Personal Portfolio

Here is a slide show of my previous design work. I will be uploading more files soon once my studio work is over, I will be presenting my work in board formats for a better viewing. For now enjoy the slide portfolio.. :)

Personal Development Plan

I cant believe how fast has the time went by, I am now on the final months within my studies in Landscape Architecture. During my studies and visits on the Focus Week's I believe I have achieved valuable lessons. 

This year as it's my final year, within my Focus Weeks I  mostly questioned myself in to understand my style of work, how I approach designs, what are my weakness and strengthens, what I like and dislike and may more questions. The reason why I questioned myself is because I need to know my own pathway, so I could take the right direction when I finish university. 

Within the 4 Focus Weeks, I intended to look in to different fields of Art and Design based areas into narrow down my style within my design works. I have always been more artistic within my designs, so I needed to understand the inspiration behind my artistic side. Within all my visits and tasks I set out myself during Focus Weeks I have strengthened myself a lot more. On of the  thing's I took on is the different ways in to express my style of work, through colour, scale, simplicity, materials, models and mainly to have a certain style that define myself only. And I believe that's important as a future landscape designer to have a signature style.

Obviously my learning and progressing stage isn't going to end here, I will be interacting more with the design world, visiting  more exhibitions, widening my reading materials, developing my knowledge not only within Landscape but also within other art and design fields as well in order to become an successful future Landscape Architecture.

A other area of subject that caught my attention was about Rain Gardens, which I found very interesting and would benefit me within my design ideas for my studio work.

Eco-Build 2011 - ExCel London

''The Future of design, construction and the built Environment''

Ecobuild is the future of design, construction and the environment, with the latest developments for architectural and landscape, with newest products from around the world, comes all under one roof once a year. With thousands of people visiting Ecobuild from around the world the atmosphere was great. 

Topics and Subjects within Ecobuil:

• Sustainability
• Construction
• Materials - Exterior, Interior, Renewable
• Water Wise
• Cityscape's
• Architecture
• Landscape Architecture

I was quite disappointed from my visit to Ecobuild, at first I was really looking forward to the visit and exploring and learning new things about subjects and widen my skills in construction methods and what's out there on offer for. There was more showcases and stand based on Architectural Designs then Landscape. Landscape lectures/seminars and stands were pretty limited, but there was a great range of topics and seminars taking place. 

Within my visit one of the topics I was interested in Living Walls, and Roofs and really wanted to understand the method, construction, maintenance and management goes in to designing and constructing an Living Walls or Roofs. 

One of the lectures I attended during my visit at ExCell - Ecobuild was Frosts Vertiscapes:

Drainage: Green Roofs are a component of sustainable drainage systems, typically intercepting 50% of the rainfall that falls on them. This helps to reduce urban surface water flooding and pressure on overworked drains and sewers.

Urban Heat Island: Cities are hotter than surrounding areas. Green Roofs reflect sunlight and provide and produce evapo-transpirative cooling, providing relief from the heat in dense inner busy city areas.

Energy Conservation: Green Roofs keep interior of a building cooler in summer periods and the opposite during the winter, keeping the interior warmer, making significant savings in bills and carbon.

Biodiversity: Bu using native species and plants with proven value to attract wildlife, green roofs attract a wide range of wildlife , and this increases biodiversity in even the most urban areas.

Extending the Life of the Roof: A green roof can protect waterproofing from IV lights, and  very hot summer and cold winter temperatures, potentially extending its life bu decades. 

Design Museum - Drawing Fashion

Drawing Fashion exhibition has on display the exceptional and extraordinary fashion illustrations of the 20th and 21st centuries, drawings and combinations from  international designers known around the worldwide, brands such as McQueen, Dior, Chanel, Vikroe & Rolf and Comme des Garons, the exhibition has got the exclusive drawings and skecthes you wouldn't been seen anyway else I could guarantee you that for definite.

As been a girl, and love shopping and been in to fashion this exhibition has made me love fashion even more.. :) The illustrations and drawings I have seen, I will have to say was amazing and incredible.

The exhibition demonstrates the style, passion, enthusiasm, and character the designers has put in to their illustration to fashion, combining the illustrations with art, but also raising the attraction of  elegance and appeal of glamour within their unique designs. With each design illustrating an different path way of sense of style, and reflecting it to the time of drawing, with drawings representing the time through Pop Art, Art Deco and Art Nouveau, allowing the viewer to understand the culture and spirit of the drawing at the time of the drawing.

Viewing the different style of drawings from different times, has shown me the changes that has occurred and how fashion now is displayed more abstract. Have to say it again great exhibition and inspiring in the ways of use of colour, paint, graphics and illustration. 

Images are uploaded from google images, as Photography was not permitted within the exhibition.

Design Museum - The Brit Insurance Designs Awards 2011

Great Designs, Inspiring, Creative, Simple but Genius, Wooow, Hmmmm - Great few hours spent in the Design Museum today viewing all the designs for the Brit Insurance Designs Awards, wondering which one will be the Design of the Year. From designs that made me say, that's such a ''clever idea'', to designs that made me say ''hmmm nice''

There was variety of designs from graphics, to transport, furniture to fashion on display from small scales to bigger displays. The designs were creative, some were simple, all designed for the future with beneficial aspects, and imaginative. 

Ladakh Commonealth Peace Pavilion and Classroom Initiative 

 UK Pavilion Shanghan Expo 2010

One piece that caught my eye and I did question if it was possible, but did see it was possible and has been built in a 1:1 scale in real life, I was pretty amazed of the material choose and the strength of the material. Would have loved to experience this in person especially the inside of the structure

Tape Installations - Architecture: Austria - Crostia

The continuous wrapping of the tape links to result in complex amorphous shapes reminiscent of growing organic forms developed. Up to 45km of tape went in to creating some parts of this structure, which can be experienced from inside a well as from out side. 

Fiat 500 MultiAir Engine

Sayl Task Chair

There was many designs to be viewed and to be inspired by. And also educational wise great way to learn new techniques, model structures - material uses, scale and colour use. Wish only there was more to view.. :)

AND THE WINNER OF... 

Brit Insurance Design of the Year 2011

is...

PLUMEN LIGHTBLUB by Samuel Wilkinson 

It's amazing after viewing so many of the designs, and having few on mind that I believed will be the winner, I was pretty amazed the Plumen Light Bulb was the winner. To be really honest I didn't even think it would. This design was the last one I viewed within the exhibition on the day of my visit,. The light bulb does the same job of an normal light saving bulb, with using 80% lesser of it's energy and also durable for eight times more than an luminous light bulb.

'' Stephen Bayley, 2011 Jury Chair said of the winning entry ‘The Plumen light bulb is a good example of the ordinary thing done extraordinarily well, bringing a small measure of delight to an everyday product.’'

http://www.designsoftheyear.com/2011/03/15/plumen-lightbulb-wins-brit-insurance-design-of-the-year-2011/

I guess this shows that a design does not have to be over the top, or exaggerated an simple idea that has a twist and style with benefits can be a masterpiece. Relating this back to my own studies design simple, bold but clever designs that relates to the concept can be a success. But I guess that's always the case you will always start of with the simplest drawings and then later develop those simple design ideas adding more to it, but will always go back to the first drawing you have done and will go forward with that design idea with slight developments added to it. So always trust your first instinct, the first design idea that comes to your mind the minute you finish reading the brief/or design concept and be confident.

Sweden - Stockholm

The second we all got off the plane, it was freezing, and still snowing. Days before there was a snow storm in Stockholm, and when we arrived the whole country was covered in snow. I was prepared with an nice warm coat, an long thick scarf but one pair of gloves was not enough to keep my fingers warm. And this was only ten minutes of the plane.

As we took got on the coach and started making our way to the hostel, the view wasn't very appealing with every space of Stockholm was just white. To the Swedish it's all normal living, I did think if it was snow like that in London, no one would leave their homes, let alone drive.  As we got close to the city, where the snow was cleared at most places, and the land was now visible, the city was full of culture richness, historical buildings and new architectural buildings, with where ever you turn your head you see rivers and lakes. The city was full of culture, and art. The architecture within Stockholm are highly respected as well as the landscape. You wouldn't not see much modern architectural buildings as the history of the city is highly cherished and adored by it's people. Newly developments of buildings have strict regulations to be in certain height and form in order for it to fit in with the surrounding hostorical buildings and landscape. I only wished if it was summer to explore the city and enjoy it even more then I would. Stockholm is a city to visit and explore, it's a city with a old and new twist.

During our duration at Stockholm, I did experience the living there was short but nice, transport, food, culture, friendly people, historical areas and buildings.

Landscape areas we visited during our visit:

Stockholm City Hall - The city council decided and agreed to build a new city hall in 1907. For the new building an architectural design contest was held and within the first stage at the contest a range of design selections were chosen by Carl Westman, Ivar Tengbom, Carl Bergsten and Ragnar Ostberg.

 City Hall

SkogskyrkoGarden - The Woodland Cemetery - This place is breath taking an amazing with  an huge open space of landscape at the entrance with an free-standing scared stone cross. The Woodland Cemetery was built between 1919 and 1940 by the young architects Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz. The architects intentions within their design was to use the natural surrounding landscape and create an peaceful and restful experience for it's visitors. There is several chapels within the woodland cemetery engaging with the natural surrounding, all the architectural buildings are symbolic and aspirational of the Swedish Architecture. The collaboration between the landscape and architecture compliment each other.

Entrance to the Cemetery

SkogskyrkoGarden has been inscribed on the World Heritage List of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Inscription on the List confirms the expectational universal value of cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.

Royal Academy of Arts : Modern British Sculpture

 

Today I visited the Royal Academy of Arts : Modern British Sculpture. The reason why I was interested to visit this exhibition is because as been interested in sculptural forms and interpretations of feelings and opinion the sculptors want to share, I find it inspiring and it also gives me an different level and path way to experiment and think in. 

The exhibition was very exciting you could see the development in sculpture making from thousands of centuries ago to today's world, and how messages were put across so differently. And also going through each gallery I realised the boundaries and limitations of some sculptures and where others where just over the top, how the sculptors has used all their imagination as possible, and this balance was of the period of the sculpture produced.

Visiting this exhibition was quite influential I saw the different scales of sculpture's and installations that has been made and the extend the sculptor goes through in order to put his message across to the audience. And this made me think of how I could design a landscape how I want it to be, I just have to be more confident, and a bit crazy :) 

One of the pieces that really really truly got my full attention for so long was the  Damien Hirst’s ‘Let’s Eat Outdoors Today’ installation

 I will say this piece not only caught my attention, all the viewers were highly interested and amazed at the extend of this piece and the imagination behind it. It looked horrible, with an actual cow's head under table with an pool of blood, I will say thousands of flies, not the pretties sight but surely does catch your attention. Well then again it's Damien Hirst's after his ''For the Love of God'' sculpture with an asking price of £50million, I think ‘'Let’s Eat OutdoorsToday’' wouldn't even be near £50million .. :)

The exhibition has gave me a insight of the scale and extend artist go through in order to produce work that defines them as an  artist/sculptor, they own style of work. And also how they show this with the installations and sculptures they produce. Maybe It is important to have an style of working in order for people to define and relate your work to you. This exhibition has definitely got me thinking of what's my style of design and how I think? and definitely has questioned my ability for model making and taking that extra step to produce models more uniquely.

 

Part 2 - Sam Johnston - Gustafson Porter

''What is Landscape''

''Everything under the Sun'' Neil Porter

Gustafson Porter's approaches to landscape architecture:

- Sculptural approaches

- Contemporary landscape design 

- Creative and original landscape design approaches 

Their design approaches consists of three stages Researching, Engaging,  and Aspire in order to design and create and landscape that can be appreciate and ennjoyed by all people at all age.

I want to be a Landscape Architecture

Landscape Institute 

''What is Landscape Architecture?''

"Landscape architecture is an extraordinary blend of science and art, proposition and thought." Jason Prior

“There’s a great opportunity as a landscape architect to address what’s on the political agenda – childhood obesity, healthy living. Designing playful landscapes means we’re providing somewhere that it’s fun for children to play,” Adam White

Landscape architecture is designing and planning the environment, both physically and psychologically, for the betterment of humanity" Varsha Halabe

“I love drawing and I love sketching and I think it’s really important to put your ideas down on paper. The most fantastic thing about landscape architecture is that it’s so varied and there’s so many different avenues you can go down. It’s a job you can do anywhere in the world.” Laurel Truscott

''Landscape architecture combines environment and design, art and science.  It is about everything outside the front door, both urban and rural, at the interface between people and natural systems. The range of ways in which landscape architects work is staggering. From masterplanning Olympic sites to planning and managing landscapes like national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty to designing the public squares and parks that we all use, landscape architecture nurtures communities and makes their environment human and liveable. 

Landscape architects are broad thinkers who thrive on the big picture.  They are playing an increasingly important role in addressing the great issues of our day: climate change, sustainable communities, water, housing and the prevention of hunger. Landscape architects are often natural leaders, able to communicate with many professions and leading multidisciplinary projects. Landscape architecture is not just the profession of the future – but the profession for a better future.'' Landscape Institute

Part 3 - Maria Smith - Studio Weave

''What is Landscape''

''We are fascinated by the powerful role that stories play in creating a sense of place, both as a design tool and a way to engage with everyone surrounding a project including clients, consultants, and users, both grown-ups and children.'' StudioWeave

A practice that approaches briefs in a different way to engage not only with the audience of the brief, but with everyone who is involved within a project. They look in to aspects within a place that has unusual, and bizarre characteristics to change that place into something more unique and extraordinary experience.

One of their works that got a lot of compliments is the Longest Bench design- in Littlehampton, the designs inspiration is from an Charm Bracelet. The curvy flowing bench structure continuously  travels along the promenade, with loops, running behind bins, with open space for movement. The bench blends in with the surrounding landscape, the bright colours stand out but is not  overly exaggerated. It has a fun, exciting appeal complimenting the green spaces, sea, sand. 

A other landscape project Studio Weave has completed is the ''Freya and Robin'' project - in Kielder Water, Northumberland. There is a story behind this beautiful structural design, the story approach has inspired them to an design concept.

The two piece structural design is an focal point for visitors to stop and experience the view at the lakeside within the hut. 

The structure is made out of wood, which blends in with the surrounding nature, the detailing within the structure allows it to have an more organic twisting branches appearance which blends in and also fits in with the surrounding. 

The structural support for both huts are long steel polls.

''Landscape is anything outside''

                                                                                                                   Maria Smith

Images are taken from the Studio Weave website.

Part 2 - Heather Ring - Wayward Plants

''What is Landscape''

''A Project of Social Exchange and Botanical Desire''

Heather Ring is a Landscape Architect who has worked in practices of Gustafson Porter and Martha Schwartz in landscape designs of large scale public open spaces. She is also the finder of Wayward Plant Registry. 

Here is the work of Wayward people do –

• Plant Adoption – The public can adopt unwanted plants
• Community Exchange – Unwanted plants can be exchanged with others
• The Union Street: Urban Orchard – A site that is completed made from recycled materials, with adopted and exchanged plants and tress, it is a mix use site open to the public, it is an friendly site that encourages people to engage with. And take a plant when ever you go to add your own contribution to the place

Heather talk was quite interesting, it shows how people are passionate about what they do, and how they are inspired by different things you might not even think about. To be honest I did not even know about Plant Adoption or Exchange was quite amazed of the job Heather was doing. Heather has shown enthusiasm and dedication within her work, which can inspire people.

Part 1 - Christian Spencer Davies - AModels

''What is Landscape''

AModels is not like any other model making firms, the reason why AModel stands out from the rest is because they have they own way of producing abstract,transcendent, creative inspired models. The inspiration of the models can be of absolute anything that can inspire the model maker to produce an unique, exclusive model to represent the concept of the brief at it's high standard. 

AModels are against models which are fully white, bland models, or un-realistic models, they are dedicated, devotedly model makers who believe in producing models that will engage with it's viewers. Their work does not have boundaries or limitations with scale, materials or imagination, it's all about creating something that is unique and bringing the architectural design, landscape design etc to live. 

One of the things that has stood out for me while listening to Christian was the respectful, trustworthy relationship he has with his clients. His clients wouldn't have much say in how they want the model, Christian prefers to approach the brief in his own artistic way and suitable way, and the best way the model will engage with the views.

Christian has gave me the interest in model making again, he has bought back my interest I had in secondary school. I took on Resident Materials as my technology topic and always loved experimenting with different types of wood, metals, and plastic, I enjoyed every brief we got. I always gave a lot of attention to detail, and finishes, but moving on to college I dis-continued with the topic and moved on from model making. I did wish I continued in pursuing in developing my model making skills, and developed them from first year of my study in Landscape Architecture. 

One of the advantages in model making for myself is that I am not verbally good in explaining myself due to nervous every time, so my model use to always speak for it self. This should have been one of the first skills I developed from the start of Landscape Architecture. But it's never to late thanks to Christian who has inspired me :)

 

Aims for Focus Week 3

What is Landscape? 

''The idea of landscape is always changing. James Corner states that the “landscape construct is inherently unstable, an indeterminate dimension that can be opened up through artistic practices and mad to reveal alternative sets of possibility.”(1999:158). ''

All the Focus Weeks I have completed over my three year study in Landscape Architecture in Kingston University, I am more then looking forward to this Focus week to begin. The Theme or shall I say the topic of conversation is ''What is Landscape'' with presentations and discussions planned for two days on the 25th and 27th should bring an good insight for us students in what directions to take after we graduate from university. 

The reasons why I am looking forward to these lectures by people involved within different areas of Landscape Architecture, is because defining What is Landscape can be difficult, explaining to people when they say What is Landscape is difficult, as the only thing people say is are you going to become an ''GARDENER'' it is pretty annoying hearing the same thing again and again.. hopefully after these series of lectures  will gain an more solid answer while answering people.

Within these two days individuals will be presenting and discussing about their personal experinaces they have learnt within their work field in the context of What is Landscape. It will be great to hear what are people are experiancing and the different types and fields we could approach after university as Landscape Designer/Architects.

Lectures will be given by : 

First Day

Christain Spencer Davies - AModels

Heather Ring - Wayward Plants

Maria Smith - Studio Weave

Second Day:

Sam Johnston - Gustafson Porter

Will Sandy - Three Green Dots

Trenton Oldfield - This is Not A Gataeway

Critical Illustrated Essay Writing :Title Decided

For my Critical Essay writing as I said in my previous posts I was interested in the topic of art and design within Landscape Architecture. So after all my research's and tutorials with my tutor, the title of my essay is:

''The invasion of Artists taking over Landscape Architecture: Are Landscape Architects Artistic Enough? ''

I have included my on Abstract and Intentions within the essay below, we only had 5,000 words of limit for this essay, I will say I did have difficulties in reducing my research's and trying to explain everything in short hand as possible. And thanks to my Dyslexia it didn't help at all, but I did get through it and hopefully it will be a great read. I enjoyed it very much I will say even though it was stressful with  the amount of reading and research I have completed, but it was all worth it.

Abstract

Landscape architecture a profession only as little over 100years old and Art may be old as old as human existence; at the present time the two are bee compared as one. Landscape architecture been a design based profession, on the other hand Art is filled with history and long existence in the world with hundreds of definitions from its developments and movements till this present time.

With not only landscape architecture having a low profile definition in actual what the profession is, it’s not been credited for its full propose, to be more parses landscape architecture is the art, or the science or even arranging of the land for engaging human use. So a profession still growing may have a definition that doesn’t credit it’s propose at the present time, but surely relates to a background of thousands of years back. 

Intentions

The intentions and purposes within this study are to understand and explore how art comes into landscape architecture at the present time. With many Artists using the landscape in different scales exploring in different ways to express their work to the world and to point their own opinions across more clearly has bought the term of Land Art, Artscapes and even if landscape architecture is the new Art of the present time.

It brings in to mind the terms of Art and Design, what is Art? And what is Design? What are the boundaries of these two and the similarities? 

Landscape architecture been a profession of mainly design with functionality and having purpose to its surrounding human use, and where to art been on the side of creativity, imaginations, freedom, no limitations, does not need to function or to have a purpose to its surroundings. So the question here is asked how artists comes to be designing landscapes when their own profession has barely any boundaries to a profession with boundaries, or are landscape architects not been as artistic and creative enough with their designs and been over powered by the works of artists. I will be looking in to the answers for these questions.

Also nowadays artists collaborated with landscape architects and landscape architects collaborated with Artists they combine their artistic ideas and design ideas together for one piece of work. I will be exploring the success behind the collaboration work by the two professions.

Every artist has a signature for each piece of work they produce to make the work recognisable and that it belongs to them. Architects tend to take over the site, with their designs over shadowing and dominating the landscape, which this tends to be the signature of their designs. Where to a landscape Architect, we have to work around the site which has already been already dominated or already has been taken over by the surrounding architecture or maybe a landscape that has been isolated by its surrounding, and for landscape architect to design a landscape, defining the designer is more complex, so this is where art may develop within the design process, so the signature of the landscape architect may be the artistic aspect within their design.

The rest of the essay will be available for those who are interested to read.. :) 

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation is designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks located in South West Scotland, an private garden which was designed for his wife, with viewings to the public once a year through Scotland's Gardens Scheme.

The design is primarily based on mathematics and elements of science, mainly based on natural nature methods and scientific courses. The garden is an landscape to be explored and understood by its visitors. As visitors explore and experience the garden they are expected to take in the creation of an limitless mini universe. Every space of the garden will be a different experience for the visitor experiencing the different themes and sculptures around.

 Images are taken from google image search

I must say when I researched about The Garden of Cosmic Speculation I wasn't expecting anything like this. This is definitely a garden I must visit and experience myself in person. It looks like an garden from Alice in Wonderland :) with the structural sculpture, hills and the organic and natural shapes within the garden all looks really well designed. An garden full of inspiration with no boundaries to address.