SJ 12 THREE BUILDINGS AND CONCEPTS

I want to make this particular assignment, Chinese-based because I find architecture in China has been booming over the recent years due to the economic boom in China.

Many creative conceptual buildings were built over the past decade in Chinese soil and I feel this would be very relevant for me.

The first building would the CCTV tower in Beijing, one of the most remarkable modern Chinese architecture in recent years. It's concept is to create support structures that defies gravity. Instead of traditional piling and wide bases, the building leans on each other for support.



The other building that I have researched on is the National Grand Theatre in Beijing. Its concept is to make it shaped like an egg, making it very modern to stand out from its ancient surroundings. Though controversial because it is too contradictory to its environment, it is still considered one of the most unique designs in Chinese architecture.



Lastly, I chose to conduct research on Taipei 101, one of the tallest skyscrappers in the world. It has many Chinese elements infused with a modern deisgn. Truly, a national pride for Taiwanese.

SJ 11 PRESENTATION OF MY FAVOURITE ITEMS

Looking around my bedroom, there were two things that I have always like. Firstly is my electric guitar, an ESP LTD ES-50. It is bold and I have used it for many performances. I have always admired the Les Paul shape, which is why I purchased this particular guitar.

Below illustrates perspectives of the guitar



Next, would be my old football boot. The Umbro X Series which gave me many fond memories of my high school days.


Above are the perspective and elevation of the boot.

SJ 10 INITIAL CONCEPT OF VIEWING TOWER

These were my developments during consultation with Miss D and Miss Norma to help shape my viewing tower. My inspiration was from a case study of the Gugenhaim Art Museum in Bilbao where the roofings are wavy, almost looking like slides, where it has a Latino feel to it, which so happens to be Dora's ancestory roots.

This one was more rigid as I want to portay the simplicity of Dora the Explorer but find it too enclosed and too 'squarish' for Dora's cheerful and creative character.



This one became more oragnic but lacks dynamics.



After further consultations with my lecturers, this was what I came up with. A tower with a plan view of a circle, equally cut into two, with one half slighly higher than the other. This makes it more practical for Dora as there are differences in terms of gradient of the slope. It is pink, it is bubbly and fun and most importantly, it serves the purpose for Dora to search for adventure as it gives a 360 degree view of her surrounding, letting her choose which path to take (by taking different slides)

SJ 09 PERSPECTIVES OF PENANG IN A POSTCARD

I have chosen the sites that we have visited during our time in Penang, which is the Suffolk House during our first day, the symbol of the financial district, the Jubilee clock tower on the second day and the heartthrob of Penang, the waterfront, mainly dominated by the Pangkalan Uda Ferry.





Each perspectives were carefully chosen to define Penang. Suffolk house for its heritage and spirit of preserverance, the Jubilee clock tower which is the symbol of the financial district, the most happening place of Penang financially, and the Pangkalan Uda ferry, the main mode of transport for people to travel to and fro the mainland.

SJ 08 PROPOSED LOCATION FOR TOY

Here would be my the proposed location for Dora the Explorer.
I want to make it surrounding a tree, at the same time with a floor surface that has a gradient.

This particular location is the perfect spot for Dora to search for adventure because it has a good view of the lake and its other surroundings.

SJ 07 3 VIEWING TOWER IDEAS

After a brief on project 3, we were told to come up with ideas to design for our toy character.

The chosen toy character for me was Dora The Explorer and these were my sketches of my ideas for her viewing tower.



Idea number 1 is an idea to have Dora to have a viewing tower floating on the lake. It allows space for Dora to dive into the lake or slide into the water once possible adventures are spotted.

Idea number 2 is where I want to compliment Dora's original roots of having a house in the woods. And what better to actually have a viewing tower on a tree? This tube like structures would look like vines so Dora can climb up and down to view the surrounding.

Idea number 3 is more organic. Dora would actually be enclosed in a bubble that is mobile. Whenever she travels for adventure, she brings this inflatable bubble house along so she can have rest whenever she feels tired.

SJ 06 TRACING PLAN AND SECTION

We were given a sample of a plan of a house and a section of the same house.
In this exercise, we were required to experiment with pens of different line weight.

In this particular sketch, drawings pens of 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 and 0.1 were used. Larger line weights are used to signify objects closer to the viewer while smaller line weights are used for roofings and more distant objects from plan and section view.