brief
The aim of this brief is to demonstrate the allocated ritual in the design of the space at 20 Wallace Street. The ritual involves a repetition of calls made between mother and daughter and needs to articulate the key elements: sound, connection through disconnection and responsive interaction in the proposed design.
The following are 5 precedent examples that appeal to my ideas and ritual which i think could influence my own designs...
1. Audiochmura (Audiocloud) by Piotr Adamski and mode:lina
This installation using corrugated pipes amplifies emitting sounds gathered from its surroundings. Similarities between this installation and my ritual are the use of sound (the dominant element) and the idea that you cant see what or who the sound is coming from. Another idea from this design that I would like to reinterpret into my own design is its shape. The pipes are in a cloud like formation representing the idea of the structure being ephemeral. I think it could be useful capturing this idea in my own design in that the phone calls are always changing or lasting for a short time.
2. sol grotto by rael san fratello architects
Sol Grotto is is a highly sensorial space which consists of a retreat which connects the inside and outside through the use of 1,368 glass tubes. The tubes have been recycled and transmit cool air, amplify outside sound and produce a distorted view to the user inside. This example, i think, incapsulates the most important elements of my ritual, those being, a connection through audio, a physically sensorial element which is not immediate to the user much like a description of the weather through the phone and a distorted view, relevant because the voice through the phone and the immediate view of the user don't link. I think this precedent has strong reinterpreting elements in that they represent disconnected and connection much like a phone call.
3. Disconnect by alexandros tsolakis
'Reverse of Volume' uses plastic sheeting and black hot glue to create a monumental, mountainous form that appears to float in space. In using these simple materials, he is able to successfully meditate on the nature of the negative space, or void, left behind. I like the aesthetic of this concept and can interpret a few connections between the installation and the ritual. If I compare the invisibility of a sound wave with Onishis focus on the negative space I think there is a definite link relating to disconnection and ill definition. He is focussing on something you cant see much like a phone call.
4. 'reverse of volume rg' installation by onishi yasuaki
'Disconnect' allows visitors to physically register the movements of their co-habitants. The floor is covered with a stretchable membrane that eliminates the individual physicality's of the users and illustrates their movements and presence in the room. The membrane allows for sound. Again this space demonstrates some of the main ideas of the ritual. A connection through audio is demonstrated in this space with a lack of identified physicality much like that of the ritual. An association of inanimate objects with a human characteristic is something I would also like to get across in my design.
5. condensation cube by hans haacke
This piece is interactive with its environment and demonstrates the natural occurrence of condensation. If placed in a room the more people that are in that room the more condensation will occur. I think that this example can provide some influence into the design of my space by demonstrating the characteristics of a conversation. It may have a formula but it is never the same outcome. The conversation is ephemeral just like the state of the box. You also cant see heat like you cant see a conversation. I think that my space needs to show an aspect of effect and response to the user. The most obvious link i can make between this space and the ritual is the element of water which separates the client from their mother.
Aesthetic gesture
The aesthetic gesture I produced related to the clients ritual was a collage that incorperated imagery from Timaru (where the mother lives) and Wellington (where the client lives). An image of NZ placed over top and some sound waves indicate the rituals elements of sound.
Sketchup drawing of perimetre walls:
Basic sketchup model of 20 Wallace Street perimetre walls. I struggled to understand the measurements on the dimensional drawing so will improve it if need be...
refined floor plan:
My floor plan consists of two seperate rooms that differentiate in size and reference to each other.
Section drawing:
investigation of light...
Below are some photoshopped images exploring qualities from light created in the paper structures made in class. I have photoshopped people into photos taken of the structures and emphasised my desire to distort visuals of people if I decide to have any direct view between people at all. The final image is emphasising scale just as an explorative exercise.
I am not focussing on the aesthetic of this design further than needed. I purely want the space to be fit for purpose and not cloud the experience of the ritual. Hard materials that amplify sound such as concrete or metal will be ideal for the structure and don't need much more investigation.