FINAL CRIT

Above is what I pinned up yesterday for the critics. I thought the crit went well with the external critics showing they appreciate the work and thought I "had so many good ideas I had failed to throw any of them away".. I think this a good criticism.

A selection of views.

The above views are two of the fifteen model shots/perspectives I will show tomorrow. The top photo is from my 1:50 model, showing the light fall against the cast wall, with the theatre lights casting over the lonesome actor.

The second photo shows the three crucial parts of the project in one. The moveable metallic rig, the cast passive wall, and the fine and accurate lighting rig structure.

Tomorrow is the final crit. I am nervous and hope it goes well.

DEX Photos edited in iPhoto

Arci-cad model of final rig design.

I built an archi-cad model of my rig strucutre, created 3D redors, and finished them in Photoshop. The three images above have all been taken of the same accurate model and are designed to show the shadow and mystery of theatre as well as the basic structure of the rig.

DEX Building modeled in Archicad and finished in Photoshop

Structural axo.

For the structures submission, an axo was needed to show the basic structure of the building and the structural principles aswell. The axo was built on sketch-up and then mounted in illustrator. I am particularly happy with this panel as it looks professional and complete. The colours are also subtle and understandable.

DEX Model built in Google Sketch-Up and mounted in Illustrator

1:50 section

The above section shows the detail of the structure of the building aswell as the story of the relationship between the wall and rig of the building. I am particularily happy with this section as it is a new style of production for me. I have been very nervous of producing line drawings, but ultimately this new line drawing is fairly succesfull! I think this will make a crucial part of my presentation tomorrow.

DEX Mounted in Illustrator

Section series

The moveable rig is a crucial part of the project. The above graphic shows the above narrative of the rig-strucutre. The 1:20 section series shows the rig in the summer, winter and split configurations. I think this is one of the best parts of the project which allows flexibility in the rig structure and theatre itself.

DEX Finished in Photoshop and mounted in Illustrator

Lucky number 8

The FINAL CRIT proposal

Above is the plan I will present at the final Crit tomorrow.

The building includes the cast wall, and the moveable rig. Aswell as this supplementary areas which can be opened and closed to provide larger back stage space. Set storage is included in the cast wall, aswell as dressing rooms and green rooms. Seating is sunken down from ground level and provides full views across the stage-scape.

DEX Finished in Photoshop and mounted in Illustrator

1:100 Scheme Model

My theare is based around the idea of a moveable back-stage/lighing rig which moves inbetween a summer (outside) and winter (inside) stage.

The moveable rig is suspended above the theatre scape below. The rig houses some of the amenities for the building. I like the way the this project reads as the steel frame structure reads as this high and mighty primary structure. The cast natural figury of the cast wall then complements that, with the metal rig being this metallic and flexible space.

CAST Wall.

From the castings which I have produced, that has led me to design a multi-facated cast wall scape which will house the dressing rooms, green rooms, concierge for the theatre. I want there to be subtle toned change where these rooms push out from the wall.

The model actually took a surprising short amount of time to set, and the mold held despite being quickly put together with foam board!

2 weeks of fun and games.

The next 2 weeks are crucial for the final project. This is where the work really starts.

Ghent International Regatta, Belgium.

As part of the preparations for the summer season, aswell as the trailing process for the Commonwealth games regatta in Canada, I raced in Belgium this weekend. I am currently trailing for the Welsh commonwealth team, and possible combinations rowed at the first international regatta in Belgium.

In the lightweight quads, where at this event the crew average has to be 70kgs, we rowed through the field to take silver. In the under 23 lightweight doubles, we rowed through in second throughout the race to take another silver.

This week has been a busy one, with two regattas, a general election, and trying to nail down my design project. It is going well!

Photo courtesy of www.avironbelgique.be accessed 11/05/2010

Co-alition

Today was a crucial day in the history of this country.

Thursday May 6th was the general election, where Great Britan went to the polls to elect a new government and PM. 12 months ago, the conservatives had a strong 41% of the vote, which would have given them a convincing majority in parliament. However, typical of an election campaign the polls have tightened and on Friday morning we were left with a hung parliament.

So, after a short period of deal-striking between the three parties we are now in a coalition government. The conservatives and liberal democrats are now together as one government. I voted for a majority conservative government, but in this political era where trust in politicians is at a low, maybe this is a good thing. Cameron and Clegg seem to be chartering a government for the better, where the national interest comes before the party interest.

I hope very much that the national before the part ideology stays until Thursday 4th May 2015 at the next general election.

Photo courtesy of http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/closenewafp595.jpg accessed 09/05/2010

British University Champions

The first major regatta of the year is the British Universities and College sports (BUCS) regatta at the National Watersports centre in Nottingham. Over 4000 university students compete over a series of events. Myself and two other Nottingham Rowing club oarsmen joined forces with the University boat club to row in a lightweight 8.

The Lightweight 8 event, at this event, means that all rowers need to be under 72.5kgs. This was our priority boat. We won comfortably by 8 seconds, with Imperial college holding onto our stern for the first 500m. This win is one of the first for Nottingham University in a while, and places us in great posistion to be selected and be a strong contender for the European University Championships in Amsterdam this August.

2nd Proposal.

After the tutorial in London, and the series of cast models, I have developed my ideas from the conceptual idea of the first proposal, into a modern development. The cast models gave me the idea of "celebrating the section". I am motivated by the idea that a series of bold cut throughout the Forest Mill site, which cuts through the main mill building. This cut will form a path way and show the section of the theatre. The new street scape will run from Thackery street to Holden Street, and run next to the theatre. Pedestrians will be able to see exactly what is going in the theatre during the performance. I produced a model of the above proposal n Sketch-up.

DEX Model built in Google Sketch-up

Amalgamation of thoughts.

I have developed the ideas of celebrating the section. With clean and bold cuts across the Forest mill site, a sectional cut would reveal the structure of the mill and theatre. Although I liked the way the deteriorating wall suggested a curtain, so produced this model. Unfortunately I do not think that it is a successful contribution to the project.

DEX Model built in Google Sketch-up

Cast models to define ideas.

I created a series of 12 cast models which allowed me redefine the shapes and spaces required for a theatre. The molds are created my an anti-mold made from foam board where the plaster is then poured in. For best results a good mix is vital. A strong and clean mold also helps. The model doesn't take too long to set, around 8 hours is enough to break out from the mold. However, the model as a whole does take around 2 days to fully dry out, so care is needed.

The next week is another vital week as the bains of the project are worked out, and the BUCS rowing championships comes up on the May 1st.

DEX Images finished in Photshop

London Tutorial

After the first part of the project, the unit had tutorials in London. At the tutorial my tutors suggested that I use my first proposal as a conceptual idea and build upon that with a series of cast models. The first proposal was critised as being impracticable and not essentially I decided the project was too institutional and 'seen-before'. I have to re-define the elements of the theatre to create an exciting scheme.

Photo courtesy of http://davidrossdale.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/london_underground_logo.jpg accessed 19/04/2010

Sketch-up model

I have drawn my first proposal in Sketch-up and believe, unlike most sketch CAD models, that this looks quite compelling. The deteriorating walls push out of the structure and hopefully suggests a curtain. This is the proposal I will take to London.

DEX Model built in Google Sketch-up

1 to 100 Model : Part 2

To begin resolving my original proposal, I built a 1 to 100 model.  I have used three materials. The floor spans within the model are made from craft-card. The external 'deteriorating' walls are in a grey card, and the context in white mount board. 

Photo 1: Shows the overall completed model. The context (mount board part) can be taken off to show the insides of the model.

Photo 2: Shows the restaurant space of the fourth floor, along with the bridge across the theatre space on the fifth floor. Also visible are the two stories of seats hung from the carved floors.

Photo 3:A view from the ground floor, Forest Mill courtyard entrance. Visible are the carved floors spanning the many shapes and angles The ticket office and hung seats creating an intensive theatre space can be seen as well.

1 to 100 Model : Part 1

Photo 4: A view down onto the theatre space.

The seats can be seen jutting out on the many floor shapes of the scheme.

The 'new' type of Architecture which I am trying to portray, is shown strongest in this photo. Visible are the existing floors of the mills which have been carved up by an internal force. What remains of the mill a theatre is set within. The force has eaten and decayed the building from within, destroying the material of the building and pushing out to escape and escape from the building.

Photo 5: The top floor includes a bridge which spans over the floors and people beneath, and through the deteriorating and leaning walls. This beyond the wall allows guests to gain a view of Nottinghamshire from this vantage point.

Photo 6: The overall scheme.

Photo 7: A view up towards all the floors of the theatre.

DEX Photos finished in Photoshop.

Resolving.

Above are the beginnings of resolving my first proposal in Plan and Section.

Notes are included on the images.

DEX Images finished in Photoshop and mounted in Illustrator

The first proposal.

After thinking hard about the project over the week which I had in France I have come up with my first proposal. This model brings the ideas of explosion and decay from within but does it in a way which doesn't look tacky and boring like the hotels of Dubai. The proposal includes a theatre which doesn't centre around a central lower stage but a series of stages which are attached to the existing outside wall which has been pushed out of the structure violently.

The proposal includes large public spaces, a modern and Nottinghamshire interpretation of the Greek Forum or Roman Agora. Civic architecture is one of my main interests, and the idea of creating a theatre space high-in-the-sky off the floor, which seats being interspersed around the structure is quite exciting.

The Outside walls are a striking part of this initial proposal. The new architecture idea is that a central force, within the building, pushes and decays from within. In doing so the floors are carved, the passages are forced through the building, and the outside walls are pushed out. Just like Richard Wilson's piece within a Birmingham office block, the facade of the mill will be maintained to resemble that the wall has been pushed out and saved from collapse by the theatre.

Photo courtesy of http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1408/534850960_90b8c8d1b2_o.jpg accessed 09/04/2010

DEX Images finished in Photoshop

Developing the idea. 3 & 4.

I am happier with the above models. I wanted to portray a stricter and more geometrical decay. Originally I though that a separate theatre structure would need to be inserted in. However, I don't see why the exsisting floors of the mill, which have been cut, cannot provide the material of the theatre.

Photos 1 & 2 show such a structure being inserted in. Photo 3 shows that lack of the structure. The floors fan out with height meaning people could get a good view of the stage/performance area. However, why does a theatre have to be directed towards a point on the lowest point? I wanted to explore this, as well as trying to for-fill my brief of a new-type of architecture in the next model. I also thought that the symmetrical geometries of the floors does remind me of tacky Dubai-hotel architecture which has sprung up in the last decade.

DEX Images finished in Photoshop

Process Model 2

My original idea was to carve a space in the existing structure and insert a structure within. From this model I liked the inserted structure which would hold the theatre space. However, I thought the carved element of the building wasn't strong enough. I want to portray an alien like destruction of the strucutre. Forest Mill is a scary place, with the abandoned character, therefore the ruthless decay of the structure from within should also have an element of fear and tension.

DEX Images finished in Photoshop

Process Model 1

At my first tutorial I suggested boldly carving into the existing Radford Mill structure, and inserting an exciting theatre structure into the carved space. It was suggested I create a 'new type of architecture'.

A brief for a new type of architecture is a pretty big one, however one which I am keen to succeed at. My 1:1 project was based upon a parasitic idea. Parasitic architecture grows from an existing structure. I am keen to create a type of architecture which destroys and decays a structure from within, with the new development sitting within the space created by the destroyed pre-existing structure.

DEX Images finished in Photoshop

Vote for Change.

The 2010 election was announced by Gordon Brown on Tuesday. Brown visited Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen to dissolve parliament, and thus call for a general election.

The next 4 weeks, are not only key for my architecture project and rowing, but move importantly, for the country. Thursday May 6th will be election day. Lenton falls in Nottingham North, a strong Labour seat. West Bridgeford (Area of my rowing) falls into Ken Clarke's (Shadow business minister) constituency which is one of the Conservative's strongest seats.

Photo courtesy of http://www.digitaljournal.com/img/8/7/3/i/4/8/3/o/10DowningStreet.jpg accessed 08/04/10

Cambridge

One of the greatest sporting events in the world culminated on the Thames last weekend.

Cambridge won the 2010 Boat race in fine style. Oxford went off strong in the first half of the race, however, Cambridge maintained a strong rhythm and confidence which allowed them to row through Oxford in the later half of the race. A fantastic race. Ben Myers, Oxford bow man, rowed with me for Wales in 2007-2009. It was with pride and honor to watch him race in an event for such elite athletes.

Photo courtesy of http://squirrelbasket.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/winning-cambridge-crew-2010.jpg accessed 8/04/2010

First days of April.

With the beginning of Summer, I leaft early on Sunday morning for our summer training camp in Soutsons in France. The training camp was a week long and included three rowing sessions a day. Training camps are a vital way of getting away from the day-to-day distractions from rowing in Nottingham, and spending seven days concentrating on the sport. Technical and fitness improvements can be made. The Nottingham Rowing club camp's focus is crew boats, fours most likely, for Henley Royal Regatta in July. For me, Commonwealth, World University and European University trials are still on the horizon. 

Just before we flew, on the last day of camp, we had a quick trip to the beach!

Last days of March

The last week has seen the end of the winter and the begging of the summer. 

For architecture, the begging of the final project is now in full swing with the interim crit going on without me last Tuesday. The first parts of the project are coming together nicely for myself, with the idea of a new type of architecture with a performance function becoming the basis for some primary models, with the next 10 days being vital in putting together a proposal. 

However, this week has been about Rowing.

Saturday 27th March saw 400 crews take to the Championships course between Chiswick Bridge, to Putney Bridge over 4.25 miles of the river Thames for the Eights Head of the River.

I was rowing for Nottingham Rowing Club. We started 48th, and finished 41st. We came 6 seconds behind our biggest rivals Nottingham and Union rowing club, but beat Agecroft rowing club (Manchester) by 1/100th of a second. We were the 3rd quickest crew off the Thames, and the fastest 8 the club has ever had.

The Eights head of the River also attracts many spectators, including my Mum, Auntie and Uncle who all came down to Putney embankment to see the race.

Concept Sketches

It all starts today. Above are some lightening quick concept sketches. The top page shows the ideas of a hanging theatre. The bottom page shows the seating arrangement I might employ in my building.