Final Sketchup Model

THE END RESULT...


So, finally, the model is complete. I can only say that i'm afraid the end result really doesn't seem to reflect the countless hours put into the task. Yet it's satisfying to see it completed (albeit, without trees and people and landscapes etc). To confirm, Ricky Swallow's studio is above ground ('Evoke'), and Richard Goodwin's is below ground ('Mechanical').

Although the word for Ricky Swallow was 'Evoke', i felt i've also inadvertently included 'Harmony' and 'Acoustic' in the design as well. The stairs leading up to the studio look steep, but considering his work was only small, it shouldn't be difficult to transport his models. I like the idea that when you're on a narrow spiral staircase, you tend to look down, where you're next step will be, aware that you're travelling up in height, but not sure what will be at the top. Then suddenly, the stair case opens up to a sweeping curve, which allows you to take in the studio and the height of it's location. I think this would be quite a sensation, possibly 'evocative'.

 The studio itself was designed to be a curved shape to reflect a cloud (but it was modified along the way), another interpretation of evoke - to look up at the sky, brings about a certain feeling. Hopefully, this has been expressed in this model.

Richard Goodwin's studio and stairs reflect 'Mechanical' in the sense of their location. They appear to be erupting up out of the earth, as in something very unnatural - that is, mechanical is the opposite to natural. I also took into account the words 'Fragment' and 'Explode' when building this model, and the block type shapes protruding from the ground can relate to both of these. I've chosen a combination of ribbed glass and steel mesh for the stairs. Glass has a certain precision to it; precision often being associated with mechination. And the steel mesh has a type of industrial appearance, also related to 'mechanical'. The staircase is designed to lead you into the 'realm below ground' and is designed to create a unique expereince for the user.

36 Custom Textures

36 WORDS TO DESCRIBE A TEXTURE (and the resulting sketches...)

The 36 textures are divided into 'Above Ground', 'On the Ground' and 'Below Ground'.

If you look closely, you'll see the associated word beneath each texture.

TEXTURES APPLIED IN SKETCHUP MODEL

The first texture i experimented with was gooey. It was a bit of a stretch, but i used it to represent the lower studio erupting up out of the ground, creating a soft and stretched image of the earth surrounding the structure.

The second texture i used was 'Sandy'. This was placed on the large step at the entrance to the Above Ground studio. I used this to imitate a sandstone material, being light in colour and natually sourced, it reflects the words 'harmony' and 'acoustic' which i used to describe the artist's work.

To display Ricky Swallow's work in his studio, i created a podium to which i applied the texture 'Stringy'.

This was more experimental than anything else, but could be identified with the word 'Evoke'.

                          

Lastly, i thought that Layered could be applied to the wall displaying Richard Goodwin's work. When i think of mechanical, i think of many components coming together; a type of layered effect, which is why i think this works well here. It's also a great contrast to the other wall materials.

You Tube - Amazing Stairs

YOU TUBE CLIP

I thought this clip was an incredible example of how creative stair design can be. I think these stairs were designed with two purposes: to create an experience for the user, and also as a fantastic showpiece for a designer store (as in the clip, you can see the stairs through the front window). An interesting part I noticed was the man in the second half of the clip. As he travels up the stairs, he seems to (inadvertantly) follow the path of the blue colour. Not a great quality video, but the stairs are great!

Inspiration from Stairs

STAIRS FROM LECTURE 2

I've chosen two of the stairs presented in the lecture, and attempted to draw a sectional sketch of each of them. Being used to sketching in a 'perspective' style, it took a little while to get my head around picturing a 2D section (then trying to put it on paper!).

MORE INSPIRATIONAL STAIRS...

I also came across more amazing stairs which i thought were worth publishing. They go to show how an fantastic effect can be created, when a little creativity is added to the design...

Frank Gehry - Stairs

Source: http://thecoolhunter.net/images/frank(1).jpg (accessed 3rd April 2010)

Incredible curved stairs - unknown location / architect

Source: unknown

Glass Cantilevered Stairs - Design by Concept Stairs, UK

Source: http://www.conceptstairs.co.uk/images/1.jpg

I don't think it's a real tree? Unknown location / architect.

Source: unknown

Second attempt at Sketchup

ROUND TWO OF GOOGLE SKETCHUP...

These are pictures from my second draft on Google Sketchup - apologies for the 'distant view'. This time i went a little 'all out' on modifying the blob into a more evocative shape, but also worked on different designs for the stairs. I did, however, include the under ground studio (which i didn't in the first draft) and whilst i'm still painfully slow at operating the program, i think i'm making progress (?).

In this second draft, i worked on completing a replica of the metal stairs (see previous post). These were amazing as they appear to be 'folded' from iron or steel. I've chosen a rusted metal render to highlight the industrial nature of them. In saying industrial, i feel it can be linked to the word 'mechanical', which the bottom studio reflects.

The white stairs I imagine to be made out of concrete, maybe pre-moulded to achieve the curves, but i feel they're most effective in white, as it suits the progression up to the the 'blob in the sky'.