Thursday, 22 March 2012

exemplars.

I always find it useful to look at precedents early in the design process. We often use exemplars as a basis for our own designs, twisting and adapting and adding to ideas that have gone before. Below are some of the projects I came across that really inspired me and set my ideas in motion. Each provides a unique learning environment and experience for users.

1. the morning line. [matthew ritche]

"this project proposes a ruin from the future, a new type of structure whose function can only be inferred not just by using it but by reading it." (quote from Design Playgrounds Article)

image retrieved from: 10 x 10_3 100 Architects, 10 Critics. (2009). p. 29. New York: Phaidon Press Ltd.

This project exhibits the connections between music, cosmology, architecture and art. The space is used to host performances by various composers and musicians. It is constructed from epoxy-coated aluminium units that are modular, stackable and transportable for future exhibitions at various sites. I think this is a really interesting and dynamic sound and visual composition, which is what ultimately encourages people to engage with it.



2. eco boulevard. [ecosistema urbano]

"the Eco-boulevard competition is organized with two objectives: one of a social nature, aimed to generate activity, and one of an environmental nature, the bioclimatic adaptation of an outdoor space." 
(quote from ArchDaily article)




This project involves a collection of cylindrical towers containing vertical gardens in a barren district in Madrid. They operate as public spaces for residents in the area, and are also fitted with photo-voltaic panels to capture solar energy. I think this is a really effective 'activator of space' because the structure functions as both an environmental statement and urban icon that helps establish the identity for inhabitants of the district.

3. souffle. [holdup architecture & art direction]

"after making her/himself comfortable, the intruder shortly notices that any single vibration triggers an interaction with the structure. If fancied, she/he is given the chance to take control of the atmospheric elements projected on the ceiling." (quote from http://www.holduparchitecture.com/#souffle)



From an outside perspective, this structure looks relatively uninviting, austere and alien-like. It is imbalanced and thus instigates a strange and uncomfortable atmosphere. The interior environment, however, is far less hostile. Users must first remove their footwear before entering the intimate and welcoming space. Inside, their is a suspended microphone that detects any movement and translates it to projected images on the ceiling of the structure. I think this is a really successful project because of the interesting contrast between the interior and exterior environments which is surprising to the user, and the interactive experience it allows, where users can explore the relationships between sound and image.

4. le mur du mou. [yok yok architects]

"Distorting mirrors enter a shape of undisciplined echo with the world which surrounds it. We meet a different space, one itself unexpected, and the other strange and funny there ...The deformation changes our perceptions and brings to a new, alive and done wonders for the self-confidence visual experience." 

(quote from Festival des Architectures Vives 2011 Info Pamphlet)


images retrieved from: Festival des Architectures Vives info pamphlet 2011 6th ed



This is more of an art installation than architecture, however the concept behind the project is really clever and interactive. The mirrors reflect distorted images of the user, as well as the surrounding architecture/environment. It creates a warped world where users can explore different perspectives and perceptions.

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