To determine microwave usage patterns, a telephone survey was administered to 300 college students living off campus. The objectives of the study were to determine: a) incidence of ownership, b) characteristics of students who have a microwave oven and those that do not, c) patterns of use of microwave ovens, and d) characteristics of the present microwave oven and one desired in the future. Rogers’ Adoption Process was used as the model to determine that each owner had adopted the appliance into their lifestyle. The adoption stage was divided into three use levels: primary appliance used for cooking, appliance used as a supplement to the ranges and appliance used infrequently. It was found that 192 (64%) of the 300 participants had a microwave oven in there household and 237 (79%) would make a purchase of an appliance in the future. The microwave ovens that are currently owned have an average of 4.2 features including a minute timer, variable power, automatic defrost, and touch controls. Students who would purchase a microwave in the future desired an average of 7.2 features, minute timer, variable power, automatic defrost, touch controls, clock, and delay start. The tasks that are currently being performed in the microwave were divided into low, medium, and high complexity. Students using their microwaves more than their range prepare the most medium and low complexity foods, while owners who use their microwave as a supplement to their range prepare the greatest number of high complexity foods. Participants in all levels of adoption were satisfied with foods prepared in the microwave most of the time. Information from this study would be relevant to microwave manufacturers, residential property development corporations, and designers of food products and container. / Master of Science

This thesis is an exploration of the design of successful urban places, those that are filled with people enjoying the vitality present in a density of life. The inspiration for this thesis came from a statement made by Jason Bergen. While walking through downtown Blacksburg, unsuccessful in our quest to find a place sit down and eat lunch, Jay said, "You know Jon, there are no good places to sit in Blacksburg." Without realizing it, Jay had made a simple observation that can be used to assess the quality of an urban environment. / Master of Architecture

A house is a shelter that brings protection and intimacy. These functions might be considered to be more than physical. Ancient Greek houses often had the lintel scripted "Know Thyself". Those houses had elements intended to bring man closer to an inner life necessary to know thyself. Such elements were related in their social, political and religious aspects. Roman houses changed the internal ritual, but kept primordial elements related to individual physical and spiritual development. In these traditions there are principles that are adaptable to contemporary living. The country house is in part a proposition to understand these principles and brings them into a new architectural language. This thesis is a borrowing of traditions while "grounding" them to a particular place. This house stands on a site in Blacksburg. It is oriented according to the sun path and the views from this site that provide the grounding. / Master of Architecture

This project is a building in a town, for a town. Public, semi-public, and private spaces are designed on a narrow site. A simple, repeated form makes the building a container for filtered sunlight. A secondary form is inserted into this structure, a closed block in the open container. Three materials, concrete, stone, and wood, bring a greater clarity to these parts, defining places and engaging the senses. / Master of Architecture

PART I I believe we are products of the age in which we live. Contemporary thinking shapes our historical present and reinterprets our historical past. This world is shaped by many keyhole views. The cornerstones of knowledge are built on a foundation of theory and objective reality. However, the fundamental underpinning of knowledge and theory lies in our perception of reality itself. The old cliche, “you don’t know what you have until you lose it,” is a perspective from which we can evaluate that which preceded as well as the threshold of new thought. A construction of reality is fundamental, yet particular to the temporal context. I propose to explore these issues and their relationship to judgement and decision making processes in design. The approach will be essentially pluralistic. PART II The uncertainty of the historical present is coupled with a hope for the future. For many architects the future holds their vision and inspiration. The future is, after all, the horizon we travel toward. Man is now expanding this horizon to space and other planets with alternative environments. Part II will explore architecture as atmosphere, landscape and dwellings through a collection of paintings free of the constraints of existing technology and theory. Architecture must first exist in the mind and heart before it can come into being. / Master of Architecture

The initial gesture One response An instant of recognition The manifestation of an idea Another reality THE SKETCH / Master of Architecture

To begin is the time of belief in form. Design is the maker that serves this belief. To build is action from a sense of order. When the work is completed the beginning must be felt. I recall the beginning as Belief. It is the time of realizatlon of Form. It is feeling as religion, and thought as philosophy. Then there is no material no shape no dimension. And then recall the adventure of design when dream-inspired. Form must answer to the laws of order so as to be. / Master of Architecture

Solitude, a nineteenth century farmhouse and historic landmark, located on the campus of Virginia Tech is currently slated for preservation. The purpose of this study was to trace the architectural history of the farmhouse and adjacent outbuilding through its existing mill work, hardware, and other architectural features. Eighteenth and nineteenth century architectural pattern books and the knowledge of architectural historians were used to date the interior millwork and hardware in this building. The millwork and hardware produced evidence of at least three distinct design periods. To determine if mill work and hardware dates supported the approximate construction dates commonly thought accurate for the three major sections of this building. The 1801 and 1834 sections of the house exhibit Federal style. Greek Revival dominates the 1851 section, as well as the renovated 1801 section, and the later additions exhibit Victorian style details. The adjacent log and frame outbuilding contained mill work that mixed Federal and Greek Revival elements. Using this information, along with information obtained from researchers who previously studied Solitude, a sequence of floor plans was developed. These plans show the evolution of the house through two major additions, as well as three smaller ones. The evolution of the outbuilding was also noted. / Master of Science

The thesis of this project focuses on the defining of an edge of the university; thereby denoting a limit as to how far the university can extend. The wall is proposed to define that edge. The tower is a result of a visual dialogue between the wall and the light well that cuts through it. / Master of Architecture

What is architecture and to what does it aspire? It is the human endeavor which creates places that stimulate the senses. A touch, a scent, a sound, a sight (light and darkness)—each serves to make one more keenly alive. The senses, too. can arouse memories. In this house there are three paths. Each path captures a particular part of the natural environment to arouse sensations. The path that goes through the family rooms is the path of light and darkness. Two light-wells above channel the sun onto the path. As one walks down this path, one sees bright spots coming from the light-wells, marking the entrance to the living and dining rooms. Once one arrives at either entrance. one can also feel the warmth of the sun. The path to the bedrooms is the path of smell and sound. In the spring, one smells the wild flowers as the breeze carries their fragrance across the path through the windows on either side. In the summer. one hears the birds play among the long stems of the flowers. In the fall, the dry stalks brush quietly against each other in the wind. The path to the studio makes direct contact with all parts of the natural environment. On this path, one smells the air of the different seasons. The orange light gently glows on the walls and the path as evening approaches. In the fall,showers of leaves cascade in the wind. / Master of Architecture