The first assignment for the semester was to design a folie; a
sculptural installation with a function to accommodate users. The folie had to
fit in a 5m x 5m x 5m area and be able to accommodate a minimum of two people.
The Folie’s purpose is as a ‘learning space,’ an area for a small group to be
taught in someway about something. For this project we were placed into groups
of four.
It is important to consider the existing facilities encompassing
the area and what types of people frequent the site at what times and for what
purposes. Security & lighting must also be observed as the folie design is
a public space and it must be ensured that the public feels comfortable enough
to attend the area at night and day. Well lit, open spaces will encourage
circulation and discourage the area from becoming an illeagal drinking
destination.
Our group met and discussed the potential of the Howard Smith Wharves
Site and any ideas that had been though of. We were very interested in the
development of Brisbane and the drastic changes that had occurred in the surrounding
areas. Research was undertaken into the history of surrounding areas and into
the Howard Smith Wharves themselves and it was decided that 5 places would be
chosen to analyze in order to teach the public more about the area.
It was decided that the most interesting and simple way to observe and
portray the development of the areas was to provide images of the sites as they
have been historically and a way of viewing them as they are today.
An in depth discussion and observation was undertaken into the different
learning techniques of individuals. It was decided that a combination of reading,
experiencing and observing was the best way to encompass the majority of
learning styles. Using a variety of methods was utilized as a way of keeping
the process interesting. Research was undertaken into different forms of
viewing and a successful example of periscopes being used in a public
environment was found.
WALK into Skittle Lane in Sydney's central business district next month
and you may think you're in Liverpool, Bankstown or Parramatta.
Four giant optical ''periscopes'', made of ductwork and painted bright
yellow, will adorn the airconditioning shafts and downpipes of the small
brick-walled lane. Peering inside each ''portal'', visitors will be able to
watch films playing continuously as they depict scenes from the three western
Sydney suburbs.
The project, Peri(pheral)scope, is one of seven laneway projects to be
installed in late September as a part of the City of Sydney's Art & About
festival.
This solution was utilized, as it was interesting, appealing and fit in
with the context of the area. It was decided that an image with a short very
relevant piece of text would be placed upon a periscope so that each historical
site could be viewed as it was historically, understood through the information
provided and experienced as it id today through the periscope image.
We began creating a rough draft of the possible design on google
sketchup.
It was important to create a space that was easily accessible and
welcoming to passers by, whilst still providing a private and quiet environment
for the public to learn. An investigation was undertaken into the angles the
periscopes would need to be built at in order to access the nest possible view
of the five chosen historical sites. Images were sourced for the informative
plaques within the Folie. More precise design was undertaken into the interiors
and changes were made to the original sketchup image in order to make it more
aesthetically pleasing and practical with thought given to lighting (natural
and artificial) ventilation and other natural forces.
Final Follie Images:
