When Nature Reclaims Brick and Mortar

There’s a certain kind of mystery concerning an abandoned buildings that tickles our curiosity.  How has it deteriorated? And why? These places are inspirational and offer up a glimpse into the past, telling us an old story. The concept of ruins photography is also known as "Ruins Porn" and most of the photographers aim to capture and document something that is likely everlasting, important and generally historical in nature. Legends and stories about these decrepit structures are what we find so appealing, along with the adrenaline rush of exploring a forbidden space. 

Personally I enjoy the buildings after nature has taken hold. For me this "art" is not about remembering man, but instead what was there before man made an impact. 

There is beauty in decay, nature conquering what man has left behind.

"Ruins are the visible symbols and landmarks of our societies and their changes ... the volatile result of the change of eras and the fall of empires. This fragility leads us to watch them one very last time: to be dismayed, or to admire, it makes us wonder about the permanence of things." (Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre)

The Completed Table

The process of having this table manufactured was a great learning experience, however I would not like to be an industrial designer, who I would imagine does this on a regular basis. I sourced manufacturers during the varsity recces period as it was basically the only available time I had to do so. 

At this point I would like to give credit to and thank my mother for helping with phone calls and directions while I drove all over town to these different people, she's such a doll and this would have been extremely difficult to do without her!

The photos that follow are of the final product which I am very satisfied with. And the process was relatively headache free!

Assembled, from the side

Puzzle and wing-nut detail

From above, the concentric nature of the paint technique and puzzle is very apparent

Close up of brilliant welding job

A 1:2 scale model to show the design of the coffee maker (my second product)

There are still a few tweaks that need to be made until it is perfect:

• The hole through the puzzle pieces is skew and therefore the pieces don't turn all the way inside each other.
• The pin onto which the top fits is too long so that needs to be cut down.
• A change to the design will be made to remove the wing-nut and instead have the smallest puzzle piece simply fit onto the pin as a 'cap'. Therefore the hole in this piece needs to be filled and re-drilled but only about 4mm deep from the underside.

Hope you enjoyed the design!

My First Computer Animation

Using 3D Studio Max I created a video that shows the existing elements to be removed from the building and following that, the construction of the proposed new elements of the design.

Inspiration for Proposal Video

A Growing City

A city grows from the ground and its context. 

Lines represent connections between building within an urban context. Movement throughout a city determines the development of communities and this dictates how people interact with each other. A good community vibe is as a result of walkable neighbourhoods and close proximities to human needs. More people in the street provides more opportunity for social interaction. 

A mixed use building facilitates these 'pathways' inside the building with all needs provided in one spot, thereby becoming the community...

Contrasting line and shape are symbolic of the architecture as well as culture in Port Elizabeth and South Africa in general. The mixture and unusual combinations of  architecture, historic and contemporary, tall or short, relates to these dynamic sculptures(particularly the last, golden one). The geographic context of Central, where the proposal will take place consists of steep hills and 'cliff faces' and because of this, a common sight is buildings that see to be balancing on the edge or becoming part of the rock as if they 'grew' from it! 

Trafalgar Centre (proposed building) is on top of this hilly part of central and is therefore the point where this all connects. It is fitting that the design concept should reflect this 'growing', 'developing' 'combining' idea.

Hyper-realistic Renderings. Computer Aided Design

I found an interview with Henry Goss, the architect and visualiser who produced these renders for "Staithe End House". Goss talks to Dezeen about how 3D visualisations are becoming indistinguishable from real photographs an how this in itself can be a problem for designers as the final product may look worse than the render!

Goss says that 3D renders are already almost indistinguishable from photographs, but are being taken to the next level by "the addition of real world imperfections. Scratches in metal, splinters and chips in timber boards, even fingerprints."

Goss believes there are three categories to sucessful architectural visualisation:

1. A technical understanding of the software, this may be obvious but it is impossible to have proper control without having a fairly good knowledge of the tools you are using.

2. An understanding of architecture. An architectural visualiser who has no real appreciation of their subject matter will never grasp the subtleties of what they are attempting to recreate.

3. An understanding of architectural photography. This is often the most overlooked and potentially most important aspect of the three.

Its hard to believe that an image with such depth of field was created with computer software!

The whole 3D industry is heading in the direction where you have a single model of a building which can hen be used by architects, engineers, interior designers as the architectural components, building services components and the structure can all be edited in this one model.

Computer-aided design has now reached a level where it's all becoming very integrated and very easy to collaborate with all members of a project

Product Design

The Concentric Convergence

-a table to encourage interaction

This table will be used in the Hi-Bru coffeehouse as an alternative seating as apposed to the proposed fixed bar seating which will be a feature in the space. 

The product needs to incorporate the theories that I've chosen to base the entire design concept on. 

New Urbanism:

Sustainable urban design principals. The weaving element of the wire represents a 'growing', or 'connecting' to the urban environment. The choice of materials also relate the design to its urban context: concrete and steel and a touch of timber for a contrasting, tactile aspect. This contrasting element is also part of my concept and stems from the inspiring contrasting nature of South Africa.

Architecture and Society (Environmental Psychology): 

I question how do people react to and with this table. Also how does it affect the behavior of people with each other. A puzzle is included in the design of the tabletop. This induces interaction with the design as well as with the person sitting with you at the table. The design concept of Hi-Bru is to connect different people and cultures through the experience of coffee therefore this is quite fitting.

The Design

Inspirational mood board

A 3D sketch of the design

A front elevation of the table, note the staggered feet attachment (symbolic of growing from its context)

Below is the presentation poster that i submitted today. The conceptual development is also included here if you would care to know more detail. 

This table will be manufactured to full scale as the second part of the project, within a budget of R1500 if possible.

The second product  will be a vacuum coffee maker and will follow in another post!

Vacuum Coffee Maker

This is something that I want to make a part of the coffee experience at HiBru. 

I love the tactile nature of the whole process. It really brings focus to the coffee itself and in my experience, when I've waited a while for something from a restaurant it always tastes that much better! This set up will be prepared by the barista and then taken to the customer's table where they can watch the approximately 5minute long process, depending on the amount of water and heat of the burner... 

I seriously wouldn't mind having one of these in my kitchen or table at varsity!

Back to Work

First week of the new semester is going well so far, I'm feeling motivated probably because the mountain of work has not yet settled onto my shoulders. Slowly getting into the swing of things and very soon my computer in the blue lab at varsity will be my second home once again. 

The last stretch of the year involves: 

The design and manufacture of a product

Resolved design sown to the detail of fixings

A whole fancy set of technical drawings fit for municipal submission

Super cool computer graphics and animations

A very academic document that makes us sound intelligent 

Back to work...

A Student of Design

We are the designers

Computers Presentation Experimentation

This semester I worked on three different rendering programs to see the difference between each and the quality of the final product. I chose an original image which I then tried to represent as accurately as possible. Here are the different results from AutoCAD, 3D Max and Lumion.

3D representation of Trafalgar Centre

This is my 3D model of the chosen building for my project.
It is simply to show what the building looks like currently and is submitted as part of the 'computer presentation' module along with a short fly around movie. The model was drawn in autoCad and then imported into Lumion to apply materials and lighting and create the movie and stills.

Corner view

Lawrence Street View

Clyde Street View

Courtyard at the back of the building

View from the top of the ramp

As-Built Portfolio Submission

Today is final submission of the as-built drawings for the semester. A lot of stressed and tired people around the architecture building today!

This will be our exam for the subject of technology. I'm very satisfied with the quality of my drawings but the document that goes with it, not so much so will have to wait and see for results. I'm a little disappointed in myself for not putting more energy into the document instead of simply staring at the screen hoping the thing would write itself, but what's done is done and I have to hope the drawings will get me the 70% I want.


(Just ignore page 1 :) )

3D Design Perspectives, pretty pictures!

Today was the submission day for the "final" 3D design, turns out I wasn't quite there yet but that stage is only really finalized next semester.

I have uploaded the design part of the presentation and the floor plans for reference as I have not yet had the time to rework the remaining part of the presentation (concept, identity and building analysis). Enjoy!

Elevation and Section Asbuilt drawings

Elevations and Section submission today. The Sections still need some work on the line weights to make them easier to understand.

Treatise layout new design!

Rework of the treatise layouts due tomorrow

Treatise Layout Design

The time has arrived for the design of the treatise document layouts. I have a submission of possible layout designs on thursday, today I had a crit with the lecturer. It seems like a really rushed process but i will be working on it over the month of june placing my written document into these layouts. Corel Draw is the worst program ever!!

This is what i have so far for the first attempt. I feel that it needs more colour and a better link to my design poster layouts. The colours I have used relate to the link between the urban world and the natural world. As the sky and trees are mainly the only natural features that make it into an urban landscape i have used blue and green and I need to bring in a bright colour for a bit of life.

 

Construction Submission As-built Documentation

As built drawings are about 80% complete at this stage as we use them to understand the building before we can really introduce the design into the space available.

Design Branding

I have been reworking the logo design and branding for the office and cafe elements of my proposal. Please do comment, I would appreciate thoughts on the following....

MOBILI

The office design is inspired by South African design which is influenced by craft and resourcefulness.
Beading and weaving are the two crafts i have chosen to inspire the space.
The logo has "bead elements" which relate to this concept.

"Mobili" is derived from the word mobile. The idea of how this office functions is that it is a temporary space for mobile people to  gather with like-minded people and work for as long as they feel necessary. Therefore a nomadic office, I hope you're getting the connection...

The colour choice is inspired by the contrast created by the quiet areas of focus and the bustle of the group interactions.

HI BRU

"Hi Bru" is a place where the trendy will hang out and therefore needs to comment on the current graphic and design trends. I researched these trends and applied them into this design as well as looking at a number of different coffee cafe brands as drinking coffee itself is a cultural experience. One has to talk the talk you know...

The geometric trend is rather prominent in graphic, fashion, interior and product design. I feel that this relates to the fast paced "edgy" lives that we live. Also it speaks to the African tribal patterns which relate to my desire to incorporate rich cultural elements into the design.


Below is I think the one i would like to stick with. I feel it is simple and the circular shape is an indication of togetherness. The design of "Hi Bru" needs to bring people together to communicate and interact, historically this has been the function of coffeehouses since they began in like the 1700s...

I have also reworked the "Hybrid" logo as i felt it wasn't striking enough...
I have linked the Hi Bru and hybrid logo as the coffeehouse is the main component of the design with the other functions to support it.

So this is it, the final Hydrid logo which in itself is a hybrid of curved and straight lines to represent the adaption of the very rigid building to something slightly more organic in its urban context.

New personal design branding

Rustic Fawn Designs

Conceptual Design Ideas

conceptual sketches for the design of the artisan coffee cafe

sketches for the design of the typically south african shop and showcase space.

very basic sketches with ideas for the office enivornment

Easter Weekend in the Design Capital

I've been in Cape Town for the Easter weekend and what better place to visit to soak up the diverse culture of Arica, mingled with some, ok, A LOT of foreign cultures too. Lost out on a bit of work and I'm slightly behind but its nothing that a good graft session won't fix.

Fishin Boats in Hout Bay

Pizza and Cocktails, Old Biscuit Mill Market

The stage in our design now is at the space planning phase, heading toward the final planning of the spaces and then on to the 3D design. Im happy about it because the documents were draining my creativity!

King Protea on top of Table Mountain

Cocoon of Light

Installed in the heart of the city of Lausanne is Flux Cocoon 

by Allegory

Inside the light web

Entirely influenced by its location, the project is situated at the crossing between vertical 

and horizontal circulatory movements, interpreted as the flux.

The framework is an abstraction of the knot created by the crossing of each pedestrian’s virtual trace at this precise point in space.

Elevator and pedestrian walkway

Quiet Moments and a Cup of Brew

When the world is at odds

and the mind is all at sea

then cease the useless tedium 

and brew a cup of coffee.

There is magic in its fragrance, 

there is solace in its taste; and the laden moments vanish

somehow into space.

The world becomes a lovely thing, there is beauty as you'll see;

all because you briefly stopped...

to brew a up of coffee....

Quiet moments in secluded environments are what get you through a long day.

Back in Action

I've had a little week long holiday and it was very much needed. Was feeling a little out of control last week and its amazing how traveling to a different place can boost your spirits, even though it dims the work ethic a bit... Didn't get as much varsity work done as i was hoping to.
Our diaries are so full during the term that the holidays are pretty much the only time to catch up! But back into the full swing of things with a busy week of submissions of theory documents and construction document crits so im going to be at the keyboard all week! Graduation is ahead this weekend and that's going to be exciting!

Inspirational Findings

Paris based Achitects, Yoonseux Architectes added wooden surfaces and red floors to this school classroom building in the city of Livry Gargan, to echo the autumnal tones of neighbouring trees. 

One of the classrooms

Built to accommodate the expanding number of pupils, the extension occupies a site between two of the school's existing buildings. Just two concrete columns support the 15-meter span of the roof, offering minimal disruption to the space underneath.

open corridor

It provides a sheltered courtyard and three classrooms, linked together by a long corridor that faces the playground from the front of the building.

Horizontal metal bars separate the courtyard from the garden and allow sunlight to filter through, creating a pattern of light and shadow on the ground.

Lovely light patterns as well as a bit of shading, not full sun  penetration

The source of the images and information...