Thursday 6 November 2008

to learn ... the solid, void, space.... light, shadow, to make a building a building

Red is noted for highlight.

jsopeh says:
(if u get back and read this msg) uhm... could u explain me a brief difference between light and spaces (of the solids and voids)? because it seems to spaces and light are so closely related it troubles me to split their differences. i cant seem to separate and do a light experiential feeling without creating that space which channeled the light. its quite troubling to discover that. >< ! jsopeh says: all i understand so far is . without the solids n voids i cannot create any light experience basically because theres nothing to channel it with. but . what makes their difference if i were to take one of them away? endorphIAN says: solids are v deceptive things endorphIAN says: like the solid and void series u posted on blog endorphIAN says: we choose to name the spaces between the blocks "voids" endorphIAN says: cos we walk into them endorphIAN says: and we assume the other "closed box bits" are "solids" endorphIAN says: but that's just a the way we've chosen to draw a demonstration of what we understand as space endorphIAN says: we are trying to "capture" space in a "thumbnail" sketchup way endorphIAN says: if u were to draw "interior perspective" sketches instead, then we won't need to use those blocks of yours endorphIAN says: we would be drawing from a human-in-the-space point of view endorphIAN says: instead of from a God-in-heaven-looking-down point of view jsopeh says: (but i could've just zoomed in for that effect. wouldn't it be the same ?) endorphIAN says: yes and no endorphIAN says: that's where the trick is endorphIAN says: no human eye can see like God endorphIAN says: haha...that sounds so funny jsopeh says: hahah but.... its just the way we plan . we see it from above. (im supposing it would make a big difference if i designed everything from a eye level point of view)
endorphIAN says:
or, practically, the usual normal bld user experience is from the "interior perspective" point of view
endorphIAN says:
yes
endorphIAN says:
so u see, why we (boring tutors) don't often seem so excited when we see u guys designing from sketchup
endorphIAN says:
lol
endorphIAN says:
that's because it's v divorced from the down-to-earth experiential approach we're all after
endorphIAN says:
From up there, or sketchup there, it's all ocular---visual experience
endorphIAN says:
From down and in there, it can be more---all five senses, almost
endorphIAN says:
So, coming back to your solids and voids..
endorphIAN says:
From down & in (d&i) there you don't really need those massive blocks to enclose your spaces
endorphIAN says:
walls would do
endorphIAN says:
like, compare the pyramids with the Alexandria Library
endorphIAN says:
Don't u think so
jsopeh says:
hmmm ... but .... the pyramids had its own idea of ... mass and weight didnt it ? (though it was really the technology which limited them in)
endorphIAN says:
it was the tech and other considerations like permanence, security against intrusion, desire for height, monumentality, etc.
endorphIAN says:
but in terms of SPACE, it's like what i just said
endorphIAN says:
so back to your s & v
endorphIAN says:
your solids are not necessarily solid, rite
endorphIAN says:
they could be empty boxes
endorphIAN says:
which means they r spaces enclosed by planes
endorphIAN says:
which means they're not much different from your other "spaces in btw the solids"
endorphIAN says:
still following ?
jsopeh says:
yup
jsopeh says:
but one thing
right now . i get the point u're trying to make is . having a BIG solid.... and having a wall would create the same effect in spatial understanding.
jsopeh says:
so . why the size of solids in some designs ?
endorphIAN says:
right
endorphIAN says:
why indeed
endorphIAN says:
that u have to find out
jsopeh says:
haha !
endorphIAN says:
but for us now, we need to see how this discussion helps us
endorphIAN says:
ur next understanding is that therefore in composing those experiential spaces you posted
endorphIAN says:
you have, in actual built reality, an absolutely wonderful
endorphIAN says:
SECONDARY series of spaces, like supporting spaces to your main players
endorphIAN says:
which you, as the designer, need to orchestrate into the overall composition
endorphIAN says:
so that we get rhyme and rhythm and mystery and surprises
endorphIAN says:
and modulations of space and developments in character as you
endorphIAN says:
traverse the interior on an intentional and organised ROUTE
endorphIAN says:
and that basically is what designing a bld is all about.
endorphIAN says:
the EFFECT of decon is only an architectonic means to produce a certain character for your spaces in this line of thought.
endorphIAN says:
(Decon is more than that)
jsopeh says:
haha. i do see
endorphIAN says:
The other main issue u have is about light and space
jsopeh says:
yup
endorphIAN says:
Yes, without light we can't perceive the fullness of space
endorphIAN says:
I say "fullness" cos a blind person can still feel space
endorphIAN says:
by touch
endorphIAN says:
but not to the full extent a seeing person can
endorphIAN says:
so for practical purposes you may want to start by composing the space in physical dimensions or proportions
endorphIAN says:
v much in the way you've done on blog
endorphIAN says:
and then see how you can bring light in at those particular points
endorphIAN says:
or in that particular way to further accentuate the character that you have intended with the space
endorphIAN says:
i'm digesting my oats, that's why i can't sleep just yet
endorphIAN says:
lucky u
jsopeh says:
hm ... but to me . light only seems as one thing . "hope" and thats still so ..... symbolic
jsopeh says:
that whole .. hope n faith and .... god . and ... luck
jsopeh says:
uknow . the usual ! i dont see further than that
jsopeh says:
(haha . well very lucky me then)
endorphIAN says:
yeah, it's all that
endorphIAN says:
and more
endorphIAN says:
there's the function bit
endorphIAN says:
u need light to see la
endorphIAN says:
all this symbolism....it'll soon find it's balance with other stuff
endorphIAN says:
and i think this particular slant comes from not seeing/experiencing enough of architectural spaces first hand
endorphIAN says:
and merely thinking about it
endorphIAN says:
it gets v cerebral
endorphIAN says:
(pallasma)
endorphIAN says:
reading is not enough
endorphIAN says:
you need to go and BE in there with all your senses alive
jsopeh says:
what if ur feeling of it ... isnt the same as others? what happens then ? don't u fail to translate?
endorphIAN says:
well, you have to test it
endorphIAN says:
go out with your gang
endorphIAN says:
to various blds
endorphIAN says:
and discuss your emotional resposes with each other
endorphIAN says:
you'd be surprise at the commonality
endorphIAN says:
*responses

For pictures... refer to diagrams post

12 comments:

KS said...

Because the 'route' starts from ur journey TO the building, and not only IN the building?

In the models u posted, the void spaces is very different from the solid 'spaces'. Hence there is this change in perception which gives excitement. "From small space to big space;From big mass to big space".
+*+ = +
-*- = +
+*- = -
'route' exists when there is 'From this To that'

So i think the library is better done than the pyramids in terms of route experience (but i'v been to neither). And mayb that's wut big 'solid' wants to do sometimes.

KS said...

hope ian/anyone points out the right n wrong in my view.

Was a good read, thanks jo~

ian ng said...

Good point KS..the route starts on your physical approach to the bld. And ends when u get into your car after the visit...oops, no, even after you have driven off until the bld disappears in the rear view mirror.

but what's more, the psychological route can even begin before you get anywhere near the bld, even from your first awareness of the existence of such a bld/place---like my meeting Pharaoh in Paris in the last century. And it hasn't really ended yet, as the memories of Egypt pop up in my imagination every now and then (to inform the routes I design.)

But practically, for the Dec 2 submission, concentrate on the physical bld la, and let the psychological overlay...er...perfume you creation? (The Egyptian Perfume i bought were from the outlet belonging to the late Dodi's uncle...so we were told.)

ian ng said...

hey, Joe, you left out all the sexy bits about weird macho Singaporeans, eh? Those were the juicy parts la! haha

But good editing: Well done!

ian ng said...

Route exists when there's 'from this to that': Nicely put. Credit the source?

ian ng said...

-*-=-
-*+=+
+*-=(+/-)
because of sequentiality (i think)

(i know u like all these big abstract words, KS.)

ian ng said...

u may not have been to either, but the routes have already begun in your mind.

jsopeh said...

haha, juicy? unrelated and unnecessary more like. =P thx anyway. note: see how ks' equations also proves that he is pretty much into formulae and theory? . im not the only weirdo, they exist to be used! ... its just that we have to learn more than that.

KS said...

'from this to that' thingy..I said it..lol

-*-=-
-*+=+
+*-=(+/-)
yeah ian i do think it's more than my version, more situations to be considered..

jo, it's not formulae la, only a part of mental process & belief that has to keep developing. But it's useful.

KS said...

I think it's more to inability of expressing in simple words than favor for abstraction la ian

ian ng said...

well the thing to do is to always use a simple verb rather than an abstract noun. helps u think more dynamically.

"i don't favour abstract words. i just can't use simple words.."

KS said...

o.O o i c ~ another theory.