Continuity

The archive was definitely a helpful addition to the model, it especially helps to define the space around the theaters.  The end theater looks better moved over-it gives the space between theaters more room- but it could probably still move over a little further.  The major problem I'm having right now is the continuity of the archive.  The archive itself is continuous by a path against the existing building that is open to the library.  However, it needs to have continuity in the enclosure so the archive reads as one object.  I tried adding a solid piece to the outer edge, but in all other cases the walls follow the circulation so adding a solid piece not connected to anything doesn't seem right.  On the other hand I don't want to block off the visual connection in the cross section, so something too thick and solid doesn't work either.  I could also try reworking the library space so that the connection between archive spaces occurs on the outer edge of the space instead of against the existing building.

completely open library



solid component extends down to the next floor plate in the front




thinner piece connecting the archive spaces



Model Time

So far the model is going pretty well, I still need to add the archive on the top and then I'll get a better idea of how the whole building works.  I'm definitely realizing the limits of drawing just the sections in fully articulating the flow of everything.  The only difficulty im facing is becuase everything is on separate levels I kind of had to juggle the different pieces in my hands to get an idea of how it looks together until it was far enough along.  There are some things that need to be changed from looking at the model as together as it is.  For example,  I think the theater on the end needs to move farther out because the it seems to be overpowering the main theater too much from the front.  From the side the main theater is reading as an object well.  I'm a little concerned that the right side of the building is too heavy with the three theaters, which I think was a problem I had at midcrit so I should have recognized that, but they are successful in contrasting the more open pieces, like the entrances and the open space under the building.  On the other hand, I think the left side doesn't quite have anything substantial enough attaching it to the ground.  There's also less visual continuity cross sectionally than there was in my head.  It might be because the program is laid out in a very linear way, so there are only so many spaces that pass each other.  It just makes the archive's relationship to the the different moments of program more important. 

Drawings without Paper- review

A Lesson in Plaster

So the first casting in plaster turned out okay for a first attempt. I was pleased to see that it stayed as one piece when it came out of the mold (although it was clearly fragile because I broke it later).  Couple of things I learned about plaster:  you have to shake the mold very well if you are trying to cast skinny pieces; black foam core is does not come off cleanly- it leaves black specs.  As far as the model is concerned, the main void was not deep enough and the model looked very addative instead of cast.  I think this is partially because the mold was built in pieces and plaster is extremely sensitive to changes in the edges. 

First Attempt

The second attempt was also a learning experience with the plaster.  I tried to be more precise with the mold, but unfortunately I don't think it mattered much in the end.  I was mixing a batch of palster and it started to harden in the bucket, so that was a nice waste of plaster.  I tried again to mix plaster but this time  I didn't have enough to fill the mold and I had no extra.  Unfortunately I didn't decide that I didn't have enough plaster until after I started to pour.  I tried to get as much plaster out as  I could so I could still try the mold still, but that meant the edges wouldn't be crisp. 
As far as the spatiality of the model, the main object (theater) is way too small and out of scale. The void reads better, but I think it's still reading as a series of added objects.  Perhaps the pieces other than the void and the object need to be closer closer in depth, or broken up to allow for more layers and a more gradual change.




Second Attempt

 Final note on plaster:  precision in the mold and use white foam core!

Drawings without Paper -Wire

First Attempt- learning about the wire



Second Attempt- getting better




Third Attempt- Still Working on it

 So far I've made three wire models and a few pieces of random studies with it.  I think I'm starting to get the technique for bending the wire so it's significantly less frustrating than it was the first night and more about seeing how the space forms as I bend the wire and deciding where it should go next.  I've got a pretty good idea of where this drawing without paper is going now- I have to make sure to extend the depth more and to incorporate the sheet of paper. Another thing I need to do, especially for the final model is to be more conscious about the continuity of the wire instead of just adding extra pieces when I ran out. 

For the other drawing without paper, I finally made the first mold and cast today which I probably should've already done,  but now that I've built one mold I think it will be easier to build the next.  It is still drying in the mold but one thing to keep in mind with the plaster- deeper pieces in a mold take up more plaster than it would seem like they would, or perhaps the size of the bucket was deceiving but I had to mix more plaster as after I had started to pour because I didn't have enough, so hopefully it will have enough strength to stay together.  We'll find out tomorrow.

Things to Look at Part 2

Bernard Tschumi diagrams

Things to Look at Part 1

 Rem Koolhas Cordoba Congress Center