"In the wake of the devastating earthquake that recently hit Haiti, we cannot help but think how fortunate we are to have shelter that offers protection from outside elements. In addition ot the necessity of physical shelter, human beings require a sense of security and belonging: a way of nurturing their spirits and creating a space for their ideals.
In this first project, we ask you to examine ways in which you can provide a place for peace of mind within a public space using only found objects. The goal here isn't merely to provide cover, but to explore the notion of how interiors shape experience. over the next week and a half, working in teams, you will consider the notion of interiority, process solutions and outcomes, and design a shelter for daydreaming. You will then construct your design vision in or around the Gatewood building.
For this exercise, you are to use only found objects, which are either scraps or repurposed objects. It is imperative that the objects you choose to include in your space be used for something other than their original purpose.
Consider the following questions: How do we define shelter? Interiority? Security? Who will use this shelter? Where should this shelter be built? What is the minimum amount of space needed? What activities will this shelter take on?
The shelter will, of course, be ephemeral but the memories will forever stay with the users. How would you want this shelter to be remembered? Your group will include some way for people to leave notes about their experience with your shelter."
After reading the project sheet, my group and I started brainstorming ideas and seeking inspiration images. We realized we were coming up with waaaay too many cool ideas and had to narrow it down and simplify. We were finally able to start sketching out ideas for our own shelter for the mind. We redefined [shelter] as a shelter for the mind rather than a waterproof shelter that would physically house someone in a natural disaster zone. Because the haitians have encountered a traumatic experience, we decided to create a space for them to escape and daydream.
Jake introduced us to Podium the other day in our visualization class. We were to create a design for a studio loft apartment in a plan he provided for us. We werent supposed to add a second level, but I did anyway. Whats a studio loft apartment without a loft?! We were then to model the space in Sketch-up, texturize it, and render it in podium. For some reason I was doing something wrong, and my images continuously came out dark. The more I stared at my space this way, the less I liked it. Note - I promise I didnt design the space with a purple countertop. That was another fail in the rendering part. It was actually a personally made recycled glass countertop. Apparently Sketchup and Podium didnt like it...New goal: redesign, model, texturize, and render space over the weekend. BIG CHALLENGE! but I was definitely up for it!
We were all smiles at first! the first hour was rather fun. Then it got monotonous. When it reached the 10pm mark we started getting irritated. This went on for two days...
So that the balloons dried without creating a problem with the shape, we set up poles and hung the balloons by string from the poles. By the time morning came, they were dry enough to pop. The studio was a little peeved that we were scaring everyone by the sudden loud pop of a balloon!
It was a little late, and our area was so covered with hanging balloons that we all went a little loopy and started playing limbo to get out and go home.
