EXP1: Final Post

I have named my structure the Blossom Gallery. This reflects its aesthetic structure, and also the concept of growth and evolution. As a bud flowers into a new aesthetic and functional being so will humans evolve organically and technologically. Furthermore the bud exposes its once protected interior to the danger of the outside world. Both these concepts are relevant in the artworks of Stelarc and Louise Bourgeois.

This is a view looking into the outdoor exhibition space which is composed of juxtaposing columns and concrete stages with natural undulating landforms and water features to highlight the tension between the natural world and the artificial.

This is a view of the entrance to the gallery, showing the thin angular stained glass connecting with the curvy doors. It also highlights the contrast between the wooden spiral staircase and the concrete mirror staircase (it is made for humans who have evolved - cyborg or otherwise - to be able to walk upside down...) in the centre.

This is a view into the womblike studio for Christine Bourgeois created from different types of woods. This comes from the exhibition Louise Bourgois presented where babies and women sculptures were woven in cloths and joined together in warm and secure poses.

This is the view into Stelarc's concrete and stainless steal studio. This is representative of his delight in excesses, modernity and obsession with evolution. I imagined the structure to be fairly empty allowing the latest technological advances to dominate the space. It's size, materials and imposing frame are in direct contrast to Louise Bourgeoi's studio.

Below are the precedents I used. Unfortunately I cannot verify their source as they are from Twitter but nonetheless they greatly influenced my design.

This was the inspiration for the mirror stairs. I also looked to various drawings by MC Escher and was inspired by the 1986 film The Labyrinth.

This is the view of an auditorium incorporating natural landscape features and materiality, with organic forms and structures. I tried to bring a similar sense of harmony into my own design.

This is a rendering of my structure using KerkyThea. Unfortunately I have a lot to learn regarding lighting and textures.

EXP1: Textures and Concepts

I have decided on two specific concepts for the stairs. I want a wooden spiral staircase, which will be very organic and enclose the inner circle of the structure. I want this to contrast with a concrete and steal staircase which is made to be walked upside down as well as right way up and is angular and futuristic. The organic spiral will lead to Louise Bourgeois' studio while the concrete stair will lead to Stelarc's.

And here is an attempt at modelling the Mirror Stairs.

I have settled on an overall structure of the building inspired by flowerbuds. To protect the building from the elements I am attempting to model a spiderweb-like glass covering in multicolour.

EXP1: Maison a Bordeaux Rem Koolhaas Video

This video shows an alternative to stairs in a house with multiple levels as the house was designed for a wheelchair bound client.

EXP1: Some stairs and some experiments

This is the interior entrance and exit to the space. I wanted to have a dramatic sweeping view of the structure by using lots of arcs to direct the viewer's eyes around the circular wall. Below is the seating behind Stelarc's main stage/gallery.

This will become the entrance to the gallery and also an outdoor area for installation and performance artworks which is why I incorporated seating into the space.

I wanted to try doing some experimental stuff with shipping containers and cutting them out to make spaces. and learnt how to crash Sketchup - Have lots of high polygon boxes and try to cut them out by intersecting faces with a sphere... I think that I will need to use textures to give the shipping containers their form in the future.

EXP1: Datum

Nurture, Excess