LEARNING PORTFOLIO ARCH 101 Amanda Ramadhani Spring 2016
View from Coit Tower at night
Step One : Generating Ideas First Generation
Second Generation
I started with finding three words that best describe me. Then, I search the images and themes that related to it. Which are : - Cheerful : pompoms, megaphone, cheerleader, bright colors - Adventurous : nature, calm colors - Curious : reading, various colors focused into one center point I made three literal signs. (1,2,3) I found these assignment was fun because of how I kept exploring to develop better outcomes. I played on the use of Chroma colors on my signs. I bring different intentions with the shapes and cuts of the edges. However, there are still sloppy cuttings, and colorings. The opportunities, is to explore more on design process. such as developing messages to more complex collages, and overlapping. Also, generate the ideas of abstract.
With the confusion of the design language, specifically “Aesthetic+Unity +Balance” actually means, I continued developing on creating an abstract collage. However, it didn’t turn out how I imagine it would be. The weaknesses are still shown. The analogy of the sign didn't quite delivered. I should've not combine pictures with drawn materials. The threats that I experienced is that I thought and applied “what if ”(s) so much, that I didn't pay attention to details and design language of what represents me on the sign.
First Collage
Third Collage
Second Collage
Fourth Collage
First 3D Sign
Step Two: Creating the design On the design process, developing our messages through design language was challenging. The first 3D design that I created used playful colors, well crafted, and considered the use of materials. However, the message was not delivered, I wasn't being thoughtful enough to consider what the audience would get from my sign. The threats was to come up with something that was abstract and aesthetically designed, instead of literal design. The second generation, I was focused on developing the message about myself to the intentions of the audience. I also considered the structural integrity of how it should be perpendicular to the wall. I took the opportunities of creating meaningful metaphors of my self. The threats were time management and structural process. Those affects of the neatness of the design and brainstorming ideas. Also, I didn't let my sign evolve in related way with my previous one, instead, I started over.
Second 3D Sign
A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
In Search of Lost Wonder The experience and emotions of my Journey from North Beach all the way to Baker Beach were joyful and enlightening. Especially when I thought back of reasons I took the photos, “why did I pick from this perspective?”, “ what was I focusing on?” and so on. The parts of my journey that makes me special were enjoyment from every step that I took. With the use all five of my senses, I was able to distinguish the moods and emotions that every places have. I have learned that, those aspects also affected by the people who live in and use hat area, so that the place could serve as it best to comfort the people and bring them joy.
City Lights Bookstore
CURIOUS AND CALM Washington Park, North Beach
The City Lights Book Store was the warmest most welcoming place for people who love to read. With the use of my eye, ear, and nose I was able to defined that, its decent style of the place with the minimal place was beautifully designed and created the mood to just sit, read book, and enjoy the peacefulness.
Washington Park has the mood of calmness, yet busy at the same time. However, the combination of this, park and car street, was what makes it different. While I was sitting at park, I could feel the sunlight coming through the branches of the trees, the calm feeling from the Peter and Paul Church. I could see the peak of the skyscrapers. I could smell the tasty smell from the cafe(s) and restaurants at the columbus avenue. and lastly, I could hear the bird tweeting combined with the sounds of cars and busses.
My second trip was to Presidio all When I took a rest on my little hike at Presidio, the way to Baker Beach. All five of and sat on a huge trunk, I was able to identify a my sense agreed on the mood of tiny plant that grew on a huge tree trunk. The these places : fresh, relaxing and plant, that was highlighted by the sunset, brought epic. On this Journey, I paid more the feeling of not giving up and keep growing. attentions on details. I found that The shadow of the tiny plant that was watched there are lots hidden parts of the by its leaves was amazing, The fresh air nature that could create beautiful completed the experience of my Journey. patterns and/or amazing changes by itself. In nature, I wouldn't be fully It was sunset when I went down to Baker beach, and clearly amazed with the sense the reflection of the beautiful ‘Cotton Candy’ sky of space and place of nature, if I caught by the water of the ocean that left by the wasn't using all five of my sense, wave. A beautiful pattern on the sands also which is what special of this journey. created by the wave as it went back to the Some of the details I found it really ocean. This magnificent view sums up my joy of interesting. living.
Presidio Park
GRATEFUL AND JOY Baker Beach
WALL OF WONDER
FIRST ITERATION For our first iteration, we are asked to make a wall that reflects our last assignment, journey of discover. I took inspiration from my discovery to Baker beach. I was confused at the beginning but then I chose my theme. My first iteration was inspired by the concept of the wave. So I made the stacked up same curve shaped cardboard to create sense of walking along on the beach. With a window opening and a seating area on the side, balancing the wall was the threat. Therefore, I created an overlapped roof to balance the weight on the right and left. I added light effects that come laterally between each the cardboard layers. My aim was to form space that express the tranquility and joy an ocean wave could bring.The thickness of my model failed to completely achieved that. I could have a hierarchy that emphasize my design intention.
S E C O N D
I T E R A T I O N
REFLECTION After the presenting my first iteration in class, I was really confused on creating more events and spatial experiences along with making it with parallel walls be more abstract. I felt like I succeed on creating more events because of the clear pathway that I created with the wall position and opened roof. However, my second iteration of design did not quite achieve the excitement that I wanted to approach as I mentioned in the narrative. I think is very weak on becoming more abstract and creating parallel walls.
First Narrative Walking through this wall brings “go with the flow� kind of feelings when we walk along the beach. In a sense, it brings a peaceful, joyful, and relax walk. This wall is located at the entrance or exit gate a building where people could walk along and through this wave curved wall and take rest along their walk. Supposed the wall is located at the exit gate at a station, as we walk to the exit gate, we are welcomed by the feeling of the wave along the beach approaching us, which is implied on the low right side of the wall that leads to the floating seating area. The wave flow back and forth, our choice is usually stay and enjoy the feeling of coldness of the ocean water, which I implied on the floating seating area where people can see the wide view in front of them and from the openings of their side and back. People might also choose to keep walk along the beach. Gradually, the height is starting to increase until it creates an opening roof as the tube of the wave. As we turn and leave the gate, walking through this wave which lead us end of our journey. The right side of the wall also gives a little peak of the right view, that give a feeling of curiosity and want to explore more on the other side. The end of the journey leads to three choices, end the journey, explore the other side from what we see from these walls, or take a rest and enjoy the view like from the floating seating area.
THIRD ITERATION Front View
Plan View
Elevation I
Elevation II
Elevation III
REFLECTION
I felt like my third iteration was the most failed one because of the really rough model that the class nor myself were astonished by it. My intention was to basic, wave, again, and I didn't developed in both, my design construction nor the narrative. My third iteration did not quite express my narrative. What I like about my third iteration is the light effect on the surface that is created by the repetition of the wall and the openings on the roof. I also attempted to create different levels of the floor so visitor could feel different experiences. However, after we presented in class, I learned that my design model has limited spatial experience. Creating different levels is not enough for visitor to experience different space and events. One way to fix it is to exaggerate our design intentions by creating contrast and paradox.
Second Narrative
Wave of Tranquility
My design represents the tranquility and stability of a wave that we could feel at the beach. This piece is located in an opening park where the audience is seeking for shades. At first sight, the most significant aspects would be the vertical shape of a wave that stand perpendicular to the higher floor. As we wondering how to get there, we found a path that is slightly escalates to the sheltered area. The path represents the flow of the wave that goes back and forth as well as the depth of the water. Following the path, we arrive in a space where we could feel the tranquility of walking below the wave that is created by the shape of the glazed roof. The openings and and shadows create the crystal effect on the floor which bring the peacefulness as we are walking through it. To encompass the width of the roof, the rhythm and repetition of the wall creates opening on each side. As the wind flowing from one opening to another as well as from the entrance, we could peak the vistas surround us. At the corner of the building we are welcomed to take step out of the wave and look further the vistas of the outdoor environment. As we continue walking on the path, we finally arrived to our first destination that caught the viewer’s eyes, the vertical shape of a wave.The openings on the wall create the unique shadow on the floor. At the end of our path, we could look back on where we started and enjoyed the vistas from the other side from higher level.
Design Process
FOURTH ITERATION
For my fourth my fourth iteration I really try experimenting my understanding from the notes that I took in class. How different spatial experience can occur from: - displacement - openings/ - repetition - elevation of structure recess - parallelism - intersections - arrangement - indentation - alignment - articulation For the design process, I started with a simple circle and starting to divide it into different section. Using the notes I was trying to balance the complexity and simplicity of my model. I began drawing possible structure by drawing different plan views. I practiced displacement, indentation, repetition of form, intersected with different shape of structure.
My hypothesis was to developed my design intention in parallelism, repetition, and hierarchical layers, horizontally and vertically. My goal was to create a form that express excitement with the balance of simplicity and complexity.
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
Plan View
Elevation
Front View
I found the process of making this is really fun. I did a lots of experiment of displacing, adding and subtracting structures. Starting ideas with drawing plan views and elevation was really helping me through the process. I wanted to make the structure really light and has floating kind of effect. It was challenging to create that. I tried to do intersecting but the structure was to large so I changed it into beams.But it didn't fit the complexity that I want. So, I created a path that rise to low to higher level. After the class presentation, the class found my model as I expected to be, journey of excitement. because of the dynamic of the structure, very welcoming open space, and many events that the path way gives. However, I realized that I am still weak at creating a neat model with the proper structure that supposed to hold other structure. I am working on to improve that through out this month.
Elevation
Narrative
Plan View
Front View
Plan view
Elevation II
FIFTH ITERATION
Elevation I
Elevation III
SPATIAL JOURNEY
Story Board
Clarity of an Open Space Circulation
Simple circular gallery, creates a space in the middle for the visitor. Its is as enjoyable and relaxing as the space between the beams. It creates a space for the visitor to enjoy the cast of the lights on the surface.
The same circular shape creates a different spatial experience when it is used as a frame. The visitor different events because of the space between the structure and the circular shape as well as the connecting parts of the structure.
Now, the circle functions as a roof . The space below the structure is what the visitors will experience. The different elevation creates the journey more interesting.
The next journey takes us to displacement incomplete circle. Creating a repetition of parts of a Circular shape does not always circle becoming a really has light feeling. It could has different spatial heavy structure surrounded by experience for the visitor. It s like labyrinth but less light forms. With different elevation of the forms, visitors confusing. are welcome to explore more as they walk the pathway
Circular shapes could also takes us to higher place. This circular indoor pavilion continues its structure into a higher structure of a building. Visitors are experiencing different events as they tower the buildings and in the pavilion. Vertically, it creates contrast experience but horizontally, it creates similar experience because of curvilinear shape of both’s structure.