Line in Landscape- Cultural Use Survey

Ok........this Site Design process is becoming complicated. I understand that in order to have a succesful final design the site needs to be surveyed, but I never imagined that survey would be so detailed. Thank God the survey tasks have been split into two groups. I chose to cover culture.....hmm. This task has proven to be a bit challenging because I think culture is more abstract than a fixed parameter. However throughout the process and reading up on British architecture I have been enlightened.

The conclusion is the Line is an important part of the cultural heritage of London and it is important to both locals and visitors. The Line is important for recreation which is explored through site-seeing of historic sites, landmarks, entertainment, sports and ultimately shopping. This is my tally of the things which contribute to cultural use on the Line

Cultural Use Survey

Location/ Space	Interest/ Importance	Function	Users
Horse Guard Parade /St. James Park	Historic buildings, ceremonial courtyard War memorial Police memorial Duke of York column Carlton House Terraces-the Royal society, the Institute of contemporary Arts and the Photographic Department and Archives of the National Portrait Gallery.	Ceremonies Site seeing	Tourists Locals
Waterloo Place	Statues Edward VII Memorial to the Crimea, Florence Nightingale. Field Marshall J. F. Burgoyne John Franklin  Lord Lawrence  Lord Clyde Scott of the Antarctic	Historical, site -seeing	Tourists
Piccadilly Circus	Shaftesbury monument- statue of Eros Underground station Criterion theatre Sign boards	Leisure, Entertainment	Locals, tourists
Golden square	Statue of George II	Recreation, leisure, historical	Locals
Carnaby Street	Cafés, international fashion brand stores En route to Liberty store Spirit of Soho mural, Easter-street art decorations	Shopping, Entertainment	Tourists, Locals
Argyll Street	Cafés, Theatres- London Palladium	Recreational, Shopping, Dinning- Canton -Asian food, Bella Italia – Italian food	Locals, tourists
Regent Street (upper)	All Souls Church The University of Westminster Large outlet stores H&M, Nike town, etc. Cafés- Pret a Manger, Mc Donalds	Commercial, shopping	Locals, tourists- All Souls Church
Portland Place	BBC building- sculpture at entrance Langham Hotel Embassies- Namibia, China, Kenya, Poland Royal institute of British Architects Institute of Physics Association of Anesthetists Association of Radiologists Stucco detailing – no.21, 46-48 Statues Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent,  Surgeon Lord Lister,  Polish Prime Minister General Wladyslaw Sikorshi Field- Marshal Sir George White.	Administrative services, Historical, Architectural	Locals,
Regent’s Park Outer Circle	Sporting fields- football fields, ruby fields running routes, Zoo, Gardens, Cafés – the Hub, Open Air theatre Diorama- Princes Trust, Park Crescent- John Nash terraces and villas St. Mark’s Church Railings and gates, lamp posts	Historical, Architectural, Recreational, Ecological, Commercial	Locals, tourists
Primrose Hill	Summit – dramatic views Iolo Morganwy plaque Name plates affix to benches	Recreational, leisure, picnics, dog-walkers	Mainly locals

Transformations- Design Styles

With each week, I am learning that the design process is much simpler than it is made out to be.  A design can be either of seven transformations. I explored these transformations using empty juice cartons.

Addition

 Subtraction

 Symmetrical

Asymmetrical

Fragmentation

 

Distortion

Abstraction

Homage to Holl - "Space is oblivion without light"

Sometimes in the design process you need some inspiration.  For my final Site Design, I have chosen to study the works and career of American architect and water colourist Steven Holl. Most of his designs focus on the principles of light and how it interacts or is enhanced by space and geometry within the landscape and through architecture. His design methodolgy has several stages:

1. Organizing principle - contextual appraisal of the site and theme 
2. Design development through watercolor drawings
3. Modelmaking
4. Construction shots and photographic portfolios of the structure.

During my research I was fascinated by most of his designs, however his design for the Bloch Building, an extension of the Nelson Atkins Museum  peaked my interest.  His organizing principle was  'The Stone and the Feather' - the Bloch Building existing in 'Complementary  Contrast' with the 1933 old building.

This design is based on the construction of five lenses which are transparent, allowing to transmission of light.  These lenses sloped through a sculpture garden with sub terrain galleries for art exhibitions creating spaces above and below.

I attempted to make model to explore what  I envision these lens of the Bloch building would be like. I am pleased with the effect that light has on my egg crate and box model.

Linear Experiences Map

In pursuit of of my Landscape Architecture aspirations....my focus this term is on Site Design with a study of  a  Line in the Landscape.  This arbitrary line is in Central London starting at Primrose Hill and ending at Horse Guards Parade.

At the end of my walk, besides being really cold,I saw different spaces , each conjuring a different emotion.It also gave me the appreciation of connectivity and proximity of prominent spaces in  london- places seem so far away than they normally are when looking at a map!!!  I was also able to explore places that I would have only read or heard about- my tourist experience !!!

The block colours on the map are to express the mood of the site , green being fresh, light blue open, dark blue cold and shades of red vibrant, busy.

Too Cold for Comfort.....

Finally, I have my first taste of snow and I am scared or probably paranoid. I am literally recovering from last Friday's walk. Halfway through the walk I couldn't feel my fingers or my toes and my ears corked up like when I am on flight. Got up Saturday morning with a soar throat and a runny nose and now.... there is snow and my heater seems to be on timer which shuts down leaving a cold spell in my room. I am so not sure what to do.... Is it safe to go out....... well if its cold in my room it must be way colder outside.......am I snowed in?

Tobago's Indigenous Colours

The past three weeks of submissions and assessments seemed to have cancelled out my holiday.  I got to reminiscing with my classmates, Rowan and Paddy especially,  I promised to share a bit of my world.

Colours in my yard -Flora and Fauna

Bougainvillea flowers

 Allamanda flowers

'Gumangola' or Lizard

These blue jays are feasting on some bananas........leaving none for me!!

Beach Hues

The Northern side of Tobago............a view of Parlatuvier.....yeah that's French. I was driving around in search of a spot to do my indigenous color project.

However I 'settled' for Pigeon Point which is on the Southern side of the island.

My major critiques from the last term are the need for observation, development of graphic style and rendering. I look at these pictures again, and now I see that they express more than just color, but hues, tones,  mood, climate, ambience, background landscapes................... definitely some inspiration and a starting point for the term ahead

Space and Layers- The Elements

Never really thought about how the elements related to my sit until I got this brief. So I started by making four collages, one for each element:

 Water

Water is the main design element for my installation. 

The flow patterns and movement of the water defines the boundaries of my site, the tidal mud flat.

Fire

I look at fire figuratively, possible as energy and exposure to the sun.  The site is very open and sunlight reflecting on the water at hightide is very pleasing.

Earth

Naturally, the site is  a deposition area for sediments and yes..........debris. The cobbles and shingles along the shoreline suggests materials for my installation alot of natural stone. also when the tide is out, lovely sinuous ripples appear  on the mud bed.

Wind

The site is open and the wind would affect the velocity of the water. the change in water level makes the site dynamic. It looks different at high tide and low tide.

 Picked up some stones on my last vist to  Greenhithe  and tried to arrange them into stepping stones for my second model idea. Not sure if it works!!!

Moving and Viewing- Space, Memory, Distance, Time

These concepts,Space, Memory, Distance, Time served as inspiration for the intial ideas for an installation at Greenhithe.

Time

  I like this concept of ziplining through the heritage nature trail, an exciting way to experience the site

 Distance

 This area the marsh land seemed quite secluded , as the therewas this ridge blocking the view of the river.Quite different vegetation too.



 Memory

Just playing around with the idea of boardwalk on the landing pier. The landing pier is focal point,  there are excellent views of the river, the residential areas and the Dartford Bridge

Over the Thames River!!! Very versatile site, good spot to observe the changes in water , great views. I liked the idea of being in the centre of the river , having aview from the water of Greenhithe.

Containing the River Thames: I liked the concept of space hence, my 'Gold fish model' and it raised alot of questions.  this was my attempt at taming the River Thames.