PROJECT 3: ARTIST

ARTIST:

DAMIEN HIRST (born 1965 in Bristol, UK)

His wide-ranging practice - installations, sculpture, painting and drawing - sought to challenge the boundaries between art, science and popular culture. His energy and inventiveness, and his consistently visually arresting work has made him a leading artist of his generation.

He explores uncertainty at the core of human experience: love, death, loyalty and betrayal through unexpected and unconventional media. Best known for present animals in vitrines suspended in formaldehyde such as The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, his works recast fundamental questions concerning the meaning of life and the fragility of biological existence.

The Physically Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living

The Prodigal Son

Beautiful I'd Like to See You Surf That Baby You Mothers... Painting

Beautiful I've Been Spirited Away Painting

PROJECT 3: SITE ANALYSIS

SITE 1

Street view


Rear/side view


Due to the site being so long, it allows circulation from King Street to the parking lot and to the park in the rear (and vice versa). It is important to design the building so that this circulation is still very thorough. Having such a big empty space at the rear area (car park) and having a park behind that makes this site very nice, and so circulation essential. The surrounding buildings are fairly boxy and have canopies. From the site plan, the buildings are very linear as well.

Site Model

PROJECT 2: FINAL MODEL

EXTERIOR VIEW OF GLASS TOWER (NIGHT)

INTERIOR SPACE (DAY)

EXTERIOR VIEW OF GLASS TOWER (DAY)

The concept of my design is entering a dreamy space and then climbing stairs to the sky. Through this process, the insomniac will be able to get tired and then land into a cozy and comfortable space to sleep (without meds).

The form of the glass tower, is having a strong solid base, where light can be manipulated to create a comfortable and dreamy space to sleep, and a glass box above is the 'fish tank' for the "Nighthawks" as well as to allow invisibility in the day, while bright and lively in the night. The floating stairs also give hope to the insomniacs for they seem to make the impossible possible.

The windows have been created to let limited amounts of light into the space, producing a hallucation effect, producing the dreamy feel. When lying down in the cushiony centre resting area, the insomniac can look up into the sky and count stars or clouds, feeling connection with nature. Through this tender connection, they will feel secure and fall asleep.

The entrance is designed so that the insomniac climbs through the windows in desperation for sleep. Once inside, they can rest and lie down on the furry comfy 'bed', or they can run/climb the stairs in order to get tired. Once on top, the person can rest or look into the surroundings, wondering what is the point, other than looking at the view. (The site is a farm in the winter) Once they look down into the pile of snow, and feel that they are above the clouds and feel free from the crazy world. (They can also find that they can count sheep on the farm!)

PROJECT 2: DRAWINGS POCHE

AXIOMETRIC 1:100

PLAN 1:100

SECTION 1:100

PROJECT 2: WORK IN PROGRESS

INFLUENCES:

-ORGANISATION OF STACKING BLOCKS FOR A TOWER

(Museum of Contemporary Arts - SANAA)

-ORGANISATION OF WINDOWS ON A TOWER

(Zollverein School of Management and Design - SANAA)

-EFFECT IN INTERIOR SPACE
(Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp - Le Corbusier)

Through research and refering to the painting, I was able to decide on a design for my glass tower.

WORKING MODEL:

REVIT MODEL:

PROJECT 2: PAINTING AND NARRATIVE

Edward Hopper's "Nighthawk"

During a time of gloominess and the attack of Pearl Harbour, Hopper portrayed a couple and lonely man in a diner late at night. Through the emptiness of the city and surroundings as well as the lack of an entrance into the 'fish tank', the people feel as though they are trapped and are lost in their own thoughts. The lights within the diner flood the streets, giving some life to the painting.

Through the name of the painting, "Nighthawk" refering to the night owls, people who stay up late, or not sleep, (very relevant to us, architects) I was able to construct the following narrative.

Narrative: "A glass tower for insomniacs that will do anything to sleep."