Playing in photoshop

Matthew Williamson at the Design Museum

The second exhibition I saw at the design museum was the Matthew Williamson's. The exhibtion looked great. The colourfulness of his designs looked great suspended from the ceiling in the white museum. In terms of exhibition I didn't think it was my thing. I did find the colours and the patterns very cool, but part from that I didn't find it too interesting.

The text on the walls was the most interesting thing - where Matthew Williamson's design process was described and where you can read quotes from him. I liked how he says that ' combing the natural with the man made - the contrast between design, fabric and decoration is the strongest inspiration of all'.

Jean Prouve at the Design Museum

This is the 2nd Focus week this year. Took the chance today to go to the Design Museum to check out the Jean Prouve exhibition.

They say that Jean Prouve was the man who invented high-tech. He worked in architecture, but wasn't an architect. He was a designer and an engineer. He designed unique furniture and moved on to buildings. Some of the models on show are amazing. Some are surprisingly organic and ecological and feel very contemporary at the same time

This model is of a youth center proposal for Ermot done in 1967.

His use of material and inventive ideas make him inspiring. In a house he designed for his brother he had vents in the roof to naturally ventilate the house.

Model showing the structure of the Grenoble exhibition hall, done in aluminium and brass in 1968.

His sketches are cool and his furniture very nice. He designed a lot for schools, and government institutions. They got to have a very cool furniture in those days!

Jean Prouves sketches are very good. I love the way he has worked with line thickness to give his sketches some depth.

It was a nice exhibition and I took the chance to try to do some sketching of some of the models and structures. I found Jean Prouves work inspiring and he seemed like a designer with a systematic approach and order. Which is what I am in a way. It is good to see that you can be organised and a good designer at the same time. Since for me the go hand in hand.

Water Nest - Phase 2

Introduction: Continuing on from the first phase, we now found out that we are to work on a site in Paddington Basin. The site is quite complex with clean materials and a lot of angles and a 11 story building. It has got a basin cutting into the site with the rolling bridge.

The site is surprisingly very windy and there are not a lot of oppurtunities to sit along the canal actually facing the water. The landscaping is very simple and clean on site at the moment. It doesn't encourage people to stay here.

I started to try my concept on the site, by looking at the way the site is used at the moment and then look at areas where i might be able intervene with the site or change the landforms of the site, but keeping the way people walk through the site.

Identifying the flow of pedestrians on the site at the moment.

Looking at the different areas which are not used at the moment.

Concept Development: Then I looked at possible shapes and levels that might work with the site. Using my concept on the site using quite sharp forms, but soften it with lines of planting.

Lines of vertical and structural planting. Allowing some of the planting to be cut down into the site to place the reed beds for collecting and cleaning the water before it runs off into the canal. Playing with the planting to create views that you can see through and some you can't.

Working my way through different shapes and forms trying out what might work on site. I started at thinking of creating one kind of big seating platform of a shape in the open area on the east side of the site. The platform broken up by lines of vertical planting. Thinking this was to be where my nest where supposed to be. Also increasing the usage of the site for other people by creating platforms along the canal side for people to be able to sit in the water. This would blur the treshold between the water and land by allowing people sitting in the water. And it would also allow the towpath along the side of the canal to be kept free from people sitting there.

Moved on from the platform idea, since it didn't really connect across the whole site. I started to think of using vertical elements possibly a mix of hard material and planting to create the different views and define different areas as my possible nest sites. Tried to mix the planting with hard materials such as bamboo. Considering the height, materials and layout of the verticals.

Sketch showing bamboo verticals and reed planting.

Also developed the idea of the plaforms in the water to floating footstools. So you can sit along the canal with you legs down without actually getting wet. Possible the footstool could be bigger and still allow for people to sit on.

Footstool concept close up

Working through sketches and models trying to find the one design of verticals that work on site.

Sketch showing cluster of verticals in the basin space.

Did a diagram of the different kind of possibilities to consider when working out the positioning of the verticals. The dimension between the verticals, dimensions of lines between the lines of verticals, the different patterns of the verticals, the height, general layout and the mix between hard and soft materials. The varieties are numerous.

After that I tried a few of those of the model, first the circle and kind of cluster shapes made up of verticals. Didn't really like it with the very angular site and sharp building. And it doesn't work quite as well to play with the views and directing the usage of the site.

Then I tried to follow the angles and lines of the building to create lines and pattern that would interfere with the way people walk through the site at the moment. Changing the dimensions of the distance in between the verticals to either allow people to walk in between or not. Allowing the views to define possible spaces for the nests.

Started to think it was a bit boring, so started to think that possibly the wind could move the vertical elements around on site, creating different views from above and create a different feel for when you are walking through the site. Also possibly the movements could allow the patterns to change to create little protected spaces throughout the site.

New layout, applying circles and lines following the angles of the building. Working with 3 primary nests and letting the reeds and the columns gather there and the rest of the columns are guiding people through the site.

At this point I decided to go back to my story and original concept to resolve the design. I realised that some of the important elements of my original design had disappeared. I like the fact of having the reed beds sunken down in the site and collecting and cleaning the water. Also realised that it would be good to think of where the reeds might gather and where the best possibilities for the nests are. All this would blur the threshold between water and land. Working with the floating footstools in the design.

Close up of one of the nests, with seating platforms with movable columns so you create your own nest.

Realised that the idea of the wind moving the colums might not work, so started thinking of having columns that could be moved by people to create your own little nest. Taking the idea of creating a nest very literal. The design is working better, following the original story and concept again. The layout looks better and works better across the site.

Sketch showing the bit underneath the overhang, where a bit is cut out to just let the water overflow onto the site. A more protected nest.

Below showing section through the circle seating platforms.

Sketch showing new and final layout.

Decided to change the layout slightly, since one of the nests were too close to the rolling bridge. In the new layout the bridge is left clear and still has got a view by itself. The reed bed by the circle is slightly smaller and the cut out area underneath the overhang is changed in shape to go with the rest of the site.

The red circles marking out the nesting sites and the red lines explaining the angles of the lines of columns.

Conclusion: The finished design has changed and reduced the hardness, shapes and feel of the site without changing the actual landforms. The reeds and columns leading you through the site. The verticals matching the tall buildings on the surrounding canal. The threshold between land and water is blurred by letting some of the columns and reeds come out into the water and also by the floating footstools allowing you to come closer to the water. The character of the site is playful, sustainable and creating an urban nesting site in the city to give you a feeling of being somewhere else.

Water Nest - Phase 1

Introduction: At the beginning of the new project we were told to work to an imaginary site, to develop a concept and love story for 2 people meeting for lunch everyday. We were to create a water nest for our lovebirds, investigating the threshold between water and land.

In my research I came across a couple of images that really stood out to me - of a blackbirds nest in the reeds and one of a nesting site of flamingos. In the book 'The poetics of space' by Gaston Bachelard (Beacon Press, 1969) I read the line 'the green in the greenness'. I liked the idea of that line and how it hinted at sometimes you know don't see things unless you know that they are there. I used all this to start to think about my story and to form the concept further.

Story summary: My two lovebirds are travelling people, who are aware of nature and their surroundings. They appreciate the small things in life. They want a space for their lunch meetings which will remind them of somewhere else than London. They also want a functional space and a beautiful space that has a sense of sustainability.

Click on image below to read whole story.

Sketches showing different layouts.

Concept Development: Started by looking at the levels of the site and trying the concept on the site. Using the topography of the flamingos nesting site to create small seating platforms and then these lines of reed beds going through the site. Playing with the views. When someone is sitting down in the nest you won't be able to see them until they stand up. Using the reed beds to collect and clean the water from the site until it runs off to the canal. Bluring the threshold between land and water by letting some of the reeds grow out into the water and some platforms in the water, which you can walk out to.

Trying out the concept of the reeds hiding the person in the nest when you sit down and when you stand up you can see them.

Sketch showing how the seating platforms sit on the different levels.

In the end I decided for round platforms to match the flamingos nests and to let them drape over different levels and go out to the water. Together with some of the reeds in the water to communicate the land and the water more as one on the site and to make the step less obvious.

Sketch showing the reeds leading you out to the seating platform in the water.

Along with sketches I also worked on a model trying out different levels, how the platforms sit on site and the layout of the reed beds and how much of the site that will be in low water.

Section of the finished concept - showing the reed beds, the 'hidden nest' and how the reed beds clean the water before it joins the canal.

Below are the images of the finished concept. With seating platforms and reeds extending into the canal. A playful and adventures site with a sense of sustainability and greenness.

Inspiration

This week has been a week off Uni, dedicated to go out an learn and look at things. Wasn't quite sure at the beginning of the week what I wanted to do. I wanted to some inspiration for my project at the moment, which I had come to a bit of a stand still on, but I also wanted to take the time to go out and do something more practical.

In the end I am pretty happy with what I have done this week. The climate change lecture on Monday was interesting, even though it left me feel a bit like the small sustainable things I do in my projects are small and insignificant.

I found the geometry and playfulness of the Serpentine Pavilion interesting and inspirational.

The vertical elements and the playing with views that the birch trees do outside the Tate Modern made me feel more confident about my proposal for Paddington Basin. Where I use vertical elements and views. I never noticed that the birch trees outside the Tate do that in a way before.

It felt good to go out and do something practical with the BTCV and I look forward to doing some more.

The Matthew Barney exhibition was good for me to see, since I am not that great at drawing. It was inspirational to see good simple drawings and looked really good. It made me want to practice my drawing a lot more.

It has been nice to have a week without lectures and studio to give you time to go out and do and learn things that it sometimes is hard to have time for otherwise. I think during the focus weeks this semester I kind just want to see different things to help me realise what I think are important things to me in my design. Hopefully next semester I can then concentrate on a few things and learn them properly.

BTCV Lewisham

Went out for the day today to do some volunteer conservation work with BTCV in Lewisham. We met up in Hilly fields in Ladywell in south London. The task for the day was clearing out bramble in the entrance bit to the park and the wildlife area of the park. It was great to be doing some practical work and get some fresh air. I really enjoyed getting stung by the needles of the brambles. It was the first time I have done any work with the BTCV and it was a good experience. I was the only one under 50 I think, but everyone were really nice and very enthusiastic.

My intention is to do some more days before Christmas and try to get involved. They work across a lot of different parks in south London and it will be a good chance to see the difference in landscape and parks and space. In terms of maintenance, bad and good examples and what kind of values BTCV have. Hopefully I will learn some about trees and planting as I do along. I think it will benefit my aim in becoming a landscape architect.

Tate Modern

Outside Tate Modern at the moment stands Louise Bourgeois's monumental spider sculpture Maman from 1999. It is quite a scary sculpture when you get closer and think of what it really is and it gives you a very different feeling standing underneath the spider's legs. A different feeling of space and nature.


Inside in the Turbine Hall you can see Doris Salcedo's work Shibboleth. It is a huge crack in the floor reaching the length of the hall. It is the first installation in the turbine hall to intervene directly with the floor in the space.


When I was looking around in the hall, I didn't know what Doris Salcedo's aim and thought with the installation was. I was thinking it had to do with fragility of society, space and built world. Maybe to make people experience the space differently. When I got home I decided to find out what her intentions with the work was. The crack according to her asks questions about the interaction of sculpture and space, about architecture and its values ans symbolises the ideological foundations on which western modernity are built. It draws our eye to the floor and shifting our perception of the turbine hall. For me the crack made the hall feel bigger and was fun to see everyone looking and interacting with it in the hall. It was a bit weird to see the amount of people trying to get their feet and hands in the crack!

What I didn't know is that Doris Salcedo also is trying to address the issue of racism and colonism with the crack. Which I have a harder time to see and maybe not connecting so much to that idea. But in general it is an alright installation, it takes great photos, but maybe not so much more.

Matthew Barney

http://www.serpentinegallery.org/MB283_L3_small%20NO%20CAPTION.jpg

At the serpentine gallery there is a exhibition on at the moment of Matthew Barney. I didn't quite know what to expect when I walked in. The exhibition has films, drawings and sculptures. I didn't really like the films (but I have to admit I didn't really give them a chance) . I did like some of the drawings, they reminded me of landforms and some were really simple. The sculptures were made from industrial materials such as petroleum jelly, expanded polystyrene and poly - carproactone thermoplastic. The 'Holographic Entry Point' (the photo above) reminded me of oil covered beach and the forms and shape made it interesting. I guess everyone experiences the exhibition differently and I went away feeling inspired in terms of drawing and landforms.

Climate change lecture - The Royal Society

Went to the Royal Society on Monday evening to listen to a public lecture. The title was Climate Change on Living Earth by Professor James Lovelock. I remember hearing about James Lovelock in the Sustainability lectures and about he created the Gaia concept. He also created the theory of thinking about Earth as living system and how this should be the way you see earth to research and respond to climate change.

He started the lecture about talking about he has an apocalyptic view of the future and how we are already running out of time to respond to the increasing problem of climate change. We are not acting fast enough at the moment. He also said that implementing the Kyoto protocol is not going to be enough. I guess these are things we might have already known or started to realise. He went on to say that the most important thing at the moment is to find ways to extend the time we have to act to climate change. This could be by finding technological solutions to help slowing up climate change.

He spoke of the division in the scientific field and how this has a negative effect on research. He discussed the IPPC report which has just come out and called it conservative. He doesn't think it has a realistic view on climate change and that the targets are not enough.

The next thing which can up was the concept of global dimming and how this actually cools the earth and the fact that if reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere goes too fast this might raise the temperature of the earth instead. If this is done to quickly the temperature might increase by that crucial 2 - 3 degrees which would wipe out big parts of wildlife and ecosystems. James Lovelock said: 'We are damned if we keep burning fossil fuels and damned if we stop too fast'.

Other things mentioned were the fact that most climate change models only account for atmospheric changes and not on the living earth system and the fact that even if the level of CO2 goes down, it might already be too late.

So, what is James Lovelock's solution to this? He talked about what has already been mentioned the importance of thinking of earth as a living system. About stimulating the earth to cure itself and restoring the balance in nature. About reducing emissions and protecting natural forest (instead of planting new).

But the real thing that he said was the world needs a climate catastrophe to wake up. (I thought that there already have been a lot of them over the past years.) He mentioned climate refugees and mass migration and that the northern countries need to start to prepare for this and said that a similar response as in wartime is needed. Human rights require human obligations.

I learned a few new things in the lecture, but what mostly surprised me was how kind of negative James Lovelock's view of the future and the climate change is. It was good to hear in a way, cause it does seem realistic at this point, changes are not coming fast enough, even though climate change will affect all of us in our daily lives. You need to be prepared for big changes and be prepared to commit to them . Starting with increasing with what you might already be doing. And it is a fact that no one really knows what the effects of climate change will have on our lives, but I think everyone will admit that it is happening and you can't ignore research, even though it might be a lot more negative and scary even than you would like. So, I agree we need to wake up. Not just Europe but the whole world. Climate changes is a global issue.

Serpentine Pavilion

Took a last chance to see the Serpentine Pavilion in Hyde Park - designed by Olafur Eliasson (the guy who did the weather project at Tate Modern in 2003) and architect Kjetil Thorsen. The two has collaborated on a few projects in the past few years - the National Opera House in Oslo and they have recently submitted a competition proposal for the new Museum of Contemporary Art in Warsaw.

Olafur Eliasson has a laboratory for spatial research in Berlin, his work deals with the relationship between people and their surroundings. Kjetil Thorsen is co funder of architectural practice Snohetta.



At first I didn't think it looked that great seeing from a distance, but as I got closer I started to really like it. It was just before 5 o'clock and it was starting to get dark, it was a beautiful light to see the pavilion in between daylight and nighttime. The yellowness of the leaves contrasted the bronzy colour of the pavilion.

The pavilion is a timberclad structure with levels in contrast traditional single level pavilions. You can walk up and around the building and then view the surrounding park and into the dome. When I was there there were some kids running up and down the pavilion and it was interesting to see how they responded to the building, bouncing off the walls and loving to run up to the top and down again. Also fascinated by the lights and the views, which are slightly interrupted by the vertical elements. On the way up they are the shape as in the photos below and on the way down they look like on the last photo below. It was interesting to see and I didn't realise it until I was walking back down again.

The Serpentine Pavilion is a beautiful building and it is a bit if shame it is going to be taken down. It plays with views, geometry and shapes. I really liked how it appealed to both adults and kids and I liked the fact that they let the kids run around it. It makes you realise things about the building that you might not have otherwise. If you got a chance to go and see it before the it is taken down on the 5th, I can highly recommend it.