So, where are we?
More model iterations; a shell created for the final iteration(s); plans, sections and an isometric projection all WIP. Design diary will start to be formed tomorrow, concerned that I’m lacking details and backup work informing design direction, but that will form over Easter & partly next week.
Also, I may have finally found a home for next year ^_^. Relieved, but still need to apply for it and see the application accepted. But still. ^_^
Did a quick follow up trip to Folkestone yesterday for four main reasons:
1) To catalogue the demolition works, per my friends’ advice
2) To take note of the site’s solar access of an evening
3) To relive childhood memories of being battered by the elements
4) To hear a friend sing
And much to my chargrin, I may in fact have to take a rest day today, to ensure that I am fully functional next week. I am *tired*. Really tired. I know we “lost” an hours sleep last night due to the bureaucratic amusement that is DST, but still.
Anyway. Folkestone yesterday was lovely - being bashed around by the winds (>30mph in some cases) by the Lighthouse was exhilarating. It was also useful to remind my self of the physical site itself (it always looks and feels different when you are down there in person, than from a photograph, or model). It was also useful to note exactly how solar access effects the site of an evening - as solar access is one of the key themes I’m running with in the project.
It was also lovely to hear Jeri play again - hadn’t heard her singing or guitar playing for a good while. Amazing.
So, combination of modelling and drawing last week. The project has really started to click over the past couple of days, I just wish that had happened 2-3 weeks ago. FFS.
Still looking at houses/flats for next year, and it is looking more and more likely that I’ll still be commuting from outside of Canterbury, but just from a nearer town rather than across the county as I am currently.
Popping back down to Folkestone later for a follow up research trip, and to hopefully see a friend at an event. It is kinda terrifying how little time we have left on this project to be honest, and that the end of the academic year is only 2 months away/9 weeks. Portfolio submission for this main project is 42 working days away. Submission deadline for Comms Media (the last outstanding sub-module) is 24 working days away. Of course, I work weekends, so that gives some extra time, but still. Point is made.
Am I fucked? Well, time will tell. Muwahahah. Ahaha. Aha. … -_-
Ok, so I guess I feel that I finally have a direction to take this project, and we have 3 weeks until the end of this term. I’m behind. You get used to the feeling. Ahahahahaha. Ha. Ha. Haaaa. -_-
I’m chucking out most of the site uses and squaring up to see it used as a dedicated youth club/space, with an emphasis on the provision of music rooms.
One of my plans for the weekend (along with catching up with the CAD module) is to collate all the precedents I’ve been eyeing - some from Paris, some from Folkestone’s history. The structure of this project has pissed me off sometimes if I’m honest - I understand we’re being taught new methods of thinking, learning, designing, but it frequently feels like we do not in fact have time to think, and that it is very much a case of a “one ring to rule them all” mentality. I guess it comes down to the whole design school vs production line thing. Anyway. A wee break, then back to work.
(Yes, I work weekends, its cool if you don’t, or if you have payed work commitments. I guess having a 5.5/6 day working week for 10yrs as a kid helped).
The weather today was glorious. We spent the day walking around Paris - long day, but worth it. I was a little underwhelmed by the Pompidou Centre though. The garden at the Quai Branly Museum (Jean Nouvel) was also rather lovely - great use of glass baffles to provide an acoustic buffer from the road.
I was also in far more of a people photography mood as well today. Second entry will show that.
Day One of the Paris Trip.
Around 50 of us headed to Paris this morning (getting the 05:58 from Ebbsfleet - talk about an early start!) arriving at Gare du Nord around 09:20. We spent the day navigating around various interesting locales (Louvre, Centre for the Arab World, the Metro, Notre Dame) in what was a whistle-stop tour.
One place though made an indelible impression - The Memorial to the Deported, or The Holocaust Memorial, next to Notre-Dame.
Everyone should visit at least one memorial to the Holocaust in their lifetime.
I couldn’t stop crying.
We all have shit weeks.
Enough said.