Plan for the day: 

I want to start by exploring and elaborating both my primary and secondary research, looking for shapes, forms, materials, etc. that I could use as inspiration for my design. I also want to start sketching down some basic starting point ideas to generate ideas.  

Reflection on the day:

Today I started off the design process by creating 3 sketch models in order to start thinking about the direction I can take using the initial starting point of the words and related images that I had researched. I chose to focus on 3 words, Tilt, Rotate and Cross. Using these words I referred back to my primary and secondary research and looked at the shapes used as a starting point for my sketch models. When creating my sketch models I was really trying to just explicitly show the word as a three dimensional structure. 

Plan for the day: 

I want to start developing my ideas through sketching and more model making. I have initial sketch models and drawings however I feel these need to be refined and I need to choose one direction to continue in. 

Feedback that I received: 

Reflection on feedback:

From reading and listening to feedback from the group I have realised that I need to choose a design and develop it more to create a solid design proposal. I was told that my initial design ideas were good however I hadn't developed them into a comprehensive visualisation, which is what I now need to do to take my work forward. I've also realised that I need to bring in an element of scale to my drawings so that the size is easily understood. 

Reflection on the day: 
I found today useful, getting feedback allowed me to focus on what I needed to progress on. I was able to start refining my designs and developing the way in which they moved so that the building is practical and safe. 
 

Plan for the day:
After my initial model making I need to decide on one word that I want to portray in a structure and start developing ideas relating to that specific movement. 

Reflection on the day: 

I decided to choose rotate as my one word as I like the idea of having a building that physically moves and doesn't just portray a movement through its shape and aesthetic. From this I began developing my pre-existing designs for rotate thinking about creating multiple separate spaces that connect together to create a unified construction.

Plan for the day:

My plan is to finalise my idea and start my final 3D visualisation. 

Reflection on the day: 

Today after reviewing my designs I started to think about different arrangements of the separate spaces and this lead me onto my idea about having two sections that intertwine like cogs. From this idea stemmed new design ideas and a new concept of two individual dining areas that can't be accessed through each other but can be separately. This essentially is a way to join two buildings into one and because of the design of the shape of the buildings (cog-like) the building can be expanded over time into more sections as they will all lock in together and move in unison just like cogs. 

When making my model I initially started with cardboard which would show opaque walls, however I later decided that instead of opaque walls and then alternating coloured windows i could make the whole 360 degree view more successful my swapping out the opaque walls with clear acetate to represent clear glass windows. 

Plan for the day: 

I need to complete my final 3D model by confirming my final colour choices through experimenting with clear and coloured acetate. I also need to add in a wooden dowel to allow the model to rotate. I then need to photograph my model and add these images to my workflow outcomes and put them in my sketchbook. 

Reflection on the day: 

Today turned out to be a very successful and efficient day. I was able to create some colour studies to visualise the colours of the acetate, and this helped me to make a decision on the colours and the way in which they were going to be arranged around the circumference of the building. This enabled be to be able to finish my model which allowed me to take photos of it. When photographing my model I used a torch as a light source so that I was able to capture the coloured reflections which were cast by the acetate. I also took a video of the model to show the movement element. 

Crit Feedback: 

Project Reflection:

Plan for the day: 
Over the weekend I researched a range of existing architectural sites and found the constructions which were attached onto a contrasting piece of existing architecture the most visually stimulating. Also, I want to finalise my site as I looked into multiple options and I want to start creating sketch models to begin the design development process. 

Reflection on the day: 

I chose Croydon as my area as after doing research I found that it is a very grey area that many people are unhappy to live in. There is an overcrowding of carparks and a serious lack of areas for the community to enjoy. Croydon is a place that is constantly saying that they will add to the area to benefit the community and make it more of a pleasant place to live however, in the majority of cases proposals aren't actually followed through. My specific site is the NCP Car Park on Wandle Road. 

Today consisted of a digital media workshop where we were taught how to use Photoshop. The aim was to develop our mapping techniques and our Photoshop skills by creating a map of our intended site. For this workshop I found a series of different types of maps of my area and a range of microscopic structures to use as a basis to build on. I particularly became interested in microscopic images of bone and how they could be paired with a map to create a unique look. I created two maps in this workshop one using bright bold colours to symbolise my intentions with the area and the other more muted with a greyish purple and hints of yellow to contrast. I think that both of my maps give a comprehensive understanding of the layout of the area and also my site. 

Plan for the day:

I want to start sketching ideas and creating sketch models to start developing designs in relation to my site. 

Reflection on the day: 

I spent today using thick card to create initial deign ideas. I went straight into the model making as I find that starting to construct something three dimensional can give you a better idea of the structure and form that it will take on. I had decided that I wanted to create a structure that can be added onto the top of the car park. I started by thinking geometrically using squares to create an irregular stacked box pattern, inspired by the Fictional Architecture work of Filip Dujardin. Although I found the overall structure interesting and thought it would work well as an extension I looked back at by research on Croydon and back over images and looking at the area it lacked unique shapes and is very heavily square. After realising this I moved onto working with triangles and found this gave me a much more unique overall shape that contrasted well with the boxy car park. After completing my models I chose that I wanted to continue developing the design with the triangles. Through photographing the model I found that by simply rotating them and changing how It stood (horizontal/vertical) the whole effect of the piece changed. From this I decided that instead of having it horizontal ,how I originally intended it to be, that I should create the piece vertically and have the triangles going outwards to create a cascading roof. 

Plan for the day:

I want to develop my maquette, start thinking about materials and developing into the final structure design. 

Reflection on the day: 

We had a lesson on orthographic drawing today, although I wasn't carrying on with the development of my design, I made a model interpreting my site in an abstract way taking inspiration from the suprematist movement. Once the model of the site was completed I was able to use it to practice orthographic drawing. I chose to do drawings from two angles and then document the other angles orthographically through photography.                                                                        

Plan for the day: 

I want to further research the needs of croydon and start thinking about how I will integrate colour into the design and how I will make it a stark contrast from the existing architecture. I want to make it a focal point of the area and somewhere the community is proud of. I also want to start thinking about the addition of a green plant exterior, as it'll add much needed colour and greenery to the area. 

Reflection on the day: 

Today we explored Catenary curves and created sculptures that portrayed this. In our group we decided to use two chairs facing in opposite directions from eachother to allow us to drape materials between them to explore these curves. We started by using string to get an idea of how it draped when suspended from each end from the chairs. After draping some string I found some coloured tape and tried to drape it however because of the nature of the material the curve wasn't smooth. So, instead I decided to create a solid colour panel by taping over the string. in doing this it gave a much more defined form to the curve and made it a lot more prominent. We also experimented with thin rope and mod rock to create a contrasting effect and see how such a rigid material (mod rock) can portray such a fluid shape. Once completed we took photos and the turned the whole sculpture upside sown to see how it would effect the curves differently and change the overall shape of the piece. 

 

Crit Feedback: 

Reflection on feedback: 

From the feedback I can see that the group thought my design was successful and appreciated my thought into location. However, I have also noticed that they were unclear about the origins of my idea for colours shards as the roof. This came from experimenting with geometric shapes and the need for colour in my intended environment. 

Plan for the day: 

My main aims for today are to complete my initial research about the broad spectrum of thresholds and then direct my focus on to a specific type of threshold to develop deeper research and understanding. 

Reflection on the day: 

I initially focused on four areas of thresholds; Interior, Exterior, Landscape and Urban. This allowed me to create a visual dictionary of what a threshold actually is as it has a broad definition. From this initial research I was able to pinpoint aspects of areas that I found interesting such as, the physical gap in the floor to create a threshold or the way in which groynes on a beach create breaks in the landscape. I then started to think about how these create different effects on the person who is interacting with it. From looking at the images from my visual dictionary of thresholds I kept noticing shadows in the images and this lead me to start thinking about potentially using light/shadow as a method of creating a threshold. 

Plan for the day:

I want to look more closely into the way in which light/shadow can be used to create a threshold and start thinking about how I can create an experience that has an effect on the person that passes through the threshold. 

Reflection on the day: 

Today we were introduced to site surveying. We went out in groups to find a location and gather the key information about the site itself and the area it is situated in. The location we chose was in the centre of Archway, a closed down tavern. The building seemed to be out of use and boarded up. It is situated right in the most frequented area of Archway,  as the foot traffic in this location is very heavy due to the nearby tube station. As a group we thought this space was really in need of redevelopment as it is currently just empty space with a couple of unused benches. We found that the area lacked natural physical features and also was heavily polluted by noise from all of the cars and transport surrounding it. The site is enclosed on two sides by roads and on the other two by residential buildings and a row of unfrequented shops. Through visiting and engaging with the site we were able to create comprehensive maps of the location representing the site, surrounding built areas, key features in the vicinity (e.g. parks and construction sites) and the flow of pedestrians, cars, transport and cyclists. 

Site surveying introduction workshop: 

Plan for the day: 

Today I want to continue to look into and develop my idea surrounding light and the way in which I could be used as a threshold. I also want to start thinking about how I could portray this idea in model format with the visual of light included. 

Reflection on the day: 

I spent the majority of the day creating design ideas and thinking about how I can successfully present my work. I originally thought about using a piece of sheet perspex to represent my light wall. However after looking at it in situ I thought that it didn't successfully convey the element of light. This lead me to start considering the use of LEDs to bring light into the model. Whilst making I thought about using transparent acetate and fairy lights to create a sheet of light. I found the best way to do this was to use two pieces of acetate and place the fairy lights just above them, creating a light trap and therefore creating a wall of light. 

Reflection on Thresholds Project:

If I continued to work on this project I would experiment more with colour and shape. Looking into how I could create a new type of threshold by potentially bending or reflecting the light in certain ways. The communication of my concept could've been improved by creating a smaller more concise model focused into the light door rather than including more of the surrounding space. I could consider using smoke/fog with the light shining through to create a more accurate representation of the final design, much like the method artists Anthony McCall and Nick Vanderstand use to create their light installations. 

Trip to Chelsea Physic Garden  

From the trip to the Chelsea Physic Garden I was able to gather some good initial primary research images and explore the garden to get a feel for the environment and atmosphere of the site. I found that I was drawn to the areas of space that didn't contain the plants, as these areas I find are already overcrowded and don't need additional work added.  

Plan for the day: 

I need to go over my primary research images and sketches and look at where would be best to create a structure. I could also look into mapping the site to show the chosen location in the garden more clearly. 

Reflection on the day: 

After having an initial visit to the Chelsea Physic Garden I used today to really reflect on my primary research and decide where would be the most appropriate location to create a structure. Through looking at the patterns of the vegetation and the arrangement of the garden I found that to me the most interesting areas were the paths running through the garden of Medicinal Plants. 

Plan for the day: 

I want to confirm my location within the garden and want to explore other pathways as options as I have some reservations about my initial choice as they space is very restricted due to surrounding bushes. 

Reflection on the day: 

After an additional visit to the Chelsea Physic Garden for contextual practice the previous day I was able to finalise my location, the paths that cross in the Garden of Medicinal Plants. Thinking about negative space in the garden I think this would be a useful place to add a structure. 

Plan for the day:

Begin developing ideas by looking at the shape and space that the pathway provides me with. Potentially could look at expanding my location from just one crossed over pathway section to two as they could easily be linked together. 

Reflection on the day: 

Through studying my site from first person experience and my primary research photos and drawings from the garden I was able to start my idea development. Thinking about the way the plants interact with the space and how I can create an impactful structure that will benefit the garden, almost modernising it, without damaging the surrounding plants. I've started to develop an idea for a shelter that follows the shape of the path and therefore has no physical impact on surrounding plants. 

Plan for the day: 

I need to choose a user group and cater my design towards them. I also think I need to do more research into the garden and what its used for so that my structure fits a purpose that is needed. 

Reflection on the day: 

I used today as a research day looking into Chelsea Physic Garden and reading up about what it does there and who visits to see how I could create a structure that benefits their visitors. 

From my research I found that the garden hosts an education programme focussed on those in primary school. So I now want to take this as my main user group however I also know that all ages visit the garden including the elderly, disabled and help groups. I will take these groups of people all into account however focus on designing for the children. 

Looking further into children and education I decided to look into how colour impacts children in a learning environment. As I knew I wanted to add in some colour to the garden I thought relating it back to the children and using colours that would benefit them would help. From my research into colour in children's education I decided that the most suitable colours to use were variations of greens and yellows. As green symbolises nature, calmness and healing and yellow enhances creativity, positivity and improves focus. I also think that these colours won't detract too much from the plants in the garden as there are many greens and yellows running through the colour palette of the garden, so it will tie in well. 

Plan for the day: 

I want to have finished the design for my structure and start thinking about doing my final model. 

Reflection on day: 

The final design is a structure that offers an interactive element through the flaps on the walls for the children (and other ages) to engage with. It also offers an audio element as when the wind blows the flaps will go back and forth creating a quiet soothing sound. The garden was really missing a space that can act as a shelter in bad weather conditions and this structure acts as that but also will add a visual quality to the garden. 

Plan for the day: 

I want to have completed the model making process. 

Reflection on day: 

 I had a problem of how to represent the flaps on the walls as realistically creating each one individually wasn't feasible at that scale and wouldn't have been able to be done within the time frame. So after testing out a few methods I settled on using semi translucent coloured paper and crossing them over each other to give squares. By using this method it allows the viewer to see the intended idea of translucent flaps as you can see both the underneath colour and the overlapping colour. 

Crit Feedback: 

- Pros 

Good selection of primary and secondary images

Successful use of colour 

The measurements on the technical drawings are helpful 

Model is easy to comprehend 

- Cons 

Add people in for scale

Add colour to orthographic drawings 

Add annotations to pages to explain concept 

Need more explanation about the choice of colours and purpose of flaps 

Render of structure at the site 

Reflection on Crit Feedback:

From the feedback I received I can see that I need to work on showing my concept better through my presentation sheets. Whether this be by adding in more annotations or by including a technical drawing to show the overall design. Also I need to ensure I include site and user on my sheets as it isn't clear where in the garden I have chosen to put my project. 

Plan for the day:

Intentions for synthesis project: 

I want to further explore materiality in my Chelsea Physic Garden project. Looking at sustainablity, potentially plant based materials or recycled materials. I also want to look into adding seating into the structure so that it can be used as a comfortable shelter during rainy/bad weather. 

Reflection on the day:

The day was mainly focused on interview question examples and practice of reponses. 

Some practice questions:

Why have you chosen architecture?

- I visited my schools architecture practice and that allowed me to engage with people in the industry and find out more about it as a career which interests me.

- from my time on the foundation I was drawn to the 3D design areas and out of those I found that architecture suited me the most

What is a building that has had an impact on you?

- exterior of the Lloyds building, industrial feel 

- interior of the Hayward Gallery, brutalist, exposed concrete

What do you think you need to improve at?

- digital drawing/rendering as I have no previous experience in it and I know that in industry it is a key skill you need to have

Plan for the day: 

Research into materials that I could use instead of acrylic

Reflection on the day: 

Whilst researching for a sustainable material to use, as the Chelsea Physic Garden is making an effort to become more and more sustainable I found that instead of using a different material to acrylic I could use recycled acrylic. I found a company that specialises in recycling existing acrylic into new sheet material claiming the quality is the same. I also thought that through doing this when the garden decides to take down the structure the material wont go to waste as you can donate it back to the company to be recycled again. 

Plan for the day: 

Think about how to add in seating. 

Reflection on the day: 

To maximise the space on the interior of the structure I decided to create simple benches that attach to the walls and sit flush against them. The seating will go in each corner of the structure allowing for around 3-4 people to be seated in each corner at a time which amounts to a total of at least 24 people seated at a time. And I thought as there will be a void of space in the centre I could add a cube which would be used as seating in each section which would allow two people to be seated. In total that allows for minimum 28 people being seated.