My concept is the distorted box. It has proportions of the box, yet its geometry is transformed into the very abstract form. The mesh suppose to represent the exterior image. The sticks imply the "infinite" feeling of interior space. The cables in one of the models show the very free circulation, which is one of my central ideas.
Hi Anna, this is Audrey, your online reviewer. I'm really happy to be working with you and truly hope to help you with your project. Please feel free to email me also with any questions you may have.
ReplyDeleteBased on the images above, I have many many questions, and realize that this is only the beginning of your design process, so I hope that my questions will help you in the evolution of your design.
I'm assuming from previous posts that your basic program is a church/house of worship. Why is the concept of free circulation important and what does it mean when applied to a church of worship? What about the concept of feeling like the space is "infinite"? Does this imply the "glory of God" in the way that Gothic cathedrals implemented soaring spaces (to make the individual simultaneously feel small)? Or are you using "infinite" space to suggest some other relationship between God and the individual?
A few comments...Why the concept of a distorted box? The mesh images do not read as a distorted box, but more like a cloud or spun sugar like cotton candy around a stick. A box is much more structured than this, and a distorted box would show some distortion of this underlying structure. Secondly, the concept of a box is conflicting with the concept of "infinite" space.
My third question is that I have no idea where your project is located or what type of setting it is in. As your design progresses, I'm sure it will benefit from a relationship to its surroundings.
Lastly, have you done any case studies? If so, what were they?
Hi Audrey!! Very nice to have you as my blog reviewer.Thank you very much for joining me and Welcome!!
ReplyDeleteYour comments instantly made me think of my project/concept in a different way.
First of all, we have done the group survey of the site we 're "building "on.
I have to find out if i can use the group blog as my own. I'm linked to it: http://arch3611f09-brooklyn.blogspot.com/
Now, I'll try to answer your challenging questions:
My theory is that the space such as a church implies a concept of freedom of soul. Therefore, i'd like to interpret this idea into a building. I'm using a lot of spaces such as a gallery, a day care, a meditation room, etc. in the building program (listed in the matrix.) I'd like to have almost all the spaces to be free for public use (except for admin/office/mechanical spaces)and be easily reached within the building. That's what i mean by " the free circulation."
The main sanctuary space is to be grand, which would suggest the "infinite" space (sort of like it's used in Gothic churches, but not necessarily to make a person feel small comparing to God. It's rather the opposite: to make a person feel like there is no barrier between a human and God)
The mesh is just the material i had handy for the very abstract first study models. It's only the beginning. The mesh allows me to transform "the box" easily, and has nothing to do with the actual material ( it's way too early to think of materials at this state of design)
I agree that the box may suggest the contradiction with the concept of "infinity."
And that's exactly why it's not an actual box.. it's distorted so that it doesn't really have neither proportions nor geometry of a box. It still has the four walls/sides though. The box is the very initial point of my design and i'll drift away from it toward the abstract form (which doesn't exist yet)
I'll post the info about the location of my project.
Thank you very much for your constructive critic. I appreciate that.
Hope to hear from you soon, Anna
I love the dialog between the two of you. The questions challenge Anna to define her project. This will make your project strong. What is your next step? Will you go back and rework your study models? or start with sketchs? I would like to seen a combination of both.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the site info. It looks like a really great and interesting place to inhabit. I'm intrigued by the bridge overhead and how your project will relate to its surroundings.
I saw your matrix and understand that you're looking at the concept of "free circulation". I'm really glad you are looking at the spatial matrix, as a lot of religious spaces deal with a specific ordering of spaces, a procession so to speak. The experience of a religious space often times creates a story, a cinematic, multi-sensual narrative, some with a "climax" or "crescendo" which could be your "infinite space". Have you looked at a lot of churches as case studies? I would suggest this if not, especially since religion and churches are so steeped in tradition and symbolism, even if you plan to veer from tradition. Perhaps pick a few throughout history and examine their floor/site plans and what they were trying to say with this. Why was each architectural type relevant to its time? On that note, what does distortion signify to you and why is it relevant to religious design? It is perhaps a break from traditional geometric form and building typoloty, and made possible through the use of really sophisticated technology in such cases as Frank Gehry. What does it mean to you?
Hi Audrey,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your helpful comments and suggestions.
The site is really amazing!! DUMBO (down under Manhattan Bridge area) is one of the oldest areas in Brooklyn facing Manhattan, yet is being developed to the new contemporary high-rise building area. And that is one of my reasons to drift away from the traditional church and go along with the development/ on the controversial side/.
I should've mentioned earlier that my church is more of a congregation space for the Brooklyn community, that can be used as a day care during the week.
I have done the case study( in terms of typical floor plans, lighting, common uses,circulation, etc)- you can find it among my first posts.
My building is for the contemporary Christian Scientist Church.
My inspiration comes from the Private Chapel, Southern Spain, by Estudio Sancho-Madridejos ( it is among my posts for the case study)and the Jubilee Church, Italy by Richard Meier.
I 'll post some more pictures that may explain my concept better.
Thank you again,
Looking forward to hear from you soon