Melanie Etchart Hernandez Portfolio
Contents
1. Inner Space. (Final Major Project)
2. Concept Work
3. Feasibility Design Report
4 24 30
32 36 38
4. Free Range Exhibition Design
5. Costume and Stage Design
6. Staircase Survey
1. Inner Space
(Final Major Project)
For centuries, our ancestors have looked into the night sky with curiosity. It made them question the relation of our existence with the universe on a psychological, intellectual and creative level. Yet now we are born into an age where humans have redirected their attention from the night sky to the city lights. Unlike our ancestors, we are no longer connected with the immensity of the universe after the sun sets in the horizon. The rapid development of new technologies and light pollution has created an intangible breach that has resulted in the loss of the spirit of curiosity, a feeling that has made Astronomy a science and driven mankind to conquer space. With this idea in mind, Inner Space resurrects Bidston Observatory, together with the rich landscape of Bidston Hill and its abandoned WWII Air Raid Shelters in order to honour the historical value of the site. All three are integrated in a journey that reconnects visitors with nature and the sky; a sky that has sparked curiosity and fascination for centuries resulting in the science of Astronomy: the foundation of Bidston Observatory. Inner Space provides visitors with an experience where senses, emotions and thoughts meet and fuse into perceptions and enables them to find a balance between what at first appears
esoteric or spiritual, and the rationalized version of the same thought. This is the same principle that has turned Astronomy from a ‘religion’ to a science; a science that has been crucial to help us define time and our place in the world. To provide this experience, the structure of the journey is based on the principles of the scientific method: - Question - Explore - Experiment - Analyse - Reflect The journey commences in Bidston Hill, an elevated land with beautiful views to Liverpool and Wales, and contains numerous hidden gems that have been resting in its grounds throughout history; from ancient rock carvings, to a net of underground tunnels that were ww2 air raid shelters. The exploration of the rich landscape will serve as foreplay for the senses, creating the meditative mind-set that is required for a truly immersive journey, and in an explorative manner, the visitors find an almost hidden access to the QUESTION tunnels.
Journey through
Bidston Hill
When studying the historical context of Bidston Observatory in relation to its location, an urgent need emerged: including the hill and the tunnels in the development of the project. This will allow visitors to reconnect with the historical background of the entire place and perceive the observatory not as an isolated object, but as embedded in a wider context.
1:2000 Site
Model,
showing location of landmarks over and underground. It also shows real topography of site, 3d modelled and CNC routed.
Question Tunnels Reinvention of the WWII Air Raid Shelters into a series of atmospheric spaces where the visitors will immerse in a quest for discovering and understanding the surrounding phenomena. The will relive our ancestors emotions and questions they asked while looking t at the sky.
Visual Journey
conteplatium section
Contemplatium
@A1
@A1
Contemplatium creates an intense contrast with the open landscape that visitors have experienced before, it is a oval shape carved in stone with a real time projection of the site’s night sky. It is treated as if it was an archeological site, with a delicate circular Corten steel platform that allows access to a lower level, where people can lay and rest in the carved stone seats while looking at the sky and let their minds wonder. The projector is surrounded by a white concrete oil pool that reflects the ‘sky’ partially but creates a sense of infinity in the core of the dome.
Observatory - Gatehouse Space Arrangement
Tunnel
Model
The design of this tunnel is based on the concept of the rationalization of the mystical. Where astronomy becomes a science, this is represented by a series of twisted Corten Steel fragmented squares that are arranged in progressive tangents of a circle, the dominant astral shape. The corner of every square is connected to the observatory entrance with a brass rod that also contains the lighting.
The Gatehouse A shorcut to the scientific world of the observatory and the last stage of wonder for the visitors coming from the ‘Question Tunnels’ before they immerse into ‘Explore” in the Observatory.
Section 1:50 @ A1
Section Model 1:50 @ A1
Reflection Space The image on the left shows the now disfunctional Ostler Anemometer, a structure that sits on the top of the Observatory, giving great character to the overall shape of the building. In order to mantain this character, I designed the Reflection Space as a glass and steel structure that sits in the original location of the Anemometer, serving as a place to enjoy the landscape and nightsky, but also frame the sun by being tilted to the accurate angle of the Summer Solstice noon.
Reflection Space Model
The Arrival of the Sun The centre of the basement floor of the observatory is reinvented as a ceremonial space inspired by archaeoastronomy landmarks like Egyptian or Mayan Pyramids. When the Sun’s position is framed by the top of the reflection space, the image of the sun is reflected in a bronze ceremonial bowl filled with oil. The bronze bowl is perfectly balanced over a semicircular brass base attached with resin to the foundation stone.
2. Concept Work
Wearable Concept This concept piece is inspired by the Armillary Sphere, an Ancient astronomical artifact. The object helps the user understand the nightsky by manipulating it from the outside. In this case, my piece changes the point of view, the onlooker becomes the “inlooker� as its being drawn straight into the matter. It represents my idea of how the user should experience the space.
Design Manifesto.
Sketches Exploration of ideas and spaces through fast sketching.
From the darkness of the unknown to the clarity of knowledge.
Mixed media piece showing early understanding of the narrative and functions within the building.
Mashup Concept
Conceptual abstraction of 4 key spaces of the overall journey.
3. Feasibility Design Report
The Design Report is the result of extensive research and analyis of information related to the site, building and subject of intended use happening alongside the design process. It sinthesizes theory and practice denoting great understanding of the elements involved in the design. Illustations are self made and majority of photographs are taken first hand. Find the PDF version of the report at: https://issuu.com/melanieetcharthernandez
4. Free Range Exhibition Design I was part of the top 10 students of the class of Interior Architecture and Design of Leeds Beckett University who were selected to show our work at Free Range exhibition in London. We designed, curated and built the exhibition with a very tight schedule and budget. I took care of designing and 3d building of the exhibition stands including building a mock up. I collaborated with Goldfinger Factory to build and finish the final stands; I also helped coordinating the team to build the exhibition on site.
Design Specifications and layout.
FRAME 1
FRAME 2A
8 UNITS REQUIRED 45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per unit:
2 UNITS REQUIRED 45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per unit:
- 4 x 2180mm - 4 x 1090 mm - 6 x 600 mm - 4 x 163 mm
- 4 x 2180mm - 4 x 1090 mm - 5 x 600 mm - 4 x 163 mm - 2 X 208 mm
2 OSB Shelves of 600mm x 1090mm
2 OSB Shelves of 600mm x 1090mm
FRAME 2B
1 UNIT REQUIRED if 2A is not possible. 45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per unit same as 2A plus: - 1 x 1000mm
163mm
FRAME 2B
1 UNIT REQUIRED if 2A is not possible. 45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per unit same as 2A plus: - 1 x 1000mm
FRAME 2C
FRAME 2B
1 UNIT REQUIRED if 2A is not possible.
FRAME 2B
1 UNIT REQUIRED if 2A 45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per is not possible.
unit same as 2A plus: - 1 x 1000mm 45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per unit same as 2A plus: - 1 x 1000mm
FRAME 2B
1 UNIT REQUIRED if 2A is not possible.
FRAME 2B
45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per unit same as 2A plus: - 1 REQUIRED x 1000mm UNIT if 2A
1 is not possible.
45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per
FRAME 2C 1 UNIT REQUIRED if 2A is not possible. 45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per unit same as 2A plus: - 1 x 1000mm - 1 x 843 mm
FRAME 2C
FRAME 1 UNIT2C REQUIRED if 2A is not possible.
1 UNIT REQUIRED if 2A 45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per is not possible. unit same as 2A plus: - 1 x 1000mm
1 UNIT REQUIRED if 2A is not possible. 45mmx45mm Timber Breakdown per unit same as 2A plus: - 1 x 1000mm - 1 x 843 mm
Development
Realisation
5. Costume and Stage Design
Inspired by the Queen of the Dark from Mozart’s Magic Flute Opera, the design represents the transformative aspect of the character, who shows herself as a soft and caring woman and progressively evolves into a manipulative and selfish mother. The order transforming into chaos, the high contrast of the personality of the Queen and the explotion of emotions were the major drivers for the concept.
6. Staircase Survey
C 003
FIRST FLOOR GROUND PLAN
MELANIE ETCHART HERNANDEZ LEEDS ART GALLERY ACCOMODATION STAIRS SURVEY
D 003
A 003
MEZZANINE GROUND PLAN
GROUND PLANS
DRAWING 001
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B 003
10mm PAINTED MI BA 40mm DIAMETER PAIN STEEL
PAINTED STEEL C BEAM
400mm POURED CONCRET
200mm PAINTED MILD S CENTRAL COLUMN
PAINTED STEEL
FRONT ELEVATION
MELANIE ETCHART HERNANDEZ LEEDS ART GALLERY ACCOMODATION STAIRS SURVEY
ILD STEEL ALUSTRADE NTED MILD HANDRAIL
M / STRING
TE COLUMN A 003
STEEL
L I BEAM
SIDE ELEVATION
ELEVATIONS
DRAWING 002
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A
RUBBER CIRCLES PATTERNED SURFACE
PAINTED MILD STEEL FRAME
TREAD GROUND PLAN
B
FROSTED GLASS LAMP WITH ENERGY SAVING LIGHT BULB
CENTRAL COLUMNS TOP LAMPS
D
STRING AND HA
MELANIE ETCHART HERNANDEZ LEEDS ART GALLERY ACCOMODATION STAIRS SURVEY
TIMBER INNER STRUCTURE PAINTED MILD STEEL ANGLE JOINTED TO TREAD WITH TWO SCREWS AND WELDING
SECTION
C
PAINTED MILD STEEL BRACKET. HOLDS THE I BEAMS TO THE CORNER COLUMNS
I-BEAM BRACKET
HANDRAIL IS ATTACHED TO THE STRING WITH THREE 10MM SCREWS. ALL ELEMENTS PAINTED MILD STEEL.
ANDRAIL DETAIL
DETAILS
DRAWING 003
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SCALE 1:5