(Re)presenting – A Play with Light

(Re)presenting – Shadow sketches

(Re)presenting – Final Models

I am proud of my final model. The way the sticks make blurry shadows behind the trace paper. The way the cube cut-outs create tunnels which cause you to flip the model in your hands in order for you to peer down all possible roots. The way different size cubes stack up to equal each other. The way it explores ideas of both solid and outline. The way the change in the direction of the grain creates horizontal and vertical lines.

When we came together we were pleasantly surprised. They work so well together! There are many ways to stack them together – which loosely links with one of our early ideas: that the distinction between horizontal and vertical is ambiguous, they are interchangeable for each other.

Our final models explores horizontal and vertical lines in a three dimensional form. The way line is used to create shapes, define spaces (around and between) and create tunnels or ways to channel views. Lines become the essence of 3D form.

Our shadow drawings will be projections of the models. This will mean that the models are reduced back to 2D, that the 3D form will be lost and line is the outstanding feature.

(Re)presenting – Sketchup Plan

I need to be more free. I should be designing while I am modelling, not working from a plan. I need to use the model as a design tool.

Make the boxes different sizes. Trace paper. Loose the small tunnels. Less calculated.
Also I should keep in mind Frankie’s model.

Although they are two different explorations we want them to sit side by side and suit each other – making it obvious that they are designed in the same theme taken from the same central idea. I think I can achieve this by making a 10x10cm empty box in mine, as this is the structure Frankie has created.

(Re)presenting – Sketch Models

The collection of smaller cubes explores ideas of joinery, horizontal and vertical bases and possibilities created with contrasting materials.

Stacking the smaller cubes to make the large cube is an idea we came into the tutorial with. The smaller cubes are blocks that the audience could arrange, giving them a choice to make horizontal OR vertical lines.

I left the tutorial with a similar idea, except that the structure will be rigid. Frankie has gone in another direction – cubes within cubes. We will each make one cube, and present them together, showing different ways the same theme can be explored.

(Re)presenting – Initial Idea Sketches

From the space we have taken the theme of line – horizontal and vertical. There are a number of things to explore within this idea:
- Shadow
- How it becomes ambiguous - what is up? And what is across?
- Flow/direction
- Contrast
- Framing
- ...

After discussion it seems that our model will focus on line and shadow. Use balsa sticks to define vertical and horizontal (one cube of each). Cut out within the sticks are shadows cast within the space, particularly those created by the surrounding angular buildings. The shadow cut outs could be painted black.

We spent most of our time discussing how we could attach the sticks to the base and what material the base would be made of? This is what we are planning on finishing for next week.

Rendering – Final Work

I am happy with the final design – although, it is not what I originally intended. I was planning to create a subtle, lightly coloured presentation where the house plans and sections almost glowed because of the surrounding trees, rocks and water. But the bright, bold colours, the layout and the shape of the house create a ‘treasure map’ vibe, and I think this works well. It’s fun, bold, and has exaggerated the aspects of the sight that made the clients fall in love with it. As a rendered drawing i believe it is successful. (I agree with the tutors comments that the plans should have been drawn with a thicker pen.)

However, I do not feel the class taught me as much as I had initially anticipated. I had hoped to gain an understanding of HOW to render drawings – different techniques, types, and materials... However, what I learnt was more about WHAT to render – highlights, features and shadows... Overall one of the most useful things I took from the class was a handout – it has conventional illustrations of a variety of trees in both plan and elevation.

Rendering – Inspiration

Source: "Traditional Architectural Rendering," Delineation Concepts,
http://www.dc-illustrations.com/architectural-rendering-architectural-illustration-traditional-2.html

- Use of tones creates textured surfaces.

Source: "Sally Wolff, Artists Impressions," Sally Wolff, http://www.sallywolff.mistral.co.uk/

- Use of colour to make different materials recognisable.

Source: "Archiectural Rendering and Illustrations," Stephen F Condre, http://www.stephencondren.com/Index/RenderingHome.htm

- Light application adds a subtle hue of colour to a simple drawing, creating interest and highlighting certain aspects.

I hope to apply water colour primarily to the landscape surrounding the Israel house. The trees, rocks and snippet of water are what make this sight unique – the design directly responses to each of these elements. It is a sight specific work.

Model It - Final Model - Fisher House

This is incomplete. I spend too much of my time making the external detailing. The exterior is completely finished, probably at a level of detail that is lost in the tiny scale. However, once I started with intricate detailing I left I needed to continue it through the whole building. As a result other elements are incomplete.

I hope that the select other finished sections successfully shown my skills in these other areas. I felt it was important to complete (to a high level of accuracy) the famous window and chimney – here I have used a curved surface and shown furniture (however it is some what limited). The second box appears to be completed. When you look through the windows you see walls. I have attached the roof as no all walls and stairs are complete only those visible from the external view. The basement shows an understanding for the use of varying bolsa thickness, as well as showing detailed small stairs.

I hope that I have made the right decision to complete one area of the model to extreme detail, while other areas that address different skills are limited in their extent. I am please with the final model. I feel that my detailing has dramatically improve (in the Church of Light exercise I left out window frames because they were too difficult – here I have a number of frames to demonstrate the real situation). My joining has also improve – I am minimising the gaps I have between spaces (however this can still be there involved). I feel that the way the model deconstruct to allow you to see inside the model is somewhat more sophisticated that the roof simply lifting off.

Model It - Second Week - Progress Models

What I learnt:
Gaps: The first model I bit was my folding once piece into this shape. It meant that i have huge gaps around the end pieces.
Importance of correct thicknesses: The theory was to use thicker bolsa to compensate for the gaps in the previous model. However, the thick bolsa doesn’t mean at the correct angles. To fix this I could try angle cuts but they are tricky.
Models as a design tool: This is a new way of thinking about designing for me. I quiet like it because it is easy to see where problems lie and to promptly address them.

Model It - Church of Light

What I learnt:
Window frames: I had real trouble cutting the window frames and the thin cross. The bolsa cracks and breaks! The only way i could resolve this was to have no window frames and to heavily sand back the cross cuts. It is not ideal. I need practice with detailing.
However, overall this was easier than I expected.

Model It - First Week

What I learnt:

Materials: I learnt that I prefer to work with bolsa over cardboard. It is harder to cut and not as accurate.
Error: I also made the error of putting the heavier material on top (the cardboard). I have to create a support to hold it up.
The support beam I put across the house has the grain running in the wrong direction. Supports should have the grain running along from end to end.
Constructed cuts: We practiced making cuts in the bolsa once it had already been constructed. It is hard to control the end point – but where the building interlock, the cut was neater than the bolsa window.