OIL PROJECT - VENICE
This OIL project was primarily about collaboration. The grouped together with students from Singapore to create a design for the people of Venice. We even got to visit our chosen locations on our trip there. Our initial idea was to have a sheltered sanctuary in a courtyard next to a wide canal in Venice. We started by individually sketching our own ideas. When regrouping it was evident which direction we wanted to go in. The rough idea was to build a sanctuary for the people to come and relax away from the busy city life.
The idea continued from being land based (in the courtyard) to being on the on the water. The notion behind using the water was primarily because water is essential to Venice. To echo this we used glass, mirrors and curves in our designs. Also, having a social area where you could potentially sit for the visitors or locals around would be beneficial. From feedback and discussions we decided to push forward and create something different, with elements of the same designs.
The final design came about by more feedback and discussions. We successfully collaborated our best efforts into still creating the Venetian styled bridge we wanted. Using the curves, which can be seen all around the city throughout the different styles of architecture which have come and gone, really helped to keep the look we wanted. This bridge is symbolic of what has been lost, and the efforts going into the essence we are trying to bring back.
Venice is made from 121 islands, all connected through 435 bridges. The city developed from a series of smaller cities which were then brought together through bridges. Modern day Venetians still depend on these canals in their everyday lives. It would be important to highlight the reason why these bridges were made in the first place. To bring people together.
There are many bridges in the city all made from either wood, stone or iron, some being private so unfortunately, they are not accessible. In this project it would be important to use these materials to not only blend this bridge into the current city landscape but to focus on the quality and value of using Venetian materials and even understanding the way these materials could be fixed together.
VIDEOING THE PROCESS
As a designer it is important for us to develop skills within many disciplines. I enjoy learning and developing videography and documenting design processes, as I believe it's not always about the final outcome but the journey you experience along the way. For this project i documented the entire process of design, from intial ideas, concepts and sketches to the final animation. Together we were able to look back on this process as a team and discover where we could have made improvements.
