seen from Malaysia
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seen from Malaysia
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seen from Italy
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seen from United States
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seen from United States
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seen from Malaysia
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The inspiration behind the outcome mainly came from Pinterest or Designsperation. These images are where the main idea of separation and acrylic models came from. I liked the deconstructed aesthetic and the complicated simplicity of the overall outcomes.
Assessment of spaces so far
Modular
The journal Modernism, Revisionism, Pluralism, and Post- Modernism (Sandler 1980). Refers to the fundamental premise of architecture and the visual arts to be “called into question”. With the argument that we have entered a post-modernist age, which seems to be what Sandler exclaims is a regression past pre-modernism. Sandler begins with defining the labels modernism, revisionism pluralism, and post-modernism. Talking about inclusive modernism and exclusive modernism.
“modernism can be defined narrowly, arbitrarily limited to a single tendency, proclaimed as mainstream and avant-garde”. He further describes it as unbounded, with the tendency to be inclusive of everything “progressive”. The reason why I am referencing postmodernism in this look into minimalism is put clearly by Sandler as recently “the central form of modernism, perhaps its icon or emblem, has come to be considered the minimalist grid.” The link between the two as I am reading seem to be hand in hand.
“In architecture too, modular buildings-the extreme, functionalist, and commercially debased variants of the modular international style have been considered by postmodernism as equivalent to minimalism.” The further I looked into this idea of modular buildings I came across these ones below as examples of recent modular homes.
1 https://wikkelhouse.com
Wikkel house is a project that I found to draw inspiration from. Embracing this idea of modular homes and minimalist approaches to living. Using cardboard as their main building material, creating a robust sandwich structure by wrapping the cardboard using eco-friendly glue, the modular pieces of the home can be connected and disconnected creating a highly flexible environment. Its placed in a day, sustainable, eco-friendly and most of all durable. I find this project, in particular, it embodies incredibly key necessities. Such as convenience, functionality and flexibility. I find these might relate to the key ideas of postmodernism, progression in home building to be more sustainable and functional.
2 https://www.coodo.com
Modular homes like this Coodo home also I think to embody ideas of minimalism. That you have the bare minimum. Below also the Muji home takes this idea to the extreme. With only 9sqm they created a home, purely functional.
I think as spaces and general land gets more used, the fight for space will be greater. As the population rises, especially in urban environments, the sustainable modernistic, minimalist homes I think have a place to serve us.
3 https://www.muji.com/jp/mujihut/en.html
“by abstraction or, more accurately, by non-objectivity….Modernism is identified with minimalism”. He goes on to discuss how minimalism could be seen as the last stage of modernism. John Perreault who is referenced challenges this idea of the modular code stating that “Presently we need more than silent cubes, blank canvases and gleaming white walls. We are sick to death of cold plazas and monotonous ‘curtain wall’ skyscrapers” Addressing plain spaces as “empty meat lockers than rooms to live in” I think this raises an interesting point on the extremes of minimalism, where things are purely for function and operation. From what I understand these modular style homes were a result of postmodernism and minimalism. Having only what we need to me does not being homeliness and joy to space. And this idea of the home is abstract, it is not just space, though memories can be applied to certain spaces which make it a home. That's for me at least.
Most of all I would have missed the plot if I didn’t read this link early on, now understanding more of what postmodernism is as the encouragement of the progressive, makes me wonder why this functional style of architecture was the natural progression.
He further brings up this idea of the avant-garde and the challenges of this during the 1970s, to point where it was a questioned idea. “frontiers may remain, but the artists who discover they cannot be considered avant-garde since the impulse to press to the limits has become established as a tradition:” I guess this is meaning because pushing limits is now more encourages and even celebrated that this cancels out the characteristics of avant-garde.
This idea of pluralism was used throughout the 70s, as postmodernism came into frequent use. “Pluralism was opposed to modernism but it embraced every tendency and implied that each was of equal value”. Post-modernism also at this time is better described as sensibility than a style or complexity of styles. I find this an interesting turn of events, it seems that post-modernism is forever changing its habits and ideas to be continually progressive. Which makes perfect sense. I am new to this topic of study and there is honestly so much to chew on. Again I ask the question, why was minimalism a natural progression of ideas in post-modernism (if that makes sense).
Sandler states this “Consciousness-raising played a vital role in the evolution of an introspective, personalist, anti purist art, as did the brilliant proselytising of feminist art critics”.
Through exploration of postmodernism, minimalism, pluralism he moves on to abstract expressionism. Juxtaposing the functional, operational minimalist, post-modern ideas. “defying all the prescriptions of modernist purity. The mainstream trickled on, minimalising and conceptualising itself into oblivion”. Claiming that we are now more recently bored with all the arctic purity.
The only concern I have with these tiny spaces and homes is are we able to be fully content with only a necessary space. I find for me the home is a place of community, to have people around your OWN dinner table and to serve and be a host. Family dinners are one of the highlights of a home for me. I wonder if the small spaces will bring people closer together or cause a claustrophobic reaction, and as a result having the need to be in larger spaces. Is that good? Maybe this will bring more people to be more involved in urban communities and activities. This idea of the home is changing. What we value about the home is changing.
Modernist
Irving Sandler(1980) Art Journal, Vol. 40, No. 1/2, Modernism, Revisionism, Pluralism, and Post- Modernism
https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/776598.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A5464d01904eb194bc09a54478c1df729
Modular homes
Blue Future Partners (2018) Medium: Our 7 Favourite Modular Eco-Homes
https://medium.com/@BlueFuture/our-7-favourite-modular-eco-homes-4d19a91e2bd2
Reflection
This research practice and the sculptural outcome was from my initial love of researching and also spatial design. My main goal was to communicate the idea of subjective balance within the spatial design. The intention was to present this in a Maximal state, but using a Minimalist strip down of space as the means to do so. The main use of this project is to be a subjective learning experiment for myself. Considering this, the possibilities of this research benefiting future projects is the main aim, whilst also using what I have learned from this semester and applying it to everyday life.
Personally, I found this to be an increasingly challenging idea, as we normally tend to focus on the ambient effect of an environment, rather than the structural balance itself. Further, this idea is confirmed by Evans and Mccoy (1998) “We know much more about the effects of ambient environmental conditions on human health than we do about how buildings affect our health. Though this was a subjective study, I think these ideas can challenge how people think about spaces, that balance is subjective.
Team, lack thereof
This project, I think, much like any other would benefit from a team. Looking back now and reflecting, the limitations were greatly increased when choosing to not have a team. The effectiveness of working alone did mean I had independence and full control over decision making. It was also self-directed, I got to be apart of the entire process, not just in my one skill set. In this case, I was challenged with the engineering side rather than just sticking to the design side. I think that shows through the work, neither in a positive or negative way. Having a team would’ve benefited the project as I think it would have challenged my ideas more, as well as the operational side being split up could have produced a much higher quality product. I think also having a team is a great source of motivation when done right.
Overall I am glad I did this project on my own, but if I were to do it again, a team would have done the idea more justice as it would provide a comparative point of views. Creating a richer and more dynamic experience.
How it was received
I was unable to attend the open studio due to family events. However, from what I heard from my peers there are some assumptions I could make. Peers did say it looked “see-through” and that they “didn’t notice it at first”. I was when I turned the light on they got the full experience. This worked in my favour because I wanted to look like something unnoticeable, clear but complex. I think though, I would have better-taken advantage of the open studio being a user testing event if I had a second go.
Physical Outcome
The concept is based around a disorientating and deconstructed aesthetic. Using a clear acrylic to model and recreate a subjectively designed workspace split into layers from its raw Minimal to Maximal layer. I think ultimately my goal was completed. The illusional state of clarity, reflection and separation represented the maximal layer the way I wanted it to aesthetically. The stripped down deconstruction and literal presence of clarity was how I wanted to approach the minimal side. Overall the concept of both of them working together to create balance was achieved from my point of view.
I would have wanted the parts of the model to connect together perfectly rather than with glue, the glue didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to in the end. However pushing past that, I think the overall model helps you overlook that aspect.
Though there was a lot of research involved, the outcome was a sculptural interpretation, which is what I set out to do. I think this if this were done again could be greatly improved with an interactive aspect. If the acrylic would light up with LED around the edges and the scratches, then people could press a button wired to an Arduino and light up certain aspects of the model. I think also including more sensory aspects instead of just visual would have been more effective, perhaps sound, taste and touch also. For example, making the minimal clean and smooth, and maximal More textured when lit up. The research, however, will be used I think not only in everyday life but also in future studies as a basis of understanding.
Overall, I think my process was more or less straight forward. I think I kept myself well organised and on task. There will always be things that I want to change and do differently.
Balance
The main model is the concept based around a disorientating and deconstructed aesthetic. Using a clear acrylic to model and recreate a subjectively designed workspace split into layers from its raw Minimal to Maximal layer. This ultimately embodies the research and the testing took place throughout this semester. Its purpose is to abstractly interpret and communicate ideas around Minimalism, Maximalism and how these contribute to the larger theme of Balance. The objective was to create this as a physical interpretation and to present it at the open studio. The outcome was a clear glued acrylic model and posters made to communicate the topic in a descriptive but simple form. I decided to focus purely on the spatial design aspects, not so much using architectural integrity, this is first and for most, a spatial design experiment, subjectively comparing minimalism and maximalism to define balance for myself. Otherwise, it felt it would have constricted the main outcome and I would have had to compromise for an idea that wasn’t the main theme.
Workspace A
I needed to reduce this space to its purest, most functional state. This is including a reduction to essential structure. (walls, windows, enclosed, doors, foundation, workspace table). As I was looking at this all I realised that the only really necessary space needed for work is one room with one desk that is enclosed. This split model will be made of few parts but will embrace the literal presence of the purely functional in its purest form. Separating the layer not only shows the elements purest states but also incorporates maximalist ideas around illusion and disorientation.
This floor space is to represent the necessary room in which I would need to functionally do work, this separated layer is most essential. I found that from assessing spaces I need what I like to call “open privacy”. Looking back to my readings around feng shui, it makes conscious sense to me to have a wall behind the desk, it provides a sense of privacy for work. In Orleans with no wall behind the desk, it was harder to confidently do work and iterate, maybe in fear of someone looking over the desk. Furthermore, the desk has to be in an optimal position to look at what is coming. The optimal position is working straight on to the door or the opening, it provides a sense of confidence and control.
Bathroom B
The B part of this first layer is the bathroom, a necessity of course. It is placed further away from the main workspace, this is so the distraction of its use doesn’t infiltrate and overstimulate. There are symbols as electricity and plumbing, its not essential to my project for everything to be fully exact, the idea just needs to come across. X is to represent power and O is to represent plumbing.
Co-work space C
Floor C is where things are more luxury based, like an added workspace and my own kitchen unit. This is more so based off unnecessary luxuries, an overabundance of space. The other option for a workspace, provide room for collaboration and guests.
Misc
The maximalist angle that's separated, represents a sense of chaos and complexity. This include s elements like an extra room, kitchen, more storage, foliage, work boards, tools, also some more “unnecessary” elements like a skylight etc. Most of all this C and Misc is to juxtapose and complicate model A. Adding in elements are not purely essential but adds some complexity and stimulation to space. It also adds to the overall outcome of the models aesthetic. My design is disorientating and has an illusion about it. The model itself due to its separation is stripped down to its barest minimal form, the floor A to Misc building up the scale.
If I were to do this again I would do it in a way that was more interactive. I would have wanted to split the model and create more defining attributes that embody Balance. I can see that the outcome was simple, but I would have wanted to make it more impactful. I had the idea after open studio to have it so the acrylic would light up with LED around the edges and the scratches, then people could press a button wired to an Arduino and light up certain aspects of the model. I think also including more sensory aspects instead of just visual would have been more effective, perhaps sound, taste and touch also. For example, making the minimal clean and smooth, and maximal More textured when lit up.
