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Architecture Foundation

Part 1 Project 2005
Shigemi Challand
Philippa Humphries
 London South Bank University | UK
In order for a small building to stand out from the chaos of the city, it must possess qualities of radiance, and also calm. A simple, restrained message communicated visually through small clues and signs.

I designed four translucent, floating boxes which conceal their different functions: offices, lecture theatre, reception, and media centre. A mysterious, underwater quality of light illuminates the objects and diffuses through the translucent facade. The ambiguous, glowing exterior reveals clues to the interior, creating interest in the building. Once visitors are inside, they discover each cube’s character, derived from its function, expressed through form and material.


Architecture Foundation / Protean Perception

This sublime project blurs the boundaries betweeen architecture and non-architecture,landscape and cityscape,between user and the voyeur inviting protean perceptions and experiences. Three short films generated from the site section triggered a design process of subtlety.The projects ambiguous qualities are explored through an exceptional series of models designed to invite interaction and communication.A sense of humour is evident in the ressolution of minutiae in details such as the moving curtain, the manually operated lifts, and interactive lighting sequences.
The project works at the scale of the city, the scale of bodily experience and the scale of the detail.
Tutor(s)
2005
PROTEAN PERCEPTION - our experience depends on the time, light, and weather.
ILLUMINATION - a mysterious, underwater quality of light illuminates the objects.
LITERAL AND PHENOMENAL TRANSPARENCY - "transparency means a simultaneous perception of different spatial locations..." Gyorgy Kepes
ABSTRACT MODELS - relationship between literal and phenomenal transparency; experiments in materiality.
CONTEXT - still images of the existing site.
STUDY MODELS - I wanted to create fluid space inside the box, and reflect the internal elements on the translucent facade.
LAYERED PLANS
SECTION - floating boxes conceal their different functions
DETAIL - facades consist of two layers of glass separated by 500mm. Passive ventilation is controlled by openable vents at high and low level.
OFFICES [a cage] protects us from danger, but also we lose some of our freedom. Natural materials soften the cage.
LECTURE THEATRE [a vessel] an insulated theatre transports us to another world. Weathered materials imply shelter.
RECEPTION [a beacon] information is projected onto the translucent facade. Transparent materials create an open, welcoming atmosphere.
MEDIA CENTRE [a veil] a protean, changing perception is symbolic of the process of learning. Soft materials absorb sound, sunlight, conceal and envelop.
LEVITATION - a floating box
BUILDING AS MESSENGER - in order for a small building to stand out from the chaos of the city, it must possess qualities of radiance, and also calm.
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