Week 2:

Mandy Cheng Design

Mandy Cheng is a LA based interior designer that just had her house featured in Architectural Digest. When looking at photos I came across this innovative storage idea that I feel could be very useful for the room I picked out. “The side tables are on drawer glides so they can push in when you don’t need them, and the deep drawers below are to store the guest pillows when not in use. The tall cabinet doors on the left and right store towels and bed linens as well as offer additional closet space for guests.”

Multi Purpose Furniture

Utilizing the small space I have for my client, multi purpose furniture is crucial in fulfilling her wants and needs for her interior space. Working with the kitchen area, shelving with a fold-out table seems to be most convenient for storage/usage purposes.

Vintage Mirror display

Since my client is collecting vintage mirrors, my idea on how she is presenting them within her space is a collage orientation like the examples in this website. I think it gives good inspiration and shows different ways to present the collection pieces, as well as open her mind up on how to use the mirrors to manipulate her space and work.

Week 3:

My design achieves a multifunctional room that fits my clients needs. Being a masters student occupying a smaller space, the idea of flexible furniture to make the room feel as big as possible was a beneficial choice. 

Following a bed structure like this, with an option of a desk or a bed, is something that will make her space feel open during the day time. With her bed being in the private corner of the room, being able to do work looking out the window is also good motivation. The space is narrow, so a concept like this will work best for her situation.

Similar to that, her work station and kitchen area will follow a tall narrow structure that can fold out to multi use functions. As a painter, her work space can get chaotic, so having everything in one compact area including her easel will help for finding supplies as well as having privacy for non working hours.

Week 4:

My definition of “contemplation”

A contemplation space is a place to unwind, relax, and feel comforted in your own thoughts and ideas. Colors, objects, and shapes all play a factor in obtaining that sense of comfort for however you choose to contemplate. Pictured above, a Norwegian architecture and design firm has designed such a place for contemplating, working, and relaxing. They have obtained international acclaim for their building techniques in a highly collaborative approach to design. This specific design was for the “Mutant Architecture and Design” presentation at Milan’s 2011 design week. It features an open-air marble cube with a hollow interior with an uneven yet smooth “wave-like” floor which provides seating and lounge space for anyone. The architects were inspired by a hollowed-out room  at a marble quarry and took their interpretation into their own hands. Having the served floor seating with the white really makes one feel in their thoughts or “zone” to accomplish what they want to.

In one of Ellsworth Kelly’s last shows, he created a 2,715 square foot work in the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas. This structure consisted of an immersive space with 12 rectangular-paneled colored windows which resembles the loading symbol on a smartphone. The windows are all different colors and orientation, which reflect inside of the space uniquely against the wall. This being one of many photographs taken from the exhibition, you can see how this one photograph emulates all of the different colors and gives you a sense of hope and calmness. With everyone else being plain and minimal, you get to focus fully on the window panels and design and embody yourself in it.

This large-scale installation by Paul Cocksedge in the London Design Festival hopes to promote the city as a major design capital. This work encompases a multimedia of art containing art, design, and performance-based projects by designers all across the city. It is made from scaffolding planks where he re-imaged and reused wood and manipulated it to his liking. This installation is adapted to the environment it’s in and has curves that raise up to create a steady shape for people to sit. One of its more important functions is to occupy the square without blocking it. When contemplating, you don’t want a chaotic, hectic space, you want a minimal soothing feeling that you can do whatever you’re contemplating in. 

Precedent studies relevant to my project

The Zollverein Design School is a 35 meter cube independently standing in its unique style. The building volume might be seen as “too large” for the building’s program, yet the high ceilings were deemed as acceptable for the program offered. The undivided production floor is completely empty and a fully flexible space. Leaning the focus more towards the walls. They have multiple windows throughout all of the walls, where the light is filtered as well as the view surrounding the landscape. This softens the transition between the exterior and interior and creates shadows to the inside. The multi-window effect makes you see all of the views the outdoors has to offer, as well as letting in as much natural light as possible- having a feel of being outdoors but in the comfort of 4 walls.

Spencer Finch created this large-scale installation that was inspired by the Morgan’s collection of medieval Book of Hours. That collection is hand-painted works which served as personal prayer books for different times of the day and different times of the year. The Morgan consists of four stories of glass, and Spencer took it into his own interpretation.  He applied films of color to the windows to make his own version of a calendar that was based on the movements of the sun. To portray this type of creativity, he needed to take precise measurements required to create such a color scheme depicting the month of the year and time of the day. He in turn emphasized the importance of movement and change, as well as creating a “show” for the viewers with multiple beautiful colors and light reflections. 

Week 5:

(Sir John Soane’s Museum post)

Week 7:

My bathroom project was surrounding the idea of privacy within spaces. While originally having a completely different idea- I decided to shift gears into focusing on my concept: Color and its relation to emotions. Hou Se Sousa’s “ziggy” installation inspired me to create a unique space for my client.

In one’s relationship to color, we all experience color differently. What color might excite and make me happy can make you feel anxious or angry. Learning about the color wheel and color theory – these connections can be made. Interviewing my client and seeing what colors mean what for her helped me decide what two colors to incorporate into my design.

While using sustainable materials throughout the bathroom in addition to using water saving systems in her toilet, shower, and sink, I was able to explore the side of sustainability and its connection that it has to color. Making sure that the materials I use works well with my color reflective materials is what can increase my client’s mood – by the opacity of the color that embodies the room after the natural light and reflections hit off of each other. In doing so, I created my bathroom – with two arches of blue and purple that you engulf yourself in as you walk under the arches. Separating the room with these was a new style that I chose and found very interesting in exploring layout options.

Week 8:

Shown below will be the methods of making that I used in order to guide my sculptural object project to be successful. When thinking of what object to create, a chandelier/light fixture was a suggestion given to me that I was really keen on. Playing with mirrors, colors, and reflections was what motivated me to get working on creating what ended up being the final outcome of my project. 

The first obstacle was after buying 24.5 x 12 cm acrylic sheets, cutting them down to my desired size which was 2.5 x 12 cm and 2.5 x 6 cm. The reasoning behind buying colored acrylic sheets was based on my inspiration from Olafur Eliasson’s multiple works but “Full Dome” in particular. Seeing the reflection the object can make on the wall was really thought-provoking and inspiring for me. In order to cut glass that thick, either laser cutting or using a drill from the woodshop are only options, a meticulous procedure that requires time and patience. Once cut to perfection with 22 pieces, the next step is assembling. 

Attaching a mirror-like reflection to the top of the light fixture was an immediate design choice I had, because I wanted to see if it would be able to manipulate the space underneath it with a mirror reflecting downward. It evidently ended up being a big reason why the colors reflected on the wall in the end. After gluing it to the top of my object, the next obstacle was putting the whole thing together in a clean cohesive matter. After several attempts at fabrics that can hold the sheets without breaking the top piece, a clear fishing line was the final decision. In order to do so, I needed to drill 8 holes in the top of the object as well as drill all the colored acrylic sheets to connect.

Drilling in a specific way where I keep everything I drill in one straight line was definitely a challenge, but not having broken any of my pieces in the process was amazing for it being my first time using a drill. Trying to encompass the cleanliness and classiness of an abstract obscure object like Olafur Eliasson did was a great challenge, but doing it once is just a stepping stone for doing multiple other objects that can encompass his work with my meaning for my future projects. 

The last part to put this project into completion was light. Where I would place light, how to manipulate the object through light, and the background of where I would place my object. After buying a string of LED lights, round lights to place in the middle of my strings, and using a headlight that you can attach on your forehead, the last option created the best results. Using a powerful light that can perfectly encapsulate the theme of my object was what tied this entire project together and made it look the best it could be to show my classmates and professors. 

Week 9:

(William Kentridge post)

Week 9:

Bibliography list:

From The Forest, LLC. (n.d.). Why Engineered Wood Flooring Is a Sustainable Choice. [online] Available at: https://www.fromtheforest.com/blogs/fromtheforest/why-engineered-wood-flooring-is-a-sustainable-choice.

www.webexhibits.org. (n.d.). Simultaneous Contrast. [online] Available at: https://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/contrast.html#:~:text=Simultaneous%20contrast%20is%20most%20intense [Accessed 29 Jan. 2023].

Oseng-Rees Reflection Ltd. (n.d.). About sustainable recycled glass — Oseng-Rees Reflection Ltd artisan sustainable fused recycled glass panels for interior and architectural installations. [online] Available at: https://www.osengreesreflection.com/about [Accessed 29 Jan. 2023].

London Wall. (n.d.). Glide. [online] Available at: https://londonwall.co.uk/glide [Accessed 29 Jan. 2023].

Lyu, J. (2022). Analysis of the Effect of Different Types of Colors on Human Behavior and Emotion. [online] www.atlantis-press.com. doi:10.2991/assehr.k.220704.191.

https://www.facebook.com/thespruceofficial (2019). Everything You Should Know About Bamboo Flooring. [online] The Spruce. Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/benefits-and-drawbacks-of-bamboo-floors-1314694.

‌Junkwize. (n.d.). Mirror Removal & Disposal in London. [online] Available at: https://junkwize.com/mirror-removal-disposal/ [Accessed 29 Jan. 2023].

Gage (1999). Color and meaning : art, science, and symbolism. Berkeley ; Los Angeles: University Of California Press.

publication/43216/HOW+CAN+LIGHT+ART+MANIPULATE+THE+VISUAL+PERCEPTION+OF+SPACE%3F [Accessed 8 Jan. 2023].

www.bloomsburydesignlibrary.com. (n.d.). Architectural Design. [online] Available at: https://www.bloomsburydesignlibrary.com/encyclopedia-chapter?docid=b-9781472596178&tocid=b-9781472596178-BED-A068 [Accessed 8 Jan. 2023].