Retrospective.

Looking back over the past semester of arch communications...its been a long journey but really worthwhile. Hesitant. Perfectly describes my feelings during the Model It segment in which I was not particularly fond of recreating houses in 1:50 balsa wood models. It was my belief that this was a thing of the past in the hi-tech world in which we currently live. It was not only time consuming, it was also made even more difficult by the prospect of having to convert floor plans and sections from inches to millimetres or just figure out the scale to which the drawings were created. The Model It segment also left me feeling slightly hard done by due to the incredibly high standards by which the tutors expected the work to be completed at, despite never having come across balsa wood before in my life. It was this which made it even more difficult to cope with the constant model making that was expected of us each week. Looking back though, it was not such a bad introduction to the course and ended up being a good reminder of the many years that are still to come of architecture in which model making will only become more and more serious, where people even fill swimming pools with water.

I found the second segment, Draw It, to be the most useful and applicable to the life of an architect. The combination of drawing and rendering was a great insight into the processes of an architect. It was also refreshing to be drawing by hand and to be expressing oneself without the use of a computer aided program. It was also a great segment as it enabled one to familiarise themself with a 'real' piece of architecture and really see the concepts behind the creation.

Lastly, the Montage It segment, it was all very ambiguous, between the directions and the expectations, it was hard to decipher what was really being asked of us. However, I did enjoy the creativity and endless possibilities that came with the tasks as well as a new way of thinking about architectural spaces and masses.

Overall, the entire course was a lot of work, particularly the model making segment which ate up a lot of time. In hindsight, the course was thoroughly worthwhile and useful.

Montage It. Poster.

I have chosen to reflect upon my flipbook images for my Model It poster. It was through the creation of these flipbook images that I was able to explore my created architectural space and also realise the boundless spaces and freedom that lies within an architectural space. The design of my poster explores the concept that space and movement are only what we perceive them to be, that movement does not have to be ordered or linear rather it can be an exploration within a space to find other interesting spaces. It is through the jumbled up and randomly placed images, that my poster explores this concept of being 'lost' within an architectural form and realising the endless opportunities that lie within. 

Montage It.

Daytime

Nightime

My Model/Sculpture

Draw It. Final Presentation Renderings

Draw-It Poster!

Model It.

Below are some photos taken of my models that i created as well as my poster. 

Barcelona Pavilion by Mies Van Der Rohe

The Fisher House by Louis Kahn

Fisher House Window Seat Detail

Fisher House Site by Louis Kahn

Joining Of The House Exercise

Model-It Poster!

How to Access My Google Sketchup Model

Below is the link for Jonathan Ive's Elevator:

Jonathan Ive's Elevator


Below is the link for the meeting point and the dining table:

Meeting point and dining table


Below is the link for my Lady Gaga Office Space:

Lady Gaga Office Space


Below is the link for my Lady Gaga Elevator:

Lady Gaga Elevator

Unfortunately, my Jonathan Ive's office space is too large to be uploaded to Google Warehouse.

Textures Utilised Within My Structures

Below are the eight textures that I have utilised within the structures of my Crysis Wars environment. I have repeated the textures throughout the differing structures to represent how the feeling of 'power' not only flows through from one client to the next but also flows through in my final design and construction. 

Link to my Object and Levels Folder

Levels folder


Objects folder


Pine trees 
(This link must be saved under - Program Files (x86 -if have) - Electronic Arts - Crytek - Crysis Wars - Game, before opening Crysis Wars!!!)

FINAL PICTURES and COMMENTS

My Crysis Wars landscape of a serene peaceful valley relates to both of my clients, despite deriving from Italy, the country of Lady Gaga's family. The valley is somewhat similar to those found in England, where Jonathan Ive is originally from. Whilst both live away from their home towns, their connection with their landscape of origin is one that provides them with a sense of belonging and thus provides both of my clients with a sensation of 'power'.

 
The meeting point which includes the dining table and chairs is a massive structure, however, appears dwarfed in comparison to the height of the valley. The positioning of the meeting point on the ground also plays on this, where one would assume that doing so would remove all form of power. However, acknowledging where humans and objects sit within our world, allows one to gain power. The centered position of the table and chairs expresses the influence and importance of both of the clients in their respective fields. The meeting space and dining table, are a mixture of modern and eclectic. Just as are the clients, seen through GAGA's references to past decades of music in her songs and through Ive's acknowledgement of past methods of design such as referencing Japanese sword construction in the design of the Ipad. Thus, the meeting point and dining room table reflect both of the clients and express their authority within our contemporary world. 

Jonathan Ive's office space was constructed with his eye for design in mind. The office space reflects apples minimalistic approach to design and computing, with systems that highlight design and simplicity. This is expressed in the space, through the four different working spaces all of which are interconnected through a larger space in the centre where Ive's main desk and iconic chair are situated. The effect of the cut out glass walls not only provides natural sunlight but also brings the landscape closer, giving the feeling that Ive's is simply perched on a hill a top of a valley. The back wall (black) is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, acting as a 'mind lab' where Ive's can note down his ideas and designs in a quiet and peaceful setting. Lastly, the design responds to Ive's power within our modern day world, where it juts out of the bridge and floats amongst a deep valley. 

Jonathan Ive's elevator draws inspiration from the open feel of his office space, evident through its randomly placed and sized squares and rectangles which cut through the exterior and make the experience of riding the elevator one of great celebration for the landscape and of design. Both the exterior and the interior of the elevator, which consists of windows which jut out, draw inspiration from the maze like assembly of a computer chip, something of which Ive is more than familiar. The lift references to the idea of power through providing its rider with the power to decide where they shall view the landscape from, providing them with authority of the natural landscape. The avant-garde design and construction of the lift also expresses the power of human beings to construct our own world within the natural world, just as Ive does everyday through his empowering designs for Apple. 

Lady GAGA's office space reflects her provocative and exciting artistic nature as well as her dominance over the media, fashion and music. Gaga's work space is one that is multi-functional, featuring a dressing room with floor to ceiling mirrors and plenty of space for all of her shoes, a recording studio with great acoustics, a chill-out area fitted with her own microphone rocking chair and a place where she can conduct business. Gaga's office space reflects her unconventional and attention seeking persona, through the large glowing "HAUS OF GAGA" sign perched as if it was sitting on the hills of Hollywood. The giant size statue of herself all made up as Gaga also highlights her unusual stance within the cultural world. Her office space not only reflects power through its enormous size but also through reflecting Gaga herself, seen through its unusual mix of out-there textures just like her fashion sense and its futuristic and avant-garde exterior just like her music. Thus, the "Haus of GAGA" truly does reflect both Lady Gaga and her true self as well as power. 

Lady Gaga's elevator draws inspiration from her whimsical and futuristically extravagant office space, where just like Gaga anything goes. The glow of the elevator instantly highlights it amongst is natural surroundings, providing it with power over its landscape through its alienating design. Just like Gaga, who portrays an image, not her true self, so does her elevator. Evident through the over compensating glow of the jagged texture just like the killer heels which Stefani Germanotta owns every time she walks out as 'Lady Gaga'. The alienating entrance way, a small triangle within harsh piercing shapes, also refers to Gaga's alienating presence on stage captivated not only through her outfits but also through her surreal nature. In this way, not only does the elevator strongly relate to the client but it also references the conceptual notion of power within the contemporary world. 

LADY GAGA HAUS Office Video

Below is a tour of Lady Gaga's Office Space, otherwise known as "Lady GAGA Haus"





There are many more videos to come, however, YouTube is taking an incredibly long time to upload each one, but they do say that good things are worth waiting for...

Elevator Movements

My Google Sketchup Bridge Model...

In creating my bridge i did not want it to simply follow the traditional notions of a bridge as a crossing from one place to another. Rather, I wanted it to be something more symbolic in terms of representing power and the role of power in our contemporary world. Thus, I decided to create a circular entity, where one follows the circular path, one which does not lead anywhere, other than circling. This, I believe represents society today and especially both of my clients, where nothing in life is as simple as a straight path and one must circle before they find themselves and then later achieve power through finding the acceptance and acknowledgement of others. The concept of the interconnected circular bridge also highlights the interconnected nature of both of my clients and the media, where it is through this interdependent relationship that one gains and retains power. 


Below are three images of my bridge in its Google Sketchup form. To further the design, I want to incorporate Jonathan Ive's office space into one side of the bridge below.

Concept for Office Spaces

IVE chair of wisdom...

The GAGA throne

My Dining Table + Chairs

Below are three images taken of my sketchup model of my dining table and chairs. I have yet to decide on colours and whether I will apply textures to them or not. My dining table will be multi-functional, incorporating all of the basic necessities that are found in a kitchen as well as almost being a conferencing room with built in computer screens and internet access so that the clients are always able to be reached....

Peer Review

36 textures

My 36 custom textures all explore motion in regard to my 6 words which help one to understand movement.

Elevator Ride!!!

Below are some images taken of my elevator ride within my Crysis Wars environment from my perspective, showing how it changes as the elevator moves up and down...

My Two Point Perspectives...

Below are my two point perspectives which explore the space bounding opportunities that exist between three "T-shaped" prisms in space. Under each perspective is also a word that describes my relationship with the prism as well as alludes to a relationship with power. 

My Two Chosen Clients...

OPRAH WINFREY FOR PRESIDENT

Queen of the microphone....

Jonathan IVE

The master of design...

LADY GAGA!!!!

The many faces of GAGA...