Vitra 3D Model Progress

Frank Gehry Architecture

American Center - Cinémathèque Française

The American Center was originally an addition to a 56 year old Art and Culture Center in Paris which housed, shops, cafés, retailers a 400 seat theatre and residential accommodation. The concept’s success was not long lived and was practically abandoned two years after it opened. Today the building has been renewed with a 34million dollar restoration project which primarily focused on the interior, including four screening rooms, several floors of museum space, a multimedia library, a restaurant and a bookstore.

The exterior presents a typical Frank Gehry design – an amalgamation of skewed solid geometry, proportionately formed to create a sense of flow. The walls are made from honey coloured stone which takes a conscious sensitivity towards the surrounding local architecture by blending in.

The residential section has 7 levels including a penthouse with a unique balcony. 2 levels of parking are provided underground.

As with most Frank Gehry’s buildings, the form conveys a simplistic scene of large shapes to the eye, but structurally complex to construct. A lot of area is wasted for decoration purpose however the extravagance and bold design equally emits a sense of inspiration and playfulness that justifies this ‘non-use’ of space.

References

Charles, Jencks. Frank O. Gehry - Individual Imagination and Cultural conservatism, Academy Group LTD, Great Britain, 1995.

Article - http://www.francetoday.com/articles/2010/05/18/the-cinematheque-francaise.html. Retrieved 24 - 09 - 2010

Interactive Poster exercise

Text reference: Mies Barcelona - http://www.miesbcn.com/en/pavilion.html Retrieved 17 - 09 - 10

Access to interactive PDF file, Click Here

LAYAR

http://pipes.yahoo.com/anthhousing

TINY URL

AR Anth Housing.

http://tinyurl.com/28hpkpd

Anth Poster

DRAFT POSTER OF ALIGNMENT AND IMAGE INTERGRATION

TEXT

The flying Anths from Anthonia. An evolved species that live quite complex
lives much the same as humans. They are part animal and part insect that have a
distinct set of features including the ability to fly from an early age and scale vertical
walls as easily as traversing land. Sticky feet provide them this ability when
they are flat footed. If they lift up on the tips of their toes they no longer have
connection with the surface and can fly off. They are nocturnal creatures but
primarily operate in the day light hours, though this requires them to find a dark area
to recouporate for a couple of hours during the day.

ENTRANCE

The entrance to the Anth’s dwelling. Access is fully
lit all round from the sky lights creating a welcoming
feeling for the Anth returning home from a hard days
work.

LEVEL ASCENDING
Anths do not require stairs as their feet are naturally
sticky. Textured steel is quite comfortable for them
to scale up and down levels as they see fit.

DARK RETREATS
Anths are noturnal by nature, although they run
their lives during the day, they need to retreat
from time to time to a dark place for rest and
rejuvenation. Heavy tinted low profile windows
simulate the perfect cave like atmosphere for the
Anth to reclaim its energy.

TAKE OFF PAD
When the Anth exits the house it conveniently
uses the designated departure pad located on
level 2.

LANDING PAD
The landing pad provides a point of reference and
a safe landing area for the Anth returning home
to a housing complex.This is especially useful for
housings within large forrests that otherwise
would be lost to the vast sea of trees, the
landing platform stands above the tree’s height and
is color-coded for each unique district simplifying
the Anths location.

Developed Sketchup Enviroment - Anth Poster

Image Captures




Planar ViewSection 2

Colour scheme
Anths are insect-like, and the percieved image I see is a relation to the natural elements of nature. I wanted organic colours to show this natural side. Particularly helps the poster stand out and co-ordinated well if the colours flow together with the skin colour of the Anth.

Section 1

I wanted the building to have bulges like insect eyes (below), the simple extrusions change the form so that it shows a more organic impression.