PHASE 2 - SYSTEM ITERATIONS
In Phase 2, I added more pieces to the system. Some with dowel rods on both ends, 1.5 in cubes with dowels on all 6 sides and 1.5 in cubes with holes on all 6 sides. The purpose of this was to test how quickly the system would move to further complexity and what possibilities of form could be created.
PHASE 1 - SYSTEM ITERATIONS
6 iterations of the system were created by 6 volunteers. I decided to have students other than myself create these forms because they were less familiar with how the pieces worked and how they could be combined. This would allow for the system to get closer to the autonomy I was hoping for. I analyzed the forms created, and then focused on abstracted pieces of each iteration. The goal in this process was to remove context and scale so there were less limitations when exploring the possibilities of what the system could create.
ITERATION 1
The first iteration created by me with the Phase 1 pieces. This iteration was a test of the system to ensure that the pieces would connect correctly and that further exploration would be possible.
SYSTEM PHASE 1
Phase 1 of the system is complete. Though there is only one character in the language so far, it can be connected in multiple different ways.
FIELD TRIP WEEK HIGHLIGHTS - PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK CITY
UMBRELLAS - A STUDY IN THE DECOMPOSITION OF AN OBJECT
In an hour long study, our Studio section created an installation piece out of used umbrellas. When we started, the umbrellas were at varying levels of decay: some could no longer open, and others consisted of ripped fabric. We decided it would be interesting to emphasize the decomposition of the umbrellas. We started with a completely intact umbrella at the top, and slowly broke, bent and mangled the remaining umbrellas until we were left with something new. This evolutionary process led me to question when the objects stopped being umbrellas and started to become something new. Was the first piece even an umbrella anymore? Perhaps, when we reuse items for a new purpose they become a new object? Instead of working with umbrellas, we were working with a kit of pieces. When we decided to forget that these were umbrellas, and instead looked at them as modular pieces, it was easier to conceive how they could be connected to create a new composition.
REMOVING LOGIC
STUDY IN AUTONOMY PART 1
Interpreting beauty has led me to the writing of Peter Eisenman. The idea is to create objects that explore the beautiful contradiction of simultaneous complexity and simplicity. Simple forms will be fabricated and combined in numerous ways as an attempt to create autonomy and erase authorship. These pieces will create a new language, and "blur clarity of meaning with no meaning" in the spirit of Eisenman.
PECHA KUCHA - WHAT IS BEAUTY IN ARCHITECTURE?
MUSASHINO ART UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
A precedent from Sou Fujimoto.
PENTIMENTO HOUSE
The quest for beauty in architecture has led me to an initial precedent, the Pentimento House by Jose Maria Saez and David Barragan. Following the study in contrasting words, I realized that beauty is many different things, and perhaps, the most beautiful buildings involve the clean combination of many different things. The modular design of the Pentimento House combines structure, spatial separation, storage, furniture and the filtration of light into one prefabricated concrete form. The concrete blocks can be stacked in four different ways but have many different applications. As the blocks are replicated the buildings becomes a celebration of both the small pieces and the large composition at once.
BEAUTY PART 1
The following images represent my first attempt to represent beauty. As I began to form a definition in my head, I was left with a series of contrasting words: light and dark, detailed and simple, organic and ordered. These images (featuring pictures taken from my study abroad trip) represent the beauty found in architectural and cultural contrast.
STUDIO BLOG
Hello and welcome! The blog portion of my website will be used primarily to document current work, ideas, and experiments for my ARCH 301 Studio class. However, anyone is welcome to browse my posts to get a quick and up-to-date idea of the types of things I am currently working on. Enjoy!