Thursday 23 August 2012

Links

Link to submission download:

http://www.4shared.com/zip/PFrfwxPB/ARCH1390_z3374550_Bethany_McMa.html?

Composition


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Introduction/reflection

Morphosis' Cooper Union building proposes the concepts of amorphous and fragmented. These ideas can be achieved in architecture by taking a linear or geometric and regular form, fragmenting it, and then putting it back together in a way that abstracts the convential form and makes it irregular. I have used this process in the assignment in order to architecturalise my concept model from assignment 1. I have titled the composition 'Creative Recreation'

Take a conventional form.
Fragment it.
Put it back together in an unconventional way, thus making it amorphous


Physical model
My physical model takes the hexagonal shape which I have used throughout project one. A sequence of hexagons are joined together in a manner which seems flimsy, although this is intentional in order to allow the physical object to be folded, to conceal and reveal various markers and control what the audience can see in the augmented reality environment, and generate the illusion of my concepts amorphous and fragmented, in its non-constant and changing form which is folded between states of whole and half.


AR Installation
My AR installation consists of 4 models/animations:
1. Rotates around the concept model showing the hexagonal geometries in there amorphous and bent and twisted forms. Represents the theme amorphous from a conceptual standpoint. The use of no defined movement, other than rotating reinforces the definition of amorphous, that being, having no distinct or defined form.

2. Animation depicting the concept moel literally breaking into peices as if its been forced apart of exploded. Represents the theme of fragmentation. The use of AR in this case allows viewerrs to gain a better insight and understanding of the fragmentation due to the use of movement, compared to if the model was static.

3. Process animation which animates the 'coming together' or my architecturalised model. The two components of the model fly in at different times from different positions. As the animation is shown in a loop in AR, the audienced is forced to experience the pulling apart and pulling back together idea, or 'creative recreation' which my assignment looks at. Although the model is simple the audience is still able to gain a greater understanding of how the components fit together and how they relate to my themes.

4. Static view of the final architectural model.


3D Modelling
I have used two 3DS Max models for this assignment. The first being the concept model I created in assignment one and the second draws from the form of the first model and is architecturalised version of the two concepts; fragmented and amorphous. My architecturalisation takes the hexagonal form from my undulating mesh model in assignment 1. A number of hexagons are stacked on top of each other and then extruded by different values to create an uneven facade which appears broken. The model has a cellular or honeycomb aesthetic. The extrusion of the hexagon architecturalises the model by creating physical spaces which could be occupied. A random sequence of a smaller and flat version of my hexagonal grid maps over some of the facade in no particular order. The lack of a defined boundary between the interior and exterior spaces of my architectralisation creates transparent spaces and draws thoughts of amorphous.


Montages
My aim with the montages was for them to appear abstract and surrreal, on the boarderline between real and imaginary. I used dramatic and somber landscapes to achieve this.

In the first montage I used my hexagonal mesh concept model. I superimposed and overlayed the image to obscure the form and add density. I added shadowing to the ground to increase realism. The model appears as a delicate but huge sculpture or an open pavillion and generates an austere presence in the setting. In the model were a physical object looking up when standing under it would reveal missing segments of hexagons and a tangled lattice canopy.

The second montage depicts the architecturalisation of my concept in an almost magical environment. Its trasparency is shown by allowing the background to be seen through the model. The third montage is a close-up interior of my architecturalisation with the mesh model added as a ceiling feature.


Composition
I have used to hexagonal shape once again in my composition. The hexagonal grid forms the basis of the layout of the two posters. 


Renders + montages

BuildAR

Thursday 16 August 2012

Week 4, draft models

Week 4, physical model design

A series of hexagonal prisms which each have fragments of the markers on them that are rotated and turned to form the whole markers.

Week 4, animation sketches

1. Physical fragmentation
Take the grid and literally break it into pieces

2. 3D transformation
Bend, twist, disconnect and reconnect the grid to create 3D forms


3. Architecturalise the form

4. Section showing interior

Thursday 2 August 2012

Links

http://www.4shared.com/zip/RGWfQ6hs/z3374550_McMahon_Bethany.html?




Forgot to include the plagiarism declaration, here it is

http://www.4shared.com/office/4r9ONMqr/z3374550_McMahon_Bethany_Plagd.html

References

Adam Friedberg, "Cooper Union, Morphosis," http://c214206.r6.cf3.rackcdn.com/files/profiles/2011/header/600:w/a1.jpg


Iwan Baan, "Cooper Union, Morphosis," http://www.arcspace.com/architects/morphosis/cooperunion2/cooperunion2.html


Iwan Baan, "Cooper Union, Morphosis," http://www.archdaily.com/40471/the-cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art-morphosis-architects/


Morphosis, "Cooper Union," http://morphopedia.com/projects/cooper-union
"Morphosis: New Academic Building: Cooper Union," http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=12454


Jayne Merkel, "Morphosis Architects' Cooper Union academic building, New York,"  Architectural Design, 2012 Mar-Apr v.80, n.2, p.110-113


Zoe Blacker, "The Cooper Union New York," Architectural Review, 2011 May, v.299, n1371, p.31


C. Sullivan, "Morphosis: new academic building, the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York City," Architecture, 2004 Dec, v.93, n.12, p.68


Sketches, diagrams and renders courtesy of Morphosis, http://www.morphosis.com

Composition


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