Thesis Conceptual Experimentation

E 5.0 FINAL SUBMISSION Conceptual Experimentation

MEGAN MARTIN INTD 4004 Zaiba Mian 11/20/19

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ESCAPE SPACES

Escape spaces are inhabitable structures or forms that allow users to escape the public and surrounding elements to enjoy time alone. These spaces can help reduce negative emotions that may be experienced when present in public

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areas. Depending on each individual's unique deďŹ nition of escape, the structure can vary in dierent levels of scale, form and privacy.

Escape spaces can be as simple as a park bench, which takes the user away from the public and provides a space that is their own for the time being.

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SCALE Varying sizes and heights

PRIVACY Varying levels of privacy

FORM Varying levels of shapes for dierent body positions

INSTALLATION ART Installation artworks are described as constructions or assemblies that are created from mixed-media. These installations can be temporary or permanent ďŹ xtures that may or may not serve a purpose. The purpose and engagement with the artwork is dependent on the user, making every experience unique.

Inspiration can be drawn from installation art due to its conceptual approach and openness to interpretation.

Tate. (n.d.). Installation art – Art Term. Retrieved from https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/i/installation-art.

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PRECEDENT PROJECT 01 Architect (s): MAD Architects Year: 2016 Location: Università degli Studi di Milano.

Materiality; Polymer Concept: “Borders are usually seen as something closed and unapproachable but I think it’s interesting to make borders attractive, dynamic and engaging. So we decided to play with the border between the historical loggias and the garden in front of it, and design a transition in-between them,” - Ma Yansong founder and principal architect of MAD Architect

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(Invisible Border Installation by MAD Architects at MDW2016. (2016, April 13). Retrieved from https://www.urdesignmag.com /art/2016/04/13/invisible-border-installation-by-mad-architects-at-mdw2016/.)

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Escape Zone Experience: .The versatile and organic material provides a sense of enclosure outside, allowing users to escape while also feeling a sense of security.

This exible form allows for partial visual privacy while still remaining connected to nature and the surrounding elements. As the wind moves through the sculpture, the polymer material moves creating a sense of uidity. The sculpture is fairly large in scale and is in the form of a canopy. The form allows for an open escape zone that accommodates multiple users.

PRECEDENT PROJECT 02

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Architect (s): Richard Serra Year: 2006 Location: Toronto Pearson International Airport Materiality; Steel Concept: “... one of the monumental public art installations specifically commissioned for the airport to communicate the essence of flight..” - Safdie Architects (Safdie Architects . (2019). Retrieved from https://www.safdiearchitects.com/projects/pearson-intl-airport-terminal-1)

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Escape Zone Experience: This sculpture is situated within a busy space that is constantly occupied with users. This enclosure allows for people to escape the busy atmosphere and immerse themselves into a stark yet welcoming space. The sculpture is large in scale and can accommodate multiple users. In addition, the shape of the sculpture allows for multiple body postures such as sitting, leaning and standing. The sculpture provides visual and audio privacy while still maintaining views to the surrounding space.

The heavy steel construction in contrast to the ightless form, harmonize with one another giving the sense of freedom and stability.

PRECEDENT PROJECT 03 Architect (s): BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)

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Year: 2018 Location: Toronto, ON Materiality; Fiberglass Concept: “We really thought of it as a piece of furniture. Essentially, it’s a shelf pulled apart, unzipped to create this space within it.” - Bjarke Ingels (The Magnificent, Modular BIG Unzipped Pavilion Opens in Toronto. (2019, June 6). Retrieved from https://www.azuremagazine.com/article/big-unzipped-pavilion-toronto/)

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Escape Zone Experience: Although this sculpture is made of fiberglass, there is a sense of visual privacy. Different transparencies can be viewed depending on the angle in which you view it from. The enclosure embodies contrasting elements such as organic forms and the rigorous materiality. The user’s experience is constantly changing as they move through and around the pavillion. The sculpture varies in scale and can accommodate enclosed and open escape spaces while also providing users with different body posture opportunities.

PRECEDENT PROJECT 04 torontolife.com

Artist (s): Thena Tak Year: 2018 Location: Toronto, ON Materiality; Wood Concept: Inspired by the stars in the constellations, the artists wanted “...people to be able to move through the installation and sit down on it. There is no prescribed way to interact with the piece. The intent was to welcome people to create their own Experience.� - Thena Tak (Mlotek, B., Fester, S., Mlotek, B., & Fester, S. (2018, January 19). Take a look at the awesome art installations that just popped up along the waterfront. Retrieved from https://torontolife.com/culture/art/toronto-waterfront-icebreakers-art-installations/.)

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torontolife.com

Escape Zone Experience: The rough wood material contrasts with the organic forms creating a sense of uidity.

With each corner created, there is an opportunity for users to escape the surrounding atmosphere. Although there is no roof to the sculpture, the corners provide a sense of visual privacy and physical security.

Varying heights allow for views to the city while still remaining within the enclosure. This installation allows for multiple body postures due to the organic angles and varying scales.

PRECEDENT PROJECT 05 Artist (s): Melissa Carey Year: 2018

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Location: Sydney, AU Materiality; Wood Concept: - “ … a modern representation of Chinese fortune sticks, which are used for good fortune… By shaking the container with the fortune sticks, the first stick to fall out has the answer or fortune.” - Melissa Carey (Fortune Circle Installation. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.melissacarey.com.au/fortunecircle.)

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melissacarey.com

Escape Zone Experience: The contrast of the installation’s materiality and suspension gives the sense of movement within the space. The varying suspension heights create dierent visual opportunities to remain connected to the surrounding space. The form of the installation also allows for open and enclosed escape spaces. The varying forms, levels of privacy and scale allow options for users to escape the busy surrounding atmosphere.

SITE ANALYSIS Humber Center for Justice Leadership Based on the precedent research and investigation process, the elements of scale, form and privacy will be investigated through models. These models will experiment dierent designs for escape zones that will be featured on the exterior and interior of the proposed building, www.google.com/maps/place/Humber Centre for Justice Leadership

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Photo taken by me

Photo taken by me

Exterior Escape Space: Due to the sites large exterior space, there are many opportunities to have escape zones.

There are possibilities located around the existing parking lots and on blank exterior walls.

Interior Escape Space: The form of the building allows for an open plan and offers many opportunities for a variety of escape zones. The escape zone can be freestanding, connected to the ceiling or walls.

The existing columns can also be integrated into the escape zone design. The 17’-0” ceiling height also allows for room to drop or over scale the inhabitable escape zones. Overall, the existing interior presents many opportunities for escape zones of varying scale, privacy, and forms.

Experience: The model displayed acts as a division between the two areas of the building. The model can be viewed as a partition that can either be inhabited by users or simply a passageway. The form and scale of the model is large and dynamic. It has the potential to bring excitement and emphasis within the space. While it is out in the open oor plan, it can still provide users with an escape and a sense of privacy from surrounding elements.

Experience: The model can serve the purpose of a passageway or hallway within the interior.

Each void in the model can be escape spaces recessed within the walls allowing for a sense of privacy. The scale and form of the model is simple yet captivating allowing for an interesting entrance design.

Experience: The model acts as a division between spaces. While creating a physical barrier there still remains a connection to the other spaces through the voids. The voids can create dierent levels of privacy depending on the materiality and design. This model can also be rotated and viewed as a passageway into the building. Gradually getting larger in scale, the model presents opportunities for users to escape.