2.0 Soane’s Curio
24/09/15 - 21/01/16 2.1 Brief
You are to aim to produce a portable ‘curiosity box’ device that might become a contemporary artefact to be curated within the Soane Museum. These will be simple newtonian and sensory objects; trompe-l’œil, automata, unpredictable pattern makers or haptic pieces; but they should intrigue by hiding the exact mechanics of how they deliver their effect. They are opportunities to test and explore contextual architectural themes that you observe within the Soane museum
2.2 Requirements
Begin by recording select phenomena or illusions from the Soane and re-make them to delight an audience. These could be literal or metaphorical; material, sensory, illusionary, bodily or cognitive in nature. You must develop a rigourous vocabulary with which to present and discuss these, as well as producing a single crafted final piece.
2.3 Outcomes
During the unit you will gain knowledge of CSA’s fabrication and tracking suites but are also expected to explore the campus workshop and seek connections within fine art and other neighbouring facilities. By iteratively making, failing and remaking you will develop profound and inherent knowledge in a selective field such as mechanics, illusion, phenomena or materiality. Alongside fabrication you will simulate and model, painting and drawing either digitally or in analogue form. Comparison of your simulated and real work will require you to examine the often fraught relationship between planning and doing. [continued...] UCA Canterbury School of Architecture // MA Architecture // MA Interior Design // 2015-16