Assessment Three

100 words

Through the process of drawing, both by hand and digitally, and model making, "Tread Lightly" explores the impacts of spatial organisation interweaved with the introduction of more natural lighting. By rearranging the spaces and furnishings within them, and incorporating more windows, an originally enclosed room can be opened up to create a more spacious place. As shown in this video, the alignment of the sleep, work and recreation spaces with the trajectory of the sun, achieves light in the desired rooms at the most appropriate times, according to daily activities. The new design has allowed this space to become a more supportive environment; allowing for greater organisation and comfortability. 

3 minute presentation

3D modelling - Initials

Screenshots of the 3D model STL file

Laser cut model template

Best 5 models

Model 1: First paper model of my original space

Scale 1:50

Model 2: Paper model of newly designed room

Three additional spaces:

- Recreation space, walk-in wardrobe, balcony

Scale 1:40, figure 1.7m real life height

 Model 3: Folding tabs model of the Fusion 360 prisms

Scale 1:1 (with the Fusion 360 drawing)

Model 4: Remade model in balsa wood

Few changes: 

- added skylight

- different windows

Scale 1:30, figure 1.7m real life height

Model 5: Final model in balsa wood

- Reorganised floor plan

- Protruding glass windows

- Furnishings included, sheer curtains from baking paper

Scale 1:30, figure 1.7m real life height

Best 10 curated images

March 24
Illustrator ready template for Fusion 360 model of my transitional space 2.5d shape. Learning the useful tools of preparing a laser cut file for future use. Took a decent while to get my head around it but the final outcome is looking good.

March 26
Experimenting with folding techniques. These are X-form spans.

March 28
Plan of ideal space. Notes on things that are added and/or changed.

April 4
Scenes of the new ideal space. Includes: bedside, sliding glass door to balcony and protruding window, walk-in wardrobe.

April 9
Learning about the Fusion 360 render workspace. Playing around with materials and environments. 

April 9
Learning how to use different functions on Fusion 360 while creating this 3D shape, including offset planes, loft, shell. Issues were experienced while trying to create this shape which I had to learn and problem solve through.

April 9
My Instagram saved images. I curated this small feed as inspiration for all my architecture courses but used these photos specifically for material sources. I love playing around and working with colours, especially those of a more natural tone, to create work that is visually appealing and well put together.

April 11
Photoshopping materials onto a balsa wood model. Used: sandstone, stone, timber, white plastered concrete. While this was quite time consuming and difficult to get around at first, this was the task that I most enjoyed throughout these weeks.

April 22
One of my strongest lighting photos. The light was much more sharp and harsh on the balsa wood models as they did not have the same transparency property as paper, which allowed filtered light through.

April 24
This is my final model. I was incredibly happy with the final look, especially with the protruding windows.

Week Nine

New model

Although the windows allowed natural light into all spaces, I wanted to reorganise the objects inside to let light in certain rooms at the most appropriate time of day, according to my activity.

The sun rises in the east, shining into the window over the bed and follows through to the workspace, then recreation space. This follows my usual daily routine of waking, studying early in the morning, then chilling out in the afternoon.

New floor plan for the main room:

- Balcony, door, windows switched sides
- Bed, table rearranged











Balsa wood was once again used as it was quite successful for the last model.

Furnishing the model
Inside the walk-in wardrobe

Process photo

Scale 1:30

Paper was used for the balcony to achieve the curve

Laminated plastic was stuck to the inside of the model for the windows and glued together into a rectangular prism for the protruding windows. It was the only material that I had thought to use that actually worked as it was both clear to imitate glass and strong enough to hold structure when glued together (unlike plastic sleeves...) I was quite satisfied with the outcome of these windows.

Close up look into the recreation space from the wall tall window. An art easel and small side table is included. In the back is the walk in wardrobe with shelf space, drawers, and a hanging clothes pole. 

Week Eight

Materials (Fusion 360)

The shades of blue represent my love for and constant desire to be in the ocean, or river, or pool ... On top of curves that mimic the motion of waves already, I used a white colour for the waves crashing.

This is just a selection of colours that I really feel express me as a person. I'd say I'm somewhat this loud - as in I can talk quite a bit to anyone but I also love to dress in bright colours and use clothes as a way to express myself. They're a little reminiscent of the 80-90s period, which I am heavily influenced by in many aspects of my life.

Glass (window) with dry lake bed environment

I chose this dry lake bed environment as it reminded me of the Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia, a truly beautiful place (as I have seen only in photos...) But during the rainy seasons, the world's largest salt bed turns into a huge mirror, creating some pretty cool reflection photos. That's why I chose to use glass as the material, glass also being quite reflective as shown in the image above; the light bouncing off the model. 

Yellow plastics with field environment - turned upwards for the sky background

I played around with some different shades of yellow as yellow is my favourite colour. I decided to put it into the sky to imitate the sun. This is quite a boring render ... 

Revising model making

These pages summarised my experiences using paper and card for model making saying that although they were easy to work with and very easily accessible, they should really only be used for initial models as they can look quite unclean. This is due to them being easily ripped and creased, and obvious glue marks if not careful (or visible through paper if using a liquid glue which is stronger than normal glue sticks).

I looked at other materials that could possibly be used for my model by looking over the video on material selection (Moodle), weighing pros and cons for each and seeing if they were accessible.

I also had a look at different ways of adding more light into my room. I was really intrigued by the individuality and playfulness of Carlo Scarpa's designs and how they cast interesting shapes of light into a room. This inspired me to add protruding windows to my room which allowed light to refract in at all light times of the day, and also created a little bit of shelf space for my random collectables and figurines. 

                                                     

Museum Gipsoteca Antonio Canova, Italy                                                   Sede BPV, Verona

New plan for the protruding windows

With all these thoughts in mind, I just did some quick drawings of what I wanted my model to look like, keeping the floor plan design the same as my previous model. I added in the two protruded glass windows (above my table and above my bed) and a skylight over the walk-in wardrobe to allow natural light in without an invasion of privacy as neighbouring houses are lower and cannot possibly look down into the window. 

New model

After managing to get my hands on some balsa wood, I constructed the new model. However, I was unable to find any hard plastics that I could use for the glass windows so I will have to find and experiment with other materials around the house. A plastic sleeve seemed to be the best option, though I could not find a suitable method to connect them together without it looking messy. 
I also need to find a way to create the balcony's fencing and I was thinking to use card for this. I have just not gotten around to this yet. More experimentation will be needed...

Protruding windows yet to be put into place.. suitable material must be found

Top view of the model, light coming in from the east (morning)

Playing with light. Figure 1.7m real life height

Photoshopping materials

I just used my incomplete model for the material photoshopping as it was the model I was currently happiest with. 

My saved Instagram posts for inspiration ...

 


I chose some sandstone, plaster wall and stone textures to apply to my model as I have a love for more natural and earthy materials and colours.

Sandstone, stone, white plaster, timber

Concrete, white plaster concrete, white bricks, terracotta

Red concrete, white plaster, timber

These photoshopped background images are quite weak. I can add an image into another image but blend the two together well. To do so, I need to work on lighting, perspective and just overall scenery; being interweaved together rather than just two separate images.