Archive for June, 2013
Collages inspired by Mies van de Rohe
Media sketches gif
After creating a collage inspired by Mies van de Rohe, the image was brought to life by various media sketches (plan, section and axonometric). The storm house, situated on craggy rocks is a place to hunker down whilst watching the weather pass, entertain and compose music on the grand piano.
Using stop animation to accentuate the architectural relationships through the window frame.
Shot out of Rakinos window over the period where the sun sets. Sung by the indomitable Milou. Polar bear in protest to global warming and the arctic ice melt.
Inspired by Lumitectura
The strategy used to eco retrofitt was to increase bio deversity and to look at the physiological, psychological and social benefits.
The original house was built from plans and drawings in archicad and then eco retrofitted rather than using the exemplar model.
This included: an intensive garden on the garage roof; olive tree planting; bamboo recladding; conservatory with louvers; composite walls; ceiling insulation; a trombe wall; guttering and a rain water tank collection; solar panels and having one car only with bike storage in the garage.
What was surprising was that the energy cost increased overall, but everything else went down. In retrospect this could be expected as the choices made were perhaps expensive but over time they would more than cover themselves with overall savings.
The building shell area increased with the conservatory addition.
Using composite walls for thermal insulation was a success as the u values went down. (U values measure heat flow, the lower the better as a low U value indicates a higher insulating value).
Net cooling energy was also reduced, this was possibly due to the louvers, insulation and having a trombe wall on the northern side of the property for maximum sun exposure.
The overall energy consumption reduced which could also be attributed to the extensive garden on the roof planted with native grasses. In summer, poorly insulated roofs trap rising heat and interior cooling is needed. Planting provides a reduction in solar energy absorption and creates a cooler temperature beneath the roof surface. In winter, the green roof creates insulation and minimises heat loss.
It was pleasing that the net energy was also down and again the skylights, trombe walls, conservatory with lovers (to help with ventilation) would all help with this.
Creating a home that is nett positive is the ultimate goal and one that can be achieved with some modification.
http://unheimlichblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/tohunga-a3s/
These three A3′s highlight the changes made from the original Tohunga to the eco retroffited one. They depict additions such as a skylight above the stairwell and over the ground floor area; conservatory and louvers, guttering and a rain water collection tank; bikes in the garage and a living wall; solar panels and a trombe wall.
http://unheimlichblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/tohunga-pre-and-post-make-over/
To make this house more resource efficient and increase social and natural capital, the following ideas will be shown in detail: extensive and intensive gardens which create new biodiversity which attracts wildlife to the urban environment, green wall based on biophilic design, use of low VOC paint, increase natural light with skylights, create energy with solar panels, manage heat and ventilation with a conservatory using louvers, insulation of ceiling and walls for warmth and noise reduction, radiation of warmth with a trombe wall, planting to pre-cool air, give wind protection and filter particulates in the city air, create nutrient-rich soil by composting and use of a worm farm, re-clad interior of kitchen and stairs with bamboo, use a living machine to decontaminate water waste with microbes, store rain in a water tank for irrigation and convert the garage into a one-car household and have the other half for easy bike storage.
Creating a shape, using a script in the virtual world and then capturing it in a movie with studio cam.
A plethora of possibilities …..
Unheimlich at work with a view of the high ceiling
Unheimlich close up with file boxes in the background
View into Unheimlich’s private annex
Unheimlich’s private annex
Nik Johnston: Mau Performing Arts Centre Ruketutu Island, Tamakarau
Nik started off introducing his three key factors used to this project:
• Consideration to site
• Conception of Va and it’s conjunction with his use of the ‘pinch’
• Horizontal lines, ther use of repetition and etching like quality
Consideration to site was explained that the arts centre was located to the west, honoring a sacred puriri tree of the past located there (which was part of an ancient fertility rite, but was felled in 1863). His moment of the project was the platform (made from heavy slate) with a view to the ocean. The placement to the west was thought as interesting due to the predominant south-westerlies and gales.
This was to be the birthplace for the Va, Nik unpacked meaning with research into european pakeha in relation to pacifica. There was an idea of interlocking language with reference to the skin having a junction, a place of coming together. This junction, or pinch, was at the centre, and also was discussed as being at the axis or a centre of infinite realm.
The horizontal lines were cut into the land at the point of graduation. It was as if it were an etching into the land, the idea of repetition was express. There was the thought of propitiating aesthetic and honoring samoan traditions. The repeating lines was the driver behind the project.
The positioning of the arts centre was important for a procession to the space. Contemplation from land with arrival by car or by sea was highlighted. The area for waiting and the converging into the space was discussed. Entering the volume with glazing on the west facing wall and using exposed timber inside to give a sense of calm. This calm interior space was on the threshold into the theatre.
The project was thought as dramatic, violent, uncomfortable and subversive, but very much liked and also adhered to protocol and the brief. The simplicity worked and there was a symmetry of ideas and a resolution for the tension presented.
Criticism of the project was that with the brilliant concept and idea, everything was made to fit around the fabulous form. It was felt that sidling up to the building to be welcomed was unconventional and could you really find the entrance on the side. Nik agreed he was presenting a concept rather than a building.
I really liked Nik’s imagery and his model were frayed and the idea of etching came across well. He was well researched into Maori and Samoan cultures and site consideration was really well explained. I would have liked to see a clearer flat plan so that the theatre, school on the first floor and the centre (pito or belly button in Maori) which was discussed in great detail, could all be viewed in relation to each other. After my own discussion about using people in my crit to give scale and a sense of public space usage, Nik didn’t use any. From an art aesthetic his work was exquisite, but as the space was intended for public, Nik I’m sure could have included people while still maintaining his beautiful art aesthetic.
Wunderkammer gif
Wunderkammer the studio_studio project is based on Anselm Kiefer‘s painting Parsifal 1.http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/kiefer-parsifal-i-t03403
I was drawn to this image as it felt like a scene from a Grimm‘s fairy tale from my childhood. The painting depicts a room with a very disturbing scene of domesticity. The volume of the room, with its single focus, feels uncomfortable. The walls, floor and ceiling are made from wood, all heavy with the gravitas of of an intense Grimm’s tale. Wood which is solid, dark, oppressive is in contrast to the bright isolated cot. The only soft material is recently rumpled bedding. Where has the warmth of baby gone? The pagan German mythology of wood, with Thor deepens the dark, menacing use of this raw material. The cot on the other hand is a polished ethereal white and made with care. The only light comes from a solitary window; filtered, muted light glows over the cot and down the elongated room, to the observer of this strange scene.
I was interested in recreating the wash of light within Wunderkammer. The fragility of the outside material is contrasted against the solid wooden interior. This fragility of diaphanous material represents the cot encompassing the stolid volume.
The visceral emotions of this intense space is release when entering the surrounding lights and bright space.
Va gif
Va used the materiality of Baptise Debomburg’s Turbo art installation. White cladding torn into amorphous shapes stuck next to each other, creating a structure of density, yet within the cracks created, moments of light are let through.
http://www.baptistedebombourg.com/en/works/turbo-0
The idea of contraction and release (akin to the birth process) was explored. Light plays the part of release and the structure forces a felling of contraction upon you. Moments inside have glimpses of shards of light flickers over. The final release comes at the end with a conical view over the sea. Dappled twinkling light through the mesh mirrors the sun on the water’s edge.
auserlesen 