design = ? + !

Here is the result of alot of reading, research, sketching, technical drawings and non sleeping hard working days…

CLICK, LOAD and ZOOM>>>

final-presentation-invisible-to-visible

A few weeks ago, our final project was launched!
We had to choose a brief, and I decided to choose a very old building in London, located in a very authentical site in the Borough Market area. The current building is called BREW WHARF. I decided to choose the residential project focusing on a violin residence where public and private spaces meet.
I have been brainstorming about the concept involving mainly the violin, a producer of sound. Sound being an invisible subject, becomes visible through the interpretation of forms into the building. It is interesting how soundwaves are represented, starting from an epicentre eventually forming circle which becomes bigger and bigger as they move outward. This realisation affected the whole design strategy as the plan is based on this idea. Water ripples are a perfect representation of soundwaves as these do start from a centre, being a drop hitting the surface vibrating the water partices and sending waves/ ripples through the water particles.
Rhythm is all part of our lives and it was interesting to read how Lefebvre has analysed our daily routines forming rhytms that we usually take forgranted. Rhytm is well associated with music, and this will be surely translated into the space for a violinist. Movement and fow are also excellent adjectives to describe music, which I am currently exploiting in the project.

Eventually I will go in further detail…

As I have caught up the rhythm of waking up early, walking to the train station, waiting, go on the train, read, snooze, go off, go to underground, up the escalators and in the air of oxford street. I walk up a few meters and go in the office of Estee Lauder… it soon had to end. Two weeks pass by very quickly but to sum it all up, I must say it was a very fruitful experience. Learned various new skills, which when studying are not realised. Went down to Chichester to check out a boots stand for Clinique and Estee Lauder, created plans for several stores across the UK, helped to design M.A.C meeting room, solved a video conversion to one of the designers, getting to know other designers, visited John Lewis and Selfridges to check out the latest design of each booth for Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, M.A.C, Origins and a few more labels which are under Estee Lauder Companies. On the last day, some of the team decided to go out in the evening, and we had a great time. It was a pity that I had to depart early to catch the train.

At one point something seems far away, and when you get hold of it, it easily slips away again.

In the meantime I have been to London for shopping, Wembley Arena to watch Nickelback concert which was a really good performance! visited the London Zoo, went to Windsor, the queen’s favourite castle, and had a good clubbing night at Cable, in London.

Last week, our final project has started and back to uni life. I decided to pick up on the residential project which has to have a public side and eventually transforms to a more private space. The site is Brew Wharf in London, just next to Borough Market. I have visited this area before but was oblivious to its name, and as soon as I went there I knew where I was. It’s a historical part of London, close to the first prison, the market itself, a cathedral and set below the train rails. Close by there is the London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Tate Modern and Shakespeare Theathre. I decided to have my client as a violinist. During my research I have come through the Royal Academy of Music, and decided to contact them. The following day I recieved an email from Peter Sheppard Skaerved, a very well known violinist in England. Since then my research has taken full swing on violins, music, art- barbara hepworth, music and architecture and so on. This will inspire me to produce a residential interior for such a prominent client. I love music and it so interesting to get to know in depth the creators and performers of such a highly appreciated type of artistry.

If you would like to share something about music, emotions it gives you or any specific technical information, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Today, I must say it was a very important day for me. One which will definetly bring some changes to my life in general. I started a work placement with Estee Lauder companies in London headquaters.

Usually I tend to put my alarm clock on snooze, but this morning flew off my bed to get ready for this exciting day. Given such a splendid opportunity, I couldn’t let it go away with a slight effort. I left home, caught the train together with hundreds of other people travelling to London. As soon as I got off the train you cannot dismiss the business of such city! All people in coats, black shoes and cases walking to dozens of different directions to the place where they can spend the day working. I managed to get out of Bond Street Station and headed of to the building. I managed to arrive early so I took the small walk easy. I met Jenny, the fellow corporate designer who was taking care of me. I was introduced to the other designers, who take care of different brands under Estee Lauder; including Clinique, M.A.C, bumble and bumble, Tommy Hilfiger, Origins and some more. Jenny took me to Selfridges and John Lewis department stores to check out the differences of the same companies, in these two important stores in London. While we were walking I got to know Jenny slightly better. This will help me to improve my english skills, which I have been studying and using for a long time but not as often as I would in these two weeks. In Selfridges every brand has its own designed to the highest qualities display area, while in John Lewis every brand has to stick to John Lewis standards. I haven’t ever noticed such a detail, but it makes a whole difference to how the brand are looked at, and understood.Back in the building, I had a Security induction and an HR where I got to know the history of Estee Lauder company, which was founded by Mrs. Lauder herself way back in 1940s. It was break time and I had a couple of minutes free to wander in these central streets of London. It was a totally new feeling for me to see London through a worker eyes. Went to M & S to buy some lunch and went to explore the streets. In the office, Jenny appointed me to do some photoshop editing of photos, which needed to insert a mirror on top of Boots Clinique stations. 5:30 struck and was time to leave the office. The streets were flooded by people walking toward the underground and in fact I did not manage to go on the first tube. Back to Waterloo and back home. Finding myself alone is quite a new thing to me, as I have always sticked to a company of a friend. I think its good to be actually a bit alone, it allows you to discover new things, such as reading in the train, and really notice other people.

Good start

LINKS:

Estee Lauder

Clinique current stand

I have spent these past two months in Malta and these pictures show a few things I have seen. Inscribed in my memory. If everyone of us tries to think a little bit more on these tiny things maybe all of us could be more sensitive to even just a piece of chocolate or a sunny sky. Everyone wishes something he cannot reach. When I am in England I miss my family, the people, the food, the weather, the places, driving and when I get in Malta I want my Independence , the need to walk more, go to London by train and funny moments with my friends…

so a little appreciation goes to these tiny precious moments I have had during the last two months….

Recently we had to create a cabanon which is a specific terminology for a shed. The famous international designer and architect Le Corbusier, designed this 3m x 3m retreat for his wife. It is situated in Spain, near one of the beautiful beaches found in this country ( very similar to Maltese ones).

A view from outside

The interior was a simple design, with integrated functional objects.

After this brief introduction, we had to find a client and a site to create our ‘Cabanon’.

I decided to go around Farnham ( the town I have been living for a year ) and went to a walk in Farnham Park.

It is a huge park, which in fact I didn’t manage to see half of it during my 3 visits to it. A natural reserve with a long history since the 1600s where bishops, kings and queens enjoyed it’s beauty of nature.  A park, with a venue of trees cutting through it, a farnham castle on the side, and the town visible down the hill, was what sparked my imagination to create something where people who go to this park would find useful.

Many visitors will go to walk, sit and even read a book enjoying the sun and the peacefulness of this place.

Why not create a small shed which will have a collection of books about this town, park and the castle? It would be a curious resource to students, historians or even for those people who are curious to get to know these elements.

My design revolved around these thoughts and chose the site where all the three elements are visible and will still be close to the paths which people follow. The 3 main subjects, came the 3 main framing views.

 Some cool stuff I have come across during my ongoing search:

A similar wall panel takes the sculptural effect but this time it is marble cladding:

http://www.hyperwave.it/

A cool sofa is the My beautiful backside from Moroso:

 

 

 

Thurday was the hand-in deadline for our first project of the third year, and on Friday we had to present our work. A rough summary, we had to look at various Cabanons, starting from the one which Le Corbusier designed for his wife, and eventually finding out similar designs. I decided to choose Farnham town and park because of its interesting history and ease of access. I went around taking pictures and observing every tree and the beautiful surroundings. I have been living in Farnham roughly over than a year now and usually just go quickly through its streets and pathways nad never actually notice its historical details. Since the spot I choose was in Farnham park, over looking the town and on the West of the Castle, I decided to create a shed where people can read and get to know these three elements better. So, Sketching ideas, looking at what is in the area for inspirations, 3d designs, eventually deciding on a final layout, building the model, photographing it and editing the final shot was the whole process that took place in approx. 5 weeks.

Once it was over, on Friday we decided to go to London to watch the famous Wicked at London, Victoria. I must say it was sooo good! Amazing actors, well-written plot, wonderful costumes, wicked lighting and graphics and heart warming music, all in one buzzing two hours!

Saturday was the day to meet my friend who is studying in the north of England, and had seen her last, in September. It is always a good feeling to meet with an old friend and share a few hours of your time. We went wandering in London and managed to get lost but eventually found our way. On Sunday we had to depart but will meet in Malta in September.

Monday arrived, and so did 8:30pm! It was the time for our fellow Maltese friends to arrive at our house for the first Cisk Night in UK!! We prepared food, and thanks to Gilbert we had some fresh maltese ‘galletti’ and ‘bigilla’, sun-dreied tomatoes, dips, olives, garlic baquettes and of course CISK! Everyone enjoyed a few cans, while entertaining ourselves with Etnika, Ministry of Sound and playing Supermario on Wii

In the meantime, I had to pack my lugguage, so things to do, so little time kind of thing! Stuffing everything and making sure not to miss something but at the same time i was stressing not to have any overweight! The time winded and found myself at the airport. Soon it was time to defy gravity, and the plane took off! Now after 12 hours in Malta, I am here trying to sum up everything that has happened in such a great weekend. Tomorrow it’s a new leaf, because I am going to start my work placement period.

Better go and get some rest, must admit I am not used to waking up so early!

 

We buy fruits, pick up flowers, and see buildings. Wonderful things, fascinating detail.

Fingers ready to write but so confused what to write as this is my first post on blog.com.mt. I must say that I am quite new to blogs in general. These two weeks are one hell of busy days (a deadline on 13th Nov), but still needed to have a break and decided to create this blog. It will be a journey of my experiences, most of all what I am studying. i.e Interior Architecture and Design and everything which revolves around it. The experience of studying in a different country for Malta is very challenging, and even though it becomes ‘normal’, somedays I realise how each day, week and month, is affecting me, in all ways. A year and 2 months have passed, gosh, that’s alot! A few tough months left for graduation, already!

I’ll be updating every so often try to keep my promise… have to leave now! sleep is approaching and work is pressing… lines, lines and lines, and trust me every line counts!