David Ludowici: October 2007

EXPERIMENT THREE: THE BRIDGE

WEEK 13: FINAL IMAGES

Ratan Tata's Office: His Background in steel inspired me to make a big steel box which has weathered and aged as exposed to the elements through the large window and the slits in the building. The high-backed corporate couch near the lift is more of a traditional Western office layout with a sitting area. The lift when present creates a wonderfully sculptural element protruding from the wall with no sign of supports. It is separated from the client not by partitions but by space and the large window allowing winds to dissipate any noise from the people waiting. He has a couch near his work space to allow for discussions with people who com to see him and his actual work space is hidden from the main chamber by breaking out and providing magnificent views.

Meeting Space: This space is to allow the two clients to come together as equals and eat or have a discussion. This is a simple space as even though these are two very powerful people there is a great deal of power in a simple, quite, calming space which allows you to escape from your job or other pressures. The space features recycled bamboo and along with the rough cut mountain stone this creates a natural and serene feeling to the space. The table is situated in the central area of the room but is still concealed and safe to discuss matters of the heart or secret business.

Zhang Yin's Office: This space like the Meeting Point is full of natural materials, mainly recycled bamboo and glass. The bamboo not only reflects her cultural background but also that of her business nature. By using recycled bamboo we reflect her passion for recycling which has made her a fortune beyond reasoning yet also create a calm, serene, open, natural space which I see as being very fitting with her personality.

Overall: A common set of materials has been used to not only link the spaces but to also denote that the status of the two clients, although both very powerful, is equal and that they are amongst company which will know their pressures and quest for achievements. This also creates a familiarity between the two spaces which makes the spaces feel more friendly to the clients when they visit each other.

EXPERIMENT THREE: THE BRIDGE

WEEK 13: UT MODEL

Enjoy playing through my level. The lift on the lower space, that of Zhang Yin, will wait for 30 seconds for you to explore her space and the lift to the upper space, for Ratan Tata, will wait for you for 1 minute, so no sticky beaking! They are private offices after all! And keep within the elevator safety rails or no liability can be taken!

EXPERIMENT THREE: THE BRIDGE

WEEK 12: DINING TABLE + UT ELEVATOR

The dining table is made in the Japanese tradition where it is a low table which must be used only by sitting on the floor. Due to their background I was influenced by an Eastern idea of calmness as this is for their relaxation away from the rest of the world. This creates a balance between not only the spaces but also to ensure both clients remain respectful of each other. It represents their respective power is no greater than the others and as such it has a raised decal which not only further represents this (similar to a yin yang symbol) but is also used to serve food from. A large communal plate sits in the center with two smaller plates sitting on the raised sections. Again by sharing their status as equals is reaffirmed.

The elevator exudes power through its steady purposeful movement as well as the crystal material it is made from. Its ceiling and roof are all the more impressive with this material and creates an interesting space to off set the dining area. each clients space is different and unique in its own way so the smaller section is more private and dynamic but the larger space is a greater supplement to the living space.

EXPERIMENT THREE: THE BRIDGE

WEEK 12: MARKING SHEETS

These were assessment sheets marking progress of the design to date. It's never fun or easy marking friends.

Check out the blogs of Alex, Manus, Mathura and Sophie for my assessments. You'll find their links in my ARCH 1102 Comments section on the right hand side of the page!

EXPERIMENT THREE: THE BRIDGE

WEEK 12: USEFUL DESIGN TIPS

One: Ask your friends! They often know or know someone else who can help you out of a sticky situation.

Two: Plan it out! If you have a clear view of what you are trying to make then you'll find the whole process that little bit easier and no need to waste time making that mover work when you don't actually need it!

Three: Play it through! Make sure to jump in your level heaps to play it. You can work out any bugs and make sure all the floors are flush. Its especially good to jump in and out whilst trying to fix up that lighting situation or entrance to make sure the small change you made works so you can move on to the next thing.

Four: Learn the controls! Go into SketchUp and UnrealEd and just play about using the controls for changing views by panning, scrolling, zooming and rotating. It makes things much easier to understand and avoids any panics later while you are trying to complete your masterpiece!

Five: Buy a laptop! Next on the list for me. So much easier to get all the programs on it and it saves wasting time waiting for a computer in the labs!

Six: Sleep! And plenty of it.

EXPERIMENT THREE: THE BRIDGE

WEEK 11: MOVEMENT TEXTURES

EXPERIMENT THREE: THE BRIDGE

WEEK 11: ELEVATOR MODEL

These images are of my elevator created in SketchUp. It is a fairly enclosed regular shape except for the roof and ceiling, at least at first appearance. Like our three clients they are not as they seem. The elevator is able to split into 3 separate and distinct sections to carry a person to their desired and individual destination. As such the roof and ceiling reflect this lively movement and create a free flowing visual of the essence of the lift's function; unrestricted movement. On another level it shows the constant flux of our world, most importantly that of the economy and stock markets as well as the power of an individual. In the market today there is guaranteed to be winners and losers, but these clients not only ride the peaks of these highs but help through their vast power and resources to pull other people up the slope towards financial security and prosperity.

Note: the timber cube is to represent the dimensions of the avatar in Unreal Tournament, which was used to model the 3D interactive spaces.

EXPERIMENT THREE: THE BRIDGE

WEEK 11: ELEVATOR INSPIRATION, IDEAS, THEMES + DRAFT

Movies, film clips and other ideas that inspired and informed me.

Pathways and elevators, sketching out ideas for pathways, deviations and splitting elevators. Features ideas which inform draft spaces and elevator.

Random sketches and pathways: used when describing pathways and splitting elevator idea with Jeremy my Tutor.

Horus as the Falcon-god is blessed with the power of flight has used his great Eye of Horus to capture the following images and shows his divine form to relate the monument of power to that of his people.