Embracing the Interior

As the days and seasons change, the trees come alive with colour and life, then slowly start to drop their leaves into the site. As it becomes night, small lights are turned on to light up the foliage and the parasite, creating shadows and making it a welcoming place during day and night.

This was very helpful in making it clear in my mind exactly what I would need to do whilst photographing my model.

Through making the model of this parasite, it became easier to understand the form and space it occupied within the area and the intricate relationships between the existing site and the new addition.

This parasitic structure is placed to accentuate the form of the solitary window in the site. It provides a sheltered area for people to occupy in a place where people don't usually take the time to slow down and stop. It is a transitional area for people, normally moving from one place to another without stopping. This parasite allows them to take notice of the surroundings and enjoy the peaceful nature of the site. Joined through twisted wire, the parasite winds it's way around two trees and the bars of the window, becoming an extension of the metal bars. Translucent fabric lines the top where the sun will filter through onto the occupants. The combination of the wire and the fabric will lead to patterns of sunlight being formed within the space, creating an interactive and joyful area.

RMIT Alumni Courtyard. Rendering site conditions.

By hand-rendering this site I have become more familiar with the area than I ever was from simply observing and photographing. As I began drawing the site to scale I started to notice relationships between materials and intriguing details that I would otherwise never have discovered

Technical hand drawing from the Alumni Countyard

The lost things poster

This 'thing' becomes a mess of tangled wire, bending and twisting around the paddlepop sticks, reaching upwards to find something else to extend its tight grip on.

10 exploratory junctions/connections between paddlepop sticks and wire.

Using only string and das modelling compound I have reversed the usual roles of these materials to create a quirky "lost thing". Clay is normally quite strong and solid, and so I flattened it until just before the point of tearing and allowed it to dry. I wanted to make the string into the structural element so I wrapped it around itself until it was able to support its own shape and weight. Combining these two materials I have created an object which looks to be fragile and unstable. It is however, quite strong and malleable. The string has become almost solid but it is still able to be moulded and so my object is able to move and change. It is neutral in colour but its curves and personality make up for this. It looks friendly and full of energy, as if the compressed string is about to expand allowing it to leap and jump around, almost like a small puppy.

10 exploratory maquettes in das modelling compound and string

Designing the poster was another challenge. I wanted it to reflect the fun and coloured nature of the cake whilst still being informative for a reader. The cake itself reminded me of a child's fairy party and so I used pastel colours and pink throughout the design. There was an enormous amount of sugar and butter in the recipe so I made this a major part of my poster to create interest and tie it all together.

1.2 kilograms of sugar...

Rainbow Layer Cake.