ASSESSMENT 02A - DRAWING & SPECULATION
(Archizoom Associati - 1970)
600 Words regarding Archizoom and my design ~
One of the challenges I faced was understanding Archizoom and their way of thinking, their designs, ideas, drawings were all very weird and confusing at times. Using typewriters was a completely unique way of distinguishing ideas and a special technique for drawing a city in particular. In regards to my drawings, I got inspiration from Pinterest as well as Archizoom where I did rough sketches of one point perspectives however, my initial thought was to create a map of Sydney using the help of Adobe Illustrator. My ideas were somewhat far from Archizoom ‘Dressing is Easy’ as I only used their ideas based from ‘The Non-stop City’. While receiving feedback, I went back and researched Archizoom ‘Dressing is Easy’ as well in much more detail to emphasise my ideas and narrow down my final drawing. Constructing a map of a city was underestimated in my head, as I went for a specific idea rather than combining the one point perspective technique and the step by step technique from ‘Dressing is Easy’. The one point perspective technique is the best idea that I was willing to approach for my final iteration although after digging into deep research about ‘The Non-stop City’ I found out that maps and clothes do not work together and the idea behind a map was far more stronger at that time. Using Adobe Illustrator, I began with making random shapes and lines while following a YouTube tutorial explaining the basics for using Adobe Illustrator. Since I was no expert at using Adobe Illustrator, I went and asked for feedback from my family members every time I build and create a line or shape whilst taking ideas from Archizoom into consideration as well. When the map was complete, there was something missing and that was using the one point perspective idea from ‘Dressing is Easy’. Overall, my entire idea was to combine both techniques and create one final drawing, Following the one point perspective tutorial on YouTube, I was able to construct and draw my own sketch of train tracks that represented Central train tracks which is a place around UTS as described in the brief of this assignment.
Moreover, I scanned the sketch of train tracks using my scanner at home and then placed it in Adobe Illustrator to render over and work out shapes and colours to emphasise my them. I found out that my train track sketch was generally the best idea that I could work on to create a unique piece of work, especially because it contained the one point perspective technique. Also train tracks could be seen as part of a city or a map in Archizoom’s situation/eyes. There was one issue that kept disrupting and disturbing my ideas from progressing which was my lack of skills in Adobe Illustrator. During that time I couldn’t change or swap my practitioners to pick someone else, so I had to accept Archizoom and work around my ideas to combine both techniques. During the weekend before week 8, I had new ideas about my drawings however, it was far from occurring and coming up with a professional drawing on Adobe Illustrator. Sketching ideas on my sketch book assisted my thoughts with the development of my iterations. Finally, my work is now complete and I did my best to illustrate and work around ideas to come up with my final iteration which looked good in my opinion however, I lacked the required skills in the making of the iteration as I mentioned before. Overall, this assignment was one of the most difficult challenges I have faced during my time at UTS Insearch, despite that I had a diverse and unique experience while working on this assignment with Archizoom.
Research information - Archizoom 'Dressing is Easy' & 'The Non-stop City'
Archizoom Associati were a design studio group of practitioners from Florence, Italy and were founded in 1966. Their iterations and ideas featured flexible interior products and places while their focus was mainly on rapid process. The projects they came up with were involving theoretical and radical thinking, while incorporating social issues that are based on a realistic vision of the world. One of the common methods used by them was a Typewriter to produce all of their drawings besides, Typewriters has a very clear logic to them. Archizoom were trying to describe the logic that is centered within the city however, it is not about the individual appearance of the city. The process of the city is abstract as it operates as a logical quality system.
Visual Analysis
Below are some examples of Archizoom's collage work where I have outlined their use of one perspective where the horizon line is visible (in grey) and analysed as well as in the middle the vanishing point could be seen clearly. All of these methods were used to create their view on specific areas such as factories and other enclosed spaces they have encountered. However, there is also a crisp line running through the middle of every view.
On the left are drawings of maps which allocate the role of a 'No-stop City' in regards to Archizoom's idea and logic. They used Typewriters to create and distinguish a unique pattern that allowed Archizoom to express their ideas clearly, as typewriters have a very clear logic to them.
Class Sketches & Iterations
> Hand sketches
> Choice of Medium (One point perspective)
These drawings were done in class where we explored multiple perspective points. A lot of my iterations were attempts in order to practice various approaches and plan my final drawing.
My Previous Ideas -
During my idea generation and brainstorming, multiple approaches that I was willing to work with did not work out. The method of a one perspective drawing was a good approach and the idea behind was strong. 'Dressing is Easy' was what inspired me to make a step by step drawing of a T-shirt, which could then lead to one of my ideas. I deliberately focused on both topics because the experience of both is much more interesting than generating one idea with no potential.
Above was a digital drawing draft that was made using Adobe Illustrator. This drawing documents an activity and explains the process of simple maps relating back to Archizoom 'No-Stop City' although, their maps were far more complicated and had repetitive data that showed detailed process. Whereas my digital drawing was done in a simpler form where the dots and rectangles meant repetitive data. The use of white background was somewhat intentional, because the colour white assists in contrasting and helps focus the viewer's attention at a specific area. The shapes that I chose were dots and rectangles, the dots help create a feel for the population which can be translated as data, while the rectangles and the faded lines within means a 'non-stop city' concept that I developed while playing around with lines and shapes. It could also mean the growth of a city that is yet to be completed.
Thumbnail Sketches -
Below are my 5 Thumbnail sketches that were done in the new Library of UTS. It's one of the first stages that I went through to help me gather ideas and methods that I could use in the process of my final drawing.
Final Work -
My final digital drawing is somewhat a rendering process that was done using Adobe Illustrator. The skills I have are not the best although the idea of combining my first digital drawing draft of the map seemed to work out. While rendering I thought about the shapes I have placed on the map draft drawing as they meant Flowing data particles. However, for this final drawing I used the same shapes but in different meanings as well as the colours: Dark and Light Grey, Purple and Light Pink to create an atmosphere. The dots are now acting as particles in the air that can only be detected when rendering a drawing and the squares create a feel of continuous line or moving forward with the train tracks.
ASSESSMENT 02B - MODEL & SCALE
Junya Ishigami (An architecture vast & small)
200 Words regarding my view on spaces ~
Modelling has to be one of my favourite techniques when designing anything. As Ishigami’s ideas flew into my head, his creations came on screen and I was excited and attached to his work immediately. His small yet vast architecture models and real work designs have put me in a place to challenge his work and accomplish my own design based on his techniques and materials. Materials had a huge impact on my design since Ishigami used environmentally friendly materials to construct his work. I created 3 model iterations as my draft designs although, I had to be cautious of what materials I use. In a matter of one week, I constructed my models out of various shapes and sizes of wood sticks, recycled bags, paint, hot glue gun and green-like texture used to create the trees. Transforming my 3 models was challenging as I intended to use some ideas from the 3 models to create my final model. Besides constructing a particular unique space near UTS, there was not enough ideas to help me figure out my final model, therefore I researched Ishigami’s work up close and that made me think of creating a greenhouse type of space that uses environmentally friendly materials.
Visual Analysis-
Junya Ishigami is a Japanese architect who uses techniques to mimic real nature in his designs, and exhibitions through from Tokyo to New York. In most cases Ishigami comes up with an idea of giving people the feeling of freedom through space, 'Transpeasy is some kind of feeling of freedom, It is not a physical thing' (Ishigami 2014). Some key model ideas about his space consist of environmentally friendly materials and vast yet small iterations. Ishigami's work consists of architectural spaces and lots of greenery in almost every piece of his work. His style is consistent and simple, while focusing his approach on various kinds of spaces from restaurants to houses. Also, most of his work is occupied in an open space meaning within the environment. Ishigami tends to design buildings that are as primitive and strange as natural phenomena. His
Material & Tooling Analysis -
Below are the materials I used to make my model iterations where my inspiration came from the photographs taken from Ishigami's work from his book called 'Another scale of architecture'. I was willing to use some materials that could be recycled and reused multiple times however, some materials were for single use only and cannot be recycled such as sponges. Trees were the main idea for my models as Ishigami works in open environments were most of the time there is no ceiling at the top just like the picture on the far right. The green-like texture I used to make the trees and the sponge to create the shape of the trees. Glue was my best friend during the creation of my models, while the last material was a recyclable paper bag that I scrunched up which created the shape of a mountain for one of my iterations.
Above were my sketches that I drew inspiration from, the checklist on the left was a convenient way to help me gather my materials in order to create my iterations. Sketching is not my best part although it assisted and filled me with ideas for my last model.
3 Model Drafts -
My 3 models turned out great material and look wise. The ideas behind each model is very strong in my opinion where the Trees as the first model meaning they hold the soil in the ground and help provide us with clean oxygen. The second model is a small house which has foundations around that creates a sense of belonging in every family and helps keep everyone under a roof. Last but not final model is the most ambitious of them all. The idea behind a mountain is what holds the earth together, they act like pins that holds down everything on earth, their familiar triangle shape is one of the reasons for securing the earth's surface.
Explanation of Materials Used -
In regards to Ishigami's material use, I decided to stick to environmentally friendly materials. Certain materials have been selected such as the green-like crumbled texture to create a feeling for nature and be used to create trees. While they are shaped, they begin to stick to each other to create a mass of crumbled texture.
Final Model -
Below is a photograph of the final model I constructed with ideas taken from the 3 models I made prior to this model. The idea of a greenhouse came from Ishigami's work which influenced my work and my final design. I referenced some of Ishigami's work through photographs from his book 'Junya Ishigami' where there are lots of green spaces that he works around with. As a final inspiring design I intended on making this greenhouse walkway for pedestrians near UTS and the surrounding areas. During the stages of making trees, I had an idea of scattering the trees around the greenhouse however, it would be difficult for pedestrians to move around and get to the other side of the space. Instead, I placed the trees on the inside of the build to emphasise the idea of environmentally friendly spaces that individuals would feel happy and content when entering the space for the first time. I used a see-through soft piece almost like plastic that acted as the glass to go around the greenhouse, as well as the roof. I kept the space partially open from two sides where pedestrians would pass through and sunlight could also pass through to the trees instead of suffocating the plants inside the greenhouse.
Reference List:
Branzi, A. 2006, No-Stop City, Archizoom Associati (Orléans: HYX, 2006) and Archizoom Associati ‘Dressing is Easy’
Dressing Is Easy | The Towner 2016, The Towner, viewed 26 November 2019, <http://www.thetowner.com/dressing-is-easy/>.
Fraser Muggeridge Studio 2017, Dior Catwalk, Yale University Press, U.S and Canada.
Messy Room by feshnie on DeviantArt 2012, Deviantart.com, DeviantArt, viewed 26 November 2019, <https://www.deviantart.com/feshnie/art/Messy-Room-121332935>.
Minguet, E. 2009, Urban FASHION Flavor, Instituto Monsa de Ediciones Gravina, Barcelona.
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Grima, J. 2009, 'junya.ishigami+associates', Special Issue: Theoretical Meltdown, Vol. 79, no. 1, pp. 16-17.
Ishigami, J. 2011, 'Another scale of architecture', Seigensha Art Publishing, Kyoto/Japan.
Owens, M. 2007, ROOM TO IMPROVE, (House & Home/Style Desk), The New York Times.
Puente, M. 2019, Junya Ishigami, Koenig Books, London.
