ARCHI PORTFOLIO
BSC ( HONS ) ARCHITECTURE
BY MAHI ABDUL MUHSIN, 0314421
The first project under design studio introduced us to elements and principles of visual art through designing a mask. A mask that reveals our most significant individual personality, wether it be for protection, disguise, pride, a performance or for entertainment. In making the prototype of the mask through hands-on and process-driven design methods during studio sessions, we were given an opportunity to explore materials, joints, surfaces, form and positioning of the ‘mask’ on the face and to generate it to appropriate scaling.
The objectives of this project were as follows;
1. To explore the elements and principles of art
2. To explore applying aforementioned principles to communicate subjective ideas through
objects
3. To introduce the basic methods of generating ideas and abstracting conceptual narratives
for design
REFLECTION:
Since this project was designed to draw students’ attention to subjective matters which play a major role in architecture, it has greatly enhanced my ability to produce simple objects and forms to communicate and express my ideas. It has allowed me to explore fascinating ways of generating concepts with a very basic intitial idea. In addition to this, it has taught me to Construst a representational piece of design based on ideas that have been abstracted and refined through the process of translation and interpretation.
The aim of the project is to heighten the awareness of students about the human body, interaction of space and body, and explore the role of reasoning and logic in shaping different forms. This was achieved through designing a confined space for a 24-hour use. This limited space thoroughly examines and considers anthropometry and ergonomics -body dimensions, body movements, human behaviours and user needs. The project then further progressed on to understand how the human body relates to space, and further developing an understanding of scale and proportion in the relationship between the body and space.
PROJECT ONE - SELF EXPRESSION THROUGH OBJECTS
PROJECT TWO - LIFE CAPSULE
ARTILUS - Final model and conceptual location
REFLECTION
This Project has been an eye opener for the importance of elementary user needs in designing a space, including sizes, shapes, forms of spaces, comfort, safety, productivity efficiency etc.. It has created an awareness about scale and proportion of the human body in relation to space and has also taught me different ways to explore human anthropometry and ergonomics. I am now capable of generating objective parameters of design process through solving real-life architectural problems. this project has definitely enhanced my knowledge about bringing function into design just as carefully as its aesthetic purposes.
My mask - The WARRIOR in every introvert.
This ice breaking session has really allowed myself and my colleagues to ask ourselves questions about our lives and our personality that never crossed our minds before. It was a very deep, yet entertaining first project that enhanced our ability to think out side the box simultaneously exploring our personality. My mask portrays my ability to show strength in moments of weakness. I do not label myself as someone with a fixed personality, but an 'introvert' or the 'silent artist' are words that come to mind. I used crumpled up tissue paper to show human weaknesses, since tissue paper is used for comfort and at times of emotional wreck. However, I am always optimistic and show strength of mind on the outside. My idea was to use an easily torn material however give it an appearance as strong as metal. The crumpled tissue papers are coated with a chromic silver spray to give it an almost similar effect as thin sheets of aluminium.
PROJECT THREE, PART A - SPATIAL SEQUENCES/QUALITIES
Part A of project 3 was aimed at exploring several design principles, materializing some meanings and ‘reading’ architectural designs in a series of design tasks and studio based group exercises. Identifying spatial qualities which had evolved through applying design principals, is then applied in designing a dream space for an idol/celebrity of our preference.( (A singer e.g. Lady Gaga; A statesman e.g. Nelson Mandela; A Sportsman e.g. Michael Schumacher) in a given site.
For part A of project three, the requirement was to create sequence of spaces to create a composition including ‘Threshold’, ‘Path’, and ‘Focal Point’. It enabled us to think three dimensionally about our design. We were also tasked to draw four perspective sketches that represent the sequence of movement and quality of requested spaces and the ideas presented on an A2 panel.
REFLECTION
This in-studio exercise has given a very helpful insight into spatial sequences in creating a building. The model is a 1:100 scale study model created using a limited set of card board kit. Via this project, I have gained a lot of knowledge about different elements that create and seperate spaces, elements that give function and quality to spaces and also ways to arrange and order them to emphasize on certain spaces. The temple model I designed is built upon usage of heirarchy of steps creating a pathway. The elements are then rotated to give a larger spatial quality and via repetition, another set of stairs is created in order to lead it to a focal point. The focal point is designed with consideration given to light penetration and in a manner that it can create harmony with the rest of the surrounding elements.
PROJECT THREE PART B - DREAMSCAPE FOR A DREAM CLIENT
below is a case study presentation done about chosen elements of our preference, that makes a quality space. I did my research on vertical elements hence i was able to widen my previous knowledge about some walls in the field of architecture that had a significant purpose and meaning as to why they are built as such.
REFLECTION.
The final part of project 3 has immensly helped me understand and apply basic design principles and terminologies in the final design. It has proved the importance of research work beforehand and allowed me to Develop design skills through analysis and ‘reading’ existing buildings and spaces. This project has also great enhanced my ability to create and develop a conceptual narrative on the final product and I have learnt the importance of consideration of objective and subjective parameters in the design process, which is practical yet poetic. The practice and skills that i have attained in sketching, conceptualizing, making orthographic drawings and developing models are also a big leap via this project.
The client that I chose as the subject of my final project was The spanish Surrealist painter Salvador Dali. The reason i chose dali is due to my fascination for art and surrealism. Dali joined the surrealist movement which was created during the aftermath of world war 1 and it has been a revolution in the field of painting and the way the world portrays art.
MOCK UP MODELS
EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY WITH DIFFERENT LIGHT SETTINS ( FINAL MODEL )
CONCEPT
- An Escape into a dream state