Portfolio ENVS10004
Alex Shen 835270
Temperature Red circles indicate warmth while blue circles indicate coolness. The size of individual circles represent the relative intensity of heat/cold. Temperature fluctuates widely with weather. Sunlight increases the ambient temperature while areas with high wind speeds have far lower perceived temperatures.
Site Exploration
Separate recordings were made for 9am, 1pm and 5pm. Data was difficult to obtain due to the frequency of overcast during winter. A marked variation in shadow coverage along with the atmosphere of the site was notable during winter.
Alex Shen 835270
Shadows
The frame represents the boundary of our understanding wherein our knowledge and ideas mingle. Though ordered in isolation, when combined they begin to augment - much like the way light distorts when passing through the model.
Frame - Grid Modelling Materials: bulsar wood, paper, translucent packaging film Focus: opacity; space
Spatial Composition
The world is a jumbled mess of perceptions - transparent, translucent and opaque. These perceptions interwine to form our wholistic understanding of existence.
Alex Shen 835270
Subject - The World
Spatial composition Alex Shen 835270
The main material of paper conveyed strong emotions through its roughness and imperfections, best representing the suffering I envisioned. Abstract and artificial forms pierce the canvas, representing the scars left by mankind. Alluding to blood and pain, the colour red was chosen as a symbol of passion and anger.
Subraction and Extrusion Materials: Paper, water, bulsar wood scraps, spray paint Focus: Roughness
Landforming
The Earth, impaled and tormented by mankind bursts out in a moment of anger.
Alex Shen 835270
Subject - The Tormented Earth
Landforming Alex Shen 835270
The strong colour contrast acts as the foundation for this model. The pure cubic form from spatial composition is supended above the violent forms from landforming, creating great tension in the small gap seemingly about to be closed by the extended arm of corruption. Though clichĂŠd, the symbolism of the colours chosen amplify the conflict i wished to portray.
Disjunction Materials: Paper, spray paint, bulsar wood, recycled packaging film, various recycled cardboard. Focus: Contrasting colours and forms.
ASSEMBLAGE
A moment of madness; encroaching corruption.
Alex Shen 835270
Subject - Corruption
Assemblage Alex Shen 835270
Spatio-temporal Narrative: Meet
The memories so lucid, The laughter so intimate. They entwine and twist, Knotting their fates. Memories so eternal, Yet so ephemeral. Fading with the setting sun, Time unravels the link. Chasing his feelings, Tracing his dreams. Those vivid days gone, Yearning to meet again. Her name lingers on tongue, Unable to take form. Searching and searching, Restoring the tie. Again the trains of time, Connect their souls. Reaching out once more, What is your name?
Program
Under a brilliant night sky, The threads converge. The girl in his dreams, So close yet so far.
Alex Shen 835270
Your Name
Superimposition Collage The ribbon represents the bond between people, knotting the bond between the characters featured in my narrative. The site has been covered with a night sky graphic to highlight the sheer variety of uses it has.
Superimposition & Experience
What remained constant throughout development was the intention to retain meeting as the primary activity.
Alex Shen 835270
Sectional Collage + Experience Metal was assigned as my theme material. So far my designs have mainly utilised a combination of paper and wood, resulting in very different textures. I took this chance to experiment and consider what I desired in my final project.
FInal Project
Alex Shen 835270
Final Project - Concrete Lawn Redesign Theme: Metal Focus: Atmosphere, manipulation of light, clashing textures, proximity and tension
As a legacy of Assemblage, disjunction is used throughout the project. The red form and the highly reflective cube creates a conflict fitting of a place “where great minds collide�. This reflects the clashing ideologies and conflicts characteristic of human interactions.
Final Project
This projects seeks to preserve the main functions of the site while introducing new forms which increase the visual impact and enhance the atmosphere. After noting the huge effect light has on concrete lawn, I decided that light will be central to the function of this project. The large ribbon from my collage is preserved with the partially covered walkways which converge upon a central canopy of frosted glass. This shelter exploits sunlight to create a mysterious atmosphere ripe for new encounters.
Alex Shen 835270
Subject - Not Just a Meeting Place
Final project Alex Shen 835270
Light conditions affect the atmosphere significantly.
final project
Alex Shen 835270
The cubes are constructed of coated glass; mirror-like from the outside and transparent from within. The chambers can be used for small functions and gatherings.
Reflection This model generated mixed feelings. While focusing on producing a humanist proposal feasible for the site, the end product featured little verticality and a strict adherence to scale. Though my design intentions were well manifested through this model, it lacked the visual impact of some other projects I observed. Conversely, the painstaking efforts paid to detailing and experiences I accumulated this semester have allowed me to produce a very high quality model. To conclude, I have attached the two photos which have best captured the surrealism I wished to impart upon my design.