Mid Semester Presentation Pg. 64

Which drawing AND design feature you think was the strongest part of presentation?

The detailed drawings in the workshop and the temporary residences were the strongest features in convince the narrative. It is important for me to showcase this as part of the scheme, because my main concept was so strongly focused on the textile and texture. I have begun to explore the interaction through the touch of the table, door handle, and chair to enhance the user’s experience.

Which design feature was the weakest; and will discarded?

The workshop roof and the storage room were the weakest aspects of the design. Perhaps, I could explore through the interaction of lights vs shadow, the atmosphere. Also, the scale of the storage room could be larger because the leather is imported, and there are many types of leather. Furthermore, I was too focused on the architectural design and have not refined my main concept to fully convince the audience. As a result, it was hard to follow the narrative and the overarching concept of the scheme.

Outline how you might improve on these?

In the workshop, I need to explore a deeper understanding of how the lights interact in the space and materials to enhance the user. Precedent in Tongakushi by Kango Kuma was a good example of the lighting along the corridor and how it playout to enhance the atmosphere. The ideas of the threshold between internal and external could explore further through the tactility and the changes in form and textures.

Design Process: how does this work best for you?

Simplicity is often overlooked. Sometime the simple design workflow, allow me to tackle the issue at the early start and build up my complexity in design afterward. Design Process: biggest strength

Details and tactility I find quite enjoyable and interesting area in architecture. Design Process: biggest weakness

At this stage, my main concept and overaching concepts are not yet resolve.

Week 7.

Thursday_ Refine the Concept and Narrative

Task Brief

This week, we were tasked to structure our main concept, sub-concepts and design features in a written format and a graphical diagram.

The hands are the sculptor’s eyes; but they are also organs for thoughts, as Heidegger suggests ‘the hand’s essence can never be determined, or explained, but it’s begin an organ which can grasp. Every motion of the hand in everyone of its works carries itself through the element of thinking, every bearing f the hand bears itself in that element.

Holl Steven, The eyes of the Skin, 2005, pg. 57.

Project Title: Leather Making | Metamorphosis of the skin

THE Concept:

Materials of Metamorphosis - The transformation of physical form through appearance, or substance. Forming a tactile sense through materials of metamorphosis. Tactile Metamorphosis

Positioning Statement:

The site of the scheme is located in the outskirts of Daylesford, a place of establishing a connection with the local community to engage and be involved in celebration of the craft processes. The proposal comprises a gallery, leather craft workshop, and a range of temporary and permanent residences for craftsmans and visitors.

Leather materiality is the user’s relationship with the sense of touch that is mostly associated with hands. The tactility of the leather (animal) and the owner's skin creates an emotional bond through the value of its appearance. The overarching concept is tailored through three key concepts, the architectural transformation of the physical characteristics over time, the celebration of the transition and the spaces with contrasting tactile experiences.

Sub Concepts:

The textural transition

Leather products naturally form creases, fade, and crevasses gracefully over time. The intention seeks to celebrate temporality qualities through using materials that change over time. - Use material that change over time ie. the patina of a copper skin.

The landscape integrated within the architecture promotes the notion of growth and the grain of the landscape over time. - Native flora (characteristic) - The Life cycle of seasonality - hardscape - bluestone aging

Architectural through Tactile experience

The key essence of leather material lies in the tactility of different textures and finishes of the grain and it is used to define a new architecture of the site and enhance the individual sensuous spatial experience through touch.

- It is through the juxtaposition of the plain polish vs the roughness of the copper finish - Smooth timber vs roughness grain of the timber - The detail of the leather material (door handle, cabinet)

Architecture should celebrate the transition space

With the process of leather craft, stitching is a primary technique that is used to bring the finished product. The transition is what stitches each space/programme (between buildings, threshold, or the landscape network) as a collective whole, thereby it should celebrate the journey experience of individuals.

- Lighting: The contrast between soft and harsh shadow, bright and dark - The intermediate space between internal and external - The contrast between textile finishes of the ground