Studio Exercise 3 (Posterboards)

Research Exercise 2

Reference: http://hoklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/AAZ-Presentation-Board-Final.jpg

The feature I like most about the design above is that it gives the viewer a clear understanding of the design- its purpose, context, overall design and features. This design board effectively merges different elements in an easy to read and flowing board. I also like how there is a subtle merge between colours and the main focus is on the 3D representation of the design in the top left corner.

Reference: http://th06.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2011/101/4/5/architecture_presentation_3_by_seventhsong-d3dqr39.jpg

The main feature that caught my eye in this presentation board was the composition of the images and the graphic design in the background. The colour scheme of yellow and white work very well in conjunction with the colour scheme of the model, further emphasizing the minimalist design that the architect has chosen.

Reference: http://pinterest.com/pin/377950593699093897/

For this design board I like the minimalist look to it, with the subtle use of the colour blue, green and grey. I also like how each section of the board has a lot of space of its own, allowing the viewer to easily focus on one section at a time.

Progress Pictures

Above is a rough section/ plan of where each room will possibly be (subjected to change/ not to scale). I have already put in the levels in my sketch up model, but I realised I might have too many levels and a lot of empty space, that is why I need to rearrange my plan in order for spaces in my design to be evenly distributed. This plan just allows me to visualise where I want certain rooms to be.

Studio Exercise 3

Stage 1

Kutaisi Airport in Georgia by UN Studio

Reference:

http://www.bustler.net/index.php/article/ben_van_berkel_unstudios_design_for_the_new_kutaisi_airport_in_georgia

 

Stage 2
1. Plan

Public, semi-public and private areas

2. Section

 3. Circulation

Week 2: Weekly Progress (Sketch up)

[Create a SketchUp model with each room as a seperate box (at approx the correct sizes). Play with stacking them, moving them around, rotating them - changing the relationships to see how this affects the primitive form within which they might fit. Capture images of your various combinations to show in your blog.]

Combination 1

Combination 2

Combination 3

[In addition, create at least two compositions of 3 primitives (in the proportions required in the brief). Present some views of the composition and explain why you have chosen that relationship (how you are thinking to place spaces, etc)] 

Combination 1

Chosen primitives: Wedge, cone and cube (box). 

When approached with the task of stacking 3 different primitives together I initially had the image of a hierarchical order to my building. Therefore my first combination has each primitive stacked one on top of the other. I think this combination of primitives put together allow for an easy distribution of spaces, however I feel that I can be more creative with arranging my chosen primitives. 

Combination 2

As stated in the brief, we are to only have one of our primitives parallel to the ground. I thought I would experiment with putting the cone as the primitive that touched the ground. I think this gives the overall combination of the primitives a unique form and it has the ability to create different shapes and sizes for the spaces inside. 

In class development

This is the design that I, with the help of my tutor, developed during class. I struggled a lot trying to to make all three primitives connect in a way so it looked like one unit. The cone caused the biggest problem because it has a curved surface and edge and it did not connect with the sharp and straight edges of the box and wedge. So far, I am happy with the design above but I may modify it as I continue to experiment with different combinations.

Studio Exercise 2 - Paper Folding

1. 

Urban Oasis by UNStudio 
Beach Road, Singapore, 2006

This is my representation of the Urban Oasis building designed by UNStudio, I struggled a lot at first to create the curving effect on the facade of the building. After my tutor, Vinh, helped me a lot working out how to create this design I was able to reproduce something that vaguely portrayed the actual design.

2. 

The reaccuring patterns and shapes that I could see in UNStudio's designs was a lot of curving and strong geometrical shapes. They also had a lot of dominate lines and corners. Most of their designs also consist of triangular and square shapes.

3.

Brussels Airport Connector by UNStudio
Belgium, 2011

This paper model was very rushed but nonetheless I created something that vaguely looked like the Brussels Airport Connector. It was difficult to get the jagged shape but it was much easier than the other tasks because we got to use multiple pieces of paper.

 The experience of this tasks was a good way to visualise the designs and see the shapes and patterns evident in each building. It also showed how limitations, such as using just 1 piece of paper, can affect our final product. Overall, a very challenging and different experience/ exercise.

Research Exercise 1: Design Influence

I chose UNStudio because of the creative and innovative designs that they have produced. A lot of their work has a futuristic look and feel to it, I think that was one of the main reasons why I have chosen to research and learn more about them. As seen above, these designs would have not been achievable without using computer aided design software/ 3D programs to produce renders like the examples I have displayed above. Being an architectural computing student, I aspire to produce work just like this in the future, so this is definitely a big inspiration to me. I also really like how the UNStudio's designs are different from the norm/ traditional buildings, as they strive to design and create something exceptional and unique.

Studio Exercise 1: Comparative sketching

Describe what could be easily understood and what could only be guessed at, and comment on  what this shows in terms of this issue of any specific type of information. In other words, why can we not just design and build from a set of plans, or from a set of elevations and sections, etc.

In my tutorial group (Group 1) we were given just a set of plans (including the roof plan). At first I thought it would be easy, compared to the other groups, but however after analysing the plans I got quite confused. I think the hardest part for our group was knowing the heights of each building and the levels that each building had.  It was quite easy identifying the overall layout of each building and which one was further forward or backward. After discovering that on the plans when it says 1st floor it does not necessarily mean that it is ground floor, this made us all realise that the site is on a slope. Our tutor, Vinh, helped us a lot in identifying detail and the leveling of the buildings.

It is difficult to design and build from a set of plans because we are unable to identify detail such as where the level of the building starts and the height of each building.