Brief
For this discipline specific brief, we, as interior designers, were asked to design a small building which aims to reconnect people with nature. We were to take inspiration from the ‘shed’ and the context of Tentsmuir beach and forest.
Initial Research
As with all other projects we had to start off by researching our brief and similar designs. For my first part of research I chose to head to the library and find some books on natural materials as well as books on various designers and their work. The first book I came across was ‘Future City: Experiment and Utopia in Architecture By Jane Alison‘.
This book was filled with new and innovative designs from across the world and by loads of different designers. I particularly liked how the designs wee shown in their development stage through images of sketches and concept models.
These two spreads were among my favourite in the book. I have admired Zaha Hadid’s work for about 2 years now so when I saw one of her projects inn this book I was immediately drawn to it, I really liked the models shown in this spread and how, with little to no explanation, they told you what was going on and what her vision was. As for the second spread I loved the idea of module living, it’s something I had seen before and was fascinated by, but what drew me to this spread was the intricacy of the top right model, from a glance it looks simple and fairly straight forward but as you look closer you begin to see how the structure was made and put together. Not only did the top right image draw me in but I was also very intrigued by the top left image, I loved how it showed the designers view and gave the model next to it a scale, not only that but I liked how it showed a different way in which the pods could be arranged.
The second book I looked at was ‘Inside Outside: Between Architecture and Landscape By Anita Berrizbeitia and
‘Brion Cemetery designed by Carlo Scarpa’. This was one of the designs that stood out the most from this book, I really liked how Scarpa used concrete in his design, I think it brings the whole design together and creates a flow as well as making the design fit seamlessly into its surroundings and nature. The weathered concrete adds a contrasting texture to the grass and water, I like how it’s bringing a man made material into nature without it sticking out like a sore thumb.
After looking through the books I decided to go onto the internet and find some images of follies that I found interesting and unique. I thought that a follie would be a good place to start in terms of ‘shed’ research as they are shed like but have unique features that wouldn’t traditionally be attached to a shed.
Traditional Follies Modern Follies
I really like the small details in the traditional follies and how it adds character and a story to the buildings, I also like the simplicity of their shape. In terms of the modern follies, I i’m a big fan of the stripped back simplicity and elegance of them, I particularly like how the first one is almost hidden within its surroundings.
James Turrell
James Turrell was the a designer I research specifically. I was interested to see how his work used light and space to create a visual sceptical.
‘Skyspaces’ was one of his projects that stood out the most to me, I love how he’s used colour and light to create a visual point in the sky light. I also really like how his use of light and the way he has filled the rooms gave the room a new lease of life and changed the appearance of the rooms shape. The definition on Turrell’s website reads “A Turrell Skyspace is a specifically proportioned chamber with an aperture in the ceiling open to the sky. Skyspaces can be autonomous structures or integrated into existing architecture. The aperture can be round, ovular or square.”
Further Research
After I started to make my first models I decided that I wanted to do a little bit more research, this research focused on the beach defence buildings at Tentsmuir and how they framed the view across the Tay. I started by broadly research beach defence buildings and finding out what kind of shapes and sizes they tend to be.
After researching defence buildings I started to think about other ways that a view is framed ether in modern or ancient architecture, this brought me onto the arrow slits in castles.
I loved the way this image captures and frames the view, this inspired me to try and incorporate ‘arrow slits’ into my design. Once I had made a few more models inspired by this new found research one of my class mates suggested looking up Tadao Ando’s Church of the Light.
This was a big turning point in my research and hugely motivated me to continue with my ‘arrow slit’ idea and developed it further. One of the big things about this design that inspired me was the size of the slits and the fact that they were actually gabs in the building rather than windows. I also fell in love with the way the light floods through the slits and creates various patterns on the walls depending on the time of day.
That is my rough research process through out this project, I have highlighted the big turning points in my research and all the designs and projects that inspired me through out the making of my ‘shed’.
Stay tuned for my blog on the design process that got me to my final design.