FREDERICK DESIGN STUDIO
MATTHEW FREDERICK, REGISTERED ARCHITECT
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| Courses and Presentations |
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professional and general audiences |
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| NOW AVAILABLE > | PERSPECTIVE SKETCHING Brookline, Massachusetts 7 classes beginning September 21, 2009 |
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Perspective sketching -- the accurate
freehand
representation of three-dimensional objects and spaces on a
two-dimensional surface -- is an essential skill for design
professionals and artists. This
course presents a mystery-free introduction to
freehand
sketching one- and two-point perspectives. It is a course in seeing as well as drawing, and is suitable for both the trained artist
desiring more accurate representation on the
canvas and the layperson
seeking an introduction to
sketching. We will begin by drawing simple boxes
and furniture, and
progress to subjects of architectural scale -- stairs, rooms, hallways,
buildings, and (possibly) streetscapes. You will learn to distill the
confusing elements of a real-life scene into a
logical hierarchy for laying out a drawing. Emphasis will be placed on accurate line work
(as opposed to shade and shadow) and on the
correct
placement of the human figure in a drawing. Weather (and skills)
permitting, we may try out
field sketching in later classes. Supplies:
11"x14" Strathmore drawing pad and several soft
pencils. CLICK
HERE TO REGISTER |
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OTHER RECENT COURSES Check this webpage again for future offerings of these courses. Special presentations are also available on request. |
ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR Brookline, Massachusetts (2-session course) Next offering TBA |
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In the Greater
Boston area we live within a rich architectural mix, from Greek
Revival to Stick-style Victorian, from Georgian Colonial to
International/Modern. Do you know what styles are represented in
your own house? In the first session, this course will present an
overview of American residential architecture, from the era of European
settlement to the present. We'll examine key features of popular styles
and their subtle variations. We'll also discuss the underlying
cultural forces that create what we outwardly call "style." In
the second session (held on the following Saturday), we'll tour a local
neighborhood and test our ability to identify architectural styles and
estimate construction dates. Whether you are a curious homeowner,
an armchair
architect, or a real estate agent, this course will paint a
vivid picture of why our houses look the way they do. |
| SUBURBAN SPRAWL: What does it really mean? Next offering TBA |
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In recent years,
as Americans
have become aware of such problems as global warming, our precarious
energy dependence, a pervasive time crunch, and the growing alienation
of suburban teenagers, the ultimate value of the American Suburban
Dream has been called into question. But
what exactly is suburbia? How would a
retreat from sprawl affect all of us, whether we reside in cities,
suburbs, or rural areas? What are the far
reaching implications of suburbanization for other problems of our day,
from the death of Mom and Pop retail to increasing incidences of
Attention Deficit Disorder and depression? Join Cambridge architect and urban
designer Matthew Frederick as he
explores the far reaching implications of suburban sprawl and its
potential antidotes. If you are looking for new ways to
understand “sprawl” as well as the many perplexing problems of American
life today, you will not want to miss this presentation. |
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THE ENLIGHTENED CYNIC'S GUIDE TO HOME RENOVATIONS Brookline, Massachusetts Next offering TBA |
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This popular and long running 3-session course seeks to counter the distorted portrayals of the home renovation process found in the mainstream media, which almost universally promote a myth that a successful project can be realized with a singular rush of inspiration, a rosy attitude, and a flannel shirted handyman. In truth, even a "simple" kitchen renovation requires months of planning and design, careful crafting of contract language, and an often arduous search for the right architect and contractor. The Enlightened Cynic will send you into your project with both eyes open. Besides addressing the practical questions encountered in residential construction projects--How much will it cost? How do I find an architect and contractor? What is the permitting process? How long will construction take? How do I know if I have paid for quality work?--we will explore tried and true methods for defining your architectural needs and the potentials of your life and site to create something unique and inspiring. Universally useful architectural principles, including methods of spatial organization, designing with natural and artificial light, and relating a house to its context, will be explored. At the end of this course you will be prepared to either embrace the confusion, trials, and rewards that lie ahead or to quit before you do something you aren't ready to do! |
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THE AMERICAN HOUSE: Architectural Styles 1600- Present A CEU course for real estate license renewal. |
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This two-hour course for real estate CEU/license renewal surveys American residential architecture from European settlement to the present day, Postmedieval to Postmodern. A PowerPoint presentation illustrates key architectural features for identifying popular styles, such as Colonial, Federal, Arts and Crafts, Greek Revival, French Second Empire, and Shingle; distinguish between sub-genres such as Queen Anne and Stick-style Victorian; and accurately guess the construction date of "mongrels." Most importantly, this course will introduce you to the broader cultural dynamics that spawned the major architectural styles, and will help you understand why houses look the way they do. |
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COPERNICUS GOES TO SUBURBIA Space, Sprawl, Society, and the Limits of Modern Thought |
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Using the visual literacy skills commonly taught to beginning architecture students as a starting point, this presentation shows how longstanding perceptual-cognitive biases in the West have led to myriad dysfunctions in American culture, including suburban sprawl, urban blight, increasing diagnoses of Attention Deficit Disorder and other psychological anomalies, oversized government, and many more. Drawn from Matthew Frederick's research for his book manuscript in progress (see Books), Copernicus Goes to Suburbia has been presented to academic, professional, and general audiences. <click on image for expanded description |
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WHAT IF WE'RE WRONG? Poking holes in the New Urban movement |
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New Urban philosophy and practice hold that suburban sprawl and urban blight have stemmed from a confluence of factors: zoning laws, automobiles, anti-urban mortgage policies, excessive highway building, cheap gasoline, racism, America’s blessing of open space, hyper-individualism, and on and on goes this well documented list. In this presentation, Matthew Frederick poses a fundamental query: What generated this lengthy list in the first place? Mr. Frederick argues that the conventional explanations for “disurbanization” fall short of identifying its root cause, and merely list the mechanisms and expedients we have used to organize physical reality in the way we believe inherently correct. |
| FREDERICK DESIGN | STUDIO | ||||||
| HOME | RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE |
URBAN DESIGN AND PLANNING |
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