DON'T PANIC | MArch Thesis Project | Cinemethods Studio - University of Liverpool

University of Liverpool school of architecture

ARCH522 : THESIS CINéMETHODS by hamid

Khalili

RICHard koeck

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

DESIGN RESEARCH: synopsis

research topic design output critical reflections

02-10-2021

26-11-2021

00 Semester One tested research by design methods through a topic of the students own choosing. This framework was developed by the students themselves. The topics correspond to larger themes proposed by Liverpool School of Architecture’s existing research groups.

The goal of this semester is twofold: equip students with tools to develop their design thesis and to formulate their architectural design discourse in the form of an original design thesis proposal. During this process they will identify a topic of design research (establish a critical position), define a design research method (through e.g. practice-based research), and lastly, articulate a set of research questions and approach of the thesis design.

Our semester 1 research into panic buying revealed the fragility of the UK’s current consumer infrastructure. This investigation raised questions related to global resource production, climate change and the arrangement of our cities.

‘What would happen in a society where the consumption industry is fully automated and where public access is restricted?’

Although panic buying may seem like a relatively minor affliction in today’s world, it could also be viewed as a symptom of the wider failings of the UK’s consumer infrastructure. The architectural significance of our project became evident when the threads of our investigation, which began at the scale of the supermarket, took us much further afield, revealing insights into the layout of our cities and global trade networks.

Therefore, this semester, we seek to investigate the hypothetical consequences of transforming our consumer industry into a system designed to curtail panic buying and the other fragilities which currently exist. As a critical commentary of the conglomerate paradigm, this project provides a necessary, pre-emptive response to the existing fragility of our consumer trade network, by sacrificing community and social freedom in exchange for a regimented and guaranteed food supply. The project introduces ‘The Atlas Tower’ which creates a safe haven and abandons the urban sprawl to allow the land to repair and heal from the chaos that ensued in our narrative.

DESIGN RESEARCH: SYNOPSIS

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

00: DESIGN RESEARCH: synopsis

DESIGN RESEARCH: synopsis

The topic we chose to explore as our design research proposition was panic buying. Panic buying is defined as: “the action of buying large quantities of a particular product or commodity, due to sudden fear of a forthcoming shortage or price rise”.

panic buying

research topic design output critical reflections

This is a topical phenomenon that has been recently highlighted by the ongoing global pandemic, though its occurrence has been recorded throughout history. The act of panic buying occurs most notably in times of crisis, and has ramifications that extend into the architectural realm.

For our design research, our team aimed to represent the issue through a story that highlights this grotesque reality we are living in, and the consequences of our actions. The act of panic buying may not be an inherently architectural problem, however there are spatial, urban and social effects to these actions. The very act of panic buying highlights a systemic problem, prior to and after the act.

Our objective was not necessarily to solve this issue, but to identify and potentially ask the right questions about the problem.

research topic: panic buying

PANIC BUYING

00: DESIGN RESEARCH: synopsis

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

expected fuel cycle

anti-social behaviour

The topic of panic buying resides within a larger architectural discourse. Fundamentally, the act of panic buying is a breakdown within the consumer industry, which extends from the immediate scale of the supermarket shelves, to the global produce supply chains. When panic buying occurs, the consumer industry is catering to a public it was not designed for. As a result, problems within the spatial and urban design are introduced, and architectural ramifications begin to emerge.

shortage reported in the media

car owners respond with panic buying

+weekly

normal refuel schedule cannot meet demands

augmented fuel cycle widespread fuel shortage

Areas in which the consumer industry most notably fails to accommodate panic buyers occur at distinct nodes.

The supermarket typology resides at the centre of these pressure points, though the surrounding urban, national and global scales are also affected by the phenomenon.

Deliveries, products and customers all converge in a large number on these spaces causing chaos when a surge occurs. We refer to these nodes as ‘Centres of Chaos’.

These ‘Centres of Chaos’ were utilised by our team as a visual and representational example of the architectural ramifications of panic buying. Essentially, these nodes define the areas in which panic buying most notably occurs, and demonstrates that the problem is not limited to the immediate scale that we observe, but is in fact influence by urban design, national transportation links, and global supply chains.

architectural relevance

second hand trading

stockpiling and hoarding

retail workers adopting crowd-management roles

00: DESIGN RESEARCH: synopsis

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

DESIGN RESEARCH: synopsis

research topic design output thesis concepts

video essay

timeline

Although video essays are a growing form of information consumption, viewing precedents aided our team’s ability to recognise their distinct features.

Indeed, it became apparent that video essays are utilised in numerous ways, and are not limited to finite genres. In actuality, video essays are used to analyse and explain a plethora of subjects, from social politics, to sports, to cinematography.

It is notable that the majority of these precedents were viewed on YouTube - a platform that has only existed for the last 1.5 decades. This presentation form is therefore a neoteric design research method, that breaks away from more traditional forms of architectural representation.

As part of Cinémethods, our group was challenged to employ a cinematic approach to our design methodology, and ultimately use the moving image as a representational design tool. As a result, our methodology was defined by the task of making our architectural ideas comprehendable through the medium of film. Arguably, this somewhat unconventional approach to research representation allowed us to communicate architectural atmospheres and analyses in a way that extends beyond the boundaries of traditional plans and sections.

Following the technological advancements of the 21st century, architectural films, video essays and animations have become popular methods of a approaching design representation. It was therefore our aim to utilise filmic tools to comprehend, dissect and communicate design ideas. This was achieved via the use of Adobe After Effects - a film and animation-based software that allows the manipulation of footage

Conceptual art designer, Nick Stath, explained the important and evergrowing relationship between film and architecture. Indeed, the use of film and a representational design tool has existed for decades, though the advancement of digital technology has opened new doors for the process: “The image can capture the attention of the viewer in 3 seconds, the moving image even less.” Nick walked our team through the techniques he utilises within his architectural concept designs. Notably, the importance of proportion cannot be underestimated, as the scale of elements in comparison to each other can significantly alter the mood of the image. Similarly, the composition of the image and camera placement can also inspire varying ambiances. We applied these same rules to our video essay. We considered proportion, tonality, and how the camera panned through each image. These techniques altered how the viewer perceived the information presented, therefore these elements were crucial to implement.

Video Essays are a relatively modern way to convey information. They adopt a similar structure to traditional essays in that they aim to advance a particular argument, though they take advantage of the moving image to portray points. The medium has been popularised by YouTube and other video-sharing platforms.

Features of a video essay include the following: A clear topic; An argument/stance; Visual elements (film footage/ images/diagrams); Audio elements (spoken commentary/sound effects/ music); Distinct and prompt transitions to manage time and maintain interest; A concluding statement.

00: DESIGN RESEARCH: synopsis

‘‘panic buying and its architectural ramifications’’

Even as the virus appears to be loosening its grip on the UK, the consumption industry is left with questions: are Covid’s influences here to stay or will things go back to normal? In some cases, Covid has simply solidified consumer behaviours that were already taking shape.

Companies such as Deliveroo and Just Eat doubled their sales over lockdown. Online food shopping was increasing in popularity for years, but since the pandemic hit it has soared to record highs with the term ‘food delivery’ being searched for more than ever before. Perhaps this is the world we are now living in, and the way we shop will change to meet the new demand. From our research, our team found that the consumer system has been designed around human routine, however when that routine is broken by a crisis for such as a pandemic, the system is not prepared for handling panic behaviour. So how do people adapt to panic? Hoarding allows people to bulk up on stock so they don’t need to make as many shop visits. As the consumer behaviour continues to change, this brings to question how this will impact the consumer landscape and infrastructure.

Perhaps this is the world we are now living in, and the way we shop will change to meet the new demand?

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

DESIGN RESEARCH: synopsis

For our thesis, our group therefore seeks to investigate alterations to the supply systems we currently have in place.

thesis concept

research topic design output critical reflection

As architects, our team is interested in observing the whole picture surrounding panic buying - whilst it may be easy to say that supermarket layouts are to blame for accommodating malicious consumer behaviour, redesigning floor plans and shelves would only help to mitigate a small element of a much larger issue.

This could be in the form of alternative realities - conceptualising a series of scenarios set in the future. The ramifications of these alterations will change the built environment at a wide variety of scales, and would particularly affect how we live and interact in public spaces.

Following our design research, our team can now ask questions for our upcoming thesis, which include: •

What happens if shortages become common, and panic buying is the new normal?

•

Using current trends that we have analysed surrounding food delivery, how would the architecture adapt if trends continued?

•

As seen previously, the media affects surges of panic buying on items - in the future, will the media begin to dictate what the current ‘trends’ of panic buying are?

It is likely that these questions will be investigated utilising a cinematic methodology.

A precedent thesis for this form of representation is ‘Urban Below’, a short film that explores and speculates how the space below the bridge might become in the future.

Indeed, our team will attempt to assimilate futher digital software, such as Unreal Engine, in order to illustrate our thesis analyses and outcomes.

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

DESIGN hypothesis

HYPOTHESIS critical position DESIGN VISION DESIGN TOOLS

03-02-2022

09-02-2022

PHASE I REVIEW

15-02-2022

01 - Hypothesis: What is the assumption?

- Research findings organised - Design Vision - Design Tools: Design Brief (defines concept,constraints and parameters: context, programme, technologies, enquiry process, in relation to the argument/ hypothesis) - Sustainability vision

The architectural significance of our project became evident when the threads of our investigation, which began at the scale of the supermarket, took us much further afield, revealing insights into the layout of our cities and global trade networks.

Therefore, for our thesis, we seek to investigate the hypothetical consequences of transforming our consumer industry into a system designed to curtail panic buying and the other fragilities which currently exist.

Our thesis project adopts a design-fiction format by suggesting the following fiction: what if in the future, our society will suffer from a breakdown within the food supply chain, and will therefore have to create localized, selfsustaining pieces of architecture capable of providing for its inhabitants?

This utilisation of a ‘what if...?’ scenario is archetypal of design fictions, and allows us to generate a pre-emptive response to a predicted future issue: the problem of a significant failure within the consumer industry as it exists today.

DESIGN HYPOTHESIS

01: THESIS HYPOTHESIS

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

As a critical commentary of the conglomerate paradigm, this project provides a necessary, pre-emptive response to the existing fragility of our consumer trade network, by sacrificing community and social freedom in exchange for a regimented and guaranteed food supply.

Three key components at the core of our project are as follows: •

Communities have relocated to living within a single tower that is capable of sustaining itself and its residents. The globalization and transportation of foods played a huge role in our discussion of panic buying. Transporting food long distances is hugely unsustainable and vulnerable to breakdown as we saw during the pandemic. The centralized towers of our concept encompass a radical response to this where all produce is created close to residents.

•

People live and work in isolated living units receiving a set ration of supplies from the tower. In situations where panic buying occurred, we observed how public space was utilized in antisocial ways and delivery systems could not cope with the sudden changes in people behaviour. The separation of the public from the centres of production and distribution is a direct response to the self-serving behaviour people undertake during times of shortage. The pandemic has also played a role in this, where quarantines and mobility restrictions have reduced our ability to interact with one another.

•

Residents in the living units are cut off from the world below them. It is considered abandoned. This third component is largely a narrative device necessary for the film portion of the project. The ground, or ‘the below’, is the world we left behind when moving to this new way of living. It is used as a way to reflect and comment on the societal structures we have in place at present.

The project introduces ‘The Atlas Tower’ which creates a safe haven and abandons the urban sprawl to allow the land to repair and heal from the chaos that ensued in our narrative Ultimately, this project is critical in that it brings to attention the highly topical, yet largely overlooked, phenomenon of panic buying, and the far-reaching societal structures that influence it. By formulating a hypothetical future-Liverpool, the existing fragilities within the consumer trade network can be explored without the expectation of resolution, or the limitations of our existing systems. The ability to use design fictions for speculating about alternative presences or possible futures is at the core of design practice, and it is our team’s belief that this project provides a necessary, pre-emptive response to the existing fragility of our consumer trade network, globalised food production, and the future of sustainable living. As Bleecker surmises:

‘Design fiction pushes aside the boring, dangerous chart of “up and to the right” progress which, particularly at this time of global economic and environmental calamity, we should finally admit to ourselves is a failed illusion. Design fiction, like science fiction, speculates, reflects and extrapolates, looking at today from the side, or sideways and forming a critical, introspective perspective that can project into new (future) forms’ (Bleecker 2009, 17)

critical position

Pictured above: early design iteration, concept sketch

DESIGN VISION

01: THESIS HYPOTHESIS

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

The intended output for this thesis project was to showcase our work in the form of a film. The underlying conclusion we aim to portray through the project is that there is no piece of architecture that can provide a complete solution to issues in society. The film serves to convey a simple message to the audience; people need to learn to share, and personal responsibility plays a role in tackling today’s issues. This message ties the project back to the starting point of panic buying and resource hoarding that we see today.

Due to the fact that one of our intended outputs for this project is the promotion of a discourse surrounding the panic buying phenomenon, and the far-reaching societal structures that influence it, it was logical for our team to utilise film as a design tool, as film traditionally lends itself to the communication of ideas. Indeed, our project is, at its core, a utopian design that interlaces dystopian qualities in order to question – but not solve - the existing fragility of our consumer trade network, globalised food production, and the future of sustainable living. Since the creation of the first utopian design, The Republic by Plato in 380 B.C., it has been observed that utopias (and dystopias) are, at their fundaments, forms of design fiction that critique the world as it currently exists. Nevertheless, utopian (or dystopian) projects do not seek to provide realistic solutions to said issues, but rather, they catalyse a discourse and evoke questions about them. As Antoine Picon professed:

‘Utopia’s most decisive feature was probably its criticism of the existing social order; however, it was not synonymous with social reform. It was therefore, not expected to have any immediate social effects, but rather to act as a lens through which to view the arbitrariness of the social order, which bordered on the absurd.’

(Picon 2013, 17) Therefore, by using the format of film, our team was prevented from naively, or arrogantly, presenting our project as a solution to these issues. Instead, we attempt to simply reveal hidden knowledge, further our understanding, and provoke new insights into the consumer industry as it exists today.

Conceptual projects such as Planet City explore the relocation of the human race to a single point on earth as a response to climate change. Projects such as this help us to build an understanding of what radical change in society could look like. Planet City calculated and showcased what a city would look like if the entire population of earth resided there. The conceptual project provides a precedent for how we could approach our calculations in regard to spatial requirements and architecture that takes place at a fictitiously large scale.

For the residential component of our proposal, we generally looked to architectural movements that occurred during times of social change and development as this aligned well with the aims of our project. In particular modernism and post war architecture stood out to us due to the utopian visions for society that architects tried to bestow on people. We conducted a precedent study into le Corbusier’s unite de habitation, which we felt had a number of characteristics and design motivations appropriate to our project.

DESIGN TOOLS

Planet City, Liam Young

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

design testing

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

16-02-2022

02-03-2022

PHASE II REVIEW

08-03-2022

02 Design tests, in context (confronting the constraints set up in design brief) model, drawings -Testing techniques, on “site(s)”(identifying the constraints of the technique, material, site etc..)

-Finalised Design Brief (how is this solution innovative?)

-Reflecting on, adjusting hypothesis -Evaluating Design Tests in terms of their sustainability -Sustainability strategy

The next stage of the thesis project covers the design and testing of an architectural response to our findings. Our vision was to create a self-sustaining tower that could perpetually provide for the needs of its inhabitant without relying on global food and energy imports. Two distinct areas of development began to emerge in the tower’s development - the residential and the agricultural areas.

Making the tower self-sufficient meant having researched available renewable energy technologies applicable for use on a building. We also looked at the UK’s development goals regarding carbon reduction as a way of influencing the towers design philosophy. Designing the tower largely took place through the use of iterative design testing using the information we had gathered.

DESIGN TESTING

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

design testing

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

Due to the fact that one of the intended design out puts for this thesis was a film, it was important to analyse existing precedents and gain an understanding of the cinematic process.

film analysis

It was recommended we familiarise ourselves with short films, student projects, and examples of self-sufficient cities.

Voy eur ism

Tsun Funt Wong

urban below

Our team studied Urban Below by Han Wu, Voyeurism by Tsun Funt Wong, and Mag-lev City by Jiayang Chen. These are considered key precedents for the formulation of our film.

We therefore identified the locations that would appear in the film and began to determine design strategies for each location.

Many fictional films and novels have dealt with the same topics of as equity and sustainability in interesting and abstract ways. Referencing these helped us develop our position and determine direction of development. By studying how films tell a story and key narrative moments, it helped us to plan our own film and ensure a coherent viewing experience.

precedent study

han wu

mag lev city

Jiayang Chen

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

film analysis: line 21

film analysis: the rooftop escape

THE ROOFTOP ESCAPE

establishing shots

return to reality

dream sequence

outro

Character falls from mountain

END

INTRO

resolution

conflict

intro

Wind echoes

train noise music

mechanical whirring beeping

laser

alarm station announcement piano

AUDIO

colour palatte

robot talking intense music

police siren car noise

vent noise footsteps light flickering

trees rustling horns

soft music

HUE

AUDIO

exposition

io act

ENT

exposition

ng risi

denoument

establishing shots

OUM

n

inside tower

inciting incident

HUE

viewer in dream

CHARACTER dreams

dEN

CLIMAX

ng a ctio risi

introduction to female character

CHARACTER INTRO

ent

zoom into tower

zooming in on character - viewer is more connected

oum

cut to surveillance camera noticing woman

Establishing shots of world

n

tension brewing, rising conflict -

climax

STORY ARC

camera follows train zoom past

den

story arc

scenes

timeline

LINE 21 - Precedent

scream wind birds singing

BANG

police siren car noise

rain

silence

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

design testing

key themes

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

Our Design Research findings implicated multiple areas of architectural space as influencing panic buying. It was therefore important for our project that early on we discuss an appropriate scale for our intervention.

Looking at our data collection, we felt it was important to address fundamental relationships between consumer and food production system, reducing the reliance on wasteful transport networks. We isolated the key themes emerging in our investigation and used them to formulate the beginning of our narrative, ensuring the overall vision remained cohesive.

It is important to note we are not so much presenting our project as a solution to panic buying but using it to create discussion on a number of architectural areas related to panic buying.

identifying key themes

02: design testing

thematic moodboarding

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

STORYBOARDING

design testing

collaborative storymaking In order to formulate the film’s narrative, our team had to work collaboratively. In multiple and continuous sessions throughout the semester, we came together to produce moodboards, storyboards, loglines, narrative descriptions etc. which allowed us to begin visualising the final cinematic output.

The narrative for this proposal focuses around a futuristic mega-tower that is a self-sustaining piece of architecture and provides for all the needs of the residents.

Our story focuses around an isolated young resident of the ‘Atlas Tower’ who finds her routine is unexpectedly broken. She then embarks on a journey outside the safe confines of her living unit where she must decide the fate of the tower’s inhabitants.

It was important for us to isolate the key message of the story and plot out the protagonist’s journey in this new world. So we have split our narrative into 4 main sequences. The Below sequence represents the past and the journey from the city we know today (which is Liverpool) to the new city and way of life. The slice of life sequence shows the viewers the new ‘normal’ and way of living in this regimented way of living. The third sequence then shows there is an unusual problem, something disrupts her routine where perhaps the resident doesn’t get food for the day which ultimately makes the protagonist take matters into her own hands and this is where she and us as the viewer discovers the tower, raising a major question with the tower’s ‘perfect’ system.

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

narrative storyboards

1 Various shots of community in Liverpool. Liverpool football anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ played over the scene.

9 Enola is missing a package, she calls The Atlas Tower helpine to rectify the situation.

2 Scenes of Liverpool landmarks to reinforce the location of the film.

10 As the call continues, the camera zooms out of the unit to reveal the vast amount of living units attached to the tower.

3 Introduction to the below. Shot of an abandoned city with remnants of panic buying. Music fades into silence.

11 The camera continues to zoom out to reveal the tower.

4 Introduction of the living unit. The camera pans around the living unit to reveal details about the character.

12 The camera pans around the tower.

5 The character is revealed in her living unit and is looking out of the window.

13 The camera pans around the different farms to gain an insight into how the farms work.

6 The camera centres on the window which shows the living unit mesh wrapping the tower. As the camera moves forward, living units reconfigure themselves.

14 The call describes the process of farming as we use the camera to follow an apple’s journey through the tower.

7 The camera cuts back to inside the pod and shows the resident ‘Enola’ begin to work in her pod.

15 The camera shows the end of the farming and production process.

8 A package is delivered to the resident with her food package for the day.

16 The camera cuts to reveal the source of the problem. A living unit is filled with empty food boxes stolen from the pipeline.

This is a pre-emppve response to a predicted future issue: the problem of a significant failure within the consumer industry as it exists today. Currently, emissions from imports in the UK is equivalent to 164 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Gov.uk, 2022).

design testing

This new way of living does not rely on any imports, and the tower sustains itself and all life.

food production

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

The fundamental basis of our project is to critique the existing consumer industry, that allows system flaws such as panic buying, and the excessive CO2 production from HGVs. Our team have proposed a radical alternative, which provides the residents of our building with food that was produced on-site in a series of urban farms. As a result, panic buying is prevented, and there is no longer a need for HGVs to transport and distribute food across the country, therefore reducing C02 emissions.

As our project takes place in the future, we make a point to consider new and emerging technologies in the world of agriculture and housing development.

Nevertheless, in order to ground our thesis in reality, we undertook the following research into existing land requirements, agricultural practices, and farming components. The data and information that we gathered from this exercise determined the physical scale of the building, along with its population.

agricultural data collection

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

m2 of farming space required to produce 180g of produce to one resident over 365 days

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

food requirements per person

harvesting systems: wheat

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

Referring to the balanced diet requirements specified by the World Health Organisation and the Department of Health and Ageing, with vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and proteins, we started to consider the spaces required to farm each type of food.

harvesting systems

We then began to consider the layout of these spaces, because each food group needs different lighting and temperatures. As these diagrams portray, we have started to theorize how each of these farms can interact with each other - the vegetables can feed the insects, the insects can feed the fish, etcetera. And we did this for all food groups.

Overall, this exercise showed the need for a distinct food hierarchy within the tower, which dictates how farms are laid out and connected, with consideration to lighting and ease of access.

diagrammatic zoning

Catalogue of the differing components present throughout the Atlas Tower.

Zoning and spaaal consideraaons must be made to accommodate these.

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

We’ve also begun to consider the specifics of the climate, machinery and storage requirements for farming on this scale, such as this example which shows the machinery and components required for a set area of land.

In terms of precedents, we attempted to find silhouettes that demonstrated an architectural language that linked to the narrative, so for example in these images we see very industrial but also very organic forms, that we feel reflect our narrative of the tower being an amalgamation of differing functions

agricultural components

farming systems: diagrammatic flowchart Based on the requirements of each zone within the tower, we have laid out a flow diagram detailing the process by which functions are carried out. From this diagram, it can be seen that the tower is serviced through a series of pipes.

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

character design

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

02: design testing

IDLE

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

SIT

Throughout our storymaking process, we referred to this character as Enola, which is a nod to the isolation the residents of the Atlas Tower experience. The character model was developed using a combination of programs - Mixamo was utilised to create the 3D form, and then using Unreal Engine, the bone structure was retargetted to an Unreal Engine mannequin. This allowed us to control animation movements, and create differing scenarios for our character as she experiences life inside the tower.

IDLE SIT

The creation of a character was central to our overall narrative. In our filmic output, this figure is the implement through which the viewer is introduced to our final design.

WALK

character animation

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

design testing

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

concept art

Subsequent to our narrative testing and food production research, our team came to the conclusion that the main setting for our design will be a mega-tower structure, that combines both residential and agricultural units. It is designed to be a central, fully automated tower that produces all the needs for its residents by growing, packing, and distributing food.

The production and distribution centres are combined, removing the need to transport produce to a supermarket typology. The layout of this tower links back to our thesis hypothesis ‘What would happen in a society where the consumption industry is fully automated and public access is restricted?’ To create an optimised system, the human element is removed meaning humans have no direct access to the tower, goods are therefore transported directly to them through a network of pipes which work to cross this physical divide between humans and production.

In order to begin designing the tower architecturally, stylistic choices must first be explored, as this will set the overall tone of the cinematic output.

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

(Left) This initial concept is has the most radical form, and embodies a futuristic, sci-fi style .

(Right) Rather than a single tower, this style test shows a series of interconnected towers, adding to the boldness of the idea .

(Left) Drawn in the style of Daniel Libeskind, this crisp, modern style would be congruous within a film that promotes sustainability and cleanliving.

(Right) A colourful, futuristic style would contrast the serious tone of our cinematic output, perhaps adding a sense of irony to the piece.

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

This iteration of the tower is embedded within a retro-futuristic style. Utilising this tone lends itself to nostalgic and whimsical imagery.

As a critical commentary of the conglomerate paradigm, this project provides a necessary, pre-emptive response to the existing fragility of our consumer trade network, by sacrificing

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

design testing

sketches

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

02: design testing 02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

design testing

DESIGN iteration A Iterative models and sketches were used to test design ideas and in particular address the relationship between agricultural and residential areas. Development also needed to take place at the human scale, defining the needs of the inhabitant and their dwelling so that we could begin to imagine what life was like for people in the tower. Strong themes of equity and social hierarchy were discussed at this stage of the project.

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

the tower

This design iteration was our initial approach, and featured a cantilievered structure from which the residential units were suspended. Though this form represented the strong divide between farming and residential units, the structural integrity of the tower was questioned, and the functionality of an angled floor plan was considered too improbable.

living units

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

DESIGN iteration b This second design iteration was formulated when our team decided to utilise the tower as a character within the film. The tower now embodies human anatomy elements - such as ribs, a heart, veins - to give the a somewhat relatable and nurturing feel to the design. In this iteration, the ‘veins’ are the vast amount of piping used throughout the tower to transport food to the residents. The ‘ribs’ are structural barricades that protect the ‘heart’ - the food distribution centre.

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

DESIGN iteration b: living units One design challenge we had to overcome was the conflicting need for sunlight by both the residents and the agricultural parts of the tower. Allowing sunlight to reach crops in the core of the tower reduces its reliance on artificial lighting and lowers energy consumption. This meant south facing areas of the tower were desirable to both functions, yet the requirement set out to limit resident access to the food production systems meant they could not be adjacent to one another. In this second iteration, our solution was to take a multilayered approach where the living units would surround the food production area while still allowing light to penetrate into those areas. A similar technique was utilised in the final design.

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

THE LIVING UNITS

design testing

The residential component of our tower we refer to as the living units. This encompasses the idea that the entirety of a person’s life now takes place largely at their home or “Unit”. Because we were envisioning a new mode of living we looked for precedent in architecture where there were similar grand visions being prescribed on the population. It should be noted that we did not aim to present our proposal as a viable solution to a problem but rather to comment on current issues and development trends within society.

We quickly drew parallels to post War redevelopment visions for European cities. Particularly those from architects like le Corbusier. Corbusier’s unite d’habitation was of particular interest to us as he attempted to create a “city within a city” that was spatially, as well as, functionally optimised for the residents. This building made for an interesting precedent study as its goal to provide for multiple functions outside of living is shared by our project.

DESIGN iteration A

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

design iteration b In this design iteration, the living units were suspended from the base of the tower’s form, like parasites.

The parasitic nature of these living units highlighted the food production element as the tower’s priority.

Humans cling to the tower for life and this is reflected in the sporadic clusters of living units which hang from the tower’s structure.

02: design testing

room typologies

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

Each resident may use their Atlas Credits to expand their living units

the multispace

Living units in the tower work in a modular/reconfigurable format where room modules are dynamic and can be added or swapped based on the need of the individual. To begin with, all residents are given a baseline configuration capable of facilitating essential day to day life activities.

At the heart of the base unit is the “Multispace” (adjacent page). The Multispace reconfigures itself based on the immediate functional requirement of the resident, and is where the resident will perform the majority of their day to day activities.

Metaphorically, the Multispace acts as a parallel to what many of us today experienced during the pandemic, where offices and schools shifted to remote working. During these times, people re-appropriated spaces within their homes to adapt to life under quarantines and restricted movement.

room typologies

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

02: design testing

module arrangement examples A resident is iniially given a base unit within the tower, and is given oppertuniies to expand

Living units in the tower work in a modular/reconfigurable format where room modules are dynamic and can be added or swapped based on the need of the individual. To begin with, all residents are given a baseline configuration capable of facilitating essential day to day life activities.

Although all residents begin life with the same baseline unit, they may reconfigure and grow their living units by adding expansion room modules. Expansion room modules include spaces for extra bedrooms, exercising and dining. These expansions offer residents the luxury of working outside of their multifunction room modules.

Expanding the home opens up new lifestyle opportunities for the inhabitant such as cohabitation with a partner and the ability to raise a family.

In this system, the living unit has, perhaps unintentionally, become a way to show off your social status to the other residents. The more modules you have attached in your living unit the more you may be seen as valuable to the tower.

Module Expansion

unit module CONFIGURATION

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

Each resident may use the Atlas credits to expand their living unit

unit

unit

unit

unit

unit

room space

corridor zone

stair connection

stair connection

stair connection

stair connection

stair connection

In this prescribed living within our tower, the restrictive and regimented nature of the new society has carried over into the design of the home. As we saw in the pandemic disruptions to supply networks from disease took a huge toll on people’s access to supplies as well as a shift in many people’s way of life. The spaces of the home are redesigned around the ideas of independence and physical separation from one another. Spatial priority is given to the maintenance of the food production system and dwellings are constructed to serve to that cause.

From a societal viewpoint, this investigation has revealed that there are many benefits to growing food close to the population - including a reduction of transportation costs and counting on others to maintain their food output – but doing so exposes an entirely new set of vulnerabilities that’s have intense social consequences. The residential component of the tower works to create a commentary on development trends surrounding working from home, housing equity, and energy generation.

Ultimately, the design of the living units raises the question: what is communal space and freedom of movement worth, compared to having a stable food source?

living units: reflective summary

connection bays

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

design testing

materiality

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

mycelium model testing Mycelium has proven characteristics that make it viable for use as an insulator and structural element.

Our team wanted to take some creative license with this and imagine how advances in mycelium technology could shape the design of the tower. Having mycelium interweave itself organically with the tower furthers this idea that the tower is almost a self sustaining biomechanical organism.

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

sunlight control

FUNGAL CELLULAR TENSION

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

design testing

unreal engine

formulating the narrative farming research stylistic exploration design iterations software learning

02: design testing

user interface

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

component set-up

test-shot render

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

DEFINITION PHASE

the tower the living units design strategies

09-03-2022

30-03-2022

15-04-2022

03

PHASE III REVIEW -Hypothesis What is the assumption?

-Design development on site -in various scales identified in design brief - Sustainability design(Environmental, Structural, Social)

Then next stage of the thesis project covers the finalised architectural drawings. These drawings detail both the tower and the living units, and their narrative is explained in the final output - the film.

DEFINITION PHASE

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

the tower the living units DESIGN STRATEGIES

characterisation

DEFINITION PHASE

“ATLAS was the Titan god who bore the sky aloft. He personified the quality of endurance.

Atlas was a leader of the Titanes (Titans) in their war against Zeus and after their defeat he was condemned to carry the heavens upon his shoulders.”

03: definition phase

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

propaganda poster

In order to give the tower more presence within the film, and make it a character within itself, we decided to give it some branding. We chose the name The Atlas Tower, as we felt that the Titan who holds up the sky reflected what the tower is trying to do - the impossible task of providing a perfect consumption system.

In order to support this branding, we developed a logo and propaganda posters, which will be used throughout the film to link the narrative to the backstory of how it came to exist.

branding

03: definition phase

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

Additionally, we have attempted to bring the Atlas Tower to life by developing elements that the residents might use within the daily lives - such as a resident manual and a food menu, The manual is satirical in that it suggests a ridiculously impractical method of escape during a fire - this is a nod to the overall nature of the project, which is not meant to be seen as a solution to the existing problems we face in our consumption industry, but rather, spark a conversation about it. A simple way of doing this is to add small, humerous elements such as this,

RESIDENT GUIDES

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

section

DEFINITION PHASE

final drawings

the tower the living units DESIGN STRATEGIES

Section 1

10m

50m

100m

n1

03: definition phase

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

section

10m

section

50m

100m

Section 1

10m

50m

100m

n1

03: definition phase

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

section

10m

section

50m

100m

Section 1

10m

50m

100m

tower plan and elevations

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

section 1

03: definition phase

ELEV 1

ELEV 2 ELEV 4

ELEV 2

ELEV 3

section 1

ELEV 4

ELEV 3

ELEV 1

ELEV 1

elevations

ELEV 1

plan

ELEV 4

internal perspective: wheat farm

02: design testing

Internal view into the wheat farms of the Atlas Tower.

DEFINITION PHASE

wheat farm This internal perspective shows one of the Atlas Tower’s many wheat farms. These farms are heated and lit with ultra-violet rays to yield the greatest crop.

perspectives

the tower the living units DESIGN STRATEGIES

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

03: definition phase

greenhouses This perspective shows the internal view from one of the Atlas Tower’s greenhouses. Inside these greenhouses, fruit trees are farmed by automated arms, placed on conveyor belts, and transported to the food distribution centre.

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

living units This external view of the living units shows how they are situated within the framework of the tower. The residents within are unable to see into the farms, as their views face out into the clouds above the Below.

02: design testing

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

DEFINITION PHASE isometric room pod

green house pod

final drawings

the tower the living units design strategies

Terrace pod Stair pod

room pod

green house pod

Terrace pod Stair pod

03: definition phase

oom reconfigurations

living unit sections

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

Diagrams showing the interior of the pods

sections

daily routine and room reconfigurations

daily routine and room reconfigurations

plans

Diagram demonstraang the lii mechanism, developed to aaach addiional living units to the structure.

03: definition phase

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

new module moved into place

Significant separation between the pods to allows sunlight to pass in between them. Separation from the core of the tower as well as translucency can be achieved through the use of a lightweight structural system. A rail system (adjacent) is what enables the individual room modules to reconfigure dynamically and be moved to other parts of the tower.

This structural system took the form of a triangular, space frame-like network that supports the weight of the living units. We took and iterative approach to the design, testing different shapes and methods for connecting the pods together. The form of the living units was determined by their requirement to fit within the triangular space frame.

mechanisms: rail system new module moved into place

Pod storage zone

Living unit expanded

Tower structure

02: design testing

DEFINITION PHASE

Pod lift core

DESIGN STRATEGIES

the tower the living units design strategies

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

The structure of our tower predominantly utilises steel. As precedent, our group studied the Forth Bridge in Scotland, which is designed off the principle of the cantilever bridge, where a cantilever beam supports the light central girder as replicated vertically in our plan drawings. This makes for an aesthetically pleasing and innovative structure that fits into our design strategy.

The Atlas Tower is also held aloft by large suspension cables, which connect to the ground at key nodes around - what once was, in our narrative - the city of Liverpool. Distinctly, the Radio City Tower can be seen to be pulled away from its vertical position. Cinematically, this represents the tower’s complete take-over of the systems and society in which we currently reside.

Pod storage zone

structural stratgey

Fractal domes

Industrial structuralism

modernist influenced base

Tensile support cables

Iso

tower zoning

03: definition phase

living unit structural cradles

living unit clusters CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

zoning stratgey

Iso

living unit structural cradles

living unit clusters

Vertical farming

fruit tree production

Wheat fields

Fog collectors, water tanks and communication

Fish farming

Fungi farms

Insect farms

Packaging and distribution

03: definition phase

SOLAR stratgey

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

Living Module: grid size relationship

living Module - grid size relationship in the interest of modularity all areas of the tower respond to the dimension of the living module

Living module

w

w H

H

H L

L

3H 3H 4l

4l

6w

6w Modules stacked together

Space frame cradle

Grid of tower

Farming zones and living units respond to the grid

final design & critical reflection

the film Cinematic TIMELINE VIDEOGRAPHY Critical Reflection

27-04-2022

18-05-2022

FINAL REVIEW

24-05-2022

04 -Detailed Design

-Prototypes/ final representation form -Critical reflection on sustainability impact

By proposing the question ‘What would happen in a society where the consumption industry is fully automated and where public access is restricted?’ our team was able to generate a pre-emptive response to a predicted future issue: the problem of a significant failure within the consumer industry as it exists today.

Our group has chosen to utilise film as the media in which we present our design, as the moving image lends itself to the communication of ideas and the promotion of an architectural discourse, which is ultimately what we set out to achieve.

the film

04: FINAL DESIGN & CRITICAL REFLECTION

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

zoning stratgey

cinematic timelinecinematic timeline The following diagram is a breakdown The following diagram is a breakdown of our film ‘Don’t Panic’. It analyses each of our film ‘Don’t Panic’. It analyses each scene by showing diierent techniques, scene by showing diierent techniques, audio and colour grading used to audio and colour grading used to develop the film narrative develop the film narrative

STILL SHOTS

transition

REVEAL OF TOWER

SLICE OF LIFE SEQUENCE

HAND-HELD CAMERA

EXPLORATION OF TOWER

EXPLORATION OF TOWER

LOCATION CHANGE

REVEAL OF TOWER

DOLLY SHOTS

HAND-HELD CAMERA

DOLLY SHOTS

transition

00:00:00:00

sound

you’ll never walk alone

00:00:00:00

00:00:30:00

TOWER LEGS INTO MIST

TRANSITION TO ENOLA

mechanical cranks wind drips rustling

lights buzz

wind lights turn ondrips

lights turn on

air-con hum

lights buzz air-con hum

INSIDE POD TO OUTSIDE

TRANSITION TO ENOLA

00:01:00:00

00:00:30:00

you’ll never walk alone rustling

Hue

SLICE OF LIFE SEQUENCE

STILL SHOTS

TOWER LEGS INTO MIST

sound

DETAIL SHOTS

LOCATION CHANGE

sequence

LOCATION CHANGE

sequence

DETAIL SHOTS

ESTABLISHING SHOT

LOCATION CHANGE

ESTABLISHING SHOT

00:01:30:00

00:01:00:00

mechanical cranks typing

seagulls

typing

FADE BETWEEN SHOTS

TRANSITION FROM LIVER BIRD TOTRANSITION TOWER FROM LIVER BIRD TO TOWER

INSIDE POD TO OUTSIDE

seagulls

seagulls wind

00:02:00:00

00:01:30:00 metal clangs

seagulls

wind

Faint mechanical noise background music

Faint mechanical noise

00:02:30:00

00:02:00:00

faint light buzz noise

faint light buzz noise

00:03:00:00

00:02:30:00 mechanical robot whirring

metal clangs

FADE BETWEEN SHOTS

00:03:00:00

mechanical robot whirring wind

wind

background music

Hue

CINEMATIC TIMELINE

The Atlas Tower: CAMERA TRACKINGCINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

04: FINAL DESIGN & CRITICAL REFLECTION

Diagram mapping the camera posiions

   

   

          

03

IC AT ST

04

OT SH

THE ATLAS TOWER

13

20

12 11

07

DOLLY SHOT UPWARDS

17 18 9 1

06

movie branding

14

16

15

CAMERA TRACKING diagram

TR

A

05

08 IL dETA

sta

rt

er m ca

in

te r

io

r

as

sh

ot s Sh c st at i

Do

ll y

Sh

ot s

  

ot s

09

01 2 0

r the

T HO GS

IN CK

l evea

04: FINAL DESIGN & CRITICAL REFLECTION

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

04: FINAL DESIGN & CRITICAL REFLECTION

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

04: FINAL DESIGN & CRITICAL REFLECTION

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

04: FINAL DESIGN & CRITICAL REFLECTION

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

04: FINAL DESIGN & CRITICAL REFLECTION

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

brion o’reilly

ashni patel

rachel cummings

sian opie

Our project has been a fantastic way to end architectural education. This year, I was able to attend an array of workshops provided by the university and our tutors to develop new ways of working and learn new skills which will help me progress into my future career. I particularly enjoyed working with architectural designers and visualisers which gave me an insight into their workflow and design mindset.

This project has really allowed me to understand and truly appreciate the growing and dynamic relationship between film and architecture. The process of creating an architectural project through the narrative process of film proved to be more complex that I had originally thought. Throughout our process, we juggled between the architectural aspect and the film aspect. Like architecture, I have learned the many different factors that make up a successful film, such as; audio, colour, narrative, whilst in architecture, we are trained to think of a designs rhythm, aesthetic and concept.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, a project such as this seems more relevant than ever before. Though unconventional, and perhaps divisive, I believe that projects such as this - which seek to spark discourse, as opposed to attempting to solve an issue - are crucial to the future of the architectural practice.

There is no question that these are unprecedented times.

Our thesis allowed us to delve into and research the panic buying phenomenon as it unfolded in front of our eyes.

Throughout this investigation, we were confronted with questions which showed panic buying was more than just a singular event. We were given the freedom to test and create a hypothetical future in which the consumer infrastructure was re-imagined.

One of my roles during this project was to create a highly detailed virtual model of our design. This process was not only time consuming but also incredibly challenging.

However, once complete I was extremely proud of the quality of the model and how integral it was to the project’s portfolio and film. I have thoroughly enjoyed this year and hope that I can continue to create interesting and courageous projects like this one in the future.

CRITICAL REFLECTIONS

After many twists and turns, I believe we found the right workflow to balance both the architectural and the film exploration in a manner that worked to ensure successful explorations and outcomes. I truly believe this has increased my skillset not only in architecture but also in film design, narrative decisions, creativity, boldness, adaptability and viewer perception. I have also been fortunate enough to be able to train myself in upcoming softwares such as Unreal Engine, After Effects and Premier Pro that prove to be highly advantageous in their ability to sell the story of an architectural design.

Throughout the course of this thesis, I have learnt to question not only the architectural ramifications of panic buying, and its wider impacts on the UK, but also how the method of tackling such an enormous issue is vital to the exploration. By generating a film as our final output, we as a team have learnt new softwares and cinematic techniques far beyond the scope of a traditional architecture course, and as such, we finish this thesis more informed and more skilled.

I believe that we have succeeded in our objective to bring this relevant – yet largely overlooked – issue to the architectural spotlight, and I hope that we can continue to do similar investigations. Above all, I am thrilled to have met such a talented group of friends, and I look forward to what the future holds for us all.

During the course of this module, I have enjoyed pushing the boundaries by not setting limitations on what I can achieve, and each one of us has stepped out of our comfort zones this year. I personally studied how to use game engine software to create the film in our final exhibition, which was one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of my year.

We have created a fantastic project that we are all tremendously proud of, and I hope we all continue to break boundaries and be bold in our future endeavours.

EXHIBITION DESIGN

STRUCTURAL LAYOUT PIN UP STRATEGY PROCESS IMAGE

25-05-2022

01-06-2022

05

SUBMISSION -Curated Display of the design thesis -Critical Reflection on sustainability impact, architectural discourse

The final element of our project was the exhibition design process. In only a short time, our team created a booth with an encased screen to play our film. The walls of the booth were painted black to allow the colours of the film to pop, and our pin ups were mounted on white foamboard so they could stand out within the small space.

exhibition design

05: exhibition design

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

pin-up strategy

structural layout

wall 1

wall 2

05: exhibition design

CINéMETHODS: thesis portfolio

exhibition set-up hamid Khalili RICHard koeck

with special thanks to han

wu

Kush Jhurani nick

stath

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL, 2022

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