AD204............

Hi i thought i would drop by and give an update about what i am busy doing. Basically we have been given a new module, AD204 Art and Design Development 2. The module requires us to create a piece of bespoke furniture, taking in account the manufacturing, construction, materials, etc. This is the most annoying project as everyone has been saying its not really an architectural module as it is more furniture construction. I am used to drawing up floorplans and putting together moodboards not designing a piece of furniture. To make it more bearable i decided to design a bar, i'm not to sure if i have my dimensions right but i am using one cabinet section for my model as the bar consists of 7 of these. I also decided to put a hand drawn illustration into my work to try to bring my graphics experience into it. I don't think i will do very well in this project :( as for the first group module i got 61% :) my best mark yet i'm going to cry if it gets under 50%.

Also i have started working through the PPD2 Resources on blackboard, this is helping me with UCAS my personal statement.

Oh well best go and get some more work done....Bye!

Perspectives and renders from Jamies sketch up model of our building

Using Jamies SketchUp model i used the styles to create some live drawings to use to trace of a sketchy perspective and added some colour. I know its cheating but i find this gets a much better vision of the building.



These are the renders i done using Kerkythea-

Scale Model Making

Today we started working on our model. I done the groundfloor, Michelle done the 1st, Lisa 2nd, Ann 3rd and Dan 4th. Jamie worked on the curved structures. I have been completely stressing today as i stopped smoking yesterday and the 1st years kept asking the same things every two minutes so in the end when i finished my part i helped Ann finish her floor, then we helped Lisa, Dan and Michelle by doing walls and i done the 'hedgehog' window. I stayed a bit later with Jamie today and added the balconies to the house. The images next are how our building looks.....


The groundfloor that i built.....



Jamie putting the model together to check the height....



The height of the model.....
Ground, 1st and 2nd floor with the balconies....


with the 3rd floor in place....


And with the 4th floor in place...

On Friday me and Jamie will be finishing the model.

Group Project

On the 26th September we were set a new brief, this brief involved us working as a group with the 1st years. In our group there is me, Jamie and Ann from our year, and Dan, Michelle and Lisa are our 1st years. The first week Michelle and Lisa were absent so me Jamie, Ann and Dan were given a client to work for. Our client is an architect. We have to design a home for our clients needs based on the fact that he is an architect. On the first day we came up with a persona for our client, a male batchelor who lives on his own, and who likes modern, sleek designs. We created 2 moodboards and came up with a concept for our idea. On Tuesday we had to do some sketches as individuals and come up with different shapes from our boards that could be used for our building. We went away for the week and created a 3D Concept from our sketches. This is mine:



I came up with this design by using the square and rectangular shapes from our moodboard.

On Monday 3rd October we came together as a group and had a discussion about the shapes we liked and what we would use in our building. We then sketched out some drawings of buildings using the shapes we liked. These are the ideas I sketched-



Then on the Tuesday we selected bits from everyones drawings and came up with a final design.




We then had a discussion of who would do what in their own time, working on peoples strong points and the basis that the first years don't know how to do certain things yet. So me and Ann are doing perspective drawing, Jamie is doing floorplans and elevations in AutoCad, also a sketch up as Dan is using ArchiCad to create a 3D model of our design and Lisa and Michelle are doing scale drawings. This is what i have done so far-


So hopefully on Monday we are able to start our card modelling to scale :D

SketchUp Model Rendered Images

Today i have been in bed ill so thought i would spend my time working on my SketchUp skills. I created a house that has the kitchen and dining room on one floor then a stairway down to the study, lounge, bedroom and bathroom. I made sure the interior was modern as i prefer modern architecture and interiors. Here are the images of my model, they were rendered using Kerkythea.


View from the dining room leading into the kitchen.


The stairs leading to the study area from the dining room.


The living room leads on from the study.


The view of the bathroom from the passageway.


The bedroom.


So that is the rendered images, according to my boyfriend Marc i have improved in my skills. I just have to keep it up now :)

Design Event Festival 2011

When i visited the Laing gallery on Monday i picked up a leaflet for Design Event Festival 2011. There is five different events i would like to visit between the 14-18th October in and around Newcastle. these are as follows:

Workpattern presents Vitra: Future Past- between 14-18th October- time 10am-5pm- 5 Queen Street NE1 3UG

Workpattern showcases cutting-edge product design for the home and work environments from Vitra during the last 6 decades. From iconic pieces by Jean Prouve, George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames to contemporary pieces by designers including Jasper Morrison, Barber Osgerby and Hella Jongerius. Workpattern bring the past designs in the world of contract furniture to Newcastle, showcasing great design and new concepts for the workplace.

Deadgood: 2011/2012 Product Showcase- between 15th-22nd October- time 10am-5pm- Arch 15, Forth Goods Yard, NE1 3PG

Hot off the back of their launch at the London Design Festival, Deadgood are showcasing their latest collections, including a rotationally molded stool, expanded metal mesh chair, glass reinforced dining table and a range of aluminium lighting. This cutting edge collection of contemporary design will be presented alongside a new range of upholstery from the Deadgood Studio whose creative direction is driven by Directors Ziglam & Brook.

Pasqualinos-Cocktail Hour conversation- 15th October- time 19.45-20.45- 100 Grey Street, NE1 6BR

Pasqualinos is Gusto UK's latest venture located on the Grade 1 listed site of the Theatre Royal. Working in collaboration with Xsite Architecture and design studio Reluctant Hero to create a contemporary Italian Bar-Restaurant Gusto UK see the design process as being intrinsic to their business, evident in their past successes including Popolo, Intermezzo and Alvinos.

Join Joseph De Giorgi/Gusto UK, Adrian Philpotts/Xsite and Marc Ross/Reluctant Hero who will be discussing their collaborative working practice from initial concepts through to fabulous finished reality.

Designers Marketplace- between 15-16th October- time 10am-5pm, The Holy Biscuit, 1 Clarence Street, NE2 1YH- Entry £1

Designers Marketplace encourages, supports and promotes over 130 professional creative businesses in the North. There regular art and design markets are held around the region, and provide a platform where both emerging and established artists and designers have a chance to sell their high end bespoke wares directly to the public including fashion, accessories, art, photography, textiles, prints, illustration, homeware, stationary, ceramics and much more.

Toffee Factory Tour-18th October-10.30 & 15.00- Toffee Factory, Lower Steenbergs Yard, Ouseburn, NE1 2PQ

The formerly derelict Maynard's Toffee Factory is being converted into a hub for creative and digital businesses. As part of the substantial wider redevelopment of the area, the Toffee Factory will be a major addition to the creative and economic life of the Ouseburn Valley when it opens its doors this December. Join members of the Xsite architecture team behind the project for a tour of the restored and extended Ouseburn landmark building as the construction work nears completion.

I really hope to get the time to go to these events, and when i do i will update here :)

Laing Art Gallery and Baltic visit

On Monday we went to some galleries in town to have a look at the present exhibitions been shown. We first went to The Laing gallery where they were showing work by Colin Booth, Barnaby Barford and the International Print Biennale 2011. Out of all the exhibitions shown at the Laing i only really liked the Barnaby Barford work as it was bright and told a story about how society is today. We then went on to the Baltic where they were showing work by Maurizio Anzeri, Mariah Robertson and Robert Breer. Out of the exhibitions here i only liked the work by Maurizio Anzeri as he uses intricate embroidery to cover the faces of people on old photos to heighten certain features of the face. I also like Mariah Robertson's work as she uses bright colours and different medias on photographic print to create a different picture.

A more detailed reflection of this visit can be viewed in my PPD file.

Allianz Arena - The making of

Allianz Arena - Munich

The Allianz Arena is a football stadium in the north of Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The two professional Munich football clubs FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 München have played their home games at Allianz Arena since the start of the 2005–06 season. Both clubs had previously played their home games at the Munich Olympic Stadium since 1972, where FC Bayern Munich played all of their games and TSV 1860 München most of their games.

The large financial services provider, Allianz purchased the rights to name the stadium for 30 years. During the 2006 World Cup it was known as FIFA World Cup Stadium Munich. Near Allianz Arena , Frottmaning U-Bahn station , on U6 can be seen.

The stadium will be the venue for the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final

Construction

• Total concrete used during stadium construction: 120,000 m³
• Total concrete used for the parking garage: 85,000 m³
• Total steel used during stadium construction: 22,000 tonnes
• Total steel used for the parking garage: 14,000 tonnes

The arena facade is constructed of 2,874 ETFE-foil air panels that are kept inflated with dry air to a differential pressure of 0.038 hPa. The panels appear white from far away but when examined closely, there are little dots on the panels. When viewed from far away, the eye combines the dots and sees white. When viewed close up however, it is possible to see through the foil. The foil has a thickness of 0.2 mm. Each panel can be independently lit with white, red, or blue light. The intention is to light the panels at each game with the colors of the respective home team, or white if the home team is the German national football team or on a neutral venue like the 2012 Final of UEFA Champions League. Multicolor Lightings are also possible, but Munich Police now insist on one-color only due to several car accidents on the nearby autobahn A9 with drivers being distracted by the changing lights. (In the US, a similar scheme is used for the New Meadowlands Stadium, which will light up in blue for the Giants, green for the Jets, and red for a concert.)

To light Allianz Arena up for one hour costs about 50 Euros (75 USD). Roller blinds installed under the roof may be drawn during games to provide protection from the sun.

The Egg - an optical illusionPaul Andreu, National Center for the Performing Arts - Peking, China

I was just browsing my Facebook page when i came across this photo posted by 'Architecture in Mapolis' and thought WOW! -

Here is what it says on the website about the building -

Eight years it took the National Center for the Performing Arts by Paul Andreu to get built, constantly accompanied by the critics’ concerns.

The National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing has received a unique architectural shape through the well-made deployment of water. The semi-oval visually becomes full through the reflection in the water – it turns into an egg or a water drop, respectively.

In order to get this effect, an artificial lake was built in the middle of which the theater has found its place.

Building with Obstacles

French architect Paul Andreu did not only designed a modern shape, but also emphasized this new form by carefully selecting the materials. Through the combination of titanium, glass and water, the National Theater appears like a spaceship when looking at it for the first time rather than a theater. Exactly this futurism has been heavily criticized, since the theater is located amidst old, traditional architecture.

The architect’s idea was, however, that Beijing needs to have this modern architecture apart from its traditional one, and that the building requires a high recognition value. Also the increasing costs of the theater resulted in heavy debates. The main reason for this increase was the building freeze after Paris airport had collapsed, since it has also been designed by Paul Andreu. All in all, the theater’s construction period lasted for eight years. Together with the very high prices for water treatment, this results in that each seat of the all in all 5,452 seats has a value of approx. 50,000 Euros.

The Theater

The theater was completed in 2007 and has a size of 12,000 m².

The deployment of the titanium façade has been chosen in a way that it appears like an opened stage curtain when looking at it from outside, allowing to get a glimpse of what’s going on inside through the glass façade at the front. Especially at night the “drop” displays its architectural peculiarity. Through the reflection of the building and the illumination in the water it reminds of a sunken treasure. The entrances have been placed below the surface, so that the theater seems to downright float on the water – just like a water drop.

Inside, the theater offers three halls with various functionalities, an opera hall, a theater hall and a music hall. The view from inside the reception hall to the outside leads across a free water surface onto the city’s old downtown area.

Thus, the National Center for the Performing Arts is considered an architectural work of art despite all the criticism and finds a suitable place in the list of 21st century architecture.

I love the optical illusion that the lake causes, and the materials used on the building. This is very modern and reminds me of The Sage Gatesheads exterior.

Tuesday 13th September......PPD

Today we have been working on our PPD folders, last year i got a high mark of 70% for this but this year i want to go the whole hog and get the highest possible grade.

So first off we did a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for-

- STRENGTHS
- WEAKNESSES
- OPPORTUNITIES
- THREATS

This is my SWOT analysis-

STRENGTHS

- interiors and colour selecting
- planning spaces
- rendering models
- organised
- sketch up models
- research

WEAKNESSES

-report writing
- presentations
- AutoCad
- presentation boards
- referencing

OPPORTUNITIES

- ND in Graphic Design-use this to an advantage to create my own style
- back down to 16hrs at work so i have more time to focus on study
- use the reading list for the year
- visit more galleries and look at magazines and websites to see what is popular at a certain time

THREATS

- money-bills etc
- social life-friends bug you every two mins
- work-ring asking to cover a shift, new management hopefully hours stay the same


Next we looked at SMART Targets, SMART stands for-

- SPECIFIC
- MEASURABLE
- ATTAINABLE
- RELEVANT
- TIMELY

Here is a brief run down of what i want to achieve and when by-

1. Improve report writing so its not all babbled.

- I will do this by writing reports about interiors/architecture and get Dan to check my progress, i hope to achieve this by the end of October

2. Improve confidence in presentations

- I will do this by making sure that i stay calm and focused whilst presenting, i hope to achieve this by the end of November

3. Get a better knowledge of all the tools in Cad such as the curve tool

- I will do this by experimenting with different tools in AutoCad to see what they do, i hope to achieve this by the end of October

4. Be more creative when presenting boards

- I will do this by using my knowledge of Grapic Design throughout my work, whether it be on plans, boards or through research as long as i create my own style, i aim to achieve this by the end of November

5. Reference work at all times

- I will do this by always making reference using the Harvard Referencing system when doing projects as it is important to do so throughout instead of last minute, I aim to achieve this by the end of November


Well there you have it, my analysis and targets, and so far i have stuck to my resolution as already i have done some work in preparation for our visit to the Laing Art Gallery and The Baltic on Monday morning, and i have looked up some existing creative CVs.

Well must dash i have a cup of tea calling my name, tata for now!

1st Day Back......At Last!!!!!

Today i finally went back to college, i have never been so glad to get back to learning in my life as we've been off since May which feels like soooo long!!!! Well anyways i've had a nice time off chilling and spending time with Marc whilst working lots and lots of hours at work boohoo! During the hols i also done a mini project of my own where i designed and open plan apartment in Sketch up and used Kerkythea to render the images. I must say they came out really well. I also went a bit mad on stationary for this year and developed quite an obsession with Paperchase as they sell loads of quirky little things.

Well anyways back to my day at college......i made a resolution a few weeks ago, well maybe months that i am going to work my lil butt off this year at college and be organised, no slacking off, and aim to attend college on the days i'm there til 4pm like i should do. I've already drawn up my timetable for the week of when is study time etc and i am going to stick to it as last year my grades got higher when i put the time and effort in, my aim was to get over 50% marks for a project and i did that, now i want to aim higher. So here i am sat writing my start to my blog which i am going to do every week maybe even every few days with my pretty little finds and some of my work.....now i have to go as i need to research some creative CVs for tomorrow before Mr Civico kills me haha!

I will leave you with images from the rendered model that i designed whilst on holiday....enjoy!!!

-Passageway


-Lounge


-Kitchen and Dining


-Bathroom


-Master Bedroom


-Guest Room

Live Brief- Simon Gregory-Bowman Hall

Today we had a talk from a client, Simon Gregory, who would like us to come up with some ideas of how to convert a small community church into a living space. Bowman Hall is situated in Cockfield Village. The building was a Baptist church that was built in 1899. The church is stone built and must remain stone built to comply with the building regulations. The client is hoping for 3-4 bedrooms with en-suite, separate space for a studio for art and sculpting work. I am going to look into William Morris, Timourous Beasties and National Trust colours as they are what the client likes as themes.

I am looking forward to this project and may give the building a more traditional look with a modern twist.

Kerkythea.........

Well Kerkythea where to start.....for one it is sooooooo complicated and has taken me ages just to work out how to actually export my Sketch up model into the program, was very close to throwing the laptop from the window, but i didn't instead i have enlisted the help of another student who is kindly going to help me with it on Monday, so as my presentation board is nearly set up i will continue to add some detail to it maybe some colour that reflects the client i designed the flat for, and work through the rest of AD107 and AD104 oh and the PPD :/ too much work but it will be worth it in the end.

Funky cushions

A selection of cushions from karmaababes.com priced £13.50 each. These are fun and quirky perfect to lighten up a living room or bedroom.











A selection of owl cushions from karmababes.com, price £14.50 each. I really love these cushions, they are fun quirky and so cute! They would brighten up any lounge or bedroom.





Owl cushion from Laura Ashley £35. I love the simple design of this cushion. I used this cushion in my sample board for my client.

Good Homes magazine....Current Trends

I have an obsession with cool looking accessories so these ribbon shelves caught my eye. You could actually make them yourself they look so simple.



I feel that fuschia and slate grey go together perfectly. The fuschia is bright but the grey seems to tone it down to a softer level.




I am loving this interior! The cushions are just plain black and white but with the fun designs they really stand out. I feel the use of the yellow in the flowers gives a splash of colour at the right level without been too much.



This living room has a quirky, fun feel to it. It looks very Boho chic with an Eastern feel.





'Strong colour is popular this season. Take the plunge with bold upholstery combined with clean contemporary pieces. Mix soft furnishings with different floral prints for a fun feel.'

I am really into the bright colours and designs at the moment, i can't stand dull colours. A room should come alive and reflect the person it is intended for

.