Invisible City
OCTAVIA
STORY BACKGROUND Now I will tell how Octavia, the spider-web city, is made. There is a precipice between two steep mountains: the city is over the void, bound to the two crests with ropes and chains and catwalks. You walk on the little wooden ties, careful not to set your foot in the open spaces, or you cling to the hempen strands. Below there is nothing for hundreds and hundreds of feet: a few clouds glide past; farther down you can glimpse the chasm’s bed. This is the foundation of the city: a net which serves as passage and as support. All the rest, instead of rising up, is hung below: rope ladders, hammocks, houses made like sacks, clothes hangers, terraces like gondolas, skins of water, gas jets, spits, baskets on strings, dumb-waiters, showers, trapezes and rings for children’s games, cable cars, chandeliers, pots with trailing plants. Suspended over the abyss, the life of Octavia’s inhabitants is less uncertain than in other cities. They know the net will last only so long. —Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities
The first development PLAN 1: 10
900
900
Shaped the pink foam board into some geometric from.
Using the balloon which filled with water inside, to show the transformation of the size.
SIDE ELEVATION
50
100
150
200
250
300
PLAN 1: 20
Filled with Some small foam ball and ping pong
150 50
50
45 300
45
PLAN 1:4
0
15
ORTHOGRAPHIC
50
50
50
50
50
The second development PLAN 1: 10
900
900
Using the bigger balloon filled with water inside, to represent the bigger apartment
Using the smaller balloon filled with water inside, to show the middle size apartment.
SIDE ELEVATION
50
100
150
200
250
300
PLAN 1: 20
Filled with Some small foam ball , ping pong and plastic ball bullet, to represent the highest density living place.
DESIGN CONCEPT Octavia was a city where linkage between different blocks of houses created a complicated network. Other than presenting the web by strings as the passage said, we represented it with a slightly different method by plaster with holes to present the habitants.
We created 2 highest points for the opposite corners, and we are having in total 6 different ascending height levels of blocks. This is to present the gravity as the city was located between 2 cliffs. Hollow bases are presenting the depth underneath.
Also, we would like to present the city with reflection of the fact that modern cities including Hong Kong, the altitude and sizes of the house are representing one’s social status. The richest people with largest houses are in the highest altitude and the poorest are trapped and tightly squeezed into one narrow gap. The lowest levels looked like dangerous and densely populated, even causing Trypophobia (pathological fear of holes and small closely packed-circular objects).
Testing 1
we try to using paper wrapped by masking tap ,to make it from like a ball shape
process testing 1
testing 1
process
process testing 1
Testing 2
testing 2
we try to using different size foam ball, ping pong ball and the rock.
testing 2
process
process testing 2
Testing 3
testing 2
we try to using different balloon filled with water inside,
testing 3
process
process testing 3
Experimen Experimen Experimen
ntal testing ntal testing ntal testing
Because of different density in soap plaster, the
liquid has sunk and the bubble float on top.
Testing 4
we try to using Yeast , soap and the baking powder mixed with the plaster, hope it will making some chemical effect of the material.
process testing 4
testing 4
process
we have tried different testing method to present the concept . Finally , we think water balloon is the most presentable method and more easy to control.
Mass pr
oduction
day by
day . . .
OCTAVIA
Invisible City(2016) group project 15011294D Wu hoi yan, Haley Cheung tsz tung