This semester, we are approaching the use of colour in spatial design representation and fabrication.
For our first task, we were asked to record our experience walking to the St James Theatre (our site for this project). We had to observe and analyse the use of colour in the surrounding environment, and while doing so I sketched and photographed things that stood out to me. I focused on a few aspects: the impact of light on surfaces, colour as being imbedded into material / colour as being applied to material and colour being reflected off surfaces.
The photos/drawing below are of my documentation of colour throughout our journey.
1 entry, reception and threshold 2 dark pool 3 infinite reflection water ramp 4 main pool 5 dark private spa 6 light private spa 7 refreshment terrace 8 changing cubicles 9 restrooms and cleaning cupboard
Sections
Proposed East Section of Bath House, Dadley Building, Mount Street.
Above are the finished rendered perspective views of my Rhino model. My last step is to choose my best shots and use Photoshop to brighten certain images, add details and figures. I am quite pleased with the outcome of my rendering process.
Perspective Drafts
Entrance to Dark Pool
Refreshments 1
Refreshments 2
Refreshments 3
Refreshments 4
Sitting in Private Spa
Fitting Rooms
Looking from Fitting Rooms towards Main Pool area
SketchFab Captures
changing cubicles
in the restroom
looking at reception
entry into bath house interior
looking down walkway to restrooms + changing cubicles
Section, Plan and Elevation Drafts
Compositional study
I found that taking capturing perspective views in Rhino was more difficult than I thought it would be, so I used sketchfab.com so I could slightly distort the view to make things appear smaller. I was then able to succeed in capturing views, such as the restrooms, changing cubicles and entry into the bath house area.
I have also included screen captures of plain sections and plans, that I can then use Photoshop to colour and add materials for my finals.
Rhino Model Progress Work
Perspective from below of Dadley Building (‘ghosted’ mode – Rhino Software).
The perspective shots above show my finished extruded Rhino 3D digital model ready to be rendered. I will add my chosen materials and lighting using V-Ray in Rhino.
The bird eye view shots of my Rhino model above, shows my final design of the basement of the Dadley Building once being extruded.
To start off with my Rhino digital model drawing, I traced my hand-drawn plan. To make things easier, I have colour coded the layers: (Green = Interior/Feature Walls, Blue = Plan Walls, Orange = Pools). My next step is to extrude the plan in 3D, which I then have a sense of what my bath house design will look like in real form.
Main pool: Natural lighting is important for the main pool area and large windows provide this. There is also artificial lighting (concealed LED strips) built in to the prism ceiling.
Dark pool: I will have LED lighting running along the underside of all the bench seats, projecting a light path on the ground, to guide people along the walkway – in dark and light conditions. Other areas will have concealed up lighting for a soft non-direct glow.
The drain above would be useful in my bath house, where I would run it along the side of each pool to stop the water overflowing the walkway. The drain is also flush and, so there would be no hazard tripping over or slipping on it.
Allproof Industries Plumbing & Drainage
Air Ventilation
In order to avoid mould from growing on the surfaces of the interior of my bath house, I have researched ways how I will ventilate my building, taking into consideration the effects and health conditions (diagram below).
Below is shown how I would ventilate my bath house interior. Fresh air supply to the pool areas can be incorporated into the prism ceiling For natural ventilation, there is also a slim window at the top of the wall (separating the pool and pocket forest) in room with the dark pool – [not marked in colour on the plan].
This project celebrates the planting of the native forest and using the water to make this connection to nature. This falls under the core value of Kaitiakitanga which means “managing and conserving the environment as part of a reciprocal relationship, based on the Maori world view that we as humans are part of the natural world.” This ties into Te Aranga Principle number 4: Taiao, where the aim of the principle is to protect and restore the natural environment.
As I have already decided of the particular trees of my pocket forest, I will now focus on the different native bushes and grasses to add to it.
New zealand flaxes
Moosey’s Country Garden in NZ is full of different colourful hybrid flaxes. Flax (Phormium) are also completely relevant to the relationship of the pocket forest and bath house, as many flax bushes are grown near water. The most common known flax that are grown in the bush are ‘tenax’ and ‘cookianum’.
Below are some Hybrid Flaxes grown in this garden:
I thought Red Flax Stripes would look incredible in my pocket forest as it would add so much colour and vibrance to the plain forest. It would also match well with the yellow leaves of the Kowhai trees.
‘Cream and Pink Stripes Flax’
Again, this flax would add a lovely sweetness and pigment to my pocket forest.
‘Hybrid Flax’
new zealand GRasses
Carex grass is New Zealand native grass I will consider for my pocket forest. There are many types within in the Carex family (this includes Carex Albula, Carex Appressa, Carex Maorica etc.) The Carex Solandri grass in particular is a forest sedge and is known to grow underneath the shade of trees, which would fit well in my pocket forest.
For the materials of my model, I want to have neutral feel to the atmosphere for the walls and columns and then something more quirky like reflected surfaces for the feature walls and ceiling.
For the main building I am considering using grey/black porcelain tile and stone, as I want the whole basement of the building to feel a sense of calmness – referring back to my theme of bathing in darkness. I want to use polished/black chrome aluminium for the distorted feature walls, which I can then get some interesting reflections with. Also applying the same sort or similar material to the prism ceiling.
Sample of Black Stone, from Allproof Industries, NZ.
This sample of black granite with a honed finish, supplied from Allproof Industries is a very good example of what I would like for the walls of the basement to be made out of. It is natural too, which relates well to the relationship of the bath house to the pocket forest. Therefore I am very willing to consider this material in my final bath house design.
My favourite bathing experience is taking a dip the hot spa pool at night, in the Winter time. The feeling of the cold breeze in my face while my body submerged in the steaming water is one of my favourite feelings. There is something especially special for me about looking at water in the night time. I think of being on a bridge, looking out to the water while the colourful city lights reflect on the dark waves, which is contrasted with the bright stars in the night sky.
Thinking back to my first vivid bathing experience which I have been reminded of since I was young, would be when I was two years old. I was in the spa pool at Mount Albert Aquatic Centre – where I spent a lot of my childhood. Because it was night and dark outside, I could see the reflection of myself on the translucent ceiling panels and thought the reflection was another one of myself suspended up high. I reasoned that since I could see my own body in the ceiling, I would be able to get there as well. I was totally determined that I would join my image up high. I spoke about my reflected image as a person, (for example I was determined to go and play with ‘Lena’). There are two bodies, one of the physical and the image of the floating body. There is the idea that the body might be flying away from the physical body.
This is a lovely metaphysical idea that I have tried to work with in this project and the joining of the physical and projecting bodies.
AUT Spatial Design Fabrication 