Conclusion

From this blog, I have learnt that research comes in so many different methods that each way has a different reaction and formality to it. It helps in keeping records for later use and will be very useful to me for the future projects. I will continue to maintain this account of my learnings and make sure to keep understanding and refecting on more things that I come across.

Federico Babino Illustrations - Music into Architecture

Architect Federico Babino's collection of illustrations seems very interesting to me...He combines music with architecture, cities with architecture, artworks into architecture, architects into architecture, portraits into architecture and many more.

ARCHIMUSIC CITY

SOURCE : http://www.archdaily.com/516973/archimusic-illustrations-turn-music-into-architecture/539f69bec07a80fed500000e_archimusic-illustrations-turn-music-into-architecture_archimusic-city-01-jpg/

This illustration denotes the four Beatles during the song of "Let it Be" .

                           SOURCE : http://eil.com/images/main/The-Beatles-An-intimate-Biosc-197049.jpg

I think , the four beatles are represented by their faces- the glasses, the french beard, the slit eyes and the prominent nose! They are all wearing suits and their white shirts inside act as the windows into their souls....

                  SOURCE : http:/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Johann_Sebastian_Bach.jpg

Here, the hair is the most prominent thing, that defines him. Bach was known to be eccentric, thereby the representation of balconies coming out of his head. I think the red, denotes his eyes deteriorating and losing sight, which occured to him.

                SOURCE : http://.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00784/Elvis-Presley-460_784303c.jpg

Here, Presly is shown by his normal white outfit with his famous side burns.The musical staff denotes the structural base of the building.

           SOURCE : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Wolfgang-amadeus-mozart_1.jpg

Here Mozart is shown with his Piano as the body and his red outfit and grey wig on his head.

          SOURCE : http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/thefw.com/files/2012/11/michael-jackson-zombies1.jpg

This illustration is denoted by Micheal Jackson's Thriller, where he is wearing a red and black outfit, along with the hand movement of his famous dance.

I think that Federico has connected music and architecture interestingly and made it seen like a fun exercise for everyone to try out. Merging the true nature of the artist into a building, he shows that music too, has similarities to architecture! 

Auroville - A Utopian Mini-city

About 2 hours from my city of Madras (India), lies the Utopian settlement of Auroville, which was created in 1968 by Mirra Alfalfa ("The Mother") and architect Roger Anger.According to Alfassa, "Auroville is meant to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity."

She created a 4 point system where, the main mantra was that Auroville is an independent township where it belongs to no one. A spiritual place which encouraged education, research and peace.

SOURCE : http://www.auroville.info/ACUR/masterplan/images/mother.jpg

The master plan of the township was similar to Le Corbusier's Utopian City.....

SOURCE : http://www.auroville.org/system/image_attachments/images/000/007/993/original/city_diagram.gif?1407370244

I think, because of the fact that it was like a spiritual, gypsy settlement, peace was the main mantra with the symbolic Matrimandir at the center. A place where people from all over the world come to learn and settle down. Communities are divided with English, Tamil, Sanskrit, French names.
I wonder why they wanted to differentiate based on language, when they emphasize a lot on harmony and unity! 

THE MATRIMANDIR

Being the peace symbolism of the town, the architecture is a superb gold blob that brings out so many emotions in the viewer. The scale of the ball is huge, and can be seen from anywhere in the town.

SOURCE : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Matrimandir.JPG

SOURCE : http://www.auroville.org/system/image_attachments/images/000/000/284/original/MM-crystal_15.jpg?1401698288

The space looks like something out of a greek movie, with the huge white pillars and the central importance. Something like an altar ? But looking at this image, we can imagine how peaceful it is for meditation.

SOURCE : http://www.auroville.org/system/image_attachments/images/000/008/076/original/Residential_Zone.jpg?1406304928

This is the residential zone, and as you can see it is similar to all other Indian architecture all over.

SOURCE : http://www.archive.auroville.org/thecity/architecture/images/raman5.jpg

Industrial zone where the people where allowed to start any business but with the discussion involving everyone.

SOURCE : http://www.auroville.org/system/image_attachments/images/000/005/575/original/colage.jpg?1401708538

Educational zone where all culture comes together to learn.

Instead of coins and currency, the people use a form of card which is connected to their central account. kitchen is a common mess where all the food are cooked healthily using solar panel generated heat.

Many architecture workshops are conducted there, due to its specialty of earth construction. Sustainable living at its best!

  SOURCE :  http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZmXTnIpdc4o/TElSaAb595I/AAAAAAAAAAc/Vo4hPmBvdt0/s1600/Aurobrindavan+Jurgen's+03+CSEB.jpg

   SOURCE :  http://www.earth-auroville.com/maintenance/uploaded_pics/03-earth.institute-training.jpg

This was an experimental settlement that was designed to house 50,000 people, but have only 2,300 people living there now. As the kids grow up, they migrate to their respective hometowns abroad for better opportunities, I assume. I think, that this settlement is a moderate success, at the same time a failure due to its location. No matter how much spiritual you are, you can only live like this in your retirement age or old age. The youth probably leave, to explore life outside the holistic living of this community. And maybe, when they are ready to relax and retire, they will come back.

Lighting In Museum Spaces

Designing an art gallery, lighting is a very crucial aspect to consider. I conducted research on the different types of lighting  that can be used to highlight different elements. Based on the secondary types of research, I found various information on how lighting enhances displays, and I also conducted light tests on a few models for the effects obtained.

Secondary research - 

THE FLEXIBLE SPOTLIGHTING

I found this type of lighting to be the most common among the art galleries, where rails are placed on the ceiling along which spotlights are located and can be dragged according to where the respective displays are placed.

A more flexible type of lighting which caters to any type of display!

SOURCE : http://blog.1000bulbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/istanbul-168774_1280.jpg

SOURCE : http://www.conservators-converse.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/lighting_leds.jpg

SOURCE : http://www.wholesaleledlights.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/museumlighting1.jpg

INDIRECT NATURAL LIGHTING

This is a common sunlighting found in many galleries. Art that is displayed on the walls may get reflected or glared at, due to direct lighting that falls on it. So dispersed or indirect lighting is the best method of natural lighting in most galleries.

SOURCE : http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/05/dezeen_Lenbachhaus-museum-by-Foster-Partners_8.jpg

The gallery was designed by Foster and Partners. Here the indirect lighting is created by a continuous strip of lighting along one direction of the room making the room seem wider due to the direction. As a result, the space looks vast with lighting falling only along certain areas in the centre of the room, thereby avoiding the sensitive paintings on the walls. 

  SOURCE : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Kimbell_Art_Museum_Fort_Worth_galleries_1.jpg

This gallery by Louis Khan, makes the lighting system have an ethereal quality to it, due to the sliver of natural light that curves along from the ceiling.The curved vaults seem to be floating in the as a result ! 

LIGHTING THAT OVERPOWERS THE ART

SOURCE : http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/03/dezeen_Staedel-Museum-extension-by-SchneiderSchumacher_11.jpg

The lighting here seems to overpower the displays, due to its large shape and pattern throughout. 

SOURCE : http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/louvre_abu_dhabi_renderings.jpg

This is the Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by  Jean Nouvel and  is currently under construction, As a building, I think this museum looks beautiful, but as an art museum and the function, the lighting seems very distracting , and takes the eye of the viewer away from the actual art and towards the light.The patterns created on the floor and wall itself seems like the highlight artpiece ! 

Primary Research - 

I conducted experiments to see the way light falls for different types......

This is an example of indirect lighting, where the edges of the ceiling seem to be highlighted, making the room seem like the roof is floating.

In this instance, direct lighting falls on the floor, highlighting the path of the visitor to view the art along the wall.But it is always more ideal for indirect lighting, compared to direct.

Here the lighting, falls on only the two spots of the openings, thereby creating a pattern on the floor.

This is the lighting I wanted to use for my design, for a dark gallery, where only a sliver of indirect lighting is brought down through a solar chimney, and highlighting the path of the floor. Ideal to enhance paths of circulation and create a dramatic effect ! 

I think, lighting is very crucial for a good design and natural light is the most beautiful and ideal method of lighting. From my studies, it is deciphered that, indirect lighting is the best method of lighting, as direct light may tend to damage the art.

MOVIES = EMOTIONS = ARCHITECTURE

I love watching movies, be it Indian, English, Korean, Chinese etc...Escpecially the romantic comedy ones! But the occasional thriller and action is a relief, when I get an overdose of " I love you's " and running to the airport ending scenes.

So I decided to equate some of the movies I watched, to the architecture I connect with it...and I came up with a few of the following:

1.THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (2004)

SOURCE : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyZU7lfGjyk

   

SOURCE : http://www.bluemartialarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/bourne-supremacy-fight-scene.jpg

  

SOURCE : http://brianwelk.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/bourne-supremacy-knife-fight.jpg

  

SOURCE : http://www.img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140129224644/bourne/images/d/d3/Jason-bourne-lotta-armi.jpg

  

Part of the Bourne series based on the book by Robert Ludlum, the movie is an action thriller with lots of action.The movie is about a CIA assasin suffering from amnesia.

Watching this scene, it makes me feel dizzy.After reading about it, I realised that, this is a technique called "shaky cam" where the camera is purposefully shaken to make the viewer feel like they are going on a roller coaster. The eye is made to follow every movement of the fight at fast forward with certain areas where the actors are out of the scene, as a result we tend to search all over the frame for them.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL,SINGAPORE

Similarly, I had visited the Mandarin Oriental  hotel recently in Singapore, where the atrium seemed to go on forever up. Looking up, made me feel so dizzy, that I had to look down immediately.

SOURCE : http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4101/4905934951_807a5ca03a.jpg

The spiral effect causing the eye to follow the movement of the lines is the reason for it. Sort of makes me hypnotised! 

  2. BLADE RUNNER (1982)

SOURCE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx02tM0os7k

SOURCE : http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/1336756409-blade-runner1.jpg

                       SOURCE : http://www.niels85.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/blade-runner-cityscape.jpg

This film is known for its futuristic themes, starting from its architecture set, to the costumes, to the soundtrack. It portrays "futuristc" Los Angeles, in 2019 (the future according to people in 1900s).

What makes it seem futuristc? 

I think, the main thing is the sets, where the buildings are all tall and dark, made of metal completely.Spaceships flying in the air, lights blinking, denoting windows in the skyscrapers, the futuristc humming and the electro music playing in the background, all add to the effect.

LLYODS BUILDING,LONDON

SOURCE : http://www.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjIvH1hn_ezR4hhrYLpRyG4H3VVm8xLglNmAgFxge1-305aRcq5V3n3Xr4IwpRj24WhN8vLr2otjjP1gqIja-6g0WFd3rPKZDP4sEtRLWw5pumOeavLZn2fbn7HTihTGGZA_ROXWMbQI/s1600/lloyds-building-london.jpg

The Llyods Building in London, gives me a sense of outerspace....With its steel, curved elements and skyscraper height, the building stands out among the others of its context. The almost robotic feel caused by the repetition of each floor, and the almost subtle glass openings for windows, makes me think of the sci-fi movies.

 3. PASSION OF THE CHRIST (2004)

This is a movie based on the execution and subsequent execution of Jesus christ. Watching it, made me cry buckets, due to its story and the very graphic portrayal of the execution. The entire movie made me feel sad, helpless and horrified ! 

JEWISH MUSEUM,BERLIN

If I had to equate the feelings I felt in this scene, to an interior space....it would be the Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind.This museum  portrays the horror that was the massacre of countless Jews during the World War by the Nazis.

SOURCE : http://www.//archide.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/berlijn_106.jpg

The exterior looks like a robotic warehouse container which seems impersonal and raw.The diagonal lines on the fascade gives me the impression of taking a blade to it.It seems like the building is a person and the slashes are angry knife cuts made on him.

SOURCE : http://blogs.artinfo.com/museumviews/files/2011/07/Jewish-Museum-Berlin-56.jpg

The theme of the cuts continue throughout the building in the form of projections or indentations, thereby portaying the immemseness of the crime and the carelessness with which it was implemented for the fun of it, maybe similar to how the Nazis treated the Jews. 

SOURCE : http://www.tomdefreston.co.uk/artist/wp-content/uploads/1dsfghjfd.jpg

This room to me, is the most horrifying of the lot. Metal faces are scattered throughout the floor, over which the visitors have to walk in order to go across.This is meant to symbolise the effect of  walking across countless dead bodies, which were burnt as a pile, during the war.The worst part is, the fact that the noise of the metal crunching against the shoes, echoes throughout the tall space, making it seem more enhanced.The architect has made sure that the people move across this, as it is on the way to the other spaces.

Daniel Libeskind has created a masterpiece that is dramatic to the extreme, making us feel helpless for the countless people that were killed and horror for making us relive the methods and process of execution.

4.INTERSTELLAR (2014)

Another movie I recently saw here, was the sci-fi thriller, Interstellar, directed by Christopher Nolan.It follows the theme of future ending of earth as a planet, and the need to save the future generations from extinction. There is a lot of physics involved in it, which makes the film believable and thereby making the viewers think...."Can this be true? " or "Is this really going to happen? " Thats what I thought.Initially, I only understood half the movie, but on later recounting, I understood what the movie was portraying. The entire setting for the movie, is a more believable future USA, where all the scenes are dull and contain dirty surroundings.This shows that the Earth's nature is getting exhausted. Most of the movie is shot with outerspace backgrounds, cementing the whole excitement of otherworldly!A mood of contemplation and thinking.

SOURCE : http://cdn.indiewire.com/dims4/INDIEWIRE/7eefeac/2147483647/thumbnail/680x478/quality/75/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fd1oi7t5trwfj5d.cloudfront.net%2F98%2Ff0%2F452c3e5c4f9cafda306cef6b21a2%2Finterstellar.jpg 

SOURCE : http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/interstellar_2-620x413.jpg

SOURCE : http://www.d1jqu7g1y74ds1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/On-the-edge-of-a-black-hole.jpg

SOURCE : http://www.dailygalaxy.com/.a/6a00d8341bf7f753ef01bb07b10d55970d-pi

DEER SHELTER IN YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK

During our first week of University, we were taken to visit different galleries and museums.The Yorkshire Sculpture park was one were sculptures were placed outside in the hills of Yorkshire. Pieces were placed randomly all over acres of land, across which we had to walk.At a secluded portion, was the Deer Shelter, a place for contemplation.

SOURCE : http://www.fotothing.com/photos/022/0229a017144142fbe326b59ce2e9ffd2.jpg

                   SOURCE : http://www.thescienceofpatterns.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/deer-shelter-skyspace_james-turrell.jpg?w=500&h=375

The fact that the space is so small at the same time tall, gives it a feeling of reaching for the heavens. The use of raw, grey materials, adds to the crudeness and zeness of the space. A small opening at the top is the only source of light into the interiors, hence no opportunity for distractions form the side. We feel small, in such a vast space, thereby adding to the mood of contemplation and reverence.The need to talk is diminished, because we know that anything in such a small space will echo and make it loud.   

    SOURCE : http://jamesturrell.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/deer_shelter_interior01_aperture-1024x682.jpg

There are many emotions I feel when I watch a movie. A lot of elements contribute to it, like the right lighting, the theme created by the sets, the costumes according to the genre or period, the right background score (the silent films are always more emotional that the others) , and the cinematography.Architecture too, has similar charecteristics that it follows, to achieve the reactions.Both film and architecture have to appeal to the same target - the public! Sometimes, the two can help each other  to bring about the same result.