Developing designs II

This is another design idea which was inspired by a sculpture i researched earlier  in the project.
I really like the construction of how  the square blocks towers into the air at an angle and then angles off in a different direction.  I feel this could be a designed into a sort of social area point.

This is a possible out come of the social area sculpture.  The sculpture supports a massive glass roof which would be idea for shelter against rain etc..  I feel this design is very arty and unique compared to my other designs. I feel that i can design this structure as big or as long as i like without it going over the top.  

This is and idea of how the structure could be built together. the structure could consist of a metal skeleton which forms of a cube. This skeleton cubes are then joined together to make a long  rectangle shape. sheets of steel can then be place on the out side of the skeleton Which would give its appears of a solid block. This way the structure is light weight and strong.

Another idea is to build loads of this structures which then branch off each other. this could easily fill out the space in the area i can construct in. The structure could provide a massive amount of shelter and lots of chairs and tables could be place under nether them.

Developing Designs

 After reviewing my my design ideas, i have chosen to experiment further with  one of my designs. 

Below i have drawn out a design of the two canape structure which extends of the two buildings by bridges. The canape is design to seat several people of the top and acts as a shelter against wind and rain. Its dome shaped roof creates a more modern effect and visually looks taller. The lower half of the canape is also a seating area. This way i can provide more seating in less space. The bridge supports also have a wind deflector and seating.      

 

This is a view of the structure from the side.  as you can see , it will be a very long and large stucture which spreads across the area.  From the design i have also added a path under nether the structure which leads to the other two surrounding buildings. 

It is important to devise a color scheme with the structure as it could improve its visual appearance or make it look unappealing. after some research with other structures on the internet, i have come up with two colour schemes to use. My first color scheme is a brightly colored stripy  pattern. This colour scheeme wouls brighten the area and create a very positive atmosphere. I feel that it creates and very arty based feeling, The only negative is that it can look very childish and night fit in with the surrounding buildings.

My other colour theme was by using natural colour of Steel and glass. Steel and glass are very modern and futuristic materials which creates a impact of its surroundings. I feel these materials could create could make my structure unique as it would stand out as an icon. The blue glass and silver steel would create a cool and sleek effect.   

Below is an example of the colour design which i was planning to create.

Below are sketches of how the bridges section could be designed. The first sketch is a basic bridge support layout which features a wind deference at the base. The four support  beams would be constructed of steel  to provide maximum strength and stability . The railing on the bridge is designed with metal cables which gives it a suspension bridge look effect.  The lower wind deffence is built to deflect wind as seating will be placed under the bridge for more social areas. 

This bridge design is a thick sheet of metal which supports the top at a diagonal angle. I feel this design is a much more modern and looks very unusual. i could also adapt seating onto the support.  my only concerns for this design is that if it will  give maximum support as the last design.

This design is a waved face plate which acts as supports for the bridge.  I really enjoy this design as it gives the structure a lot of movement and interest. Its unusual structure would look very interesting around the surrounding buildings as it would stand out. If the wave face plate was mirrored, it would create a distorted image of its surroundings which would also very interesting and appealing. Its only con is that i am unable to attach seating to the waved plate  as it would ruined its unusably shape.       

Rough social space ideas.

 These are a few rough ideas that i have drawn which show a basic layout of the social space.  I have drawn and design a few features which could be included in the social area such as water fountains. shelter, plants and seating
 
In this design, i have drawn out a octagon shaped area as i feel it is a nice basic shape which feels comfortable and not to unusual.   on the right hand side of the area. there is a seating space which students can sitting down and eat etc.. right next to the seating is a water fountain which will create a sense of movement in the atmosphere.  on the left of the area is a gazebo which will provide shelter from rain and wind.  this gazebo will be constructed out of nature materials such as hard wood.
 

  In this design, i have created a basic layout which only consist of a circular area which is boxed in a square by wooden skirting. The area consist of 3 large hollowed benches on each side of the circle. Each bench can provide 10 seating due to it large area. In the middle on the design is a large fountain which sprays out giant water jets. i feel this would create a sense of excitement and  thrill.   

This design is much different and more experimental from the last two designs.  this design features a large sculptural like shelter which is in the middle of the space. this sculpture has a very strange form as it twists and turns. this shelter reminds of an organic shape.
The tables and chairs are very different from the big sculpture as they seem more solid. The top of the design is a long sweeping bench which is hollowed out. this design makes brilliant use of seating and looks very modern. 

This design is very similar  than the previous but instead i have added  elevation as well. i wanted to add some height which would create the effect of the social space been larger to the eye. This design feature the strange sculpture from my last design but instead it caves in and creates an area which is completely enclosedwhich make its idea from rainy and windy weather.  

This design below is of two hut like structures which have been joined together and is built on platforms. This idea was inspired by a structure i saw at a local park. The top half of the structure is provided with a roof which is good for shelter against rain. The pathways on the structure are  small bridges which under nether have seating space.  On the edges of the structures , there are steps for easy access.  i really think this design has potential soo i shall probably develop this design further. 

This design is L type layout which consists of jumping fountains and round seating. The jumping water jets form a type of arch way would would look amazing. The rounded  seating would be ideal for seating a mass of people. I like  the cylinder seating as it poses as a sort of sculpture as well, however this design is too basic and needs a lot more work done to it. 

Redesigning College Social Space

In This redesign idea, i will  propose to design a social outside space which will be ideal for students to hang out. I wish to design this social space in the middle of the college grounds which is currently a grassy field with rough foot way paths. The grass is unpleasant to sit on or walk on as the grass is normally dead or flooded.  The appearance of the  current area is very dull and boring and makes the environment look quite run down. with my new design ideas, i am confident that this social area will be a much more pleasant area and feel more modern.

This is basic layout of the area which i am able to redesign.  the layout shows the foot way paths and the surrounding buildings. this plan will be important as it determines how large i can design my social space.  

Below are a few photos of the area and its surrounding.  There is a mixture of old and modern buildings so it is important that i design a social space which can blend in with the buildings without looking unusual and strange.

Will Alsop

Will  Allen Alsop  is a British architect based in London. He is responsible for several distinctive and controversial modernist buildings, most in the United Kingdom. Alsop's buildings are usually distinguished by their use of bright colour and unusual forms. While Alsop has won praise from some critics and fans of avant-garde architecture, he has also faced criticism from fellow architects and some segments of the general public.

Alsop was born on 12 December 1947. He always wanted to be an architect, even before he really knew what architects did; when he was six years old, he designed a house for his mother to live in – its most striking specification was that it had to be built in New Zealand. When he was 16 his father, an accountant, died, and being bored with school he left to work for an architect, doing his A-levels at evening classes.
He was greatly influenced by his drawing tuitor, Henry Bird while at foundation course at Northampton Art School. He recalled how was taught to draw by him. "He gave me a brick, told me to draw it and promptly left the room. I proceeded to draw it with all its shadows. On his return he went into a rage and chastised me for destroying the vision with shading, shouting: 'What is wrong with a simple line?' He insisted that I redo the drawing with line only so that I could begin to see the brick and its proportions. I drew that brick for two three hour sessions per week, line only, for three months. Eventually, he admitted that I had mastered the brick and I was allowed to progress onto the tin can. After 18 months it was the nude model. His vision was one of economy of line and discipline. It worked."

Hamburg Ferry Terminal
Hamburg, Germany

Completed 1993

Sharp Centre for Design, Ontario College of Art & Design
Toronto, Canada
Completed 2004

Palestra, 197
Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London, England
Completed 2006

I really enjoy Aslop's work as it reminds me of my previous work on my cube structure. The colour he uses are very bold and in your face which really stands out in the surrounding environment. His creations very bizarre and unusual as they dont fit in with its surroundings.

College art block Redesigning ideas

For my next idea of redesigning an area in colchester, i have decided to try and redesign the college art block. The college art block was not originally designed for  art students  as it lacks a large working space and does not have any attractive visual points. My idea is to redesign the art block into something more suited for art students by having larger working space and a viewing gallery. I feel the building also needs a new modern look as it looks very dated and dull.

Here is a quick sketch of the  art block from the front of the car park. The design of the existing building is very flat and has no modern shape. it also uses old metals such as brick and wood and does not feature and modern materials such as steel and glass.
Due to the old buildings materials. a big problem is heat lose and draft problems. During the winter and colder sessions, the room rapidly gets very cold and makes it difficult for students to work. 

The interior design is very cramped and limited as the building is divided into  several working rooms. this limits the working space of each student.

Above is the original new design which the college proposed to design for its students. however due to funding the college is unable to build this design. My alternative solution is to design something smaller and within its fund budget. 

For my first idea, i have designed the building in a long and sleek shape. The roof is the buildings most attractive part as it features an unusual and appealing design.  The waved roof design creates a  flowing and energetic appeal. The top windows / sun tunnels feature a natural source of light which is great for art student as it allows more light in a organic way, this helps to cut costs of electricity as well.
The large slant windows also allow much more light and more visual from inside the building. It also helps the appearance of the building as most modern buildings have large glass panels.

The interior of the buildings is much more efficient as the corridors are of the edge of the building instead of cutting right down the middle. each working section in the middle is dived by glass which makes the rooms seem visual bigger.     

This design is very much different from the last design as this is features alot of lighting by LED's. The roof of the design is an occurring triangle shape which makes the building look bigger and taller.
The windows of this design are a pattern of  4 oval which has built in LED's around them making them look very modern and high-tech. At night this structure will be very noticeable and appealing.
The interior plan is set very different and unusually. The corridor is set and an angle which cuts across the rooms diagonally.  I see this design as a major problem as the room space is different and unfair,
This could cause major issues.     

Final Fountain design idea

 After playing around with some more designs, i finally came across an idea which i think would create a better atmosphere in culver square. This design is a huge triangle like design which is attached of the two end buildings. This massive water fountain stretches from the buildings and into the center of Culver square.  The flowing water runs off in a pit which is covered by black pebbles which is suitable for standing on.    

 

 The design is roughly 20-30ft long and 15ft  high.  This fountain also provides as a shelter underneath the open area.  This would make and idea area for sitting down and having a coffee.
I feel this design provides a fast flow of water which creates alot of engery and movement in the atmosphere.  

 The run off area is cover in black cobbles and edges of with a black slate.  this makes the fountain very interactive as people would be able to touch and feel the fountain and water

The design is  sleek and modern which suits well with the provided area. i feel this design makes Culver square more of a modern society

 To further improve the fountains cosmetics, Ive decided  fitt it with LED's which provide a bright light and comes in a variety of colours. I feel that blue LED's at the base of the fountain would create a cool and aqua feel.  other LED places would be at the top of the fountain, the edges and  underneath, bit like a neon light.

 These are a few skins for the fountain which i feel would be suitable for the design as the all have an arty and modern feel.

 The scribble design is by far my favorite as features a lot of colour and creates that energetic movement in the atmosphere which i was trying to aquire. 

 This is a net diagram which i have planned out. this will be usefull when i start to build a model prototype.