The Exploration of Visual Illusion for Children
Yi-Hsuan Lin MA Interior and Spatial Design
The Exploration of Visual Illusion for Children Yi-Hsuan Lin
LIN16497577 MA Interior and Spatial Design Chelsea College of Arts University of the Arts London irishsuanlin@gmail.com
CONTENT
Visual Illusion
6
The Experiments of Visual Illusion
14
Visual Illusion and Children
26
The Experiments of Visual Illusion for children
30
Site Analysis
48
Playhouse
52
The peocess of model making
80
The final model
86
The final show space
90
This project focuses on the relationship between the visual illusion and the external environment; behavior of children and space; materials and physics methods. This portfolio is going to analyze the related theory and the site; discover the ways that visual illusion can be occurred; demonstrate the methods can be resulted in the visual illusion by doing experiments; organize the features to make a playhouse for the children. It seeks to connect a scientific understanding of optics to “play�, as an educational tool.
About the Illusion Definition: The illusion is an erroneous analysis and estimation that occurs in brain stimulation, while the senses of people are distorted by the external environment. Also, it is a distortion of senses.
Stimulation
External Environment
Five Senses
Information
Erroneous Analysis
Brain
Illusion
People’s perception and sensation can be discussed on vision, hearing, touch, olfaction and taste, and these senses relate to psychology. Vision is the most direct way to receive the people’s perception than the other senses. The visual experience reacts what you see immediately, and then make the judgment on it through people’s mind.
Touch
Life
Hearing
Vision
Feeling
Perception and Sensation
Thinking Olfaction
Judgement Taste
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Visual Illusion The optical illusion is defined as a visual experience in which a discrepancy exists between the perceptual estimation and actual physical character of the original stimulus.The optical illusion is easy to trigger the curiosity of people what is the truth. Retinal Experience/ Visual Reaction/ Perceptual Abstraction/ Optical Effect.
Optical Illusion
Project Context and Field of Study - Psychology is about people’s perception and sensation, and the visual perception.
Psycology
- Phenomenology of perception. - Focus on the optical illusion and visual arts and the visual explanation. - The important factor is the external environment how to influence people?
Environmental
- The relationship between space and people’s senses. - The scientific methods can explore the ways that how to make the illusion.
Physics
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The Factors of Visual Illusion
Repeated
Virtual
Infinite
Reflectional
Directional
Optical
Extensional
Emotional Environmental
Visual Illusion
Perception
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Visual Illusion and OP ART
An optical illusion is easy to trigger the curiosity of people what is the truth. The visual illusion can be occurred in many ways. Many artists create the optical illusion works in painting, graphic design, photography and installation to make the particular visual reaction. Therefore, the optical artists use the repeated patterns of geometry such as line, square, rectangle, circle and arc to create their works. OP ART is a category of visual art that used geometric patterns and line to create optical effects. Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely are leading figures in the OP ART. The paintings of OP ART can result in the virtual movement to the viewer, while the works can confuse their eyes and give them a visual impact.
Bridget Riley , Fall (1963)
Victor Vasarely, Biadan (1959)
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Bridget Riley Bridget Riley is one of famous and important artist of OP ART, she creates the works with mass repeated geometry to evoke the complex visual sensation. Eye and mind are caught up in pictorial structures that act as a kind of score for the paintings’ unexpected visual performances.� Her works can make the viewer who is seeing her works a specific visual reaction. Moreover, Bridget Riley often used the simple elements to represent her works. Shape, space and color are her basic materials to draw into complex and abstract pictorial arrangement.
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Peter Kogler Peter Kogler is an artist who is interesting to create the space and environment with optical illusion. He has been adorning walls, ceilings and floors with the hypnotizing line and pattern designs that seem to move and bend the space in unnatural ways. In addition, he does a series of perplexing optical illusion rooms by the warped walls and trippy walkways. He plays the two-dimensional graphic design with space to challenge perspective and alter existing architectural elements.
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The space of illusion is not only created by painting or graphic design, but also use the physical methods to evoke people’s visual impact.
V&A Double Spaces In 2014, an installation called “double spaces” was exhibited in the Raphael Gallery of V&A museum. The two huge mirrored structures are suspended from the ceiling, and rotated in a series of choreographed movements. The distorted mirrors can make the participants to perceive the paintings and the environment in a variant way. Barber and Osgerby (2014) who are the designers of this project that they comment: “The dramatic scale and complexity of this commission makes it a real challenge and is an amazing opportunity for us to further explore themes of movement and performance.“ In this gallery, the static display of the paintings and the architecture of the room can be distorted because of the movement and reflection of mirrors. Moreover, the view of the Raphael paintings, the architecture of the room and the viewers of the space are the part of the performance in this gallery. Barber and Osgerby (2014) indicate: “ We created an experience than an object themselves.” The participants can see the varieties of paintings from different perspectives and get their own visual experience. Although the designers create their projects in various ways, their aim is that they can evoke people’s perception effects and visual impact by seeing or participating their works.
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13
Method of Visual Illusion
About Distortion
Distortion is one of the important features in visual illusion, and it can change the form of origin. Moreover, the other mediums and materials such as water, mirror, or glass allow people to find the visual aberration. It can create the visual aberration and provide a comparable experience for some one with normal vision. Objects can be distorted by water, glass or distorted mirror; things can be reflected and extended by using mirrors. These manners are based on the fundamentals of physics.
Water
Mirror
Glass
Dan Gragam
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The important features of distortion
Monika Sosnowska
Drawing
15
Experiment
Elements: Transparent Ball x Water x Mirror x Geometric Wall x Light Using a transparent ball and filling in water to set up in the central space,the wall are the normal pattern of black and white line, and the ceiling andfloor are the material of mirror. Because of the refraction, the pattern transform to the different pattern by the transparent ball of water.
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In the space, people can see the different shape and pattern from different distance, perspective, and the direction.Also, people can compare the aberrant visaul and the normal visual. It can evoke people’s visual reaction immediately.
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Experiment
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Experiment
Elements: Transparent Ball / Oval ball x Water x Mirror x Geometric Wall x Light Using a transparent ball / oval ball and filling in water to set up in the central circular space, the wall are the normal pattern of black and white square, and the ceiling and floor are the material of mirror. Because of the refraction, the uniform geometric pattern transform to the different pattern by the transparent ball / oval ball of water.
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In the circular space, people can see the different pattern from different distance, perspective, and the direction. Because of the circular space, the effect is different to thequadrate space. Also, people can compare the aberrant visaul and the normal visual.
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Method of Visual Illusion
About Distorted Mirror
Distorted mirror can transform the shape and the pattern of people, object, and environment. From the different perspective, the shape can be seen in various way.Some artists try to use the method to represent the space and environment.
Research photos
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Drawing
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Experiment
Elements: Mirror x Distorted Mirror xGeometric Wall x Light Using the distorted mirror in the whole rectangular space and the walls are the material of mirror.The ceiling and the floor are the pattern of black and white square. The distorted mirrors can reflect,extend, and transform the pattern of the geometry. When people walk in this space, they can see the various change of pattern. Also, they can get their own experience of visual illusion.
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Education of children
External Environment
Visual Illusion
Psychology
Method
Related
Physics
Method
Reflection
Extension
Refraction
Distortion
Educated meaning for children This project can be concerned with the education of children, especially for the primary school students. Trying to use the diverting way to teach them what is the matter, while they can experience the visual reaction from it. - Visual illusion not only confuse their mind but also help kids understand how they see and percieve the world. - Visual illusion can be evoked by specific materials. 26
Simple practices for children
Muller-Lyer illusion Lines of equal length appear unequal, the line with wings pointing outward looks larger than the line with the wings pointing out inward.
Horizontal lines sloping or straight? All of the lines are straight. The black and white blocks are not aligned and thus fool your brain into thinking that the lines are sloping.
Although many practices of visual illusion for children are simple, the educated meaning is deeply and clearly. The practices would be the evidence to tell them what you are seeing may or may not be real. Also, the practice of illusion for children can confuse their mind, while it can increase their skill of exploration. They can learn how to observe and speculate through the works or practices of optical illusion. Learning is not only from the textbooks, but also from the life experiences. 27
Observation of children’s behaviour and interest
There are many ways of learning for children in their life. For instance, parents and teachers take their children and students to visit the science museum to increase their science knowledge and experiences. There are divided many different areas of the subject. One of the areas of the science museum is called “Challenge of Materials�. In this area, the diverse materials are exhibited, while children can realize the texture, pattern and the function of materials from there. Moreover, some of the modes of display can interact with children. The display of interaction with children is the direct and divertive way to educate them the knowledge.
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When children involved in the science museum, they can learn not only the knowledge of science but also the history and the art. Besides, from my observation in the science museum, children are more interested in the display, which they can interact with it. An example of this point is that there is an installation called “Reflections� in the museum. It is a segmented and distorted mirror, and then children are interested in it. Because of the reflection, children can see themselves to be distorted and divided by seeing the mirror. The interactional devices or installations are easy to attract their attention and curiosity.
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Conceptual Experiment
Seeing is the most direct way to perceive the world whether it is true or not. Therefore, children can observe and learn the things by seeing. Furthermore, children are in the stage of learning, they spend most of time at home and school. Their life is more regular than the adults, however, they use the common objects everyday but they do not to mind about them. Therefore, I try to use the common objects such as toothbrush, pencil and book to do the experiment, because they are the most familiar things of their life. They can see the distortion of the objects by using the water, the kaleidoscope lens and distorted mirror.
Common objects for children Letter x Pencil x Toothbrush I try to use the common objects of their life which are the most familiar things. They can see the transformation and result of the objects by using the different materials.
Specific materials Distorted Mirror x Glass+Water x Kaleidoscope Lens The different materials can reflect the different result of the same objects. Distortion, reflection and refraction are the important features of visual illusion. It can tell them the reason and the matter of these materials.
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
ＡＢＣ Original of object - Letter
Material 1- Distorted Mirror
Material 2- Glass + Water
Material 3- kaleidoscope lens
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Original of object - Pencil
Material 1- Distorted Mirror
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Material 2- Glass + Water
Material 3- kaleidoscope lens
Original of object - Toothbrush
Material 1- Distorted Mirror
Material 2- Glass + Water
Material 3- kaleidoscope lens
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Drawing
Educated Device of Illusion
They can see the four sences by the holes, when they rotate the circle.
According to the conceptual experiment that I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I used the different mediums to evoke the children’s visual impact and illusion. Therefore, I tried to combine the elements such as water, kaleidoscope lens, mirror and distorted mirror into a device that children can play it. This device has four spaces inside the box, and then children can see the four scenes through the holes. The four scenes include the experiments that I have done before. There is a three-quarters circle in front of the box. Children can rotate the circle to see the four different effects of materials through seeing the holes . It can increase the interaction with children by playing and rotating the circle. They can get the knowledge, including the principle of refraction, reflection and distortion through the visual aberration. Also, they can realize that specific materials can transfer the forms and patterns of the original objects, and then they can result in the optical illusion.
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Children can interact with this device, while they can realize what specific materials can result in visual illusion.
4 Scenes inside the box
Mirror(it can be rotated)
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Educated Device of Illusion
Using the distorted mirror in the whole rectangular space. The distorted mirrors can reflect,extend, and transform the pattern of the geometry. They can see the various change of pattern. Also, they can get their own experience of visual illusion.
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Using a transparent ball and filling in water to set up in the central. Because of the refraction, the pattern transform to the different pattern by the transparent ball of water. Also, they can compare the aberrant and the normal visual. It can evoke people’s visual reaction immediately.
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Educated Device of Illusion
Using the kaleidoscope lens on the hole.
The kaleidoscope lens can distort and transfer the geometry. They can see the various change of pattern. Also, they can get their visual impact when they play it.
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The device and space
I try to deal with the relationship between the device and the space. Thinking about how to put the device into the space. The space can be a big installation and children can walk into. It can evoke their curiosity and visual impact.
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Develope of the Device
From the last experiment, I combined the four features into a device and use the pattern of geometrics to represent the effects of each. However, I tried to consider the relationship between visual illusion and the environment. Children can perceive the distorted of the space or environment rather than the transformation of geometry patterns inside the box. Besides, there are many tools can help people to see and observe the world more precisely and clearly. The telescope, stereoscope, periscope and binocular are the tools to observe and perceive the objects, space, surrounding and the world. These devices can provide the various effects by using different filters of them. Through the simple process create the visual illusion by using the tools such as mirror, variant lenses, distorted glass. Thus, I chose the principle of periscope to deal with the device. It can reflect the external environment from different perspective.
Experiment of Periscope
I use the distorted mirror inside the pathway, whlie I can the teansformation and movement of the heating.
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Drawing
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The Structure of the device
The first pathway The second pathway
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The experiment of the device
The scene of original
The first pathway
The second pathway
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Interim show Model
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SITE The V&A Museum of Childhood
The reason for choosing the V&A Museum of Childhood Children can learn the new things from their life experience. The new learning has to connect to old knowledge and to link new pieces of information to old ones. Therefore, visiting museum is the one of learning activity and method for children’s learning.Another point is that children go to the museum can get variant knowing from there, while they can cultivate their sense of aesthetics. In addition, there are museums of different educated themes that children can learn by visiting and interacting. For instance, Science Museum provides the knowledge of science so that using more technology methods to exhibit. The Geffrye Museum of the Home explores the home and the way people live, and they decorate the living rooms to represent the process of homes. Moreover, V&A Museum of Childhood dedicates to the experience of childhood and children’s education, and they apply the simple display such as toys, models and games to teach them. These museums offer the different purposes of education for children. However, the V&A Museum of Childhood is more concentrate on children’s learning by the comparison of these museums. The purpose of this museum is more focus on various subjects of education for children that compare with the other two. Besides, the V&A Museum of Childhood is more concerned with the cognitive development and education of growing process for children.
The environment of The V&A Museum of Childhood
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Site Analysis
Site : The V&A Museum of Childhood The V&A Museum of Childhood is located in Bethnal Green in London. It is the largest institution of its kind in the world. The museum is arranged into four parts of galleries - the Moving Toys Gallery, the Creativity Gallery, the Childhood Galleries and the Front Room Gallery. They convey different subjects of learning by showing the collections of toys, which are from past to now. From my observation, children are the most of proportion of the viewers in there. Also, the museum provides variety of activities and events for children to participate in. Children can acquire new information from the activities.
13 .6m
1 3.4m
14 .0m
13.4 m
1 3.3m
13.8 m
1 3.5m
1 3.4m
13.5 m 13.8 m 13 .9m
1 3.3m 1 3.5 m
14 .0m
1 3.7m
12 .8m
1 3.6m
1 2.5m
13
.3 m
13.6 m
12. 6m
1 3.8m
12.4 m
14.3 m
12 .7m 1 2.2m 1 3.0m
12 .6m 1 3.7m
1 4.5 m
13 .8m 14 .6m
V&A Museum of Childhood
14 .4m
1 4.5m 13 .0m
12. 0m
13.4 m 1 2.3m
Bethnal Green Tube Station
11 .9m
1 1.9m
11 .9m
1 3. 2m
13 .3m
13.3 m
13. 0m 12
12. 6m
50
11.3 m
1 2 .1
m
.8
m
1 3.5 m
13 .9 m 1 3 .3 m
V&A Museum of Childhood
13 .6 m
12 .5 m
Main Building Garden
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Playhouse
The meaning of playhouse for children
The outdoor activity is one of methods to increase children’s life experience that is one of the features of education. The method of teaching can be various by children’s liking. Also, play is the one of the behavior of children, and they like to play. Therefore, the education of children includes an important element that is “play”. In children’s growth, play is an essential feature for their physical, social and cognitive development. As a result, play can connect to the wide range of children’s learning and life experiences.
Many facilities of design apply for children that are according to children’s behavior and their stature to create a specific size for them.Thus, I summarized the behaviors of children that it combines with the actions of children, the methods of education and modes of play. Moreover, choosing the some of the elements apply to the playhouse.
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“Sam + Pam” Playhouse
A playhouse called “Sam + Pam” which is located in Vancouver. It was built by two structures that it made by timber. It is a play structure for children. Also, the two structures connected by a bridge of rope and monkey bars. There is a pole slide provides another route of exit on the right side. They can clamber through multiple entrances, while the playhouse can excite their interest to explore it. The playhouse can create the different behaviors of children by playing, furthermore, it can cultivate the abilities of exploration and thinking through the playing process.
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Children’s behaviours and activities
Action
Walk
Run
Sit
Jump
Walk
Sit
Education
Search
Reading
Drawing
Game
Search
Game
Slide
Up & Down
Swing
Slide
Up & Down
Play
Hide-and-Seek
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The meaning of visual illusion for children
There are many ways to explore visual illusion. Moreover, distortion, reflection and perspective are the important features that can result in the visual illusion and can be related to the science of optics. Thus, it can be an educational tool for children especially the primary school students. Visual illusion not only confuses their mind, but also helps them to understand how to see and perceive the world. In addition, it can enhance their ability of exploration and cognition. Children have a strong curiosity to explore the things and the world that they do not know. It seeks to connect a scientific understanding of optics to “play�, as an educational tool.
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The Features of visual illusion
Distortion Convex Lens Kaleidoscopic Lens Distorted Mirror
Reflection
Mirror
Kaleidoscopic Mirror
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The posibilities of playhouse
Furthermore, applying the features of visual illusion that are distortion, reflection and perspective into the design. Another point is the possible activities in the playhouse. According to the behaviors of children, I drew some of the possibilities that they can happen inside the playhouse. Children can walk, sit, slide, climb and walk up and down the stair when they are seeing and exploring. All the elements of the equipment consider the scale of size to children that they include the height of the playhouse, the height of the one step of ladder and slope of the slide.
Scene 1
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Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
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The position of playhouse
MAIN BUILDING
Playhouse The main building of exhibition
The environment of V&A Museum of Childhood consists of a main building and a garden . The collections are exhibited in the main building, and some of the activities are launched in the garden where is on the left side of the building. Moreover, a part of viewers sit around the garden to enjoy their time. Therefore, the garden would be the right position to install the interactive installation for children.
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People Walking Route 1 People Walking Route 2 People Walking Route 3
There are three main people walking route of the V&A museum of childhood. Children and parents can go to the garden before they visit the main building to see the exhibition. Also, some of visitors come to the museum for having their leisure time. Anothey people walking route is that the viewers walk to the garden after they visit the main building.
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The Concept of Playhouse
The design of the underground playhouse, which is located in the garden of the V&A Museum of Childhood, applies two important features. Firstly, it would be a long space, while there is a main route in the middle that is related to the form of the main building. The pathway connected to the spaces which have different levels and the elements of the connection are the corridors, holes, ladders, and slides. In the spaces, the aim is to create scenes to evoke visual illusions. The second feature of the design is that the application of visual illusion. It focuses on the distortion and the reflection. The convex lens, kaleidoscopic lens and mirrors are used to distort the scenes so that children can see the environment in the other ways.
The relationship of layout of space
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The relationship of elevation of space
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P
P
P
Layer 1 Plan Scale 1:150
P P
P
Layer 2 Plan Scale 1:150
M P
P
P
M
P
M
Layer 3 Plan Scale 1:150
P
P Periscope 64
P
P P
M Mirror
M
Slide
Stair
Ladder
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The Vertical Route of Space
Ground floor ------ Layer 2 Layer 2 ------ Layer 1 Layer 2 ------ Layer 3 Layer 3 ------ Layer 1
The vertical route of the playhouse are variety. Children can walk, slide and climb in the palyhouse. There is not only one way to get into each space, but also many ways can pass into each space. Besides, the various facilities of space connections can be considered children’s behavior. 66
The Reflection of Space
Distoted Mirror Mirror Kaleidoscopic Mirror The way of reflection
The mirror can reflect the opposite environment in the playhouse. Also, the distorted mirror and the Kaleidoscopic mirror can transform the form of space into the different shape. The mirrors are applied to the space can increase the interest of space and children’s curiouity.
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Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 3
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 1
Layer 1
Outside
The Principle of Periscope The principle of the periscope and application of this manner into space. The purpose is that it can perceive the environment not only from a perspective but also with the interaction of children who are on the ground or other levels. It would make the playhouse more interesting while children are playing. The underground playhouse is a huge educational toy that children can learn and explore the knowledge by playing. The mirrors inside the pathway of the periscope can be a distorted, kaleidoscopic mirror. Also, the convex lens and kaleidoscopic lens can be used on the holes that the environment can be distorted while they are seeing. The ambition of this project is not only learning by playing in the playhouse, but also creating their own visual experience through the process of the play. 68
Mirror
Kaleidoscopic Mirror Distorted Mirror Kaleidoscopic Lens Convex Lens
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Playfield 1
Playfield 2
Ground Floor
A
A’
A - A’ SECTION SCALE I:100
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B
B’
B - B’ SECTION SCALE I:100
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When children slide into this playhouse, they can see the environment of the other side. Because of the distorted mirror , the environment has been distorted. Also, they can see the spaces of the other levels by playing periscope. 74
This distorted mirror can reflect and distort the opposite environment. Children can interact with it. It can increase the interaction and interest of this space. Besides, they can see the environment in an alternative way. 75
In the Layer 3, there is a space that children can crawl into the space. Also, the periscope can offer an opportunity that they can see thechildren and space of the Layer 2.
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Children can climb the circle ladder into the Layer 1. It can increase the interest of play, while they can see themslves who are distorted by the distorted mirror.
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The kaleidoscopic mirror can reflect the inside space in fragment. It can evoke their curiosity to explore the space. Also, the mirrors and periscopes can create their own experience by playing.
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The playhouse summarizes the behaviors of children that it combines with the actions of children, the ways of education and modes of play. Children can get the knowledge by playing, while it offer the opportunity to learn how to explore and see. 79
The Process of Model Making
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The Final Model
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The Detail of the Final Model
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The Final show space
The section model of the underground playhouse fix on the wall and the poster include the drawing and explanation of the design. Because the principle of periscope is the important feature of this playhouse. I make the periscope on the right side. The viewers can understand the principle clearly. Also, the can see the outside environment in another way.
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