Model-o-rama

From visualizing in computer drawings I moved on to visualizing in model. I have been working mainly with the center arena to try to figure out:

• how to shape the new element that I introduse (yellow on the drawing/blue in the model).
• how to get more of the activity out in the arena space.
• how to connect the two stories.
  
• how much I could alter the original layout (take away seating stars etc.) without destroying the qualities of the space.

I am introducing an element that follows the inside of the construction, sometimes together with the seating stairs, sometimes in stead of them. In this structure I integrate some vertical connections between the two original stories, some rooms going into the arena space, and some platforms/levels.




I try to make spaces that can be used in the everyday activity at the school like:

• small open air amphitheaters for teaching, training and showing
• spaces to display arts
• spaces to create (drawing, sculpturing etc.)
  
• places to eat, meet and hang out
• and of course a large stage for bigger concerts and events

I have tried out using some box element in this structure to create rooms that are open towards the center space.


By extending the element through the entrance and out in the public space I can invite people to participate in the activity and connect the school to the city life.






Anders, a friend of mine who's an acoustic consultant, visited me at the studio this week end to have a look at the project. We discussed the acoustic qualities and challenges and I wrote down a list of things to remember:

• The wall behind the stage should be patterned to diffuse the reflections.
• The roof over the stage should reflect the sound evenly towards the spectators.
  
• Make space for sound absorbers.The best absorber is an opening towards the outside.
• The roof should have some absorbing qualities or let some sound through it.
• The small amphitheaters will work better if the ground in front is hard.
• Avoid parallel walls in music rehearshal rooms.
  

rock on.....

Visualizing - arena

Some thoughts about the arena...

a bull fighting arena

an art arena...

Important principles:

• activity
  
• multi porpose areas (dancing, playing music, displaying art, drawing...)
• a new element that connects the different levels
• shading
  

Visualizing - exterior

I've started making some 3D sketches of how the finished school could be, to get some ideas on how to achieve what I want. The first one is from the exterior, the entrance area.

praca de touros de maputo

escola de belas artes de maputo?

Important principles:

• visual connection with the arena
• easy to see what's happening (posters, information boards)
• gallery for student works, free entrance
• spaces for external artists
  

Dummy for dummies

I've made the first dummy of how my final presentation can look, to get an impression of sizes and amount of material. This will probably be revised a dozen of times, but it is nice to have something to work with.

sketched layout

with the 1:50 model

Stepping into the CAD

I just came back to the studio after a three weeks vacation. Before leaving I had an intensive CAD-week to get the first draft of the building into a cad model.

ground floor

first floor

The intension was to put the specialized arts teaching rooms on top of these two floors as a new structure.


I got some useful feedback from Steffen, one of my tutors, and Andreas, a friend from TYIN tegnestue. One tip was to attach the activity more closely to the center arena to make this space more important. I will also have to play more, not only getting the scheme to work, but to create something vibrant and fun. The following week I'm going to spend some time taking a step backwords, and make some scethes of how I want this school to be in the end. I will try to update the model as I go, and hopefully get some new altenatives fast.

Some thoughts

Back to basics

Now that I've got some ideas about what I can do, I have to go back to my intentions and objectives, stated in the Preliminary Study. What kind of architectural consequences do they have?

OBJECTIVE:
Creating an Escola des Belas Artes, conditioned by the climatic, economic, cultural and social situation in Maputo.

_climate:

• Shading is important all year. Especially from the NE and NW
• Prevent floodings in rainy season (ground cover, drainage)
• Natural ventilation when possible

_economy:

• Try to use as much as possible of the existing structure
  
• Avoid expensive solutions/materials

_culture:

• Community: Open, encourage interaction and togetherness. Playfullness
  
• Maintenance: Low or no maintenance

_society:

• Students will be mostly from wealthy families. Give something back to the community (concerts, exhibitions, workshops that include everyone)
• Crime: Easy to secure/shut off areas. One entrance.

INTENTIONS:
_benefit from locating the schools together:

• Encourage interaction
• One school, not three schools located next to eachother

_creating a cultural center:

• More than just a school. Activity, artists, concerts and exhibitions.
• Collaboration with other cultural institutions. Guest artists, exchange.
• Value as a symbol. Something to be proud of. Appearance and status.
  

The essence of this is, as I see it, two main principles:

1. Creating one school, where the art forms interact and learn from eachother.

2. Creating a cultural center for the people of Maputo.

This again has some main architectural consequenses:

1. The spaces for teaching, rehearshing and displaying must be connected in a way that encourages interaction. Mixed use of spaces. Internal logistics that makes people/arts meet.

2. Minimize the gap between the activity at the school and the public.

One Day Design - Day 4

The point of departure today was to cover the arena. As usual I started with some sketch modelling.




It seems like there is an endless number of ways of building a cover over the arena, or parts of it, and many of them would probably work. But how does this affect the structure?




I didn't really land on a particular concept here. This day resulted more in a number of options on how to create shade or shelter in the central arena.

Choir Practice

It's friday and a pretty slow day at the studio, so I'm posting this video of the choir practice we bumped into at the Praca de Touros. The quality of image and sound here isn't excellent but the experience was....

One Day Design - Day 3

This days theme was "Change as little as possible".






Since I already have a pretty nice model of this, I went straight to the sketching.






This concept consists of keeping the ground level close to the status quo, with public functions, and placing class rooms and offices on the fist floor and the art teaching in an added third floor.