week four - scene transitions entrance threshold

Elevation:

Entrance Design:

This facade design incorporates a screen made out of strings of ceramic beads positioned at varying proximities to each other to create a gradient of negative space. This facade is of the Imperial Lane building on Fort Lane.

Materiality Experiments:

Using Photoshop, I imagined how different metal chain screens would synchronise with different wall materials when layered overtop.

Case Study:

Rangimarie - Last Dance - Lisa Reihana

I thought Reihana's 3D bead work in her project on display in Auckland's QTheatre was interesting as she tells a story through creating suspended, illusionary forms by hanging strings of beads. I found this project quite insightful since it provides an alternative way of displaying strings of beads in a way that progresses beyond 2D and uses this material to create 3D forms. Perhaps I could think about whether this could be effective to incorporate into my project because I am wanting to situate bead details throughout my design.

Case Study:

Granby Four Streets (2013) - Assemble Studio

https://assemblestudio.co.uk/projects/granby-four-streets-2

As I try to discover the function and program of my project, I thought this project was interesting to look in to since it successfully achieves an aspect of what I would like to achieve on Fort Lane; to regenerate the community and atmosphere to one that is healthier and more welcoming. In this project, "Assemble worked with the Granby Four Streets CLT and Steinbeck Studios to present a sustainable and incremental vision for the area that builds on the hard work already done by local residents and translates it to the refurbishment of housing, public space and the provision of new work and enterprise opportunities". I like how this project really focuses on community involvement. Referring to last week's conversation with Sue, I am wanting to create a space that builds a safe and supportive community and atmosphere to combat the dangers of Fort Lane. In order to create this, perhaps looking to this project in how they emphasised community involvement would be effective in doing so. Maybe I could create a sort of artist/designer maker space or market as a base and include safety facilities surrounding that central theme?

Concept Refinement:

Upon further ideation and research of what kind of spaces could provide a safe spaces at-risk groups, I brainstormed the following:

- Artist/designer market, maker-space, and subsequent retail space - all in one

- Womens wellness centre - yoga/meditation/spa

- Creative workshops

- Counsellor offices

- Cafe

- Womens Fitness Centre - women-only gym

I feel excited about the Women's Gym idea as I think it is has a very strong connection to the issues I am confronting and would achieve the main aspects I am aiming to provide; building a safe, strong and supportive community and thus creating a safe space for those who need it. I also feel there is an obvious association that can be made by the public between a women's gym and it being a space that can provide support for women and/or other groups at risk of sexual assault. It also connects the themes of protection and strength that I have been exploring in my surface experiments with chainmail. I feel these elements would compliment each other nicely and create a holistic and strong design concept.

Bead Update:

This week I made more progress on my bead forms. I experimented with a range of glaze combinations. I want the surface of these beads to have an organic and imperfect appearance and I thought I would best achieve this through trusting the chemical reactions of certain reactive glazes. I tried different combinations of layering 'Teadust', 'HokeyPokey', and 'Copper Carbonate'.

I was very pleased with the green/brown outcome of the Teadust and Copper Carbonate mixes. I feel that the surface quality that it has produced brings attention to the imperfect surfaces and deterioration within Fort lane and Imperial Lane. I was curious if there was a way to still incorporate this quality into a design where the aim is to create a safe feeling atmosphere and I think the surface details of these beads do just that.