SPACE
AWAKENED
INTD 5001 | CAPSTONE | ESTRELLA YANG
SPACE
Contents
1
Question
2
Concept
3
Precedent
4
Method
5
Surface
6
Site and User
Question
How can space be
Question
How to define the word “awaken”? constantly awakened by surrounding context and user interaction?
Concept
Why is it meaningful for people to experience a space that
can be constantly awakened? Universally speaking, people
think of interior space as a static container, or a vehicle that
contains people’s lives but does not blend in. A space that is
constantly awakened means that it is ever changing, that it is
endowed with life and memory, and that new possibilities are constantly generated through interaction.
That is, people and space form a two-way interaction, of
which the feedback given by this space to the user is the
most important meaning. This anthropomorphic vision of space is also a future apporach of living environment.
Concept
Precedent
Pixelnotes By SIrkka Hammer
Precedent Analysis
The following precedents studies all focused on one
common feature, which is changing the form of a space or an object through the interaction between body and
surface/material/space. What is more important is that this kind of interaction is connected to the functionality of the space, which makes it meaningful.
Although Pixelnotes designed by Sirkka Hammer
is a product that exists in dependence of a wall, its
mutability subverts the traditional perception of walls. In this scenario, the Pixelnotes wall blends into people’s
work, and each use of the sticky note leaves an imprint in the space, that is, it completes an awakening to the
space. Similarly, Raise/Raze, designed by hou de sousa, is like a real-life version of Minecraft, allowing multiple
visitors to recompose the entire space simultaneously. This high level of interactivity brings infinite possibilities to an otherwise static space. Meanwhile, Wobble-Up
and Daydreamer are furniture references that focus more on interacting with human bodies and capturing
the impressions left by the bodies. The interesting point
is that they can transform their forms according to the needs of users, achieving multi-functional and flexible use.
Wobble-Up By Sam Linders
Daydreamer By Cheng-Tsung Feng
Reading Analysis One concept that has appeared in several articles is association, which is like an invisible thread that ties the user to the space at both ends. It’s not just the
individual things that people see in reality, in fact, they only occupy a very small percentage of people’s
minds, but more about their surroundings, and about people’s experiences and memories, which is what makes association so important.
The impression left by the interaction in the space
might be one of the factors to achieve the association. Whereas the change of senses, especially touch
and view, is undoubtedly an important condition to give birth to a space. In the article Sensorial Interior
Landscapes, Khan states that, “touching and the
possibility of touching are critical to establishing the connection with nature that biophilia promotes.”
The uniqueness, both in the form of the surface itself
and in the way the user interacts with it, should hold
true. Moreover, this uniqueness serves as one of the
important conditions to bring different associations to different users, even in the same space. Through
a series of experiments, it is also confirmed that the interaction between the user and the material/ surface/space arrives at a sentient environment which is awakened.
Literature Review
Articles Structure of Atmosphere by Baudrillard Houses of the future by Zeintra Sensorial Interior Landscapes by Laura Garofalo-Khan Shape Shifting by Mark Taylor From Ambient Environments to Sentient Spaces by Nataly Gattegno and Jason Kelly Johnson
Method
Surface
Is wallpaper a surface? For the beginning project of this semester, wallpaper is not just a decorative item that covers the wall, it can create space
and atmosphere, which that can integrate into the broader environment while existing independently.
3D Wallpaper
How to constantly awaken a space? A space consists of surfaces. Thus, a constantly changing space is inseparable from the changes in surfaces or materials, which has the same characteristics as in the previous analysis of Precedents.
The purpose of this section is to observe and document the process of transformation of different surfaces or materials
under the influence of human and external factors. In addition, understanding the imprint of the body and the material itself over time is one of the purposes of this exploration.
The Changing Surface
Soap + Rice Paper
Wax + Paper
Air Bag + Fabric
Fabric
Air Bag
The Body
The Hand Cotton
Rice Paper
The study of surfaces and materials is not constrained by
their type, while extracting only their form and properties. However, when applied to a space, functionality and implementation need to be taken into account. The next
section categorizes three ways of leaving impressions in
a space through user interaction , which are overlaying, transforming, and recomposing.
Furthermore, by practicing on the actual spatial scale through some of the other projects of the semester, the focus of this chapter is presented better.
The Space
Overlay From a bare space to a filled one, the imprints left therein become the
evidence of people’s interaction with the space. The following diagrams show how a space can be constantly awakened through overlay, and how the transformed space then changes the interaction of the occupants.
original
Overlay
Re-skin Surface Study I
Interaction leaves impression
The Space
Transform Another way of changing a space through interaction - by changing the form of an object while preserving the object in the space to constantly awaken the space.
Transform
Re-skin Surface Study II
Interaction leaves impression
The Space
Recompose The recomposition of the objects and furniture in a space represents the different activities performed by different users, which leaves different spatial imprints. This form of awakening a space reflects the potential versatility and interactivity of a space.
Recompose
Re-skin Surface Study III
Interaction leaves impression
Site + User
Why is leaving impression improtant? Since people are spending more and more time indoors, it
makes sense to create a changing indoor environment that
always offers different activities and experience. Even if people spend a lot of time in the same environment, they can still experience different imaginations.
For site, a medium sized office would be appropriate. A
office is a both public and private place, and is where people spend most of their day besides home. Especially for design firms, having a relaxing space that can constantly inspire its
employees is critical. Every time the interior space is awakened, it opens up new possibilities for the next one.
As the concept is not site specific, it can be applied to any kind of small to medium sized workplace with demand. The sites
selected for this research can be considered as a reference for potential sites.
The Experience
Site Location
Zhongshan Road CoWorking Space Designer: VARY DESIGN Location: Chongqing, China Area: 650 m² Year: 2018 Photographs: ARCHEXIST
References Articles Baudrillard, Jean. Structures of Atmosphere. Verso, 1996, pp. 37-42. Garofalo-Khan, Laura. Sensorial Interior Landscapes. pp. 153-61. Gattegno, Nataly, and Jason K. Johnson. From ambient environments to sentient space. pp. 162-68. Taylor, Mark. Shape Shifting. pp. 53-57. Zeinstra, Jurjen. Houses of the future. OASE, pp. 204-25.
Precedents “Hou de sousa’s raise/raze claims victory of dupont underground competition.” Designboom, edited by Nick Brink, 30 Mar. 2016. Accessed 8 Dec. 2021. “Materials-Focused Works by Sam Linders.” Design Milk, edited by Caroline Williamson, 26 Nov. 2015. Accessed 8 Dec. 2021. “Paralelo Zero Architecture Uniplaces Headquarters.” DIVISARE, 10 May 2016. Accessed 8 Dec. 2021. “Pixelnotes wallpaper.” Core77, 18 Dec. 2006, Accessed 8 Dec. 2021. ”The Daydreamer Sofa Was Inspired By Clouds.” Contemporist, 6 Dec. 2017. Accessed 8 Dec. 2021.
AWAKENED
INTD 5001 | CAPSTONE | ESTRELLA YANG
SPACE