Room With A View
Exhibition Text:
In this piece I wanted to explore the use of space and design by creating an architectural blueprint for a structure envisioned to be created in Bradford Beach, Lake Michigan. This design was created through the development of sketches I had planned and cardboard and wood materials; accomplished through real life scaled measurements (⅛ in. = 1 ft.). This structure was inspired by architect Richard Serra who created structures that were beautiful and able to spark some kind of conversation from the viewer.
Process and BrainstormingBefore beginning this piece I investigated the work of Richard Serra, a controversial architect. The work of Richard Serra was often controversial but I liked the feeling his work evoked by just looking at it. Looking through his work and his use of space really inspired me to create a similar feeling of towering enclosure with a beautiful view. His use of enclosure was effective and explored unique ideas. I was really inspired by this architect because he created forms with meaning in which his worked engaged in a kind of conversation, that would speak to the viewer. After, concluding my inspiration I began to create blueprint sketches and began to use my imagination to create a space with similar form and meaning.
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Planning Sketches
With these sketches I manipulated the use of the walls. By moving them around and giving different perspective I was able to blueprint my final design.
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Meaning of the PieceMy piece was meant to convey emotion and purposefully work in order to engage in a kind of conversation. The walls were designed to be unsymmetrical with the purpose of not only a unique look but a feeling of force felt to walk around and through my design. My piece was meant to create the feeling of anxiety felt through a towering enclosure which would be followed by relief which would be experienced once walking up to a open balcony that adds to the beautiful view of the lake. This adds to the transition of going from the uncomfortable to the comfortable, which any person passing by has the opportunity to feel once walking along my piece. The importance of my piece was the use of space, and my design used a great amount of space at the beach which like Richard Serra's work was used to break the ordinary path of people walking by. This also works towards drawing people in and forcing them to take a look inside out of simple curiosity to engage with the unordinary.
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Planning Questions
1. How does your work create a relationship between land and water?
My piece begins with a small tight place that gradually opens up into the water for the perfect view and possibly into a wide open balcony.
2. What feeling will people have upon seeing, entering, walking through your structure?
Upon seeing my piece people might think it is odd or placed randomly, but upon entering they will feel enclosed then as they walk through it they will feel relieved as they stand in upon space with a great view.
3. How does your structure relate to our world physically as well as with our mind?
My structure connects the water and land creating to separate atmospheres and it gives a feeling of freedom and space once arriving to the end.
4. How does your structure embrace the lake?
My structure embraces the lake because it leads you to it adding a good view and feeling to it once you get there.
5. How does your structure use the fundamental architectural components of?
My structure embodies meaning by making the viewer feel enclosed and with little space then the path gets bigger and opens up to a big space. This is meant to give the viewer the experience of relief and freedom which will be felt as they walk along the end.
7. Describe at least 3 meaningful decisions?
My piece begins with a small tight place that gradually opens up into the water for the perfect view and possibly into a wide open balcony.
2. What feeling will people have upon seeing, entering, walking through your structure?
Upon seeing my piece people might think it is odd or placed randomly, but upon entering they will feel enclosed then as they walk through it they will feel relieved as they stand in upon space with a great view.
3. How does your structure relate to our world physically as well as with our mind?
My structure connects the water and land creating to separate atmospheres and it gives a feeling of freedom and space once arriving to the end.
4. How does your structure embrace the lake?
My structure embraces the lake because it leads you to it adding a good view and feeling to it once you get there.
5. How does your structure use the fundamental architectural components of?
- Path: A narrow path is added leading into the view and the water.
- Portal: The first thing seen is the opening or the portal which is tightly made to add to the experience.
- Place: Place can be given while standing in the middle of the structure and can also be given at the end to get the view and then feel the view.
My structure embodies meaning by making the viewer feel enclosed and with little space then the path gets bigger and opens up to a big space. This is meant to give the viewer the experience of relief and freedom which will be felt as they walk along the end.
7. Describe at least 3 meaningful decisions?
- Making the portal small and the path narrow- gives the feeling of being uncomfortable to comfortable
- Making the walls very tall- give only the feeling of a room where nothing else can be seen or felt on the outside
- Adding a balcony or open space- will give the ultimate view and feeling of free open space
Experimenting/Developing Ideas
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Final Images |
After experimenting with my sketches I was able to create a design that fit the objective of the project. Creating my piece began with multiple sketches and measurements which would help me create the desired look to my piece. A lot of the planning I did involved the use of walls and their placement, inspired by the work of Richard Serra. Once I had discovered what the look of my walls would be I had an easier time placing them in a way which would convey the emotion I desired from the person walking through it. The actual creation of my piece became difficult as I had to keep track of the scale and this made smaller details hard to accomplish and form. After creating my base and the walls I realized it looked too simple therefore I decided to go along with my original plan and add a balcony that would be above the water. At that point I also began experimenting with the size, shape, and placement of my balcony. After this step I explored the idea of adding stairs that would reach out into the balcony in order the add elevation. The flow of ideas was quite easy but the attempt to display in an accurate and miniature scale was very difficult. After having made all my pieces I glued them all together and added details that would help make it look like a more professional and scaled design.
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Artistic Inspiration
My artistic inspiration for this piece is Richard Serra. Serra is an American artist and sculptor of the post Abstract-Expressionist period. His work beginning in the 1960s and continuing to this day, played a major role in developing the tradition of modern abstract sculpture. His work draws a widespread of attention from the public as his sculptures evoke experience from the viewer both physically and visually, generally located in highly public settings. Serra inherited and further developed the tradition of abstract sculpture, initially working with the medium of welded steel. He explored how an artwork might relate to a specific setting, and its physical and visual relationship to the viewer; and how it can create spaces/environments where a viewer can feel qualities of weight, gravity, agility, or even a meditative response.
Most of Serra’s public work was quite controversial as it was made to virtually interrupt the viewers daily routine in ways that were not universally welcomed in the community. Serra though of his sculptures as something that should fit into everyday life, and not something that should be confined in a small space. Finished in 1981(now removed) stood one of Serra’s most controversial works title “Arc”. This sculpture stood in the Federal Plaza in New York blocking the accustomed walk way of many workers near by. Later taken down due to complaints the sculpture stood in an era unaccustomed to bold displays of artistic site-specific intervention. Such work of Richard Serra inspired me to approach a similar concept. Most of Serra’s work was used to convey an experience and a feeling towards the viewer. He created a well use of public space that imbued forms of meaning and visual dynamics. In a way his work found a way to speak to the viewer and allow room for emotion which is an element I wanted to convey as well. |
Serra, Richard. "Band". Web. 2012. 26. Mar. 2017
Serra, Richard. "Snake". Web. 2015. 26. Mar. 2017
"Richard Serra Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works." The Art Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.
Serra, Richard, Kynaston McShine, and Lynne Cooke. Richard Serra: sculpture: forty years. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 2007. Print. |
Materials
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Reflection |
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After finishing my piece I felt as if I succeeded in the requirements of the project. I had originally planned out my design to look much more symmetrical and common, but after talking with the UWM instructor I had realized it was better to take a different approach. Once, eliminating the symmetry I had came up with a piece that would fit the room feeling followed by the view which would also be able to engage some sort of conversation. I liked the twist I added to my piece and how it conveyed anxious emotions rather than just a simple design. At first I was not sure of breaking the comfortable idea but it truly worked out for the best. My piece compared to Richard Serra was in a way similar, as my inspiration held controversy in his unique structures that many people found unnecessary. Like my inspiration I used a feeling of enclosure with still providing an open space for the viewer to experience. While looking back at my piece I liked the outcome even though I had never worked with designing an architectural piece. It became quite difficult to construct but I enjoyed working on something out of my comfort zone.
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Connection to the ACT:
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your work.
My inspiration, Richard Serra, used simple walls shaped in a variety of uncommon forms and provided a feeling of towering enclosure. His approach in architecture and his use of walls to convey a toxering mood inspired me to create a similar wall structure in my piece.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach the author had regarding Richard Serra was displaying the importance of a feeling or mood set from the unique architectural view Serra created.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspirations?
I discovered that architecture can also be used to convey emotions and express the importance of space as it would most commonly be seen through paintings and sculptures.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea is the use of ordinary and plain objects such as walls used to convey a certain feeling or emotion from the viewer. The theme being the power of simplicity in oridinary or public life.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your
research?
I can infer that many other cultures also use architecture more as a form of art with the goal to reach the emotions of the people who experience the piece rather than just look at the piece.
My inspiration, Richard Serra, used simple walls shaped in a variety of uncommon forms and provided a feeling of towering enclosure. His approach in architecture and his use of walls to convey a toxering mood inspired me to create a similar wall structure in my piece.
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach the author had regarding Richard Serra was displaying the importance of a feeling or mood set from the unique architectural view Serra created.
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspirations?
I discovered that architecture can also be used to convey emotions and express the importance of space as it would most commonly be seen through paintings and sculptures.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea is the use of ordinary and plain objects such as walls used to convey a certain feeling or emotion from the viewer. The theme being the power of simplicity in oridinary or public life.
5. What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your
research?
I can infer that many other cultures also use architecture more as a form of art with the goal to reach the emotions of the people who experience the piece rather than just look at the piece.