Beginning with the basic axonometric sketch...
I could visualise a laboratory based on this shape which would cater to both Hawking and Darwin, and express the concepts of Beauty, Gravity, Simplicity and Perpetuality. I combined two of the axonometric shapes into one, in order to get 9 prisms, but felt it didn't do the concepts from the 'mashup' justice. Instead of combining two into one, I decided to use this axonometric of 5 prisms, and subtract 4 prisms, leaving a new total of nine.
These GSU images may explain...
To get a better idea, I planned two very rough sketches which showed the lab and it's relationship to the land around it...
Final screen capture of the laboratory...
Beauty. Gravity. Simplicity. Perpetuality.
The shape itself conveys both simplicity and perpetuality: the square 'links' are simple orthagonal shapes, yet once linked, it's difficult to tell where they begin or end. Darwin's lab is the square on the lower left, Hawking's on the upper right.
(please note: despite many attempts, i was unable to import the custom textures to the model in Crysis. Please see Google 3D Model below for application of textures)
The ramp leading from Darwin's lab to Hawking's lab is skewed from the mountain wall behind it (using a very basic attempt at voxel objects). The ramp loops through the back vertical post of the square, almost locking the structure to the landscape. The perpetuality and simplicity of the structure is emphasised by using the natural landform as material for the ramp, and blurring the boundaries of the building and land by intertwining both.
This shot highlights the 'presence' of the structure. The lighting was deliberately kept very simple, to emphasise the simplicity and beauty of the shapes of the building. It also reflects Darwin and Hawking in the sense that their work both dealt with facts. They needed no embellishment to find beauty in the fields they studied, rather, they discovered beauty within the concepts themselves.
The cliff overhang implies the building itself creates a source of gravity, though the ground beneath, and around it, could have been more 'curved' to emphasise the land being 'drawn in' by the building. The cube in the centre was designed to be a centre of gravity, which generates the force to 'pull in' and hold the shapes and land around it.
Custom Textures
These textures were suited to Darwin's lab. The geometric shapes reflect the elements and evolution of what he has studied in human nature. They are of a darker, earthy texture, and though appear random, are based on a pattern, like evolution itself.
These textures I designed for Hawking's lab. They could resemble stars, or beams of light, both relevant to the science of physics. Their outward direction also emphasises his 'no boundary' concept of the universe, and give a sense of motion.
This texture was applied to the 'core' or central cube of the structure. They reflect both Darwin and Hawking's work: such structures could be found on a cellular level in both physics and anthropology. Each strand is simple, yet combined, they produce a beautiful complex pattern.
Link to the model at Google 3D Warehouse (with custom textures)
Link to the Levels and Objects files on Filefront
