Alyse Hyman: June 2011

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.