Easter, Architecture and Hysteria

So I had a fun playing in France with my family over the Easter holidays. But I did do a LOT of work too.

In a place that has no internet, and outside fun activities are stopped by rain (we all like to say that we went on holiday and the sun shone every day... but 7 out of 10 days was rain), one is slightly pushed to get on with work.

A strange high point of the holiday, a breakthrough if you will, occurred after I had laid out the basic outlines of the 1 :20 section of my building. It was as tall as our bloody house, and took up a hideous amount of space and paper. I then got very angry about architecture and the creature I've become.... and burnt it in a moment of madness. (it was free, very cheap paper, and a very shoddy section - no worries bro.)

In that moment, of flame and heat, there was a moment where the knowledge of the definite destruction of work was a relief; a reminder that the elements are real. This opera house? Not real. Not even nearly.

2 days to go.... SCARY STUFF

I'm modelling like crazy on sketchup, which if something I thought I'd never do; hand drawings are king in my books.
I'm nervous about this review (tuesday) but I know that it will be an opportunity to get my rep back (not the best architect in the eyes of my tutors)

Meanwhile...

...There is beauty in the details

7 days to go...

I'm currently in a landscape workshop, waiting my turn. Exciting stuff....

Very nervous that review is this time next week.

Believe it or not...

This represents my main theory for my building...

10 days to go

I'm starting to want to cry. There are too many modules, too many deadlines and not enough time.

Origami and projections in Communication

A very crappy scheme

We liberated the balloons from the festival celebrations downstairs....

... and after their fun lift journey, they live in the studio

Ping pong fun

I finished my roof model (minus mini slates), but have now
changed the building... so it's back to the start again!

By the way, the next arco essay I'm writing (due after easter, eeeekkkk) is all about the idea of the finished building.... can a building ever be finished?

Recent adventures and updates - 12 days to go

Hello,
I haven't posted in a while, and that's just because I've been tired and very busy.
I've been getting into the studio before 8 most days and leaving about 7, with a few coffee breaks and exercise breaks inbetween.
Very nervous about next review!

Walking in this morning

Studio Cricket the other night

Catching Up - 21 days to go

Hello,

I haven't really done much work lately, and I've just been generally hating my projects, course, self... the lot.

I now have 21 days to be ready for the next review, and I'm going to have to kill myself a little bit to get myself there.

Some work done over the weekend:

P.S. I got PADS (plymouth architecture and design society) PRESIDENT!!!!! Woooo!

My presentation:

Models

Currently working for an interim review on Tuesday. Bit nervous!!!

Imagine it's a stage?....

Pizza boxes come in handy...

Trees on site model

Not happy with this model yet!

Today's exploration of how to form pathways in the woods (see here)

Cutting out endless trees!

Acoustics Tests with Mary Jane

On Monday 28th January, I took a different approach to acoustics research: I filmed my friend Mary Jane singing her song "The Race" in many different locations. This was to test how different environments affect sound. I took along an environmental meter, which gave me readings of decibels. I recorded the max volume Mary could reach, which indicates how much sound has been absorbed by the environment. I also noted how she felt as a performer in each space. The findings were fantastic and will be informing my opera house design.

I edited these clips into a very raw film, so there are a couple of dodgy cuts....

A few of the resulting sound diagrams:

Sketches and Sound

Today I spent my hours sketching out plans for our opera house project.

....I cannot believe how excited I am about it.
The studio gang would not believe me when I told them how thrilled I am to be doing this.

My current plan is have a magical woodland walk from a little tent with directions and leaflets, leading down to the opera house.

Today, I also thought about acoustics within the main auditorium. To explore what space is best and what materials to use, I am making a film with my friend Mary . We'll be creating a music video much like "Move along" or "Middle of the Bed", cutting from location to location. For my project, this will have the original sound, showing the tests of acoustics. Keep your eyes peeled!

I was trying to work out the volume per person, and this is
the result in a scale drawing. The tiny little armchair shows
that I clearly I have a problem with maths.

I made a sound scale today - it's in 1:200, so the metres along the top
are 200 times smaller than real life.
It shows the time-distance relationship, so for example, sound takes
 roughly 30 miliseconds to travel 10 metres.

Sound reflections in the auditorium

New opportunities

I have just been asked to design a porch for a grade listed property and look at how to change around a layout of a house to re-instate the front door. More to follow, and I am really excited to be working on my first 'real' project. Yes, it's for family, but I am going to put in my all.

On a university note - my Architectural theory is horrible (I just have no idea what I'm doing, so I haven't really done anything but read)...
.... BUT the Cabilla Group project results are in - a first!!!!! BOOOO YEAH!!!