30/01/20

The last week has really made me think about time management and planning ahead to ensure i don't have to rush to complete work. Throughout the week, I have planned and created portfolio sheets, using the guidelines given in class as well as planning my days for next week. We were also briefed on our Unit 3 project which I aim to start on within the next couple of days. 

As well as this, interview prep has also been essential. Quizzing my friends with interview questions was a great way of briefly preparing answers and being more confident in public speaking. This was an effective task as well as, showing each other our portfolios. I was advised by my tutor to redo a couple of sheets as the presentation for some of them were a little off- either too much on one page or re positioning photos to another page. At first, I became a little stressed about the fact I had to redo these sheets as I was trying to stick to the schedule i had made for myself and this had only set me back. Nevertheless, I agreed with the feedback and so did my peers and was happy with the final outcome of my sheets after rearranging as advised. I am happy with the outcome of my sheets. 

28/01/20

Model making process - water storage tank

I enjoyed making the extension model for the Plot project. I decided to focus on the underwater storage tank the rain collector shelters are built on the surface of. Throughout the Plot project, I felt I wasn't able to fully explore the process of rainwater after it enters the storage tank and therefore, chose to research the details of this throughout the extension. Following geographical diagrams I had researched on the internet, I had to consider the safety of the users of the garden and the added risk of flooding with my design. The overflow drainage attached to the side of the tank allows for any overflowing water collected to be released slowly into the soil. For extra precaution, my design would also include an inspection chamber allowing for specialists to check water levels and safely maintain the tank, as well as, the float valve indicator. For my final EXT piece, I created a 1:20 scale model using balsa wood and acrylic for the water tank, acrylic tubing and terracotta for the above ground shelter. I drilled holes in the wood and acrylic as well as using the bandsaw to cut through the acrylic and sanded down the edges using a file. I thoroughly enjoyed this project. I feel I have used the extra time (extension) time effectively and chose the right project to adapt further as I felt it wasn't fully finished earlier on. I wanted to delve deeper into the water tank storage/more technical side which I believe I have achieved. 

Exploring with different materials for my Plot Extension:

Since my self assessment, crit and speaking with my tutors, I have made it into several workshops to play around with different materials which could be used for my funnel design. Plastic workshop: I bought some mirror styrene, heated it up in the oven, which made it an easier consistency to work and mould with. After placing it in the oven, the mirror unexpectedly turned into a speckled- shiny, textured surface which was rather interesting. I had no idea heating the mirror styrene would change its properties. Nevertheless, I found the final outcome even more intriguing than its original state.  I then used my hands to bend and fold into the desired petal-like shape. I also went to the metal workshop and aimed to recreate the form out of aluminium. After hitting the metal with a hammer (making it more malleable) and hitting out the pleats in the material, I was able to mould the metal using my hands- with a little more force. I appreciated the smooth cut and feel of the aluminium, though I believed it wouldn't fully blend in with its background at the Chelsea Physic Garden. It's rather distracting, due to the contrast in metal texture and the rugged woodland. Ultimately, I experimented with white air drying clay which was far easier to mould by hand. I then rolled it through a rough, sand paper-like surface to replicate a concrete effect and painted it grey, just to understand what it might look like if the full scale structure was made of it. I stuck with terracotta clay for my final design, purely to its gorgeous earthly tone.

27/01/20

Self Assessment: 

Part 2 Reflection Activity:

Strengths: site context and assessing site. Research into sustainable/renewable energy methods and delving into them in detail. Range of research angles/artists- External influences (outside of architecture/design- TV series ie. The Crown influence in Thresholds. Improved model making and acknowledgement of scale. Experimenting with materials such as aluminium and mirror styrene in my Plot EXT project. Original idea making- risk taking in terms of ideation.

Priorities for improvement:

+Portfolio storyboards to C.P, Problem solving, contextual review (Harvard referencing), more sketch model making, further experimentation with materials. More free hand sketching.

23/01/20

Today we did practice interview questions around the class. One by one, we were called to stand up and answer a question the tutor asked. This was helpful as we were able to hear the various types of questions we could be asked as well as hearing good answers and answers that needed developing further. I was asked what book I read which was of great interest to me in terms of research. I answered a book called "Buckingham Palace Redesigned" by Sir Terry Farrell which focused on a similar context to my project- the gates of the Buckingham Palace and the idea of removing them. 

Portfolio preparation: photos from notebook

21/01/20

Synthesis: Reflecting on my ASD projects. Form, site or people. 

I am content with the amount of time spent researching into site throughout my part 2 projects. I feel I took the site context into consideration a lot within the Threshold, Buckingham Palace project, which understandably, took a lot of research. Although, I feel I could have dedicated an entire page to site in my Movement project - Macau. All of my part 2 projects focused on societal needs - Movement (housing), Urban Dense City (office worker's mental health), Thresholds (class divide/society and royalty) and Plot (Chelsea Physic Garden - visitors).

I would like to explore/do more free hand sketching and exploring materials. I feel like my previous projects have been very much focused on concept, design, site - and would like to explore model making/materiality a little more throughout the next unit. 

At the moment, I am particularly inspired by the Assemble Collective. I genuinely just love how they are a group of a mixture of artistic backgrounds. I feel like this is a similar environment to U.A.L, which I appreciate. It's the fact that, yes, we're in architecture, although, our projects can easily include elements of graphics, fashion, film etc. We should use everything around us to influence our work, so I like the idea that the Assemble Collective follows the same kind of environment. I also appreciate their range of projects - from sustainable decorative door knobs  to renovating a fairly unwealthy street in Liverpool called Granby Street. Working with what's already there. I also find Thomas Heatherwick's structures quite intriguing due to his original ideas. I love risk taking in design, it is something I try to do myself. So, it's nice to see watch an already successful architect following the same ideals (rolling bridge). 

20/01/20

Today, was the Plot crit, in which three members of staff of the Chelsea Physic Garden came to visit our work. Listening to each other's projects was very interesting as everyone had completely different ideas. I enjoyed presenting in front of my peers and speaking individually to one of the Chelsea staff, who seemed intrigued by my rain catcher design. 

Crit Sheet

My proposal is a series of shelters which capture rain (raincatchers). They collect rain water which is stored in an underwater tank, below the structure. I thought to create this proposal as I noticed there were no shelters to prevent you from extreme weather conditions. The full scale piece would be made from clay, PEX pipes with wooden beams. 

Feedback: 

"Really enjoyed your project. It would be great to see if you could make a model to truly present your model's complete function"

"Super great collages, especially the final outcome. Great model. Maybe a bit more explanation of the function - photocopy sketch. Maybe additional sight understanding but other than that great, effective design." 

"Lovely, clever concept which is very useful. Your visualisation is really good and your sheets all look very interesting and not boring. Well done."

"I like your samples and experimentation. great organic shapes!"

My response: 

In response to my peer feedback- I will now develop this project further, focusing on visualisations, water storage tank elevations. Exploring materiality - testing copper? Oxidisation - going green- nature changing over time. 

16/01/20

Risk Assessment:

 Today, we were given a presentation on how to carry out a risk assessment. This was helpful in defining the possible risks or threats our designs may have. I found this to be similar to a S.W.O.T (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and potential Threats) analysis I completed during a R.I.B.A short course. This I have continued to bear in mind throughout my projects. The risk assessment sheet we followed in class was very similar in this way but was organised into more specific categories which I believe to be more effective due to the level of detail. 

List of Hazards for my structure:

Fall of person/from height- if maintenance were to clean out the metal grid placed inside shelter funnel (to remove leaves).

Should withstand extreme weather- as that is its main purpose.

Condition of glazing (terracotta) - risk of freeze thaw occurring- which would cause terracotta to expand and crack-  chemical weathering due to the contact with rain water. 

Flooding of the underground water cistern- although, this should be prevented due to the tank's float valve and fairly large water capacity. 

This video is about how users interact and move around within the space, (Chelsea Physic Garden). It was a fairly dismal day- about to rain on this day, which initially prompted the shelter design.

14/01/20

After last week's Contextual Practice about Design Ethics, I decided to add a more complex layer to my design. I decided to focus on water storage and reuse. The Chelsea Physic Garden mentioned how they want to start being more sustainable. I finalised my idea by creating a row of individual shelters which have a funnel-like shape allowing rainwater to be captured which is then stored in the underwater storage tanks below the surface. 

13/01/20

Idea creation and development

The plot my group were allocated for this project covered an L-shape area of the garden. When assessing the given site, I noticed we had less width than length to work with. This was a limitation in creating a structure with a large surface area. Walking around Plot A, I noticed there was no overhead shelter to protect the visitor from severe weather {(rain, snow etc). I thought it would be useful to create a kind of structure which would allow the user to continue their experience without it having to be cut short due to the weather condition. I went to the plastic workshop and experimented with creating organic forms which could serve as a shelter. This would be placed along the main path of my plot. 

09/01/20

Today I began creating collages using magazines as an introduction to the theme of nature, reservation, environment etc. I made one collage revolving around the greenery of the garden and one focusing on rustic design in particular. I thought it would be interesting to incorporate the Japanese art form, Wabi Sabi into my design because it values the 'beauty in the imperfect' and I thought its organic appearance would compliment the nature around the garden. 

07/01/20

Today, we visited the Chelsea Physic Garden, a site analysis can be found below- I learned a lot about the botanical garden whilst walking around assessing our dedicated Plot A. The garden has around 4,000 plants mainly used in medicine. The garden hold workshops for both adults and children to educate them on plants. Some have described these workshops as a type of therapy and has been prescribed to people as opposed to medicines in some cases (and reduces anti-social behaviour). I felt our plot was quite an intriguing one to work with as the area had more length than width, compared to other groups. I aim to create my design specifically for my section with the size and shape of it in mind. I also edited my video montage which can be found below.

Location: 

Plot A, Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS

Neighbourhood:

The Chelsea Physic Garden is situated in the borough of Chelsea and is located next to the Chelsea Embankment (River Thames). Parts of the garden have been lost to road development – the river bank during 1874 construction of the Chelsea Embankment on the north bank of the River Thames, and a strip of the garden to allow widening of Royal Hospital Road. What remains is a 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) patch in the heart of London.

Plot A Boundaries:

Restrictions of our allocated Plot A. L- shape plot from the top left hand corner of the garden to the centre-back of the garden. There are also limitations in terms of the scale of my design. I do not want to create a design with too large of an impact - as not to disturb the peace or distract the user from the natural beauty of the garden. I aim to design something fairly small or practical of great necessity. 

Site Access: 

The vegetation throughout the garden is divided by stone paths which follow around the site. Multiple paths follow from the foundation in the centre of the garden. 

Circulation: 

According to the Commercial Director of the Chelsea Physic Garden, Wendy Bowen, the site achieves 600,000 visitors a year. On the day of the visit, there were very few visitors other than my classmates. I would assume that the garden is usually rather quiet, with few visitors per day- which allows the site to maintain that level of serenity. There's probably a lower circulation of people in winter time due to the cold weather.

Climate: 

Monday 6th January 2020- Cloudy, slightly windy weather. Sunrise: 8am, sunset: 4.19pm

Sensory: 

Very quiet, minimal sounds as the site is situated away from main roads/traffic- minimal noise pollution.

Smells- damp nature/woodland, views trees, greenery. 

Human + Cultural:

Density: Not very populated for the size of the site- sparsely populated.

Mainly attracts elder people- retirees. 

Users are able to explore the garden, free to choose your own route throughout the garden.

Photos of the site can be found on the Research page. 

06/01/20

Concept:

My final proposal was a bridge to replace the original threshold (Buckingham Palace gates). This allowed a more welcoming, open space for the general public to enjoy the sight of Buckingham Palace without the large, intrusion blocking their photograph. Removing the gates creates a warmer and friendlier environment, allowing people to walk up to the palace they have idolised their entire lives (but obviously not go inside due to privacy of the Royal Family). The public will now be able to see Buckingham Palace up close. The bridge provides access to the grounds amongst the beautiful trees and man-made pond which the bridge exists over as well as, aiming to form (bridge the gap to create) a closer relationship with the Royal Family. 

Design:

The bridge's design is inspired by modern, constructivist design with its protruding polygonal shapes, as well as having resemblance to the Crown Jewels/diamonds. The overall design is quite experimental, though provides a bold statement simultaneously. In terms of materials, I would use glass for the majority of the structure and steel for the roofing- giving the design it's modern facade. 

Today's Crit was enjoyable, I found presenting my work very exciting as I wanted to hear my peer feedback. Personally, this was my favourite project yet. This time, we were left to incorporate the things we had learned in class into our projects- this included: orthographic projections, site analysis etc, which I believe I have included successfully. I really liked my concept involving the Royal Family, and think i might look to TV and movies more often for design/concept inspiration.

Comments my peers made:

Good concept- could do some 3D model making as well as the digital?

Really interesting idea, could play around with materials.

Good visualisation of ideas, clear concept and presentation.

22/12/19

Change of Design

Over the Winter break, I have reviewed my concept of the transparent maze but felt the design would be a little too simple. After drawing a couple more designs, I've found that making a bridge from the palace would be an interesting route to take. I thought that the "transparent maze" idea was fun but also carried a slightly negative idea (fooling or deceiving the public), which I didn't want to necessarily do. Creating a bridge, instead focuses on positivity and building a connection or personal relationship between Royalty and the public. It's a step forward in the right direction and carries a progressive attitude.

18/12/19

Site Analysis and Mapping

Recently, I have remained focused on site analysis and mapping which I want to remain consistent throughout my future projects. I have enjoyed mapping, producing abstract outcomes using Photoshop, SketchUp and sketching. Below are some of my outcomes, whilst the rest are on my Digital Outcomes page. I also used the site analysis sheet used for the Archway task to analyse my own site in depth. 

05/12/19

Proposal creation - My final idea is to break down the Buckingham Palace gates and replace it with a maze the public can interact with and walk through. I thought about how I could make the maze seem a little more interesting, what it's unique selling point would be and thought if the maze was made out of glass and instead be a transparent maze. It would be a strange, crystal installation which would look quite pleasing in front of Buckingham Palace. 

My "Untouchable Royals", theme page in my sketchbook introduces the theme of the warmness or personable attitudes of the Monarchy.My design would play on this idea in some way, the transparent maze could be an illusion. The public are completely dazed and distracted by the fact they are getting closer to the palace as they journey through the maze, that they don't recognise the psychological divide is still and will always be there. 

I thought it would be a fun and intriguing concept to explore through design.

Today, we also had group presentations where I explained to my group the work i aim to complete over the holidays. I received some helpful feedback. It sparked a conversation on the young and upcoming Royal Family (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Duke and Duchess of Sussex).

"The idea of young Royals in particular, wanting to appear “transparent”, nevertheless, Meghan Markle's transparency has allowed for the press media to essentially break her apart." - Miranda. It sparked interesting debate on the idea of transparency which works well with my transparent maze design.

03/12/19

Archway site exercise

Today, we completed a group exercise based on the site analysis of the local Archway area. My group and I agreed to walk to Waterlow Park, nearing the Highgate area to assess the landscape. Below is the information we gathered on our chosen site:

An edited map we made using Photoshop depicting pedestrian routes through the Waterlow Park as well as isolating nearby roads and buildings.

Location:

Waterlow Park, Archway N19, North London, South East England

Neighbourhood context:

Suburban- Residential area - hospital nearby. Town centre- cafes shops supermarkets. Industrial buildings -  schools not  visible from high-street.

Zoning and size:

Large park stretching over different areas: Archway, Highgate.

Natural and psychical features:

Hills, lots of greenery, plenty of trees and other vegetation such as plants. 

Man mad features: 

Benches (for comfort, relaxation) and statues dotted around the park for education and remembrance.

Circlulation: 

Archway in general- heavy traffic circulation. Fairly busy area, breeching the City.

Waterlow Park - Pedestrian and cyclists only - very quiet area despite being in the centre of Archway. 

I found the park was a safe place to escape the busy sounds of the city. Nevertheless, it wasn't completely silent throughout the park which was quite comforting in a way. You could still hear the city sounds at a very low level, almost background noise. It was a nice balance between the two and I was reminded that I was still in Archway, despite being at peace in the park.

Climate: 

Fairly cold- 12:11, 3rd dec 2019

Summer can often become hot.

Sensory:

General archway: fairly loud- buzzing with people. Noises of transport- buses, cars, bikes, particularly during peak times - before and after traditional work hours. 

Waterlow: views- green spaces, quiet in constrast. Peaceful. 

Human and cultural - diverse population around Archway- range of ethnicities. Employment- esate agents, offices, shops, supermarkets, public transportation.

This exercise and worksheet was extremely helpful in determining how to analyse sites in detail. I had completed brief site analysis on past project locations (user: demographics, psychographics, area), however, this activity opened my eyes to more categories I could find information about. This included: weather patterns, wind speeds, sensory information etc, which I wouldn't have initially thought of. I aim to use this technique in my future projects, starting with Thresholds. I find its very helpful to personally visit the chosen site as opposed to looking at photographs on the internet. You achieve a more in depth collection of data, using personal experience. I aim to visit Buckingham Palace (my location) over the Winter break.

02/12/19

Today, we shared our research pages with the rest of the group and were introduced to completing site surveys. I am looking forward to doing the site survey task tomorrow as I feel it will inform me on how to complete in depth analysis of my chosen sites in the future. I also added more secondary research to my sketchbook as well as generating initial ideas. 

I like the idea of working with a physical and psychological barrier somehow. I decided on using Buckingham Palace as a location with the purpose of the concept being to bridge the gap between the Monarchy and the general public, resulting in a more personal relationship. Below are some initial collages I made on Photoshop based on my site: (The rest can be found on my Digital Outcomes page).

After my peer feedback, I decided to go back to my concept and reconsider its cubic design. I wanted to create a design which truly represented the playful nature of what was inside (trampoline park). I made some quick sketches as seen below, in which, i then  created my final design.

28/11/19

Urban Density Crit

Today's crit was very useful again in hearing various presentations by my peers and understanding their reasoning behind certain their methods of work. I am always excited to present my work and hearing peer feedback and feel I am continuing getting used to presenting my work to an audience. I like that my peers asked questions about my structure, perhaps for more clarity or a suggestion. 

Feedback from Carlotta: Experiment with the design of the trampoline a bit more perhaps? Experiment with a more abstract set of designs for the trampoline. I like how that your work mixes profession with leisure life.

Feedback from Mee Anne: Clear and concise design concept. The way you delivered the presentation was very passionate and sounded exciting. Good presentation skills. 

Feedback from Veronica: I like the Photoshop collages. 

We also had a visit from the Architecture BA at CSM. It was very interesting and motivating to hear Andrew speak on personal statements, what the course is like, the interview process. I noted something in particular that Andrew mentioned which inspired me to want to start using the Rhino program. This is something I would like to begin experimenting with over my next couple of projects. He also mentioned the importance of communication skills which is what I am continuing to develop over this course. Take risks with your designs and find your own voice. 

26/11/19

Today, I sketched a couple of alternative designs for my trampoline park as well as, establishing my final concept text. I also began model making my final trampoline park design. I made a 1:1 scale model from my drawing of the design in which, I was able to practice and improve my technical drawing skills. I made my model from cardboard, mod rock plaster and balsa wood. I also printed images of the office interiors to place inside the windows of my connected buildings. I also completed some orthographic projections of my design.

25/11/19

Today we did a group building activity, exploring interesting ways we could arrange the chairs in the classroom using materials such as mod rock, lanyards and string to create catenary structures in between. I enjoyed this group task as we all worked cooperatively and effectively, both listening to and expressing opinions to each other. We decided to use our lanyard strings to create these swooping forms in between the chairs which presented quite an illusional piece. 

Throughout the exercise, I recognised that I had already incorporated catenary structure Into my own (trampoline park) design. Nevertheless, learning more about how these forms can be used really opened my eyes to experimenting with the shape, not just your typical arched structure. From this task, I then chose to research into parabolic structures (in more depth than I did in Part One by properly experimenting with the design of my trampoline park). 

Below are a couple of pages from my notebook to keep track of things I want to do for the project. 

My concept again reviews how we choose to use the space in-between pre-existing buildings. I recognise that my previous project was similar in this sense, except it dealt with the issue of overpopulation and high population density in cities. This proposal instead leans towards the more playful side of architecture (instead of practicality and architecture of a more serious nature-  housing). My structure would be situated around Bishopsgate/Liverpool Street, a popular business district of London. The concept is to build a trampoline park in an enclosed, glass cube supported by metal beams. It would be placed in between several high rise buildings allowing users to capture a glance of London's impressive skyline. Access to the park would be via sets of stairs or elevators on the rooftops of these skyscrapers. 

I felt research into my location was extremely important as my design is aimed specifically at office workers in the city. It could be seen as an escapism during work breaks. It is especially important to look after the well being of workers and the merging of leisure with profession might be viewed as a solution for stressed workers who may value this as a cathartic experience. Much like the idea behind the Google Headquarters, California campus (as referenced on my Research page), I aim to create happier work environments across the affected buildings. It can also be used as a place to interact with other workers from surrounding buildings due to the various entrances.

After my research poll into what my peers think is the most pressing concern related to climate change, the majority of people claimed 'excessive heat' was the most worrying. With acknowledgement of climate change on the rise, I wanted to perhaps respond to this issue in my design. I thought about ventilation within the trampoline park and the amount of energy that would be need to power air conditioning systems both within the park and across London due to the rising heat levels. Renewable methods such as Piezoelectric energy can be generated through compression of people bouncing on the trampoline. This would then be converted to electric energy that can be used to essentially fuel the air conditioning systems throughout the City. I would have liked to have gone into more detail about the sustainable element of the design had there been more time for this project. 

21/11/19

Today's lesson was a jam packed though informative session I thoroughly enjoyed. I created abstract collages of my chosen site, which I made on Photoshop, constructed models based on these collages and created elevation sketches of our models. It was an important lesson which allowed me to work on my technical drawing skills, model making as well as, drawing to scale.  

Photos of my digital abstract collage can be found on Digital Outcomes. 

(Top- my site model, Bottom- my abstract collage of site)

Draw sketches at 1:1 - of abstract shapes to sketches of it in book and sketches of book to actual model.

Check worksheet online

- Use research on sustainable energy to incorporate into Trampoline park design - and choice of materials (biopolymer for the trampoline netting? Strong/durable enough?- research into this. Perhaps a mix of materials) - just a way of introducing sustainable design to the public (specifically office workers), as well as it being an exciting, 'play area' in the heart of the city. 

- Trampoline physics and structural drawings.

- Finish technical drawings of City of London site.

- Continue Photoshop collages

- Sketchup model? and more sketches of design within site.

19/11/19

Model making/experimentation/idea finalisation

After some thought into design concepts, I decided to change the location of my structure as some of my ideas would simply not work amongst this landscape. Eg. one of my designs required skyscraper buildings to operate effectively (specifically in a business district). Therefore, I have decided to use Bishopsgate/City of London area (near the Gherkin building) as my location. It's a buzzing business district with plenty of infrastructure which is mesmerising to look at. Below is a map collage I made on Photoshop of my chosen location. More can be viewed on the Digital Outcomes page.

I then made some quick, experimental sketch models, exploring with paper, cardboard and netting. This was a great exercise for design inspiration and thinking about form and structure.

18/11/19

Focusing on the new brief, today we gathered information on the locations we want our structure to operate in. After researching into various London boroughs, I decided Barnet, North West London, would be my location. My Movement project is very similar to the basis of this current project due to the urban landscape and 'building upwards'. The project was evidently situated amongst several skyscraper buildings (specifically located in Macau, China). I wanted to choose an area slightly different to the area I worked with for my previous project. Barnet is a suburban borough situated in outer London. I thought to explore using an suburban area for this project for a slight change in environment. I appreciate the fact that Barnet's green spaces still remain amongst the large scale infrastructure. This could be interesting to work with. 

For the majority of the day, we were in the digital media suite, working on Photoshop to edit collages and maps of our locations. I enjoyed this activity as I like displaying my work/ideas development digitally. It was also useful to hear my tutor discuss In Design and the difference between using this software compared to Photoshop to create presentation boards, which I was previously unaware about. 

14/11/19

Today was the crit for the Movement project. I received some great feedback and weirdly enough, throughly enjoyed presenting my concept to my peers. It made me feel proud of my work and allows me to get used to presenting to an audience. 

Evaluation and Reflection:

Has the 'Movement' project confirmed, opened up or changed your initial  view of what is involved in this curriculum area?

In some aspects, yes. It has shown me the pace at which we should be working at, as well as balancing time correctly. This is something I am learning over time.

Which elements of your Movement project do you consider to be successful and why?

My sketch up model and sketches - clear visualisations that hopefully look realistic. The design amongst the other buildings in the city. Demonstrates location.

What do  you think you could improve if given more time?

More refined, larger model (using a thicker wood) and recreate actual pod structure instead of cuboids. Neater/smoother finish and linear movement bearing instead of the (temporary) dowelling.

Did you do any research into the work of contemporary designers and artists?

Parasitic architecture research- which I didn't know existed previously.

Eco-city by Dr Jin (book)- concepts and proposals for housing.

Which museums, gallery visits?

Antony Gormley - interesting to see the difference in scale between pieces. He has such a variety of work in terms of scale.

Have you learnt and applied technical processes or skills that are new to you?

Mechanical thinking in terms of linear movement bearings to create sliding motion.

Whose work in the group do you particularly like and think is effective?

Ben- interesting motion/movement to explore within architecture. The movement is within the ground. Good, descriptive and interactive model. Research into helix mechanism in detail.

Mariia- Fascinating concept. The structure is used as an indicators to whether a homeowner wants to have guests over or not. Theme of security and privacy- reinforcing a private space.

Feedback Comments:

Sama- Your digital presentation is very professional and amazing. It communicates your design very well. Maybe you could make a more refined model, however, your kept is great and can be used in today's generation perfectly.

Ben- Your digital presentation is very strong. Perhaps think about privacy? I like your jobs on green space within urban areas. It very refreshing. How would it look on a larger scale? 

Images of my model to go along with my Digital Model (as seen on the Digital Outcomes page)

(I photoshopped the Macau skyline into the background of a photo of my physical model)

A demonstration of how the 'apartment pods' could be laid out in terms of the interior. Very simple- single bed, small kitchen unit, toilet and shower behind divider, armchair and side table. Suitable for a lone student/young person. The glass panel at the back of the property is made of one way vision glass, allowing an element of privacy.  Of course, curtains can be installed inside the apartment pods, if required by the user. 

Solving Issues

Sliding movement bearings vs building over the track

Throughout the design process, I envisioned I would build the track through the apartment pod and then attach flooring over the track (as demonstrated in the diagram below). Nevertheless, I can also recognise that placing the pod on a platform (linear movement bearing) may be more convenient in terms of maintenance of the track itself. 

At the same time, I was concerned that this extra layer of metal would only add more weight to the suspended structure. In my opinion, I can recognise the pros and possible cons of both methods. 

Ultimately, I decided to build over the track to save extra weight being added to the track. Perhaps, the flooring could be removed fairly easily (by professionals), in order to fix anything concerning below the pod itself. 

The pod would be powered by a motor allowing the pod to move.

12/11/19

Time Management

Over the course of this project, I created a very long list of things to do.

I soon realised that I had to start prioritising what needs to be done (ie. my final 3D model) and narrow this list. I would've liked to have completed the list if I had longer than 2 weeks for the project. Although enthusiastic, I had to be realistic about what I could achieve within a certain amount of time, this, I will remember when it comes to future projects. Nevertheless, I believe I still achieved a strong project with a clear and specific final outcome which ultimately, was most important. 

Problem solving:

For my final model, I decided to use dowelling to replicate a simple version of how the structure will move in real life. It was more convenient than building the track itself with little time left. 

11/11/19

As seen above, I created an initial, cardboard model of my structure to show the sliding movement. I used straws to represent what would be the track. This was also helpful as I used the model as a guide when drawing sketches. I successfully drew a sketch of my structure using 3 point perspective in order to understand how it would appear from a certain angle. 

7/11/19

Today was mainly focused on portfolio sheet making. The powerpoint presentation on how to successfully layout a sheet was very useful and created them with the presentation in mind. I was told that my final a2 sheets were visually strong which was  glad to hear. I aimed to make them clear and concise. For improvement, next time use the guillotine to cut straight titles. I created three sheets in total, a research, ideas improvement and final outcome page.

My concept reviews how we use space for housing, whether it’s effective and how it could possibly be improved (using space we haven’t previously for housing the general public – in this case, the area in between buildings). This would leave land on ground level free for other infrastructure or more importantly, green areas. It’s an effective way of conserving ground level space in an already crowded area. The design would be placed in a densely populated area with very little land space left to construct on. The apartment pods have the ability to ‘slide’ along the metal track, allowing people to access their homes through the connected buildings. In my opinion, we should use these intimate spaces above us to our advantage and construct strategically.

User: Specifically for commuters/business workers perhaps who work in the associated buildings, adults/young adults.  - Those who are active, first time homeowners etc. Due to its small living space, I would not recommend the apartment pods for families (especially due to the height at which the structure is situated- safety of small children).

5/11/19

Material Association

In groups we analysed the different properties of the materials we planned on using for both our smaller and final models. It was interesting and useful to hear opinions from my peers as I learned more about certain materials and how they could be used in the development process. The diagram below displays our response to the activity- the rows highlighted in yellow refer to materials I aim to work with throughout.

Materials- The actual structure (life-size) would ultimately be constructed using metal (tracks) and a strong plastic (perhaps recycled - sustainable living?) and timber beams for the apartment pod (input specific materials), glass (windows). 

Physical qualities- Plastic- flexible when melted, easily manipulated, transparent

Methods of working- Sketches of design, focus and research on movement bearings and how my model will operate, make a paper / foam board model, digital model? then make final model using balsa wood, plastic.

Meaning and associations- what do the materials do?- Large glass windows (floor to ceiling?) - for maximum amount of natural light. (Think about sunrise and sunset). Wood- warm /domestic tones suitable for a home environment.

4/11/19

Experimental Models

I am currently exploring with creating ideas revolving around the keywords: 'rotate', 'glide/slide' and 'fold'. Throughout today's session I created three quick experimental models out of paper as seen below. For my first model I initially created a cuboid shape which I thought could be adapted to resemble a skyscraper/office block building. Although, after some thought, I was unsure how I could actually incorporate movement into the piece and this should have been the starting point of the making process. After picking pieces apart ie. flaps, cutting holes and unfolding the structure, I realised I could in fact make the folding element the centre of the piece. My second model required a lot more thought before diving straight into building. I created three track-like shapes and attached them to a skewer, allowing them to rotate 360 degrees as well as, glide up and down the stick. My final experimental model involved 'rolling' up several pieces of paper and bonding them together with rubber bands. The model could bend and roll I found this quite interesting as the idea of 'temporary vs permanent' came to play. The rubber bands could easily be removed and the structure could instantly be manipulated into something else. I found this model could 'bend' also. This activity was extremely useful in understanding the properties of materials and how I could use certain materials to instruct or allow the paper to perform a certain action, as well as, exploring the various movements I could incorporate into my ideas for this project.

Mind mapping

Creating a mind map of ideas (as seen on my research page), allowed me to successfully evaluate and add more keywords/concepts/locations etc. I love making mind maps as it allows my brain to run freely resulting in a messy but hopefully clear diagram of starting points for my design.

Proposal

I am particularly interested in creating solutions/proposals to combat the rising population and high population density within urban spaces such as the Macau region (a city in China said to be the most densely populated region in the world - according to worldatlas.com). I have a new found fascination with 'small living' and multi-functional living within small apartments- perhaps a response to the rising population and high demand for housing. Watching several Youtube videos regarding this has further sparked my curiosity and therefore, I would definitely like to work with urban city spaces throughout this project. 

My concept is to create a housing complex which is suspended in the air in line with the city's tallest skyscrapers. The houses have the ability to 'glide' left and right along a metal track (in a ski-lift type fashion) situated between two high rise blocks, allowing people to access their homes through the connected buildings. As an extra feature, these pods are also able to 'rotate'. I recognise some thought into the mechanical element of this structure will be essential, so research will be completed regarding functions and movement bearings.

In this case, I aim to build one part of/one house in this complex within my final 3D model to display how each pod would appear and function within the space. With a rising and ageing population, certain cities are beginning to literally overspill due to the mass construction of infrastructure throughout the world. Ultimately, this leaves little land for open, green areas. My concept reviews how we use space when it comes to construction, whether it's effective and how it could possibly be improved (using space we haven't previously for housing the general public). This would leave the land on ground level free for other infrastructure. Its an effective way of conserving and maximising space in an already crowded area.

 I wouldn't suggest this type of housing for a family with children, this would more suit an adult/young demographic due to the height at which the apartments would be situated (perhaps frightening for children, the inconvenience for older people to reach their homes through the lifts installed in the connecting buildings). This would again not be appropriate for people with a fear of heights though would be extremely suitable for adults/young people with jobs, active commuters etc. 

The secondary research which further inspired my design was the 'Tilting House' (as seen on my Research page). Although, the movement of this design (tilting) is different to my gliding/rotating structure, I find the motions are still very similar as well as it's modern, quite minimalistic appearance suitable for a soaring and upcoming city environment. The 'Sharifi-ha House' could also be applied to my design through its various rotating floors. 

The next stage would be to develop how these apartment pods will look in terms of appearance, draw sketches and build smaller models of my piece out of paper or foam board.