36 Custom Textures

I found it easier and more interesting to start from one simple pattern or idea and then morph it in some way to a darker one.

The Black Box

Integration of Ideas
One salient feature of the Black Box project was the thorough integration of the ideas under Shadow. Having a central focus ensures that the study is as detailed as possible and encourages exploration of the focus. In comparison, my Experiment 2 revolves around a number of ideas; positive+negative space, ramp, science, landform, transmutation (Darwin), boundary conditions (Hawking). What is missing is an idea that ties all of the above together whilst allowing for diversity. Or at least one of the ideas can become the focus for the others.

Crysis Combined Axonometrics

3 Combined Axonometrics and Their Reverse

Crysis Axonometrics

18 Axonometrics

3 Quotes

1. Charles Darwin
Evolving life
Wikipedia, "On the origin of species" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_The_Origin_of_Species (accessed April 28th, 2010)

"Finally, it may not be a logical deduction, but to my imagination it is far more satisfactory to look at such instincts as the young cucko ejecting its foster-brothers,ants making slaves, the larvae of ichneumonidae feeding within the live bodies of caterpillars, not as especially endowed or created instincts but as small consequences of one general law, leading to the advancement of all organic beings..."

2. Stephen Hawking
Evolving universe
Stephan Hawking, "The Quantum State of the Universe," Nuclear Physics (1984)

"Many people would claim that the boundary conditions are not part of physics but belong to metaphysics or religion. They would claim that nature had complete freedom to start the universe off any way it wanted. That may be so, but it could also have made it evolve in a completely arbitaray and random manner. Yet all the eviddence is that it evolves in a regular way according to certain laws. It would therefore seem reasonable to suppose that there are also laws governing the boundary conditions."

3. Nicole Kuepper
Evolving technology
Youtube, "Solar star: Nicole Kuepper"
www.youtube.com/watch?v+W8eNeReo-hw

"In science, it's really exciting when new technologies start getting to the stage where you can use them"

sketchup_model_drop.io

http://drop.io/3292473_exp1

instead of 3D Warehouse because file exceeded upload limit

sketchup_final_model

Section

Gallery from outside
Below ground studio

Words
Top-sores (Paccinini) Bottom-past (Swallow)

Idea
Ambivalent organic forms extrude from a deep reservoir underground that is held up by a skeleton/exoskeleton reminescent of the buried past. The staircase penetrates both above and below ground, partly aggravating the organic exudate, partly reconnecting the buried skeleton with the world above, as it allows light to travel through. The pseudo-realistic skeleton theme resonates with some of Swallow's artworks while the organic forms have been inspired by Paccinini's artworks.

Materials
(Red) Exterior cladding of gallery, above ground studio and ceiling of below ground studio made out of glass reinforced plastic tiles. Texture and colour patterns built into tiles. With steel structural support.
(Gray) Underground studio floor laid in stone.
(White) Tower for staircase and ground in concrete, tower clad with white tiles
(Transparent white) Reinforced glass staircase.

3_animations_gallery

The principle brief for this building was to facilitate the selling of artworks, as well as providing a suitable image and workspace for the artists.

Before the visitor enters the gallery, he or she is already made aware of the presence of the artists' studios. Swallow's studio below ground is visible through the white concrete scaffolds. Paccinini's above ground studio is highlighted in a red, organic form high above the gallery. The sense of proximity between visitor and artist is encouraged inside the gallery as well, with the prominence of the staircase tower. The staircase itself is slightly hidden from view to add some mystery to what the artists do.

3_animations_studioabove

As spiral staircases make bearing weight difficult, artworks from either the studio above or studio below can be transported to the gallery via a pulley system through the centre of the staircase tower. Both artists appear to deal with similar sized artworks.

3_animations_sections

An overview of the building in sections.

note: please double click to see full view at Youtube

sketchup_second_model

Above ground studio
Section
Words
top-sores, bottom-past

Idea
This model attempts to evoke a sense of motion; objects rising from underground, which is representative of the past. The angles of the gallery and above ground studio space help to establish this. Transparency of glass decreases as one approaches underground to signify difference between above ground and below ground. The below ground studio for Swallow appears more rooted and permanent while the above ground studio for Paccinini appears more mobile as if it is breaking free.


Materials
-Gallery and floor of underground studio use concrete
-Tower containing stairs use metal cladding
-Underground studio is encased in glass. There's a slit underneath raised gallery to allow natural light in. Entire floor surrounded by stone to seperate studio from soil.
-Above ground studio has a semitransparent, reinforced glass wall in colour red.
-Stairs are semi-transparent glass to allow light down tower into underground studio.

final_model_sections

The draft sections that contributed to the final sketchup model. Indicating materials and measurements for the staircase.