MJ | Architecture
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO I
Project 1: Representing Me
Self Expression Through Object
This project aims to unravel the creative side and inner self of each student through various mode of communication or art form. As an ice breaking project for the course. Student as designers will generate ideas from selfidentity through personal interests, preferences, attitude and personality. These ideas and qualities will later on applied to any three dimensional form. Representation of self must only be interpreted in abstract form where in it requires rigorous design thinking and highest form of creatively representing yourself.
"You are what you are seen to be" - Erik Spiekermann.
As I unravelled myself, being helpful was a nature that I live in. Helpful, generous, being unable to say 'no'; pretty much sums it. However, there are two ends to me being a helpful person: being too altruistic or too selfless.
I can be rather happy helping out my friends but there are cases where I have neglected my priorities for the sake of others' until I have become too selfless. Being helpful surely does sound good but there are bad ends towards it as well.
Translating such a personality was rather tough at first. Figuring out the elements and designs became clear when I managed to translate my personality into an action of exerting, reach out or even extend myself.
Hence, the design was out. Being of a bulky mess of different length blocks, it portrays my personality of trying to extend my help and at the same time show that I may crumble as I stretch myself too much.
Project 2: Life Capsule
Self Expression Through Architectural Space
The aim of this project is to expand the interpretation of one self and heighten the awareness of students about the human body, interaction of space and body, and explores the role of reasoning and logic in shaping the form and space. Secondly, a group work to allow collaborating of ideas. All design considerations will be based on the chosen group member’s body dimensions and the occupation that he/she will portray (ex; painter, artist, photographer, scientist, musician, writer, or itself as an architecture student and others).
Project involves designing a ‘Life Capsule’: a confined space which will house multi-functional furnitures which the user can use for several positions and for activities within a 24 hours period.
As for my group, the user was rather a bit different from the norm - a spy. We exaggerated our thoughts to come up with a form that served as an exterior and also as an interior. Following the concept of furnitecture, we designed the interior to be part of the form as well; chairs, bed, tables.
A few things special about the life capsule is that it is suppose to accomodate two main features: Concealed space and activity area. It was supposed to be a safe house for the spy, therefore the design included spaces between furnitures to allow the user to conceal herself. Apart from that, the activity area allowed her to carry out certain exercises including martial arts.
Structural support was the ultimate problem to our life capsule. It required a lot of support as the form was rather large and dense and therefore it needed maximum support to allow the design to take form.
The form involved many layers to create a skeletal form with consistent gaps between each layer to create slight visual towards the outside. Each layer was of different measurement than the other, similar to contures.
The exterior form was of simple rigidity to allow the life capsule to blend in with the surrounding spaces whereas the interior was organic. The contrast between the exterior and interior portrays the life of a spy: normal on the outside, undercover on the inside.
The form could not be completed within a short limit of time as there were lots of problems with the structure and making the structural support would have taken up a lot of time. We failed to deliver the final model but we did our best to come up with the design and to overcome up rising problems.
Project 3a: My Building, My Architecture
Story Telling and Narrative
Our group ventured to discover the architecture of Shalini Ganendra Fine Art Gallery. The first impression of the building was that it gave a very raw look due to the front facade. Upon entering, there were a few key things to the architecture of the building - sustainability. Natural ventilation, natural lighting; these were obvious apart from the well thought circulation of the fine art gallery.
In this project, it serves as test on how well the groups can narrate and ‘story tell’ and whether students have learned and understand essential aspects of design. These aspects include familiarization of architectural terminologies and their abilities to use architectural language to share their understanding of the design (form & space) on the architecture they have chosen.
Groups in the most creative and educational manner, will come up with a video that includes the following components: a brief background about the building, concepts, approaches and ideas behind the design and a tour of the space through pictures and personal experiences
Project 3b: A Hide Out
Dream Space For The User
MJ
A definition of a hide out space depends on each individual. It might be a safe place for hiding or even to hide something, maybe an isolated place, away from the public. A private space. A space where the user shades away from the limelight, away from the hectic life.
Or it might be a place for the user to unwind him/herself, to relax, contemplate, dream, do hobbies, something that the user enjoys most. Basically it is a place where the user is able to call it as a personal getaway space.
The task of the project is to create a hideout space for a certain user which is sandwiched between two buildings with a 5m gap and 15m long, along with with a minimal elevation of 3m above ground level to allow pedestrians to continue using the alley.
The range of users vary from designers to architects to sports models. Each user having their specialties and for some, limited accesibility. Therefore, each of us designs a different space for each user.
As for me, I have chosen to design a space for Michael Jordan - a NBA superstar. Choosing Michael Jordan, it allowed me to discover a lot more about the world of basketball and how he reached the stars. He started off young chasing the dream of being a basketball player and he did. He played for USA in two Olympics and for the Chicago Bulls.
But, this hideout is created for him to unwind himself, giving him private time to carry out his hobby or interest. As such, Michael Jordan started going after his side interests after he retired from the NBA world; motorsports. Hence the hideout space created is for him to play around his Ducatti superbike, allowing tweaks to the performances and a space for him to showcase his superbike to the public.
Usage of metal due to the ease of having a continuos form (long metal strip folded into a form).
Apart from it, the material enhances the masculine form giving an edgy and futuristic look.
The final form of it involves three main spaces: private bedroom, workshop area, showroom; all connected by one linear space which allows the superbike to be moved from the entrance of the hideout, through each space and finally to showcase at the showroom which protrudes out to allow public view. The form is rather linear along with the space.