MICHELLE JENNICA GAN
A R T E FA C T V O L U M E _ 0 2 MAJOR PROJECT 2021
Reframing
Ornament
“In the finest of these flourishes, we can read signs of goodness in a material register, a form of frozen benevolence. We see in them evidence of those sides of human nature which enable us to thrive rather than simply survive. These elegant touches remind us that we are not exclusively pragmatic or sensible: we are also creatures who, thrive in elaboration.”
ALAIN DE BOTTON
We find beauty in the revealed dialogues between our occupancy and these handmade fragments but seek a fairer balance. “In order not to mock such details we need a culture confident enough about its pragmatism and aggression that it can also acknowledge the contrary demands of vulnerability at play – a culture, that is sufficiently unthreatened by decadence as to allow for visible celebrations of tenderness.”
Criteria Through Three Lenses
CONTEST FOR THE BOUQUET ROBERT GORDON
Reca Victo Mem
alling orian mory
The houses recall a past they have grown witness to by unearthing depictions in painting. The objects are positioned to serve a purpose and form the identities of their owners, decorating the homes as their humanised proxies. THE LETTER AUGUSTE TOULEMOUCHE
Icon grap Abstra
nophic action
Each object is made iconographic to extract its pure geometrical nature, its layers, and its facets. A key to revealing moves that can transform yet sustain its nostalgic visual memory. HELEN MAUSDLEY
Form Funct Disasso
mal + tional ociation
The ornament is altered through mirroring, slicing, bloating, and multiplying to serve a new functionality for the modern resident. These encompass pragmatism, flexibility, porosity and tactile engagement. SUZANNE JONGMAN
Heritage Facades
Reframing Ornament
01
Chimney – Solar and Communications Tower
05
Window Grille – Curtain Integrated Window
09
Party Wall – Extending Hamper
13
Lion Mould – Hand Basin
17
Corbel – Corbel Bathtub
22
Corbel – Corbel Toilet A R T E FA C T V O L U M E _ 0 2 MAJOR PROJECT 2021
23
Crown – Picnic Bench
28
Crown – Mobile Bar cart + Library
29
Architrave - Bed
33
Balcony – Accessible Lift
37
Verandah – Rain Collection and Hammock
41
Gabled Roof – Sun Roof
Chimney
02
01
01
Depictions of the Chimney - Mechanic’s Magazine Mechanical & Children Chimney Sweeping, the contrast - 1934
02
Abstraction - The chimeny’s facets are unfolded like a cardboard box, alluding to a change into more suistainable material.
01
Chimney
02
Separate sections of the chimney accordingly
03
Take the cap and replace this form with antenna and communications equipment
04
Take the crown and replace this form with any rounded wiring required for electricity
05
Separate faces of the chimney stack, laying them flat
06
Replace each face with solar panels, install hinges and pulleys to allow movement according to the sun.
07
Use energy collected from the sun delivered by a chimney stack
“Attached to it, the chimney stack that once only omitted clouds of black smoke now basks in the sun lifting its solar panel clad arms to harness its energy.”
03
Solar and communications tower elevation
04
Solar and communications tower view - in action
Solar Panel
04
Grille
06
05
05
Illustrations of Victorian Iron Grille Styles
06
Abstraction - The Arched window and grilles are portrayed as an object consisting of layers able to be manipulated.
01
Arched window with security grilles
02
Separate grilles
03
Turn these upside down and attach them to the top half of the window
04
Detach the ends of the grilles
05
Replicate the form in a more fluid approach, rounded edges for a more comfortable grip
06
Connect each rod with curtain drapery
07
Operate the curtain window by pulling the handles down, igniting orbs at its base when it is fully closed.
“Old iron grilles initially positioned to ward of intruders, now reinforce a flexible privacy. They offer handles to draw soft curtains closed, igniting orbs at its base.”
Pipe Integrated Phone
07
07
Curtain Window with Speaking Phone - Section
08
Curtain Window with Speaking Phone - View In action
Curtain Window
08
Party Wall
09
10
09
Depictions of the Victorian Party Wall - The Party Wall - Charles Dana Gibson 1903
10
Abstraction - The ornament attached to the party wall is broken into facets, open for interaction.
01
Party wall decorated with Queen Victoria’s Face
02
Extract section and face accordingly
03
Divide face molding into 4 even parts
04
Attach retractable beams behind each section of the face
05
Extend each face out as desired for a hamper to hang planing, laundry or posters
“A parting wall once a cause of neighbourly dispute, mediates by offering an adaptability for both sides. The moulded face of queen Victoria tapers out into beams to accept a poster on one side or creeping vines from the other.”
11
Extending Hamper Elevation
12
Extending Hamper - View in action
Hamper
12
Lion Mould
13
14
13
Depiction of Victorian Fountains - Fountain Gate - Matthew Digby Wyatt - 1851
14
Abstraction - Animal moldings found in the home are layed down as containers for holding water - benefiting from their concave shapes.
01
Lion Molding
02
Turn the lion head in its face laying it to face the ceiling
03
Attach a tap, and mirror accordingly to form a hand basin as shown.
“Past the kitchen, a bathroom takes over what was once a dark isolating hallway. Basked in light, water pours from the spout into a lion moulding that once guarded the parting wall. “
15
Hand Basin - Section
16
Hand Basin View - in action
Basin
16
Corbel
18
17
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Depictions of Victorian Bathrooms - Bathroom Perkins Harnly - 1953
18
Abstraction The negative of the corbel shape is used to deliver water or form bathroom fixtures.
01
Corbel
02
Take the corbel and turn it on its side
03
Scale this up to match the size of half a bathtub, mirror this to create a cavity
04
Measure the dimensions for a shell to wrap encase this, divide the shape to as many facets desired and inflate it in glass.
05
Encase the corbel form within the glass blown shell
06
Enjoy a warm bath within a corbel formed bathtub
“The sweet smell of lavender wafts through the air as the mirrored corbel bathtub pools with warm water. Its transparent from framing the corbel that once supported the same lion’s face.”
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Corbel Bathtub section diagram
20
Corbel Bathtub view
Corbel Bathtub
20
01
Corbel
02
Take the corbel and turn it on its side
03
Repeat this step, coat this form in a layer of porcelain
04
Attach the required fixtures for a toilet flush system
05
Encase this object within a glass toilet shell
06
Place in the desired location
“Next to it, a matching toilet encasing a flush system within using the corbel silhouette for its purpose.”
21
21
Corbel toilet diagram
10
Corbel toilet view
Corbel Toilet
22
Crown
24
23
23
Picnic on the River Ouse, William Kay Blacklock 1872
24
Abstraction - The crown molding is viewed for its division rather than its intricacies. Each section is given the ability to rotate and unfold.
01
Late Victorian Terrace Crown Molding
02
Take the middle section of the crown, separating them in half to attach hinges in between for a fold out table. Separate sections of the banisters, enough for a seat. Attach hinges to these for easy rotation.
03
Attach legs to these sections that drop down for support when fully rotated.
04
Use table for a picnic with whomever you please.
“The crown moulding that once declared ‘Jubilee House 1851’, is now grounded as a folding picnic table for the residents and their neighbours. “
25
Picnic Bench Plan
26
Picnic Bench View - In action
Picnic Bench
26
01
Late Victorian Terrace Crown Molding
02
Take the middle section of the crown, replicating the rounds at the top and turning them upside down.
03
Slice the middle crown in half and attach hinges to the middle to allow for manipulation. Replace the rounded forms with castor wheels.
04
Attach wheels to the base of this crown
05
Take the remaining rounds and replace the ends with extendable light fixtures.
06
Take a section of banisters
07
Copy this and stack one over the other
08
Repeat this step creating a set of four, then lay a surface above and on the sides.
09
Attach more castors to one side of its base
10
Repeat process twice for a bar cast end and a library end. For the bar cart, take away banisters and replace with glassware and bottles that mimic its shape. For the library, loosen banisters to allow them to be taken away and replaced with books as desired
11
Attach all pieces together for use. Take the library bar cart around the house as a mobile entertainment unit.
“The same crown rearranges itself for both day and night into a bar cart and library. On one end, banisters are replaced with the glasses and liquors; and on the other, they come lose to be replaced by books of any kind. While the centre pediment unfurls into a lighted bench.”
27
Bar cart - library elevation
28
Bar cart - library view in action
Bar Cart - Library
28
Architrave 29
30
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Depictions of the use of an architrave - Street musicians at the door - Jacob Ochtervelt 1665
30
Abstraction - The architrave silhouette is softened and offest in a gradient
01
Door Architrave
02
Separate two sections of the architrave accordingly
03
Elongate the bottom section to the proportions of a bed
04
Inflate each section in the desired material for a bed
05
Reattach two sections as headboard and bed
06
Enjoy a nights rest over a architrave formed bed
“An architrave that once adorned a doorway is seen through a reflection of a mirror. Its image enlightens the form of an inflated bed for tonight’s rest.”
31
Bed
32
31
Architrave Bed plan diagram
32
Architrave bed view inflated
Balcony
34
33
33
Depictions of the first elevator - The flying chair - Louis XV
34
Abstraction - The terrace elevation is broken into sections to break symmetry and play with accessibility to the fron.
01
Late Victorian Terrace Balcony Veranda
02
Take a section of the balustrade, reserve this for the next step. Cut out a section large enough to fit an accessible lift.
03
Take the double hung window and replace the glazing with a sliding door for an elevator. Place the necessary equipment for a lift in the cavity created. Wrap the reserved balustrade around the lift to create support from within.
04
Take the lift up and down as access from the street into the house.
“At the corner, the terrace unfetters its inaccessible balcony, breaking its symmetrical elevation. The iron balustrade folds inward while its double hung framed windows form into doors for a lift to the level above.”
35
Accessible lift - section
36
Accessible lift view - in action
Accessible Lift
36
Verandah
38
37
37
Depictions of Veranda culture - The back veranda - Russel Drysdale 1942
38
Abstraction - the veranda is seen as an theshold connection to the outside. its surfaces used for social purposes and water containment.
01
Verandah
02
Begin with the roof awning
03
Split the surface in sections of 4
04
Replace the middle 2 with tensile fabric
05
To allow these to drop down into hammocks, attach a frame and draw strings to the end points.
06
Take the iron filigree and support columns
07
Inflate the form of the iron filigree, replacing the material with fabric. These will later be used as bags to hold and collect rain water.
08
Section the column out accordingly. Replace the bottom half with a garden hose attachment. Scale up and hollow out the top section for a funnel to collect rain water.
09
Connect the transformed elements
10
Use the veranda as desired, watering the plant bed at the base when enough water is collected, and drawing the hammock down for rest.
“The front veranda, once a space for surveying incoming guests, alters itself into an apparatus for rest and care. A section of its steel roof is replaced with taught fabric, dropping down as a hammock when needed. Its iron fillagree, now an expanding rain catchment system, delivers water through a hose shaped from the slender columns to nurture a garden bed at its feet.”
39
Rain Collection and Hammock Veranda section
40
Rain Collection and Hammock Veranda view - in action
Hammock
40
abled Roof 41
42
41
Depictions of the hidden attic - Attic - Williem de Kooning 1949
42
Abstraction - The gabled roof is tested as a potential space, its eaves folding up to open a platform from inside
01
Gabled Roof
02
Cut and half planes on the roof accordingly
03
Set out alternating material, one a tensile fabric and the other the existing roof tile. Take the pitch detailing in halves as handles to operate the tensile fabric open and closed.
04
Manipulate the sunroof as desired, pulling fabric sections open and closed, pushing roof gable halves open to admit views to the street.
“Above, the gabled roof that once faced the street with the Leonara name, hiding a dark attic within, opens and peels back. It is now a deck soaking in the fresh spring breeze.”
43
Sun Roof View - in action
44
Sun Roof Plan
Sun Roof
44
Each home, each ornament, like each individual is unique. Rooted in my curiosities a process emerged to liberate and reclaim heritage. Through this operation, we are equipped to operate at any time period, any architectural or even non-architectural medium.
We close the cabinet of curiosity, surrounded by ornament readapting heritage for a new intimacy. No longer suffocated by outdated protocols, we begin to impose our identity through the architecture. We look forward to the endless possibilities, wondering what could have been and curious of what is yet to come.