Final Design

Design Development

We have been working on the final design since last week, drawing up floor plans, and creating a 3D model in Sketchup.  Photographs have been taken of the site both day and night, from many different angles.  The design is coming together well, and we look forward to getting some feedback from the tutors on Wednesday.  We have made a small rough concept physical model to show to the tutors as well.

The tutors provided some really important feedback that questioned the foundations of our design.  Basically the complexity of our design was questioned, in terms of its design and its concept.  We were glad for some feedback, and agreed with a couple of the points.  Whilst we thought the concept was something that we wanted to stick with, we agreed it could be approved upon.  As for the physical design we went straight to the drawing board and came up with some conceptual changes by warping the design.  Platforms were added, ramps twisted, benches installed and a centrepoint explaining the concept and navigating the users was added.  We agreed that these changes gave greater depth to the Folie, whilst creating a really striking design.  With some of the glass panes reaching 5metres in height, it should be a really striking experience being among them, especially when lit up at night.

Below are initial floor plans and a conceptual sketch of the Folie design.

Week Two - Concept Development

Folie Design / Concept

Upon meeting with my group for a good 4 hours on Sunday, many things changed from where my initial design thoughts were coming from.  There was definitely a strong desire to make this Folie fit well within its immediate context.

Through site analysis, and consideration of the users of the site, many diagrams were drawn up and brainstorming in terms of the Folie concept started.  We decided to focus on the views from the site, in particular framing certain pivotal ones, with the concept being of learning about the immediate context.  To provoke thought by framing parts of the city, would thus be the learning experience.  Large panes of glass cutting through the wooden planks were decided upon as the medium for the construction, which created quiet a dramatic effect.  Olafur Elliason used coloured glass in an installation piece in Denmark called 'Your Rainbow Panorama' which used laminated glass with internal colour tints.  At night they create a dramatic effect, and we hoped to achieve a similar effect with our glass panes.

The diagrams below show our analyis of the site, the views we hoped to frame, and the use of a compass for initial inspiration.  We hope to design a glass-like version of 'Stonehenge' or something similar.  Something striking that will be visible from the cliffs, story bridge and city during the day, and that will light up the site at night.  We aim to activate the space in this way, by having it as an experience that you view the city and surrounding areas through during the day, and that you view from all around at night.

More Inspiration

More Arbo-Architecture is evident in Germany, the works of architect Marcel Kalberer.  His work is with tightly woven reeds using ancient techniques.
Constructed in 1998, the Auerworld Palace in Aeurstedt, Germany (below) was their first 'Willow Place'.

 

References; 

Atlas Obscura. Auerworld Palace. Accessed March 6, 2012.  http://atlasobscura.com/place/auerworld-palace