A Lesson in Politics

Since starting back for the second semester, I have been working on a new design project (we’ll minus the first four days). This design project is metaphorically termed “trash can” and is part of a larger carnival-esque design topic.


For our metaphoric trash can we have had to design something that stores and reintroduces ideas, namely those cast of as junk. My group in particular were required to work with second life and make our design a part of a larger Rube Goldberg machine.
My idea’s surrounding this project stemmed from our first, 3 day project concerning the grotesque in which I took a satirical and cynical view of the justice system.





This gradually resulted in this, my final product, which continues not so much with the same imagery as used in the first project, with the same themes, although less critical and more observant. The concept is that people can be represented/defined by their ideas (represented in turn my a ball when operating), and the filtering of these ideas, by swinging door, is symbolic of the way in which the justice system (is supposed to) filter out the good and the bad from society – the filtration can be temporary as any second life user with build privileges on Putahi should be able to take that idea out of its confinement.





We were also required to make a sculptie (sculpted prim) using 3dsmax – and trust me its not as easy as it looks. For mine I made fabric like bundles, reminiscent of classic imagery used in the story of the stork which brings the baby to its parents – encapsulating the ideas of (re)birth and (re)generation. It is duplicated and arranged in a way that is representative of the scales used frequently in imagery surrounding justice and court systems (usually in conjunction with Lady Justice). This arrangement ties the sculptie back to the overall theme of my design.





The hardest part of this assignment I think has been the politics. Trying to convince people that connecting/linking to my idea in the project is a good idea, and subsequently convincing people that there is a need to compromise and do things, such as move location, for the good of everyone. I’ve moved twice, had at least 1 person say they’ll link to me and then decide not to, had to accommodate 2 people either side of me not having compatible sizes of ideas (thus I, the middle man, need to find a solution) and of course numerous miss understandings. Also, I guarantee that I have lost prims along the way ...eeek...Putahi is very cluttered at the moment.


I have to be honest here and say there were probably moments where my design looked very different to what it turned up like, and those are moments I have not documented, as once I’m working I’m focused and forget the niggle little details like photographs. Hopefully I’ll get better at this as I go on and develop appropriate habits.

Furthermore, on reflection, there I could probably take better photos so i might do in the morning. Also I tried to get wegame to film my portion of the Rube Goldberg Machine, but all it did was crash secondlife and be utterly annoying. I'm tired now, a shower and bed I think. Good luck to everyone still working.

FINISHED!!

I've finished my office!!

I know I've been slack with blog posts - sorry I really just wanted to focus on completing the office - which I've done. And yes admittedly I did finish yesterday and could have blogged but I got too tired at 10.30.

I am really happy with the results as well. I feel it reflects the journals and just enough of me - plus I've invested time in this so I'm a bit like a mother with her child (so hopefully crit goes well tomorrow).

Now just because I haven't regularly updated doesn't mean i haven't taken snapshots, though i suppose haven't really been taken frequently enough to show my progress :S.

Anyway here goes.



Showing my issues with flooring textures. Both options showing are standard concrete in Second Life but I really wasn't happy with either as in my opinion there was no warmth and depth in them. I later went for a pebbled look I made with photoshop and found images which I quite liked.



My first alpha channel material - it was not the only one I made but the only one I used. I think it creates strong links to Majalah Arkitek. There is also a soild version used as well as a point of difference and a more appropriate backing for my logo.



A close up.

The following photos are just a look around at my office after I added and changed flooring and wall textures. Some pictures are taken from neighbouring offices.











This is really where I chose to stop building and focus on the interior of my design. Some of the photos may end up being repeats due to the fact that the exterior of my office changed very little after this.



My lights! XD they actually work on touch in Second Life although my own laptop isn't good enough to spot the difference.

Now on to my final images!!
These images are taken as I walk through my office - sort of like stills from a walk through but not as good.















The view from as far inside as you can get is next.



AA Files Poster (made by me)


Design Studies Poster (made by me)


Majalah Arkitek Poster (made by me)

The view from the threahold distinguishing/defining the hierarchy of space and operating as an area in its own right.



The more informal and intimate area of my office. Chairs, lap, table all made by me)


My logo based off the Petronas Floor Plan


View of the work and meeting area with my blog displayed as interactive media.


The last set of snapshots are from offices around mine.









As stated above I am really really happy with the end result and despite initial skepticism I see why we use second life to generate work.

I'm done! YUS - now to study for my exam tomorrow. Best wishes to everyone else still working on Secondlife and criting.

Design Studies

Design Studies is an international journal that publishes a select range of articles from submissions from all over the world, 4 to 5 times a year. It is a multi-disciplinary journal that is almost exclusively written by and for those operating in fields of design and design education. The journal in feel has more in common with AA Files rather than Majalah Arkitek, although is even more academic in feel than even that which can be somewhat intimidating to young designers in training and those not working in design fields. Consequently it has a very formal feel and articles are serious and in depth.

Many of the articles in Design Studies come across as exploring the science of design. They analyse design conception, generation, education and concepts, rather than exploring current or finished design from the point of pure aesthetics and/or function. This scientific approach can also be seen in the use of imagery – used only to illustrate points covered in the journal and in many cases substituted for diagrams which express complex ideas. Lists of key words following the abstract/introduction to an article are an obvious attempt to easy understanding of complex ideas presented in quite a complex way.

However even science in its analysis of design can never fully remove itself from prominent designers, with some articles – especially those on architecture having an architect(s) and their work as a point of reference. Notable architects such as Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid find themselves and their work mentioned as part of design analysis.

In its own words:
Design Studies is the only journal to approach the understanding of design from comparisons across all domains of application, including engineering and product design, architectural design and planning, computer artefacts and systems design. It therefore provides a unique forum for the development and discussion of fundamental aspects of design activity and experience, from cognition and methodology to values and philosophy. The journal reports new research and scholarship in principles, procedures and techniques relevant to the practice, management and pedagogy of design.

Links to my design:
- The formality of the journal’s own stylistic layout and of the academic content itself has lead to my office’s formality in the entrance area leading up to the work area.
- The journal’s criticism of modernism and promotion of juxtaposing post-modernist forms such as Frank Gehry influenced the shape of the “cave” and its juxtaposition against the rest of the forms.
- Idea of integration between different fields of design, particularly architecture and interior design, influenced how I thought about the project - considering the inside while still constructing the exterior, and more structural forms.
- The generation of ideas in formed how I went through the design process – rather than exploring multiple ideas, exploring one idea and developing it.

AA Files

The AA Files is the journal published by Britain’s Architectural Association which is based in London. The feel of the journal is academic, and is definitely written by and for those with a strong background in architectural theory rather than those just evaluating or looking at current architecture (as a first year it was a little hard to fully understand). Concepts, philosophy and theory are important and the journal provides a forum for discussion and publication of opinions surrounding architecture. Articles include opinionated pieces, anecdotal pieces, research pieces and interviews with practicing architects, which creates a diverse journal.

The journal is structured so that large images of work are not really located along side articles, likely due to the fact that articles do not always relate to a specific building or building type but instead architectural philosophy. Also it leaves a lot more room for individual interpretation and deep discussion as there is no fixed building or image linked to the argument. Images are often arrange in a collage-like format or as an entire double page spread which is something I found quite strange – especially as some images seemed to have little to do with architecture (although they may have some links).

In its own words:
“AA Files is the Architectural Association’s journal of record. First published in 1981 and now in its 29th year and 60th issue, the journal contains essays and articles on architectural history and criticism, work by contemporary practitioners and designers, photography, art, music and other cross-disciplinary collaborations. Substantially informed by the AA’s public programme of lectures, exhibitions and events, the journal publishes original scholarship and projects by those who visit the school over the course of each year.”

Links to my design:
- Principles surrounding the natural state of architecture being cave-like and horizontal rather than vertical.(There was deep criticism of the verticality of city and tower blocks)
- Initially started looking at building a room that was all about what was visible inside – no windows with views of the outside.
- The Collage style used on the viewing screens
- Shape of the “cave” inspired by the twisted and contoured shapes in the image of Hiroshima Blast site and another image in the journal.

Majalah Arkitek

Majalah Arkitek is an Architecture Journal from Malayasia in South East Asisa and it also known as Architecture Malaysia(AM).
The journal is issued monthly and issues are either themed, for example, "Places of Worship" and "Medical Buildings" or alternatively catergorised as Mixed Projects.The journal is very much in the sytle of a magazine, containing numerous advertisements
for companies, events, products and services and has a more informal approach than the other journals in my project.This can be seen through the large image to text ratio, which along with the text itself indicates that this magazine is not
targetted specifically at professionals working in the architecture, planning or construction fields but at a much wider demographic consisting of those who do not necessarily have specialist knowledge of architecture. Consequently it does not really operate as a forum for an indepth debate surrounding architectural principles or concepts but instead takes a look at finished buildings in Malaysia.

The focus of the magazine is primarily on Malaysian Architecture, although each issue will often have an article looking at the work of a well known international architect, either historic and contemporary. Buildings presented in the magazine are often high end public and commerical buildings with a finish and aesthetic thst would unattainable for many. It can at times definately seem to be a display of wealth and luxury. Not conincidentally many of the buildings are located in the major cities of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Most, if not all, of the buildings featured in the magazine are modern,this is prehaps due to the fact that like New Zealand, Malaysia was a British colony until the twentieth Century and is still establishing it's own unique style of architeture. The style featured is generally a combination of Islamic, Asian and European architecture, the three main cultural influences present in Malaysia. In saying most of the buildings are modern it does not mean they necessarily look stereotypically modern, nor are they stereotyically minimalistic and austre. The cultural elements, especially of Islam have resulted in a more luxurious look, especially with regards to interiors. Buildings that are not bult with cultural or Islamic influences often have advanced technology integrated within.Malaysia's Islamic Culture also gives way to one of the few mentions of principles related to architecture, when talking in regards to the Petronas Twin Towers in capital, Kuala Lumpur.The floor plan of the towers are designed to represented the Islamic principles of unity within unity and harmony, which is expressed through geometry.


The overall feel of this jorunal is that it is primarily about he aesthetics and functions of existig buildings and there are moments when it feels like it could be crossing into the realm of interior design.It is, however, useful for anyone interested in looking specifically at Malaysian, modern asian and modern Islamic architecture.


Influence on my design:

- the floor tower of the Petronas Twin Towers has influenced the design of my "cave" - but is simplified and relates more to the walls and ceiling as well.
- idea of a central walking area seperating two secondary areas and leading to the primary area, the working area, emulates a church and the radiating areas of mosques.
- Ideas of symmetry are seen in the gallery/foyer area - although is somewhat altered.
- biggest aesthetical guide (influence in my design), especially with regards to the screen but also in general.

Trying to upload that image and failing

Alright what it wouldn't let me post in the last post

Or i was going to. It came up with an error again.

Apologies.

I know, I know I didn't post yesterday. That, however, is not to say I didn't do any work!

So here is more progress from secondlife.

The Petronas Towers images below were mentioned in Majalah Arkitek for their floor plan which consists of two interlocking squares (to form in my opinion a kind of star shape) softened by circles placed at the junctions of the squares. This really helped me because it gave me away to further my design when I had come to something of a wall. However I decided to forgo the circles as they are some what fussy.

The Petronas Towers Floor Plan



The Square Shapes that make up the floor

This snapshot and the next one are of my first attempt at encorporating the floor shape into what I already had in my design. I wasn't really happy with it so I changed it.



The next set of snapshots were all taken to show how i did eventually decide to have the floor shape (and wall and box shape) unfortuantely at this stage I didn't take a picture from above but hopefully you will be able to see what I've done.















So that was the extent that I got up to on Wednesday.

And now for today.

Before I show you my work, i signed in today to see from my office:





Not really very attractive in my opinion - maybe i say that more in the direction of the giant greek warrior than the giant - although almost unrealistically thin - columns. No actually I don't. Well at least it doesn't toally block out my view of the sunset yet. Also it might be appropriate to now mention that there is a heck lot of abandoned and useless prims in Putahi! What the hell people when you are finished with something that is not part of your project delete it!! Its no drama to delete stuff, you seriously just press delete after selecting the object. All the abandoned prims remind me of space junk. And whoever Oat Wasp is has left a prim in what is my office. It has been there for weeks and I've asked him/her to remove it twice - I even offered a teleport to them, but they refuse to talk to me or move it. Most annoying because they haven't got the settings so I can move it or delete it myself!

So on to my work! Much more interesting than abandoned prims.

The first set of photos are all from the same stage in construction, which is basically the finished shell, taken from different locations.













The next set of photos are of the coded door - the code and techniques came from
http://www.sutor.com/c/buildsl/buildsl-doors/buildsl-doors-swinging/ it was really easy to do.







Well I tried to add one my photo but it wouldn't let me. It was related to a slightly different area of this. So I'll quickly put it in another post.