EXP3: Developing structures & peer feedback

CHOSEN COMPANIES

Facebook
Coca Cola


POWER CONCEPT

The use of networking to branch out & influence all spheres of power


FACEBOOK HEADQUARTERS

The continual steel structure demonstrates the interlinking between the notion of networking. In additon, the manner of joining the spaces together depicts the resulting relationships of networking. Independent of the company's identity, the material choise of the blue glass and steel structure is in accordance to the iconic symbol.

The continual interlinking of the steel structure

Transperancy of the blue tinted glass to reflect the company

THE BRIDGE

The bridge consists of independant pathways to reach the central lift shaft. The individual walkways convey the notion of separate paths to reach a central point of union, in this case, resembling the union which occurs through company netowrking & the salient point or strong points of the company's power, similar to the concept of networking.  

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The two end blocks represent the positioning of the HQs

The independant suspended walkways

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The cables form a framing of the bridge walkways

PEER FEEDBACK

Below are feedback sheets completed by other classmates reviewing the development of my experiment. I will take into consideration all of what has been said to achieve a better mark for the final submission.

EXP3: Two point perspectives & elevators

TWO POINT PERSPECTIVES

In conjunction to last week's task, this week we designiged arrangements of H shapes and depicted them through twp point perpective drawings. These drawings are accompanied by a word which resonates with the perspective's relationship to power. Furthermore, the spaces which are designed through the amalgamations may translate into three dimensional pathways.

THE ELEVATORS

I decided on creating a central lift shaft, which would share both Coca cola and Facebook’s separate elevators. The cylindrical lift shaft is divided in half, so that the independent elevators continually convey a notion of connection with each other.
Coca cola’s lift shaft consists of organic red shapes which convey the iconic company symbol. The back wall of the elevator uses circular translucent windows, inspired by the bubbly nature of the company’s product.
facebook’s elevator capitalises on the idea of separate entities united in connection to produce a functional body. The elevator is constructed of individual bars, wrapping around to enclose the space and work in alignment to convey the power of networking. The lift uses a colour palette of metal and blue, in keeping with the iconic company’s skin.

Two halves of the central lift shaft

Coca cola elevator

Facebook elevator

CRYENGINE ELEVATOR MOVEMENT

Following Russell's tutorial, I created an elevator in Cryengine by importing a random model from Google Sketchup (not the actual final elevator models) and adding moving entities. The screen captures below demonstrate the changing views of experience whilst riding the elevator.

Initial view of the valley from the elevator floor

Final view of the valley from maximum height

EXP3: Mashup, valley & one point perspectives

MASH UP

This time the negative attention concerns Coca-Cola’s presence in Swaziland, an impoverished country ruled by Africa’s last absolute monarch.They claim that Coca Cola is providing the king with the economic strength to crush opposition and continue “milking the country.”This statement is anything but hyperbole. What is more, its implications are simply huge.At its most basic Facebook is a communications tool. With 1 billion people you can be sure the person you are looking for is on Facebook. If they aren't then they aren't on the internet full stop. 1 billion users would quickly suck in those who had resisted creating accounts so far. You would almost need to create an account for fear of being left out in the cold.It has been the target of criticism for its violent and sexually-explicit content. It soon became the subject of more controversy for a feature that allows the user to drive drunk. The cases against Grand Theft Auto revolve around whether it’s because they’re imitating the game, because they have become desensitized by the game or because the game has trained them to act violently.Coca-Cola’s response was that it provided this argument: they don’t determine what Swaziland does with the taxes paid by Coca-Cola’s plant. Then there is the issue of Facebook making money. I know, but with a captive audience of 1 billion and all those servers to pay for who knows.Yet, this case seems to be a bit different, as it raises the question if it is fair to ask a company to use its economic power to impact a country’s political system. Let's just hope we don't lose sight of individual innovation and free thinking.

ARTICLES

Cocacola article: (RED TEXT)

"Should Coca-Cola Use its Power to Promote Social Justice in Swaziland" by Raz Godelnik

Date accessed 13.05.12

http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/01/coca-cola-power-swaziland-promote-social-justice/

Facebook article:(BLUE TEXT)
"Facebook: the power nd dangers of 1 billion users" By Chris Wright 23.07.10
Date accessed 13.05.12
http://www.techdae.com/news/internet/facebook-the-power-and-dangers-of-1-billion-users-705219

T2 article: (BLACK TEXT)

"Murder Reignites Grand Theft Auto Controversy" by Dennis Cummings 05.08.10

Date accessed: 13.05.12

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/technology/July-August-08/Murder-Reignites-Grand-Theft-Auto-Controversy.html

POWER CONCEPT

The use of networking to branchout to several spheres of influence

This is demonstrated through the article mashup through the discussion of power in regards to holding influence in various spheres such as politial, social and economical.




H PERSPECTIVE DRAWINGS 

Below are eighteen perspective drawings consisting of H arrangements. Each drawing is accompanied by a word relating to power. There is a careful consideration of horizontal travel space between the arrangements, which may contribute to developing notions of spacial consideration within the experiment.

  

THE VALLEY

The valley which is created in Cryengine is inspired from the Philippine rice field terraces in Banaue. I found this landscape to be most interesting as the clever manipulation of the landscape provides a most efficient and sightly form of produce.

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Banaue rice terraces, Philippines

I modeled the rice fields into an environment through Cryengine. So far, I am pleased with the developing results, however the depicted screenshots show the vegetation as white bushes (this is not the same in the editor).I think this is a very interesting landscape with great potential for this experiment.I will work to further develop the environment in the comming weeks.

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Valley form with vegetation

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The developing landscape

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The landscape as an island

View from the top of the valley

 

EXP2: Architecture and landscape

ELECTROAGGREGATION CONCEPT

Organic development of spaces created through structure.


IMAGE CAPTURES

As I continued to develop the architecture according to my aggregated concept, the monument changed dramatically. I created the ampitheatre space as the central meeting point for all the students and several independant spaces which function as meeting rooms, gallery and exhibition spaces. I chose to submerge a large part of the building into the mountainous landscape to further convey the notion of an organic development of the architecture, in close connection to it's environment.

The monument is embeded into the mountainous landscape to convey an organic growth of the structure from the connection to the land. This also emphaises the monument's variation in rectangular element size- designed to mirror the scale of it's environment.

 

The dramatic entrance to the monument showcases the sculptural arrangement of the rectangular prisms, mirroring the organic arrangement of the structure as a whole, deffining the created space. The deliberate manipulation of orientations create a free flowing element of the monument.

The high angle view of the central space depicts the placement of significant structural elements to cohesively create a unified and covered meeting area of the building. The pastiche of rectangular prisims overlap on different levels- this creates a range of tantalizing, combined shadows onto the monument floor.

A deliberate placement of the structure's key elements all converge in the contirbution to the creation of a versatile, multifunctional space. The facets work in cohesion to impeccably blalance the space through the range in varying scale and size.

The large cantilevered structure is echoed to mirror an overhead canopy, creating a naturally inspired space underneath. The created voids and spaced between these elements enables the passage of light, and creation of shadows onto this passage space. This aspect is emphasised with the application of textures.


GOOGLE WAREHOUSE MODEL

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=a4bfc71c2c534577aac34a6a1b931bf9


CRYENGINE ENVIRONMENT

http://www.gamefront.com/files/21666353/a2+c4.cry

EXP2: Custom textures

CUSTOM TEXTURES

Below are 36 hand drawn textures representing the transition from dark to light. By maintaining the same patterns, there is an emphasis upon the gradual change in tone within the textures.

dark to light textures

APPLIED TEXTURES

I selected three gradients of the drawn textures to apply to significant blocks of my monument.


I applied a texture to the overhead rectangular arches which hover above the space as structural elements, in turn conveying a sense of enclosure and creating a new and interesting space



rectangular arch structure

I felt that a texture should be applied to the cantilevered, glass element of the structure, as it is crucial in finialising the space by covering the central meeting areal. The texture is applied to a transpearant surface, so that the component maintains it's integrity, whilst being emphaised by the applied pattern.

cantilevered glass

I chose to texture part of one wall in the central meeting/ ampitheathre space. The reason I nominated this wall of particular significance is becuse it caters to the monument through multiple functions. The rectangular prism is carved out to contain the entrance/reception area, houses external stairs and encloses a fundamental space of the building.

multifunction block

EXP2: Electroliquid aggregation

COMBINED AXONOMETRICS
Below are three sketches of two combined concepts of architecture. The combination of concepts are derrived from the chosen nominated architects, Richard Rogers (R) and Antoni Gaudi (G).

                                 

lightness & sculptural              structural & symbolism of religion         structural & structural 

             (R)              (G)                    (R)                (G)                                   (R)                 (G)
                 

ELECTROLIQUID AGGREGATION CONCEPT

Organic development of spaces created through structure.

SKETCHUP MODEL



Using the derrived concept,I developed the sketch into Google Sketchup.  During the process, the monument evolved to produce more detailed aspects. I used a combination of material applications such as glass, concrete, paint and timber.

The organic arangement of rectangular prisms translate to create a structure which translate into the development of spaces.

CRYENGINE ENVIROMENT

After developing the monument in Sketchp, I imported it into a Cryengine enviromment. My environment is an island with varying land forms and features such as mountains, waterfalls, ravines etc.

Developed monument into the Cryengine enviroment