Texture and Materiality

Reflections on Week 2 task

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 There were some issues I faced with my second sketchup draft. Firstly, I did not have a clear distinction between spaces above and on the datum. Secondly, I was not happy with my below datum structure. Image 1. is a proposal I have made to highlight the level change between Stradivari's workshop and the 'on-datum' gallery space. Tackling the notion of beauty, I thought the image of a great, gnarled oak-like tree that twists and wraps itself around each room, holding them up for support visualizes this idea. I envision great buttress roots, sinking away from the gallery space walls, questioning the distinct datum line, yet steadfastly supporting it too.

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 Image 2. shows my concept for a structure below the datum, as well as a progression on my stair pairings. I have represented this sense of interconnectedness through tessellating honeycomb shapes, with one exterior walkway that wraps around the structure and leads from the top to the bottom. My inspiration comes from the strength and design of beehives, and the interwoven connection shaped by underground ant mounds.

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 Image 3., and 4. are preliminary design renderings on sketchup for visualisation's sake. At the moment, the 'gnarled' wood looks a bit like a giant turd, or an ill-conceived swan, but the process is only to be refined.

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Week 2: The Stair

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Presented are two stair sections, taken from the drawing exercise, and seven 3-D images of the stairs modeled in sketchup. Image 2., 3., 4. are screenshots of the helical staircase, as modeled, and in situ leading up to the gallery room. The helical staircase represents the idea of 'interconnectedness'. Working with Kimura as a client, I focused on the mechanics behind his art. A birds eye view reveals the helical staircase as kinks in a gear sprocket. In elevation, the staircase represents the flow of energy through 'liquid fuel' that passes through a motorbike engine. Image 6., 7., 8. show staircase 2. This is a cantilevered beam system, that acts on the wall for support, and is hollow, allowing for less weight and materials used in design. The slow descending incline gives off the impression of a musical scale; notes are run down the scale until you reach the finale: the long wooden landing, which holds you for a long musical pause. Working with Stradivari, thought has gone into storage space for his various instruments, so the beams extend to the back walls, almost like a bookshelf. The simple wooden design and lacquered finish are reminiscent of Stradivari's violin.

Reflections on Week 1 Task: Prelim Sketch Up

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 After I submitted the preliminary sketch-up model, I could spot a few issues I already had with the design. First of all, the symmetry presented through the 3 spheres seemed tacky and quite comical, which is not what i hoped to achieve by representing the word 'beauty'. During the week 2 lecture - 12/3/13, we discussed stairs, and this prompted me to investigate a way to break the design symmetry by incorporating a sunken viewing/seating area into the 'gallery dome'. This idea of a space where people can walk up and down, and also take the time to sit and relax was inspired by the TKTS ticket booth stairs in Times Square New York. To present it as a 360 degree rotating viewing area, sunk below the datum, opens up the gallery space, and changes the dynamic of the three domes from a uniform plainness to a multidimensional space.

In the images above, I alluded to this notion of sustainability which I tried to incorporate into my design, but later realised that this is not apart of the project requirements.

Still disappointed with the outside appearance, Jacky gave me some great inspiration, suggesting I look at images of the Beijing Opera house (Image 4). To me, this was Beauty. In Image 5, I tried to merge this with my own design, presenting a singular big glass dome over the three original spheres. My idea is for light to be allowed through the outside dome, and be received through the glass roof of the green house and filter through to Stradivari's workspace, defining the three interior domes, but for the structure to look like a singular breath-taking entity from the outside. I envision a singular transparent glass top walkway allowing visitors to pass through the outside dome and into the gallery space, so that they can look around whilst walking, and actually see the forms of the other two domes (the green house, and another unknown, unattainable dome). They will not be able to reach these; they are a separate space, leaving the visitors wondering what and how.

My 3D sketch up model below the datum was unsatisfactory, and I wasn't happy with how i depicted the sense of interconnectedness, so image 6. shows an exploration which i may consider in future models.

The Datum: Drawing Task

I settled on the 10th drawing pair for my preliminary 3D sketch-up model. The word describing the structure above the datum is 'beauty', relating to Stradivari's violin. The word represented in the drawing below the datum is 'interconnected', referring to the closeness that i feel Shinya Kimura displays with his motorbike in my chosen image.

Above and Below: The Datum

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This series of five screenshots depict my preliminary sketch up design, adapted from a drawing produced in week 1's datum sketch task. The three domes above ground consist of a showroom, workspace, and greenhouse. The connecting tunnels below the datum represent an underground working space, storage area, glass elevator, and a connecting walkway. Image 2 and Image 5 are angled cut-aways, highlighting the extended storage area and its two large sliding doors, protruding from the underground working space. Image 1 and Image 3 give a more holistic view of the structure, pairing an axonometric view and section to depict the scale of the whole space. Human models are added to give a more definitive sense of scale. Soil is allowed to migrate in between the roofing and floor space in the underground work area, with cooling water filtering through allowing for natural cooling insulation. Rain water flows down the domes, and the external stone skirting board captures and holds this resource for greenhouse water supply and underground insulation system. This design focuses on sustainability. The structure above the datum represents beauty. The tunnel system below ground was inspired by the word interconnected.

                                         ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH // BEAUTY

This was taken on my most recent trip to South East Asia. It is of the sun setting over Angkor Wat; two friends I traveled with direct a focus point from the foreground to the setting sun. I have always been fascinated with sunsets: the diversity, continuous cycle, and raw beauty. This is an original photograph.

                                           GREAT ARCHITECTURE

I traveled to Barcelona and saw first hand the marvels of Gaudi's work. The contrasting and comical shapes and colours, and how they interconnected to form a conceived whole had a profound effect on my already formed notions of respectable architecture. The style was unconventional, but celebrated. Very Dr. Seuss-like.

                               noun: PASSION
                                verb: MOLDING
                         adjective: GLOSSY

                               noun: LACQUER
                                verb: VIBRATIONS
                         adjective: BEAUTY

                               noun: MACHINE BEAST
                                verb: FLOW
                         adjective: INTERCONNECTED