I continued my research for part 1 of the course by briefly looking at the work of 3 key practitioners recommended in the course work; Daniel Libeskind, Peter Zumthor and Olafur Eliasson.
I created a mind map, plotting the elements which stood out for me and further expressed some of the thoughts and feelings I had, as well as expressing some thoughts and feelings I think their work might induce in others?
In the main I wanted to look at what was different about their work, what stood them apart from one another. I felt however, that light had to be attached to them all. All, I found used light to a great extent and is a large part of what evokes the strongest emotions from their work, even when light was used to a minimum.
Thoughts and feelings on works from Libeskind, Zumthor and Eliasson
In particular I looked at images from; Libeskind’s Holocaust museum, Zumthor’s, Therme Vals Spa and images from the book Atmospheres and Eliasson’s Your Uncertain Shadow exhibition
Drawing Skills
I have begun reading Archisketcher by Simone Ridyard in the hope to build drawing skills. Some of the sketches in this book appear so simple and misleadingly led me to believe that it would be easy to pick up pencil and paper and start drawing with some skill.
I drew a lot when I was younger and felt I had a reasonable amount of skill at that time. Today I found much it harder than I imagined, it was neither a simple or easy to pick up again.
I began with using a viewer which I created but soon found that my perspective and dimensions were still out. I dropped the viewer and continued to draw. I then had to drop some of the elements within my view.
First sketch in years
In retrospect I think, for a first attempt, I gave myself too many elements within the view to consider – even with omitting at least 2 more fence lines! I also suffer from back pain and I stood for the 50 mins or so it took me to complete this, which was a mistake. I will need to consider positioning for future sketches and when undertaking sketching on site visits.
I began my work for this project by initially laying out the areas I have to consider, as seen below. I felt this would be a useful tool to inform me once I begin to visit sites.
I initially considered 3 sites to visit to analyse the space and the atmosphere created in these spaces, or at least my perception of the atmosphere. The sites are Ikea Nottingham, Nottingham Wellbeing Hub and Portland Gallery at Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire. When aiming to gain permission I found that the Portland Gallery is currently closed until Easter, I await a response to an email I sent to Ikea and The Wellbeing Hub is run by the company I work for so I will request permission next week.
Further to this I have began researching atmosphere in architecture, having now: * Read Atmospheres a by Peter Zumthor and considered images from this book and his work. * Watched a video interview with Daniel Libeskind, The Voices of a Site (https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=_pWov-9PMNQ) and also studied some images of his work. * Read the transcript of Architect, Professor Juhani Pallasmaa’s, lecture on SPACE, PLACE and ATMOSPHERE – peripheral perception in existential experience.
I have very much enjoyed carrying out this task. It has given me much insight into what some architects believe creates architecture; which is that which is perceived in the spaces between the walls, ceilings and floors of structures. As Libeskind suggested ‘you can see the walls, you can see the windows but you can’t see the architecture, architecture is the atmosphere the story that has been created and you are part of it’ The Voices of a Site (Libeskind, 2018)
I, like others I’m sure, would have considered the structures themselves to be the architecture but having now read and listened to these architects I can fully appreciate that; light, or lack of, materials and textures provided, dimensions, colours and temperature, these plus many other elements create a feeling within us, emotions which determine our attitude towards a space. ‘As we enter a space, the space enters us, and the experience is essentially an exchange of the object and the subject.’ (Pallasmaa, 2011)
Reading how architecture can stir such emotion in us reminded me of feelings I had about architecture when I was younger. Travelling the short distance from my provincial town, I wandered around the Victorian and Edwardian buildings in the West End of Glasgow. I adored the far superior buildings that I experienced in my town. I spied in windows to see the wonderful cornicing’s and ceiling roses and beautiful décor within some of these gorgeous homes. I enjoyed what I looked at so much and wished that I could have it too and I felt I wanted to consume it! I wanted it to be part of me and I wanted to be part of it. I never understood why I had this overwhelming feeling and thought it was a little odd. My recent research does not make me feel quite so odd now. ‘Quality architecture to me is when a building manages to move me.’ (Zumthor 2003:38)
I would say that I now better understand and agree with what I have read from these architects but have a little difficulty with Libeskind stating: ‘I am not nostalgic, people with nostalgia are people who do not believe in the future’ (Libeskind, 2018) yet he talks so much of memory and its affect on his architecture. For me, currently, it is hard to separate memory and nostalgia, particularly when memories are to be used for future purposes? Perhaps this is something I will see differently as I continue my studies?
I will continue my research for Part 1 of my course by looking at more images of the suggested architects works. Further to this I aim to practice sketching, before undertaking any site visits.
Pallasmaa, Juhani (2011) SPACE, PLACE AND ATMOSHPERE – peripheral perception in existential experience [Helsinki, 9 June 2011] [Accessed 13 January 2019]
Zumthor, Peter (2006) Atmospheres. Basel: Birkhauser
To get a good understanding of the procedures and process I am expected to follow during my studies.
To be sure I am set up and have done all that I need to do and have everything I need to have to see me through the remainder of the course.
To have a resource that I can turn to when I need reminded of these procedures.
Support and helpful tips and information to assist me through my course.
To understand how to reference appropriately and be sure I am not at risk of accidentally plagiarising, getting this right concerns me.
To this course I am bringing:
Maturity and life experience.
Some relevant experiences and skills I have
gained through work and short courses I have previously undertaken.
Enthusiasm, I am eventually doing something I
have always wanted to but thought I never would. This hugely excites me and
makes me keen to learn.
Concerns, contrary to the above I also have
worries about some aspects of the learning. I am worried about the academic
processes and learning technical software, which I want to learn but afraid I
may not master it.
Before beginning tasks for assignments, I am to undertake an exercise: find and uploadimages of interior spaces designed by both interior designers and interior decorators. Analyse, critique and reflect on the images to explore their differences, in relation to this course and your own objectives.
Initially I felt a little frustrated by this request as I had spent a lot of time reading introductory material and undertaking the online introductory course to Higher Education. However, I soon understood this exercise was a good introduction to how I think and write and provides me with an opportunity to allow my tutor to assess my initial abilities in writing, referencing and this blog post, which is a first for me.
So here goes:
Interior Decoration Fig. 1
Interior Decoration Fig. 3
Interior Decoration Fig. 4
Interior Decoration Fig. 5
Finding interior specialists who call them self Interior Designers is easy, finding those who call themselves Interior Decorators is not.
Fig. 1 Is an image taken from Arco Decorations website. Being unable to find an individual who referred to themselves as an ‘Interior Decorator’ I found an interior decorating company and used this image to visualise the type of work an interior decorator might undertake; paint work, wallpapering, making a space look aesthetically pleasing through new clean décor on walls and floors.
Scrolling through images, I found Fig. 2, which made me think further about the word decoration. Just as we hang decorations on the Christmas tree, we use decorations in our home, not always because they are required but because they please us, they make it more beautiful, they are sentimental and they state something about who we are.
Once I was able to think about interior decoration a little wider I enjoyed looking into and writing up this exercise.
Once I was able to think about interior decoration a little wider I enjoyed looking into and writing up this exercise.
Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 I believe show design companies; Casazul Creative Studios and Casa Do Passadico Interiors, respectively, using decoration to complete their designs. Thus, I would consider interior decorating to be both the foundations required for a space; wall, ceiling and floor décor and the items, which are added to enhance and make a statement in a space.
Interior Design Fig. 7
Interior Design Fig. 6
Interior Design Fig.7
Interior Design Fig. 8
Interior Design Fig. 9
Fig. 6 shows the work of Interior Designer Jean-Louis Denoit. I believe there is more than just decoration in this space. To create a space like this takes knowledge, skills, understanding concepts and executing them to, or above the clients wish. Similarly, Douglas Mackie’s design in Fig 9 is sympathetic to its 19th century surroundings, which takes knowledge and excellence in ones abilities to carry out so faultlessly. Fig. 7 and 8 show images of Hangzhou Zhongshuge bookstore by designer Li Xiang. She has created not only a bookstore but also an extraordinary experience.
To sum up I would suggest that Interior Designers also interior decorate but Interior decorators alone are not Interior Designers. I expect to look at both aspects within the Interior Design BA and I will be interested to know if my thinking is along the correct lines.
Fig. 9[Photograph] At: douglasmackie.com/projects/Chelsea (Accessed on 11.01.19)
Refection on this exercise
When I was unable to find individuals who refer to themselves as Interior Decorators I initially got a little concerned about how I was going to complete this task and grasping at straws thought I could only show an image from a decorator’s website. Decorators are of course ‘interior decorators’ but when viewing more images, I considered that interior decoration can be undertaken by designers and non-designers, Interior Design however is something much greater, conceptual and skilled. Once I was able to consider and provide examples of the differences, I enjoyed undertaking the task, pleased that I was able to widen my thinking a little. I did not draw a mind map or spider gram for this exercise but I can appreciate how useful and thought provoking this could be and will aim to create these for future tasks.
This exercise has also been particularly useful for me to get use to referencing, something that I have to say I found particularly time consuming and am not entirely sure I have correct?
Further to this half way through writing the blog, text started to be overwritten/deleted, when I inserted new text into the midst of a passage. This has been hugely frustrating and time consuming and I have been unable to find a solution to this? Frustrations of being new to blogging and using WordPress!
Feedback from my tutor on all aspects of this exercise will be most useful for my work ongoing.
Lee's study journey 