exploring aluminum

for the catwalk i want to make the models disappear along the length of this and in places block them form view. i want to do this by putting large screens through out the catwalk which will hide the model as they walk through them. i have been looking at using aluminum to create them as it is a strong but light weight material. it is also very easy to manipulate into shapes and can have things like laser cutting done to it which would be very effective for my catwalk and definitely something i would consider.

i have put together a collection of images i have found which show things made out of aluminum and demonstrate the possibilities there are and how versatile it is as a material.

finally updated!!!

so i have been away from internet for quite a while so havent been able to update and post the blogs i have written throughout my time away but now i have returned and am back to full health i have had a mass session of uploading and am now just about up to date i hope!!

last minute inspiration...

in the taxi on the way through the airport i was driven through downtown panama city which is the heart of all the high rise buildings. i travelled to the airport alone, leaving the hostel teary eyed as i said goodbye to my brother. the journey was very reflective. this was the first time in 3 and half weeks i had truely been alone and so once again my thoughts began to turn to my project. i had been struggling with how i was going to allow the audience to move from one side of the stand to the other as there is the slight issue of 2 railway lines in between. i decided the best way would be to have a bridge over and this is also very fitting for a station site. then came this issue of how i would allow enough height to cross over and therefore the need for a staircase but with limited space i wasnt sure how i would find space for this. with all this information going through my head i gazed out the taxi window as the skyscrapers went by. and then one in particular caught my eye. it was a twisted structure which was made up of large glass like blocks stacked up at different angles to create a large structure which resembled a giant spiral staircase. there was my answer staring straight at me. i realised i could achieve the rise in height i needed by going straight up and i could so this by putting in a spiral staircase! as i the left the city i was handed the last bit of inspiration i needed to pull my design altogether!!!

time to think...

throughout my time away my project was always at the back of my mind and i feel like i was able to draw ideas for it along the away as i was constantly being inspired and influenced in the way i thought about the project through the things i was and the people i met. the endless bus journeys gave me alot of time to carefully consider the layout and multiple uses of my site and how i would go about putting it all together to create a successful site. as a designer i quite often rush into my ideas and go with the first idea i come up with but being away from my drawing board and unable to do this i have been forced to think through things alot more than i have ever done before and i am finding this challenging but i know that as a result i will have a carefully thought out and hopefully successful design, which is exciting. so once im back i just need to pull this altogether and finally get drawing.

back to the city i go...

having spent an amazing 3 and half weeks travelling around central America, my time to head home was soon approaching. i spent the last couple of days in panama city with is an urban jungle of high rise concrete structures with a back drop of the pacific coast. it is definitely not what i would think of when i imagined a city in that part of the world and it was nothing like the places i had visited over the previous weeks but it was nice to be back into what felt like civilisation, and to explore the interesting architectural creations that had sprung up.

the only historical part of the city which still remains (although in ruins) is panama viejo which means 'old Panama'. you are able to visit the site where the original city was build and wonder through the ruins of the great cathedral and other large buildings. the site is now under conservation and is being sympathetically restored to allow visitors to understand the history and make sure the past is not forgotten. i found this really interesting as they went into great detail, explaining how they went about stabilising the structure and the careful consideration that goes into preserving and restoring historical buildings. from a structural point of view this was really interesting and definitely gave me some insight and knowledge which im sure will prove useful in the future.

pura vida!!

after the incredible week i spent in nicaragua, it was time to move on again back to costa rica but this time we stopped for more than just a few hours. costa rica has everything, tropical rainforests, live volcanoes and stunning beaches. this part of the trip was alot more relaxing and so i got more time to sit and think and finally got to do some proper drawing and sketches, and doing it whilst sitting on a beautiful caribbean beach made it even more enjoyable.

in a setting like this it was hard not to enjoy drawing!

i have been playing with the layout of my design and working out where is best to put things to allow seamless movement around my site. this is proving to be challenging as there is so much to think about and consider, so i am having to do lots of quick sketches to try and visualise my ideas. to save space and save me having to repeat facilities for both sides of the track i want to try and find a way for guests to be able to move between the two seating areas. i was thinking of maybe have some form of bridge that could join the two but im not sure how would be best to get people up to the right height to cross so thats something i need to think about. 

in between sketching and thinking through my idea i have managed to fit in doing some other pretty cool stuff including swinging through the rainforest on zip wires, relaxing in volcanic natural springs, seeing a  live erupting volcano, experiencing the rastafarian lifestyle on the caribbean coast, and rafting a grade 5 river through the rainforest. have experienced some unbelievable things and was such an amazing way to see the natural beauty of the country and to absorb the culture of the country. 

costa ricans or 'ticos' as they call themselves, are very friendly and welcoming people and so it was a pleasure to be there. they have a saying which they use on a regular basis which is 'pura vida' which basically means pure life or good life and having spent a week experiencing there lifestyle i would agree and say they do have a pretty good way of life!! 

chilling with the locals in Nicaragua!

in the market.

The local highstreet!

Looking over the town.

i have spent the last week in Nicaragua, in small village about 45 minutes from the capital. nicaragua is the poorest country in central america and it was definitely very different to panama and costa rica. the small community was in a remote location, down a dirt track and so many people had barely left the surrounding area. cut off from the world with limited electricity and very basic running water, i wasnt sure how much i would enjoy the week but surprising i learnt to loved and really enjoyed living such a simple existence. i even learnt to love eating rice and beans! but being served them 3 times a day i didnt really have much choice. 

The amazing kids!

The only way around town was by motor taxi! a very interesting experience!

this has been the most amazing week but incredibly tiring. we have spent the time working with the local community and doing outreach. i loved teaching the kids and getting to do crafts and games with them and just being able to show them a good time. this week has been a bit busy to really sit down and think and draw about my project so im hoping that now we are heading back to costa rica, i will find more time to make some progress....well thats the plan!!