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.

<><><><>

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.

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

Valley form with vegetation

<><><><> <><><><>

The developing landscape

<><><><> <><><><> <><><><>

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

EXP2: Concepts and Axonometrics

AXONOMETRICS

I have created five axonometric projections of rectangular prisms joined at right angles to reflect a concept derived from the work of selected architects. The chosen architects and concepts were as follows. 

Richard Rogers:  structural expressionism, public spaces and lightness 

Antonio Gaudi:  sculptural and and symbolism of religion

sculptural                         symbolism of religion

public spaces                                lightness

structural expressionism

 

SKETCHUP MODELS  

I developed both the 'structural expression' and 'public spaces' model into Google Sketchup. Both of these concepts are derrived from Richard Rogers' architecture.

structural expressionism model

public spaces model

CRYENGINE ENVIRONMENT

I chose to develop the public spaces monument (Rogers) into Cryengine. I followed to tutorial on creating terrain and added vegetation.

public spaces monument in developed Cryengine environment

EXP1: Animations

Below are completed animations of my studios and gallery space. Each animation focuses on a particular area of interest which is explained underneath. My animations assist in the exploration of space,scale and size. Through these videos, a relationship between the studio and gallery spaces are defined. A strong sense of cohesion is established through the deliberate consideration of materials and textures. 

GENERAL BUILDING SECTION 

This short animation exhibits a very brief exploration of the building in terms of it's structure and layout. the purpose of this video is to introduce the building as a whole, eluding the minor details. 

UPPER STUDIO SPACE 

This animation focuses on the upper studio inspired by Weiwei, based of the word 'sovereign'. the animation explores the glass skeletal structure and highlights the key focal piece of the glass staircase.

LOWER STUDIO STAIRS 

This animation highlights the staircase within the lower studio. The staircase was designed off the word 'resolute'. The short video depicts the intricacy of the staircase, revealing the independent blocks which interlink to create a functional stair. 

COMPLETE BUILDING EXPLORATION 

This is an extra animation I created which exhibits the external and internal spaces of the studios and gallery. The video assists in measuring a sense of scale and explores the cohesion of the separate spaces. 




PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEVELOPED MODEL 

 This is the front view of the completed model, revealing the upper studio space and the gallery space which connects the lower studio space. 

 This is the side view of the model, focusing on the application of custom textures upon surfaces. 

This image reveals the section of the building, assisting in exploration of the constructed space 

EXP1: Textures and Materiality

CUSTOM TEXTURES 

Below are a collection of the thirsty six textures which are inspired by words relating to materiality. This exercise enabled my to visually express the meaning of the textures. The words allowed an experimentation of literal and figurative meaning- resulting in thirty six unique and innovative patterns. 

A re-evaluation of previous designs lead me to develop new concepts, and ultimately a new building. I still used the words sovereign ( above ground ) and resolute ( below ground ) to base my building off. 

The piece consists of a structure constructed using reinforced steel and various types of class. This is echoed in the gallery space beneath which occupies both above and below ground. The gallery space is inaccessible to the public, however houses the artists' work which can be viewed via the transparent tube which is central for movement through the two spaces. The lower studio is constructed using steel and has an interior that consists of wood. 

Stairs from previous week's experiments have been included and well integrated into the new building. 

Furthermore, hand drawn textures have been applied to each section. 

The building's original concept sketch 

external view

 

section including stairs 

 material application 

upper studio : 'soft'

gallery space: 'bold'

lower studio: 'angular' 

     

Gallery space featuring Weiwei's artwork 

Bourgeois' artwork in the gallery space from viewing tube 

This is a video of The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) by Frank Gherry in Toronto, Canada. I see a resemblance in the structure of using a strong skeletal frame and glass to bring light into the gallery space and draw the outside inwards