Architecture in Motion Workshop

I found this workshop to be both a fun and interesting learning experience. Some may have discounted film as irrelevant to architectural practice, but I found it very useful in the way we were pushed to think of architectural experiences beyond the everyday. Through documenting a space, and morphing it via modelling and drawing, I tried to convey the notion that architectural spaces can hold significant emotional impact. My film featured a man entering a room, as the ceiling begins to drip liquid. He stumbles through looking for an escape, as the black liquid comes crashing down around him, quickly filling up the room. This substance begins to possess him, and he stumbles towards the wall, looking for a way out. This wall cracks apart, leaving him entirely alone in a great wasteland.

Within my film, I tried to reference the way different architectural spaces are related to one another, and can cause strong emotions and elicit powerful reactions. The film is clearly metaphorical, and a demonstration of the strong effect certain architectural spaces can have on people. I believe in this way, film as a documentation of architecture can be an extremely powerful tool. Finally, I believe that Architecture in Motion was a great course, as it allowed us to experiment beyond 'conventional' architectural modes of communication.

This is the final film:


Stills from the final film:




The techniques of assembling a stop-motion film, and drawing the various components with charcoal, provided a great learning experience. With this knowledge, I really would love to return to the medium at some stage and create another film of this sort. I have always been interested in film, and I think this is a great way to tie in this interest with my interest in architecture.

Concept Sketches/drafts:




Early Storyboarding/Ideas

Images of Final Environment

Steve Jobs' Office from the exterior


Interior of Donatella Versace's Office:
Versace's power is derived from fashion. This notion is mirrored in the form of her office, which represents swirling, beautifully coloured fabric. Some of these sections move into place as you walk through her office, demonstrating the constantly changing nature of fashion, and Versace's need to adapt depending on the current fashion climate.


Donatella Versace's elevator


Table for two clients in meeting place:
there is a gravitational pull between the two legs of the table, as they strain against each other. This is representational of the vastly different yet equal forms of power both clients have. One is derived from fashion, the other from technology-two very disparate fields, yet both clients have reached the top of their field, and so are equal in this power struggle, made manifest in the table.


Steve Jobs' elevator in top level of his office:
Jobs' elevator fits neatly into the centre of his room, where it simultaneously becomes his desk. Jobs' power is about technology and innovation, and I wanted this unique fusion of elements to represent that. Although Jobs' table/elevator is slightly raised from the ground, representing his climb to the top, he is still very much in touch with those around him, as one has to be in a field involving so many technicians, engineers and designers.

Images of Draft Environment

Final Environment