Bethany McMahon ARCH1101: March 2012

Sunday, 25 March 2012

Saturday, 24 March 2012

Final Sketchup Model

Scheme

Above Ground: Prowling (Artist/Artwork: Louise Bourgeois 'The Spider')

This studio is made from a series of curved 'pods' stacked on top of each other and a rigid wooden deck which sits on the ground plane. The stairs protrude from the ground and the deck as jagged, distorted and uneven forms - mimicking the legs of 'The Spider'.

Below Ground: Precious (Artist/Artwork: Ai Weiwei 'Descending Light')

This studio has three skins which are made from three different sized cylinders stacked inside of each other. The inner skin is encased in glass and acts as a light shaft, introducing natural light to the underground studio. A 'shell' structure sits on one side of the top directing light and creating a shaded/protected area below. Hanging wooden stairs are suspended from the 'shell' by steel wires which glow red at night like Chinese lanterns. The stairs are hollowed out to allow space for plants to grow, creating the affect of an underground garden.

The Gallery

The three areas are separate - outdoor paths lead from the studios to the gallery and the gallery is open on the sides to put an emphasis on nature and the outside world. The galleries curved walls function to create a canopy over the art displays rather than to create an closed room.

Textures Used: Crystalline, Effervescent, Etched

I covered a large portion of the model with textures. The texture etched is used to connect the three components of the model. The effervescent texture is used on the 'pods' of the above ground studio to convey a sense of weightlessness. The crystalline texture is used on the 'shell' of the below ground studio to give the sense that the shell is a crystal or jewel. I edited the colours of the textures to give the idea of different material weights.

3D Warehouse:
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=6b46e81ba0b7898ce71b5fe873210609&prevstart=0

More stair sections + scheme detail

Above Ground

Below Ground

Model 3 (Progress)

Above Ground (with textures + the stair)
Word: Prowling

Below Ground (with textures + the stair)
Word: Precious

Crystalline - Effervescent - Etched

The Gallery

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

36 Textures

Oxidised, organic, effervescent, decayed, etched, cellular, volatile, compound, crystalline, dense, ripple, marbled, jagged, elastic, delicate, reflective, stable, connected, gaseous, scratched, artificial, eroded, linear, metallic, refractive, absorbent, rigid, luminous, geometric, fluid, layered, insulator, silky, mineral, symmetrical, galvanised.

Model 3 (Progress)

Below Ground

Word: Adjective: Precious; of high or great value; highly esteemed for some spiritual, non-material or moral quality; dear or beloved; affectedly delicate, refined or nice.

Above Ground

Word: Verb: Prowling;

Move around in search of or as if in search of prey; move around stealthily or restlessly as or like a hunter.

front view

interior detail - the 'vines'

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Concept:

Scheme

Scheme challenges the ideals of the above/below ground planes. The underground studio is lit naturally and brightly, and the above ground studio is dark and shadowy. The gallery will be encased in glass and plants. People will navigate through sub-levels in the gallery via a series of ramps. The sub-levels allow people to view the artworks from different angles and perspectives.

Below Ground

2 stories - top story opens to the datum/ ground level. Lower story is totally enclosed. Light shaft circles room and filters sunlight to it. Upper level functions as a garden/ nature space. The 'shell' structure shades half of the studio from weather/light to create differing atmospheres from one side of the studio to the other. The stairs will spiral around the sides of the form to elaborate its circular shape and maintain as much studio floor space as possible. The stairs will be suspended from the ceiling by steel wires which glow red, like Chinese lanterns. The light shaft has an open top which exposes it to the elements. The studio mimics the mood outside; on sunny days sunlight floods the shaft and lights the lower room, if it is raining outside the shaft fills with water - this is visible from inside the studio.

Above Ground

The above ground studio blends geometric and curved elements. Vine-like columns run horizontally through the studio and create shadows on the floor like a forest canopy. The space is entirely artificially lit. The stairs will follow the vine-like structure and weave irregularly down until meeting at a spot then continuing. Ladders allow people to climb up and sit on the vines and look down at the artist working.