ARCH 102 Learning portfolio Zeyu xu March 19 2012
Set #1
What works I use this thick paper strip to create the whole piece, so I think it has the continuity quality and the also like a frozen movement. I try to imply the idea about growing by make it looks like blooming. Also I tried the new materials.
What doesn’t work It’s just a simple twisting piece of paper; it’s not very complex. Also the wire mash I put in the middle of the structure seem not very well connected to the paper. And it’s a little bit closed.
What works The only thing works on this project is the skin texture.
What doesn’t work
It’s a single closed geometric shape.I need to open it up and make it more three dimensional.
What works I try to build my idea about the connection between human beings and the gods. It’s like two hands holding something in the middle. And it’s more open than the previous models.
What doesn’t work
It’s too simple, not complex at all.
Set #2
What works In this model, I use the plane as both frame and also surfaces to create the space. And I try to response the site. This project is very rock-like and the surfaces has the flow quality. The material use is ok.
What doesn’t work The pins in the board is really random. I was trying to use them to create something in the middle to challenge people’s focus, but I didn’t express that idea very clear through my design language.
What works I really like this piece. It’s only build from one single piece of wire mash, but I built it in three 3D systems. I learned how to build models in multiple systems, so that it will be more spatial.
What doesn’t work Simple with material using. I only brought something new in but I didn’t keep the old design.
What works The planes are still working well, and they are actually part of the structure, not only added to the frame.
What doesn’t work
I am lacking frame in this project, and the planes are kind of boring. The project is too solid, not very spatial.
Set #3
What works It’s more three dimensional. It’s more open, and I developed the complexity and the density.
What doesn’t work
Only one material. It’s not very organized. It’s kind of like a side play, I didn’t put any new idea on this model. I didn’t put the old ideas in it either.
What works I was playing with the material, I build the the whole frame with one piece of wire. It’s a “continuously movement” frame.
What doesn’t work
I’m doing these models just for exploring the ideas, and try to build them in different materials, so I didn’t really focus on the complexity and density.
What works I really like this model, I think the contrast between the white color and the black. Also the contrast between the solid planes and the frame.
What doesn’t work
The contrast in between the two materials are great, but the connection is really week.
What works The big piece of wire mash is more ocean like, and the frame is more rock like. And I built the connection in between different materials.
What doesn’t work
I lost the solid peaces, so the model is not as interesting as the previous one. also I lost the contrasts.
What works Solid pieces are back. The structure is more open.
What doesn’t work The elements are kind of dramatic, but they are not organized. And the different systems are not readable.
What works The plastic piece supply the transparent quality of water. And made my models connection to the site in a more abstract way.
What doesn’t work
It’s not expressing my idea at all. After I made it I just noticed I forget to make the model connected to my idea.
What works This project is for trying different ways to express my idea. I think the strong white pieces are successful, and the wire mash made the closed narrow space; it’s inviting people to see the space, but not showing everything. I think it’s successful.
What doesn’t work I only kept a few good element from the previous models
What works This is a good move, it’s 3D in every view. The plastic is reaching out; it’s representing the connection between human and gods. The frame is more fun.
What doesn’t work It’s not 3D enough, the frame is messy. The plane elements are not well developed.
What works I think this is my best project among all the models so far. The frame work is really three dimensional. Also the form board is really working well too. I developed the complexity by adding more material and also I try to use the special qualities of different materials.
What doesn’t work I am still struggling with modeling the wire; I was about to use five pieces of wires, but it’s just so hard for me to get them parallel. Without the repetitions, my project doesn’t look very organized. And also I didn’t do a very good job on the surfaces. They are just some simple plane elements added to the construction, so the connection between the frame and the surfaces are not very strong. I think I also need to add more surfaces to make more space.
What works I found a better wire to work with. So I work much faster than before. I added my repetitions to my project. I developed my surfaces, not only plat any more and not just added to the structure but actually built in the structure. And I put my “transformation” idea in to the project, and it seem works well. I try to make the space more close, so I tried weaving. I think it’s always good to try different things.
What doesn’t work This project is a real back up work. I didn’t notice that I lost a lot qualities from the previous model. This one is too closed and less complex. Even I use the repetitions successfully but I made it too organized; I lost the dramatic frame work and the open special quality. And the weaving is not working well either, because it’s closing the model too much.
What works Nothing really works well.
What doesn’t work I try to bring the dramatic frame back, but I didn’t connected them to the new construction very well. I should work on how to combine the new idea and the old design together.
What works I brought the old design back. The structure is more open.
What doesn’t work
This is not a finished piece. It doesn’t have plane at all, just a frame. I got so frustrated when I was doing this model, so I kind of lost my big idea. I was just trying to bring the old design back.
What doesn’t work This is not finished model either, but I like it. I keep the reputations and the open, dramatic frame. I was trying to make this model respond the site more. I put a lot sharp angles in it and I also made the whole thing in a flow shape, but after I finished, I found it’s not very expressive to others.
What I learn -To be honest I didn’t learn much from my own work, but I did learn a lot from other people’s work. -I learned that one of the most important process of designing is I always need to keep the thing works, and never through them away, especial when I try to bring in some new ideas. And also I learned it’s really important to work on the connection between the old design and the new idea. -I learned how to get out my own mind and see my project from other people’s point of view. -Different materials has it’s own special quality. -when we present the project, we should always start with the big ideas behind it, and then go to details. -when we designing a building, we should thinking about the human activities are going to happen in there.
-when we developing the complexity and the density, we still need to keep the clarity, so that it’s readable for others. -built the project in systems can make it really 3D. -when we try to bring a model to a higher level, we should always try to start from the main structure, and then add details. -adding layers can help developing the complexity. -when we develop a model, we’d better develop all the elements at the same time. -build on the things that really works -always try to develop the design as much as I can, don’t wait for other people to pointing it out. -design off the site instead of design on the site -design is a circle, the important thing is not where to start but to complete it.
-try to build some element from real constructions into the model. -when we do the gesture model we can also think about the ways of constructing. -size and scale. -every building has to be site specific. -we have to be responsible for the spaces we created. These are the main ideas I learned so far. Hopefully these can really be some help in the rest of the semester.