Sunday 19 December 2010

Quick Sequence Sketches, first attemp

Played around with Pro Makers on Trace. Constructive crit on images, darker outline on the foreground (cheers Alick) and fade on the distance.

So played a bit in  Photoshop, with layers of low opacity white, various filters and image enhancements.

Enclosure


Revelation

Noise of waterfall, glass viewing platform reflecting the water. 
Two different speeds of water, thus channeled in different ways

The Choice

Well after an intense crit ,'the panel' decided on Alternative. I wanted to do Connection.  The issues with connection are the shadow the 'flyover' creates. Also maybe too much dominance of the axis on the space.
The attraction of alternative was due to the valley idea, as well as maybe the general setting out. Though the large circular area's of grass where not appreciated, which on reflection i can see that there is not enough difference in the sizes as well as maybe a bit strong on the basic geometric shape.


Thanks to all who made comments, 5 for Connective, 1 for Education and 1 for Alternative.

Tuesday 14 December 2010

Sketch Designs

What a diverse bunch we are, from extreme wow ,noisy, party, to calm considered and conservative. I noticed that nearly all of us had a phrase  that our favoured design seem to spring from, even if we did not know it before presenting. You have to go with your own personality and how you see the world to get passion, otherwise its just 'another job'. There was plenty of passion yesterday.


I will not tell you which one was chosen to develop yet, so that if any viewers would like to comment then there is no bias. An initial idea sketch followed by a more detailed sketch. The three words they are inspired by are Connective, Educational and Alternative.


Click on image to enlarge.



The big idea is to re-connect Tunbridge wells with the Park (known as the grounds really needs to changed as it congers up the wrong picture as one thinks of sport, not leisure). So when some one says Tunbridge Wells they would think Calverley Park. Connect with people and their every day life, whether using its direct routes as a more pleasant walk from one end of town to another or stopping for a cup of coffee and a rest whilst admiring the views, promising to come back another day to explore further. Connect Business so that they have a vested interest in the park staying well maintained (through Business rates). Concert venue, water and ice, fantastic planting scheme, restaurants, circular walk/run, all designed to pull visitors and regulars into the park. It should be part of the day when in Tunbridge Wells. 


Education about food. Local schools, colleges and higher education, to use the facilities and be hand on. Local markets to sell produce on the site. All the cafe's and restaurants to have a theme of fresh produce, cooked on site (no boil in the bag) and reasonable pricing to show good food does not have to be expensive. Large play area with bespoke designed equipment for the process of education through play. Circular walks of woodland and amazing planting.
Simular themes of connection and leisure incorporated in the design. User groups to have a say in the running of the park, so to attain adoption from the start.





An alternative experience of the landscape. Using the topography to our advantage, rather than being frightened of the challenges it throws up. Cutting into the landscape creating a valley with high sides, making and enclosure. The navigation is not obvious and is rewarded with surprise views of the park plus some enclosed viewing points over the lake. A contrast is the large grassed area's, very formal for play and relaxation. A concert stage cut into the hill looking over the lake (facing S/E). On the south facing side superb planting schemes to draw people in for a more meandering walk, exploring scent, colour and texture.
Upper area restaurant with fountains and ice rink in the winter. Water fall working its way down to the lake. Circular walk for the dog walkers and runners. Adoption as above encouraged.


So there we  have it, three big idea's, one choice. Your thoughts would be gratefully received. Still more development needed but its a start.





Monday 13 December 2010

Quick post

Its late and probably like everyone else been at it solid for two days.

What i have learnt.

Pressure is both a good and bad thing. On the plus side it gets stuff down on paper, on the negative side , the improvement of the design is so great between the three designs that you want to start the first one again!!!

At least these are still at sketch stage. I can see sooooooo many  faults, a case of more speed less haste.

Rendering on trace with pro markers is like using paint, you can mix on the paper which is really handy to getaway from the formal look.

I can see so much detail justification that has to be sorted out. Plus lighting so much new stuff out there really want to make sure i don't miss anything as a lit space is a whole different world, just listen to Adele.

Bed and then face the music tomorrow!



Mind map when thinking about 'alternative.'

Materials; got as far as dismantling the 'Ark Royal', old communication satellites, Concorde and submarines.

Uses; ended up with time travel, the theory of space folding so that one could leap from one side to the other in an instant, or is that 'Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy', not sure, but some of these idea's were used , which is frightening for any visitor.

Sunday 5 December 2010

Light is Everything


Going stir crazy, so went out for a run, snow, clear sky and sunset with frosty mist rising from the snow. Soooooo pleased i took my camera. Best click on them to actually see. No alterations in colour, merged in PS for panoramas

Panasonic LX3

Galleries

Cropped,

http://gallery.me.com/hixondesign#100665&bgcolor=black&view=grid

Panoramas






Friday 3 December 2010

Wigglesworth looks at Robin Hood rescue | News | Building Design

Following suggested links via Christine, toms regular contributor on his not insubstantial ( or is that a double negative, i am trying Joey) web site. I eneded reading about the proposed demolition of Robin Hood Gardens, and as usual got all hot under the collar (saves on heating bills) and 'shared' my thoughts on the subject. Not that anyone will ever take any notice, but its one step better than talking to yourself. Yes that's right, shhhhhh somebody may hear.

Wigglesworth looks at Robin Hood rescue | News | Building Design

Where on earth do they get their prices from? £70-100k pet unit, Coming form the construction industry that really is a load of tosh. This argument is put forward all the time and nobody ever challenges it.

As for what is replacing it, spot the difference? nope neither can I. The lessons from the 60's about not listening to communities and bulldozing on are alive and well by the sounds of it. Its so reassuring having our betters to do the thinking for us, m'Lord.
The core of the subject is people, place people with opportunities to better themselves in a community, you get the Barbican. Take away those opportunities and tell them they will lucky to get a job and if they do they should be satisfied with minimum wage, dump them on an estate, bingo! sink estate! A building is never going to solve how people see the world, opportunity and hope are the way out. As people take pride in themselves, then pride in their surroundings follows. This is were the modernists got it wrong (i love modernist buildings, and i am not an architect) people are not machines. Can we learn from this? Yes but foundations first, and recently the raising of student fee's (and its not only the young who go to University) has in one swoop put us back 40 years, degree's will now be privilege of the wealthy. Politicians hang your heads in shame.
I think the real issue is being brushed under the carpet. So whether Robin Hood stays or goes the issues in that area will remain. What a bloody waste.




What makes a great space?



Or what makes a space were people want to meet. Found this worth a look, as at the end of the day if one forgets about people during the bustle of trying to create a cool design then it will be an empty space and the first place were local councils will reduce budgets when times are tough. 
Though to be fair, we seem to have covered most of the words with our brain storming.























Spent a lot of time thinking (and commenting on other peoples sites) instead of working (paid work). Now have three days to put something down on paper.

So need to do some sketching. So do it!!!