Week 3 - Design Directions

The Folie so far

- emphasizes on learning through experience

- a change of perception

- Folie hangs under the bridge, accessible via walkway

- it travels slightly across the bridge (not extending site perimeters)

- the light comes in through peepholes

- Folie spins and interior space drops out underneath "shell" to a 360 degree view of city

Problems

Feedback from tutors say that the design is too complex, there is too much going on at once. 

An greater emphasis on what is the experience of the space/room instead of on the mechanics of the Folie. 

It was proposed that our Folie would travel across the bridge (future expansion) however there are pillars that would prevent it from doing so. Tutors also suggest to focus more on the 'now' rather than include designing for future expansion. 

Folie would still travel along the bridge a bit, however what are the mechanisms we can use to enable this?

Solution

After many attempts at re-designing the space, trying to eliminate unnecessary elements, it was decided to focus on the experience and eliminate the inner space dropping down. This gave an additional advantage as we now have the full 5m (height) to work with.

Research suggests using a cable system to allow the Folie to travel along the bridge, this worked well as the design was simple and easy to understand. 

Render of how the rotation and cable system works

To take advantage of the 5m height allowance but also remain integral to our original design, it was decided that the there would be an upper and lower space, separated via steps. The concept of the dark and light space is still evident as the upper level is only illuminated via the light specs coming through and the bottom level an entire glassed space. Both spaces in it's essence are ethereally calming, a space which enables contemplation or light studying; the experiences through these two rooms allow new perceptions of the self and of the city to be born. 

Montage of upper floor atmosphere

An important detail in our Folie is that it was designed with the context in mind. taking inspiration from the patterns on the underside of the bridge, the pattern is replicated as the bottom of the Folie. So if viewing the Folie from underneath the bridge will be somehow camouflaged. It was a way to incorporate aspects from the context into the design. 

Image 1

 Image 1: Shows the design that allows the spinning movement using the cable system.
               Design of the underside of Folie inspired by actual pattern of the          bridge.
               Elevation of Folie.

Image 2: Odum, W (2012)

Image 2: Photograph of the underside of the bridge. Even though the Folie won't span the same width of the bridge, the pattern it is directly positioned underneath will be replicated.



Render of the Folie

Render