Transient Memoryscape
Kaitlyn HoganA thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirments for the Degree of Bachelor of Architecture
Auburn, Alabama May 2, 2024
Aproved by:
Christian Dagg, Associate Professor of Architecture
Transient Memoryscape is an art project that performs as an act of Tactical Urbanism made to support and grow community by inviting local artist and musicians, and produce from local farmers and food vendors to serve meals during the night. The event also fosters community relationships by providing an interactive experience where individuals can connect over their new shared experience.
The purpose of this event is to exist as a memory. After the event is packaged and gone only the memory remains. The space has only served as a backdrop for human activity.
Aldo Rossi’s Teatro del Mondo, commissioned for the Venice Biennale in 1980, stands as a captivating testament to architectural ingenuity. Unlike traditional structures meant to endure, Rossi’s creation was intentionally transient, existing only temporarily as a floating theater. This visionary project challenged conventional notions of permanence in architecture, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of human existence and the enduring power of memory. Through its deliberate impermanence, the Teatro del Mondo invites contemplation on the fleeting beauty of life’s moments and the impressions they leave behind.
Program:
Square Footage: 10,000 sf
Art Space–
Gallery Space, Gallery Exhibits, Bidding/Purchasing Counter
Dining Space–
Dining Area, Seating and Waiting Area, Preperation, Storage, Accessibility/Flow Space
Music Space–
Bar, Seating Areas, Audience Interaction Space
Materials–
Scaffolding, Stackable Furniture, Inflables, Water, Modular Systems, Reusable Packaging, Transportation Trucks
“Memory, assosiations, connections play a large part on how we feel about places” - Maria Schwartz
At its largest scale, guest visiting Transient Memoryscape can transition between all three worlds, all within one location. The locaton chosen is Reseach Park in Auburn, Alabama, situated on top of a hill overlooking a large landscape with a natrual reflective pond. Although the project is situated on this site, Transient Memoryscape is designed to be flexible and adapt to many relatively flat sites.
How do our memories influence architecture? Transient Memoryscape exemplifies this concept as a visionary project conceived through memory. Utilizing a triptych of memories from past experiences, the project encapsulates the emotions and energies felt before, during, and after an anticipated event. These collages serve as a foundation for designing program spaces that incorporate elements of community art, dining, and music, reflecting the essence of the memories captured.
In order to develop these spaces, the decision was made to create collages that would capture the feeling of each area. Instead of formulating a predetermined vision for how the space should look and feel, memories served as the guiding force for the project. Drawing upon recollections, collages were crafted imbued with the emotions and energy evoked by those memories. Three collages were created, each one encapsulating the energy preceding, during, and after an anticipated event.
A major influence over this project is the idea of memories and being able to encapsulate the emotions of this event then turn those ideas into architecture by design the night as a story.
The triptych “The Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch portrays three spaces, each with its own distinct energy. The left panel shows a tranquil Garden of Eden, symbolizing innocence and peace. The central panel depicts earthly pleasures and indulgence, with scenes of revelry and excess. In contrast, the right panel illustrates a scene of torment and damnation, representing the consequences of sinful behavior. Each space evokes different feelings—serenity, hedonism, and despair— reflecting Bosch’s exploration of human nature and morality.
Transient Memoryscape collages, like Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights”, investigates into the depiction of spaces infused with distinct energies. Just as Bosch’s triptych explores the contrast between innocence, indulgence, and damnation, these collages capture the varied atmospheres before, during, and after an anticipated event. The complexities of human experiences, whether it’s the allure of earthly pleasures or the anticipation and aftermath of significant moments in our lives, are captured within the collage.
Collage 01 shares the atmosphere of a room during pre-event preparations. Looking back, not every detail is crystal clear, but certain things come to mind. The energy in the rooom can be described as a mix of rush, chaos, excitement, nerves, and anticipation. Within the collage, a narrative unfolds within a bedroom setting, where symbolic butterflies represent both excitement and nervousness, while a red liquid seeps into the space, evoking a sense of chaos. The background reveals piles of clothes, each triggering
memories, even if specific items remain elusive. Perhaps we can recall our favorite shirt or shoes, the only clothing pieces we can distinguish. In the same way, just like reminiscing, we can sense what’s ahead. In the background, a landscape is visible but not entirely clear, like a curtain still veiling something.
Objects: Butterflies, Clothing Piles, Buttons, Curtain, Aluminum, Splat
Transformative properties: Liquid, Twist, Blur, Obstruct View
“Architecture is really about well-being. On the one hand it’s about shelter, I think that people want to feel good in a space... but it’s also about pleasure.”- Zaha Hadid Collage 02 paints a peaceful scene, capturing the warmth of reuniting with friends and forging new connections. This ambiance is depicted through cozy blankets and pillows. Additionally, external elements from the surroundings are incorporated into the collage: an expansive landscape, reflective waters,cows, and rolling hills. Clouds add to the serenity and ethereal
atmosphere. The night can be symbolized as a candle and when the night ends the candle is blown out and only the memory remains.
Objects: Blankets, Curtains, Pillows, Colored mesh, Melted Candles, Inflatables, Water, Glasses, Cows
Transformative properties: Melt
Collage 03 depicts a soothing world, where everything feels soft and relaxed. The atmosphere seems to melt away, signaling the winding down of the night. Once-bright candles have now melted, leaving behind only traces of their glow. The cows, previously active, are now at rest, while sheep calmly graze nearby. Above, wispy clouds float higher in the sky, indicating a return from the previous scene to the familiar setting of Collage
01’s room. As the night draws to a close, it’s a crucial moment for reflection, offering the best opportunity to process and remember the events of the evening.
Objects: Mountain, Settled Melted Forms, Mugs, Mirrors (reflective and nonreflective), Sleeping cows, Sheep Transformative properties: Melt, Evaporate
Once the collages are created, they undergo a process of printing, followed by destruction through cutting out and pasting objects. The objective is to transcend the defining qualities of the objects and transform them into a new form, whether achieved through the manipulation of the objects themselves or their absence.
In its early stages the art space is vibrant. It is filled with colorful curving walls, shipping pallets, reflective surfaces, playful benches, and chaotic inflatables.
In its early stages the art space is strange. It is filled with melting forms, mesh curtains, large scaled blanket weaving, pillows of different shapes. Inflatables that float within the scaffolding and a large multipipe shape taking over the space.
Sketch 03- Music Space (Conceptual)
The music space is a conceptual idea at this point in the process. Essential the space is a gooey world filled with live music, sitting areas of different scales, and reflective surfaces.
As the collage comes to life, the art world is vividly reflected in the space. Gooey lights sprawl across the floor, illuminating the area. Scaffold structures showcase local paintings on one side, while posters offer a relaxed viewing experience on the other. A bench crafted from an array of butterflies invites guests to sit and admire the artwork. Suspended above are glowing, blinking forms that imbue the space with a sense of unease. Exposed chords crisscross the area, not only powering the lights but also transmitting waves of light along their length. The next world can be seen from below built entirely from scaffolding.
As Sketch 02 is brought to life, the dining world takes on a mysterious place. It’s filled with bright colors and reflective surfaces. The ground is a metal in which becomes hammered towards the end to mimic the rippling water. Green chairs mimic landscapes, while variously colored mesh curtains become a sensory area of their own above a grated floor where wind can flow from every direction. A unique reflective multipipe controls the compression of each space, and a large dining table serves as a hub for storytelling among guests.
As a conceptual notion at the moment, world 03 exist on a different type site. Located on a truck, world 03 shuttles guest from the primary site to a secondary location. The world is modeled as a gooey, molted world that symbolizing the cooling down of the night. Here, the objective lies on contemplation and retrospection, encouraging guest to reflect on the night’s events and form lasting memories. The secondary location could be a venue equipped with a bar and stage for live music, while the event would provide urban furniture to enhance the ambiance.
At its largest form all worlds are at the same location, but transportable designed peices can be transported to an offsite location to serve different purposes.
In an alleyway close to downtown Auburn, the possibility of a pop-up art exhibition arises. Situated within an uncommonly traveled alleyway, bright illuminating art fills the space compelling people to take a second glance and enticing them to step inside.
In downtown Auburn’s most active area, you’ll find the city’s largest dining spot. Nestled between these restaurants is a shared green space, connecting neighboring buildings. This second area separates itself from the mainspace by relocating its furniture to a separate space, scattering it across the greenspace. These furniture pieces take on a new role, serving as urban furnitures for the shared space.
An ephemeral space must be flexible in order to be packaged up and moved within limited timeframe. The process begins by starting small and allowing small objects to influence the overall design. Presented is a series of toys whose form is impermanent and its properties can be compacted and converted for packaging purposes.
Berry light Cover: This piece was designed to imitate the berry shape from collage 01.This modular piece is printed in a range of sizes therefore it can stack to be packaged.
designed as an array of plastic
pieces. Bench can be twisted and compressed to adapt to different settings.
Liquid: This piece shaped as a fluid organic shape made to bring chaos to the space.
Landscape mound bench: This piece was designed as an array of plastic to resemble a mound in the landscape. It acts as the chairs at the dining table in event space 02. Chair can be twisted and compressed to adapt to different settings.
Inflatable Cloud: in order to create an ethereal ambiance, these cloud-like shapes are placed at the base of the scaffolding floor. as guest ascend to the floor above they will pass through a serene sea of clouds.
Water weighted bag: this organic form is positioned at the base of the scaffolding. To provide stability to the structure, these shapes are placed on the legs and filled with water.
Pool Float table: This piece was modeled after the pool floats from Collage 02. This table offers flexibility and can be assembled as a rectangle, circle or can be combined as a set of eight to form a large oval.
An ephemeral space must be flexible in order to be packaged up and moved within limited timeframe. The process begins by starting small and allowing small objects to influence the overall design. Presented below is a series of toys whose form is impermanent and its properties can be compacted and converted for packaging purposes.
Previous:
Site Plan: To arrive at Transient Memoryscape, guest make there way down college street, then turn into research park. From there they will park across the street and follow a path of lighs to their destination where they will be welcomed and signed into their reservation.
Ground Floor Plan: Guests make their way around the space, observing art or purchasing trinkets from local artist and posters that support the event. Long hallways formed by splatter shapes anticipate reactions to art exhibits. The floor plan also illustrates transition spaces connecting the three worlds.
Second Floor Plan: After leaving the art space, guest ascend into the dining world through elevator. They are welcomed tot to the space and invited to walk around and grab a drink before the dining experience begins. There are three room and when guest move from space to space they transition through a sensory curtain area.
Left:
Liquid Inflatable:
This inflatable multipipe shape, crafted from aluminum material, dominates the space, intended to evoke reflection. It governs the room’s compression, expanding as guests traverse the dining world. Its height and light intake vary, determined by the number of nodes in each space.
Below:
Section and Elevation:
This section illustrates the vibrancy of the dining space and the orchestration of the evening. Upon departing this world, guests board an elevated musical truck that descends from the space, transporting them to their next site location.
The presentation of materials took place on April 19th 2024. The presentation featured a scaffolding frame in which drawings hung from. The presentation was constructed as in event by controling the mood of the room. It featured refreshments, colorful drawings, and stackable toys to establish an exciting tone. After the event was over guest were given keychains as a memento of the event.
In Sylacauga, AL, a weathered set of borrowed scaffolding underwent a significant makeover. Initially, it received a thorough pressure washer spray to remove dirt and grime. Next, it was coated with a rust remover primer. Finally, it was given a sleek finish with a reflective chrome coat.
Scafflding Assembly
Scaffolding, transported from Sylacauga, AL, was delivered to room 101 in Dudley Hall. It was then assembled by two individuals using a combination of hammers and screwing bolts.
Stickers served as a means to animate the drawings making them come to life. Stickers were placed over parts of the drawing that had impernance at the location.
At the end of the presentation, guests were offered keychains to ensure their recollection of the event, much like the memento guest would carry away when they had visited Transient Memoryscape.
Helvetica Neue
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