Basement Bedroom

This is the first bedroom model for my building, with the other bedrooms having a similar feel to this one. The video shows the process of throwing models into crysis and then fixing up errors and adding more detail.

I'm quite happy with how the textures are turning out. I think I figured out how to do bathroom textures and get the overall scale of furniture to my liking. Although this step took some time, I feel that fleshing out my sketches for the other rooms should be far quicker having this room as a model.

Week 13

Scheme 4 - Colour and Plants

Recompressed and re-uploaded my "Colour and Plants" video (it's not only 177mb and HD quality).

The goal of this video was to explore how materiality and colour as well as plants can change the perception of a space dramatically. From the discussions today, I have a strong basis in which to move forward in my design.

My next video will feature some large changes to the building, and look at designing through detailing. The video will centralise around lighting and furniture.

Music for Presentation

I have also been considering some music for my videos a little more seriously. I quite liked the work of Carly Comando, who is an independant pianist whose sone "Everyday" I used for the final submission of Session 1. Looking into her work a bit, I found a song "Chain Reaction" which I want to use for a short video about colour and plants using Scheme 4 as my basis.

Trying to find an example of the song, I found out that it was actually a comission for this video- which actually is also a good example of some basic Adobe After Effects. I have ordered her CD from the States and I should hopefully find some longer songs for my final presentation.

Fight Club Scene Inspiration

As discussed last week, the "IKEA Scene" from Fight Club would be quite an interesting way of presenting some details about the building through film.

I hope to achieve this by actually making text in 3DS max and exporting it to Crysis. Then using the camera tools in Crysis to do a slow pan/orbit on a set path with the imported text layer turned off, so I can repeat the exact same path with the text layer turned on, allowing for it to be masked and appear as I want it to using Adobe After Effects.

Will need some experimentation, which I will try this evening.

Scheme 4 Sketch Model

After reacting to the crit I received last week, I decided the most beneficial way to act was to quickly design a new scheme and test out some alternatives to the circulation scheme I had explored in the Final Draft submission.

The biggest challenges of this scheme were reversing the concept of "looping" and restricting the atrium. However, with the restriction of the atrium, I was allowed to explore and open up other spaces far more, giving a sense of balance to the building.

There are still issues with this design, but I think there are some very different aspects here that work far better than Scheme 3 (the final draft submission).

Criticisms and Suggestions of Final Draft

Here are the most significant criticisms (bold) and suggestions given during the design crit last Friday. I am currently working on a scheme that responds to these criticisms.

• Large voids would appear frightening and disconcerting

Restrict the atrium to 2 levels

• Looping paths with the potential to be “endless” would amount to frustration and anxiousness

Paths lead to a specific point

• Corridors restrict visual cues and direct movement too strictly

Deconstructing the corridor by added open spaces

• Lack of visual aids disguises the destination of paths

Adding colours
Exaggerating thresholds
Different materials for different paths

• The complexity of the building acts in a negative way, culminating in frustration

Using controlled complexity to allow for exploration, but reduce anxiety

• The spaces lack flexibility

Under-designing spaces to allow for a myriad of uses by the user

• Large ceiling heights cause the user to be disempowered

Spaces should be human scale

• Lack of consideration of medical practicality

Full height door frames
Ceilings must be able to support loads
Visual connection to amenities

• Complex moving shadows are disconcerting

Control the placement of glass