must be given to the town. The search is conducted through three processes: I. A time-past -Tributary process or analytical approach II. A time-less Directing process or theoretical approach III. A time-future Formative process or design approach. The forces at work are the time present; the relationship between the past with the future. As a response from these processes, a basic proposition is made: The gradual change toward an urban condition can be achieved by function- ally linking series of existing towns. This linkage pattern is here referred to as SIorganic solidarity". In this concept of organic solidarity, each town requires the other in order to perform its major function's. The resultant urban unit is as the concept of a molecule in physics: the smallest structural unit made of several different parts necessary to each other to remain balanced and at the same time coexisting as an integral part of a major whole; this whole is equilibrized by the balance of every one of its molecules. The existence of this urban uriit is transitory. The concept is a process of urban formation, not a form. The purpose of the demonstration design is to represent the concept in an urban form as a synthesis of proposals and ideas. The resultant image is only one interpretation. There can be others.
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    The study of vision in architecture
    (1961) Chang, Wang Chi; Ransom, Harry S.; De Zurko, Edward R.; Walker, Donald E.
    Architects can compose colors and draw representations of buildings. Architects can graphically design and build models. They can alter the visual surroundings. All these things depend upon the eye of the individual architect. Should he lose his sight, no longer will he be able to accomplish any of these things. Architecture is a visual art, and the student of architecture must have visual training. Let us clarify the following: What is vision? What is visual training? What is the purpose of this paper? Vision is the act of seeing. Visual training is an essential part of education to perceive the beautiful and to approach the creation of beauty and to arrange objects beautifully. Through our vision, we perceive images, dependent upon the relationship between an object and the eye. The purpose of this paper is to study this relationship: From the movement of the visual line (Chapter II) Fran the viewpoint of investigation (Chapter III) From the potential power of the object (Chapter IV) Accordingly, the author has developed three theories, one for each phase of the relationship as described above. These theories are limited to the analysis of an independent building within a described area.
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    Vaulted brick construction in Guadalajara
    (1966) Krahl, Nat W.; Ransom, Harry S.; Houston, Rice University, Dept. of Architecture: New York, distributed by Wittenborn