Design diary

I randomly chose 3 colours from my pencil case to try and use to create a selection of small sketches using them. I think this is an excellent technique to start being creative especially if you don't have any ideas on what to draw.  

To aid with creating visualisations, I have mocked up a sketch-up file which I will then import into twin motion to have a slightly more realistic visualisation tool. I have currently used flat colours to give myself a more blank template to work with, however when I create my visualisation these will probably be a lot more detailed.  

  ZAC Le Croissant is a project that aims to create a usable public landscape for all. A lot of the concepts behind this project are around making the space unique; part of this was by importing ping pong tables from Singapore and bins from the Netherlands. Although I do think these objects do the job of being unique and eye-catching but also practical, I do, however, think importing these objects from around the world makes the project a lot less sustainable and therefore does take a lot away from how great the site could be. After looking at photos from the site, you can clearly see that the area is supposed to be used at night and during the day; however, the photos of the space make it feel unsafe and dark. Overall the park is effective. However, there are a lot of improvements that could be made to the site, which would make it more sustainable and usable such as fewer imported materials and better lighting.

 I have used my AutoCAD drawing and created a photoshopped image of the site for me to see a more rendered version of the site so I can see how the area may work if it was to be built. I like the site and feel like it fits the concept of my site, which was to create something useable with a focus on food production and community. 

  I have started to create a concept for one of my projects this year; the concept revolves around the idea of community being created through food. The area on the bottom right is a mixture of allotments and a large community garden; there is a small cafe within the park which will use the food created from the gardens. The bottom left shape is inspired by the ceiling above the brewery quarter, of a similar shape.

  Roberto Burle Marx creates large-scale plazas using brightly coloured paving; his work is quite bold and often surrounded by plants with the same brightly coloured property. I like his designs and find them inspiring, although I wonder if the use of the area is primarily for people just to walk through, which, if this is the case, would be a shame. Some of the designs may look better above than when going through the area, which may be why the planting is so bold in tackling the site's downfall. Overall I really like his designs due to their bold colour and bright planting.

  Here's a small drawing I did of a man in a boat using alcohol markers and colouring pencils

I have been trying to colour with pencils to create a less opaque background, I am really not a fan of colouring pencils but I'm going to give it another go to see if I can create a better effect  

Kathryn Gustafson is a Landscape Architect who primarily focuses on the four seasons and elements, using the form of terrain to do this. In the project below at  Whistler Square, the site's goal was to integrate humans and nature to create a seamless, useable and aesthetically pleasing environment. I like how the soft landscape within the site complements the area, and nothing within the site feels overwhelming. I find her work to be quite cold looking due to the amount of greyness within the design; however, when this is complimented by the greenery within the area, it can cause a nice effect.  

  In my lecture this week, we created 15-minute collages, where we ripped up magazines and glued them onto the page. I picked the main colour as pink with accents of yellow. I then uploaded this collage into photoshop and pixilated it to see the colours clearly. You can really see the shades of the composition and therefore see areas that may want more of a specific colour, like in the bottom left, there is a distinct lack of bright yellow.  I do like this technique a lot, and it would be something I would like to do again in the future as it allows me to freely do things rather than thinking for a long time and creating something that doesn't feel organic.

Rewilding workshop- Last week I participated in a rewilding workshop, where our focus was moderate rewilding and trying to ensure that the area's character was maintained while encouraging species of flora and fauna to thrive. These were some photos I took from the site.  

  Dan Kiley uses symmetry and angles to show that he is "organising nature". His works appear pretty put together and heavily designed, rather than leaning into nature; I feel his designs are effective. Personally, I find some of his designs quite harsh, however, when water is included in the site, it appears a lot lighter, and I prefer his designs like this. His designs often include areas to sit in rather than just look at to provide an almost sanctuary-like effect. Overall I really like his ideas when designing and find them intriguing and appear quite a sensory experience.

I did some quick sketches of my grandad's house, who recently passed away. His house was one of my favourite places to visit, and being in his garden will always be memories I really look back on fondly. I do feel as though art has been a nice way for me to process grief and look back at these memories without there being sadness attached to it.  

 Christopher Bradley-hole uses a wide range of textures and shapes to create entirely enclosed spaces, often surrounded by large-scale borders such as fences. Many of his projects are claustrophobic, making them quite unpleasant to be in. However, the effect is really impactful and, therefore, is quite successful. Overall his project seems more like art installations rather than areas that are usable, and I personally feel the sites are quite successful in this aim.