sarah
People are always looking for that new and unique experience, something that rejuvenates the senses and renews the excitement of life. However in our society, where people become over exposed to things that were once seen as sublime, it is difficult to find such a thrill. It’s a rare commodity. Chances are few are far between, but I’m offering a chance nay a challenge to abandon the ordinary and adventure into an encounter like no other.
Imagine walking through a kaleidoscope, constantly changing and always unique. It is a complete state of randomness based on where the pieces fall and how the light reflects off of them. That is the feeling you receive while walking through this structure. It began with a simple, pattern making L-system, and a dangerously triangulate geometry. This algorithmic growth produced a strong modulated form that resembled broken glass, as if someone took a light bulb, threw it against the wall, and got a snap shoot at the very second it exploded. Every piece is inherently connected but takes on distinctive characteristics that perform independent of each other. This juxtaposition of a fragile bondage can give someone that adrenaline alarm that takes you out of your body and you become hyper sensitive to your environment. I ran with the idea of the dangerous yet alluring nature of the form, which I corresponded to colored glass, how it’s enticing and intricate but still sustains a sense of caution. With every piece a different color, and because one would be in a state of hypersensitivity, being inside this structure would an overwhelmingly sensual experience in overdrive. Also sense the pieces layered and fanned within each other to create different level, as the sun moves throughout the day it would hit separate layers of glass at different angles so that as the colors mixed the environment would always be changing. It could go from a peaceful pastel blue and green sunrise to a vibrant orange and yellow playful afternoon, and then to a blush rose and purple romantic evening. Now the sun is never in exactly the same place every day, so the space would even change according to the time of year. Hence a completely unique encounter for every person that walks through it. You could come multiple times a year and it would always be changing. It becomes its own organism that grows and transforms constantly much like the origins of the algorithmic growth idea of the L-system which was my starting point. This inconsistency of an architectural form is yet another reason that this space would be an odd distress for an inhabitant. We automatically expect that our manmade, inorganic structures are stagnant, so that there is a familiarity and security behind the simple act of entering a building. One always knows what to expect. This structure proposes a surprise every time you visit. It becomes part of the earth itself as it changes with the hours and days to the seasons and generations.
Another strong aspect of the system was its module to module relationship that gave it a strong circulation path. I began to focus on the movement throughout the space and how it could be utilized. Therefore, to accommodate the need for flow as well as enhancing the idea of light, reflection, and the senses, the next step I took was to incorporate water. Not only would it magnify this color cosmic space but it would also incorporate the sense of hearing. The second system that grows within it controls the movement of water and people. It allocates a variety of areas some for rapid movement and others for places of rest and pooling. It also gives people a choice in their experience for they can choose to take a completely wet path or a drier one. The paths would constantly be converging, and where they meet a new sense will be stimulated. The sound of water can tell a story in itself, and sense the two systems together create such a variety of surfaces the sounds would reflect that complexity and illustrate the story of the systems. In the areas of rapid descent it would create a frightening roar that would alert your adrenaline and excite the body or in the slow areas of pooling the atmosphere would be peaceful listening to the quite waves. Then there are the moments when the water and glass meet which would create a soft musical note of its own. Every piece of glass would be calculated and flow of water would be controlled so that structure would transform into an orchestra with a constantly evolving song. It would be a melodic expression of inconsistency, almost the breaking down of every musical rule to create random harmonies of nature.
As you continue through the system, the paths of people and water weave together creating this labyrinth like environment, except this maze has an infinite number of solutions. The question now is what is this the answer or goal at the end? The prize will be the ocean. It will be the final act of release after an adventure through the program. There is nothing more sublime then the feeling of the infinite ocean. The system, in a certain orientation, contains two levels of parallel space and a downward spiral connecting the two, and is an ideal structure to cantilever off a cliff. It will be an entry way into the water. They will start on dry land then work their way through this system of rivers and pools, they can scale down paths or jump from waterfalls, until they reach the final slide into the sea below. The entire time they are being bombarded by an explosion of color, light, and music, and while the excitement of it all drawls you in there comes a point where it all needs to be released. This freedom will give the much need break from the senses, a disconnection from the world. As one plunges into the sea with closed eyes and a deep breath, all light and sound disappears and an intense awareness of self is recognized. Then the excitement is finalized and can be appreciated as such.
People are always looking for that new and unique experience, something that rejuvenates the senses and renews the excitement of life. However in our society, where people become over exposed to things that were once seen as sublime, it is difficult to find such a thrill. It’s a rare commodity. Chances are few are far between, but I’m offering a chance nay a challenge to abandon the ordinary and adventure into an encounter like no other.
Imagine walking through a kaleidoscope, constantly changing and always unique. It is a complete state of randomness based on where the pieces fall and how the light reflects off of them. That is the feeling you receive while walking through this structure. It began with a simple, pattern making L-system, and a dangerously triangulate geometry. This algorithmic growth produced a strong modulated form that resembled broken glass, as if someone took a light bulb, threw it against the wall, and got a snap shoot at the very second it exploded. Every piece is inherently connected but takes on distinctive characteristics that perform independent of each other. This juxtaposition of a fragile bondage can give someone that adrenaline alarm that takes you out of your body and you become hyper sensitive to your environment. I ran with the idea of the dangerous yet alluring nature of the form, which I corresponded to colored glass, how it’s enticing and intricate but still sustains a sense of caution. With every piece a different color, and because one would be in a state of hypersensitivity, being inside this structure would an overwhelmingly sensual experience in overdrive. Also sense the pieces layered and fanned within each other to create different level, as the sun moves throughout the day it would hit separate layers of glass at different angles so that as the colors mixed the environment would always be changing. It could go from a peaceful pastel blue and green sunrise to a vibrant orange and yellow playful afternoon, and then to a blush rose and purple romantic evening. Now the sun is never in exactly the same place every day, so the space would even change according to the time of year. Hence a completely unique encounter for every person that walks through it. You could come multiple times a year and it would always be changing. It becomes its own organism that grows and transforms constantly much like the origins of the algorithmic growth idea of the L-system which was my starting point. This inconsistency of an architectural form is yet another reason that this space would be an odd distress for an inhabitant. We automatically expect that our manmade, inorganic structures are stagnant, so that there is a familiarity and security behind the simple act of entering a building. One always knows what to expect. This structure proposes a surprise every time you visit. It becomes part of the earth itself as it changes with the hours and days to the seasons and generations.
Another strong aspect of the system was its module to module relationship that gave it a strong circulation path. I began to focus on the movement throughout the space and how it could be utilized. Therefore, to accommodate the need for flow as well as enhancing the idea of light, reflection, and the senses, the next step I took was to incorporate water. Not only would it magnify this color cosmic space but it would also incorporate the sense of hearing. The second system that grows within it controls the movement of water and people. It allocates a variety of areas some for rapid movement and others for places of rest and pooling. It also gives people a choice in their experience for they can choose to take a completely wet path or a drier one. The paths would constantly be converging, and where they meet a new sense will be stimulated. The sound of water can tell a story in itself, and sense the two systems together create such a variety of surfaces the sounds would reflect that complexity and illustrate the story of the systems. In the areas of rapid descent it would create a frightening roar that would alert your adrenaline and excite the body or in the slow areas of pooling the atmosphere would be peaceful listening to the quite waves. Then there are the moments when the water and glass meet which would create a soft musical note of its own. Every piece of glass would be calculated and flow of water would be controlled so that structure would transform into an orchestra with a constantly evolving song. It would be a melodic expression of inconsistency, almost the breaking down of every musical rule to create random harmonies of nature.
As you continue through the system, the paths of people and water weave together creating this labyrinth like environment, except this maze has an infinite number of solutions. The question now is what is this the answer or goal at the end? The prize will be the ocean. It will be the final act of release after an adventure through the program. There is nothing more sublime then the feeling of the infinite ocean. The system, in a certain orientation, contains two levels of parallel space and a downward spiral connecting the two, and is an ideal structure to cantilever off a cliff. It will be an entry way into the water. They will start on dry land then work their way through this system of rivers and pools, they can scale down paths or jump from waterfalls, until they reach the final slide into the sea below. The entire time they are being bombarded by an explosion of color, light, and music, and while the excitement of it all drawls you in there comes a point where it all needs to be released. This freedom will give the much need break from the senses, a disconnection from the world. As one plunges into the sea with closed eyes and a deep breath, all light and sound disappears and an intense awareness of self is recognized. Then the excitement is finalized and can be appreciated as such.