Evaluation So Far...

So far I have looked into typography and how it can be merged with architecture. This led me to start trialing text and combining it with way finding techniques, using the walls, floors and ceilings to lead people round the building. So far this has been successful however I want to expand my ideas and add on to them. I have been looking at typography artists and how there text illustrates the word. I will need to trial more fonts and styles of typography. My 3 main aims are;

-More trials
-Research more typography
-Detailed Illustrations of my concept



WAY FINDING IN LONDON;

Inspirations

BECHIRA SORIN

                  

Inspirations

CRAIG WARD

                             

                                      

PRESENTATION

Classwork

Ideas

                                                                           

This idea is inspired by using coloured lines that represent a floor/ department or strand, they can overlap and create interesting shapes. They can following around walls, ceilings and floors. They could be bursts of bright, bold block colours which would be easy to locate and follow.

I then wanted to incorporate text as i love the typography i researched and how effective it can be. I designed a font that is clear, bold and easy to read as i want the text to replace the coloured lines. This creates an extremely easy way finding technique which everyone is capable of following and understanding. I want the text to be in black as its bold and it can flow up and down the walls, ceilings and floors. This could be created using special paint or fitted in the floor, when we had that meeting with Kim he advised me that the paint can wear as the fitted floor lasts longer. 

Profile of Brit School

"The BRIT School is Britain's only FREE Performing Arts and Technology School. It is an independent, state funded City College for the Technology of the Arts, the only one of its kind dedicated to education and vocational training for the performing arts, media, art and design and the technologies that make performance possible."

Along with my questionnaire this profile of the existing site will help when designing the new site, not so much as inspiration but key colours or motifs we could adapt or add in the new building to create a link as such.

Aedas

As our clients are from Aedas i decided to do some research on the company and their existing projects. This research will help me understand how the new Brit building will be designed and built. I have started my research by visiting their website and reading what their 'all about'.




"Aedas creates some of the best architectural design solutions from our 39 offices around the globe. We provide international expertise with innate knowledge and understanding of local cultures. Our designers are committed to contribute and lead in the societies we design for. We have a holistic approach to sustainability which shows our care not only for the built environment but also for the people we work with and the societies we live and work within."






"The Aedas global network provides consultancy services in architecture, interior design, masterplanning, landscape, urban design and building consultancy in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Our commitment and tenacity to improve the natural and built environment are reflected in our designs for all building types including civic, education, health, transport, commercial, residential, sports, retail and industrial buildings."

Colours

Colours are extremely important and when choosing key colours you have to think about what emotions the colours influence, colours can change your mood and actions towards people, ideas and things. Colours are used in therapy and have a huge impact on peoples brains and especially on those who are emotionally troubled. I also have to think about what colours represent each of the strands and if they help in a learning environment or make it hard to concentrate or distract you etc.

Way-finding

     

Contemporary way finding designs tend to be big, bold and obvious. Small old signs and arrows have been replaced with oversized typography placed on floors, walls and even ceilings. The designs are usually changed and distorted to fit in with the space.

"A good signage design not only helps to navigate through the environment, but also represents a brand and communicates the host's intended messages."

After researching and looking at different ways to use way finding within a building i have been really inspired by the idea of following a colored line which represents a department / strand or floor. I have found some examples of this; 

Typography

Typography can be used on a building and also within, words can become parts of the building or create focal points within a room. There are many ways and techniques to use typography effectively and my research has led me to some interesting ways text and typography can create a brand or logo for the building as such.

- For example this building uses the word "explore" at first glance you think the word has been spelt backwards by accident. However this is done so that the reflection on the building creates the word the right way round. This typography creates a focal point and becomes one of the main parts of the building or one of the most  interesting.

- Typography can also be merged with furniture/storage unit as you can see this 'm' creates a storage unit. I thought  this would be a nice idea for the storage within the building as in different departments it can spell out the strands.

- These simple oversized letters make the building so much more interesting as they merge architectural form and typography together. This lets the building communicate it's function and status through a language of visual arts.

Questionnaire - for brit school students

This questionnaire has been designed to find out what we may want to incorporate into our new building, finding out why the students wanted to join brit is a vital question as we will want to make sure the new building expresses this. Furthermore as brit is on a massive site and its easy to get lost we wanted to find out if the way-finding could be improved, this will help us when designing the way-finding for the new building. Finally we asked about strand separation as if it is an issue we would want to improve and solve it by making the new building feel welcoming to every strand within the school.

1. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the brit school?

2. How is brit different from your previous school?

3. If you could describe brit in one word what would it be?

4. Do you feel Strand division is an issue in this school?

5. What made you want to come to brit school?

6. Would you change anything about brit school and if so what?

7. would you describe brit way-finding as successful?

Interior design

                    

Google office by Scott Brownigg

This interior has been deigned around the brand name ‘google’. The two o’s form doorways. The office is very open plan, light and spacious. The brand colours are used throughout the office. The office is bright and fun however after a long period of time in the office I wonder if you would develop a headache.

                

Wienerwald restaurant by Ippolito Fleitz Group

I have researched interiors of restaurants for inspiration for the school canteen in the new building. Just like Wienerwald restaurant I would want to keep the colour scheme throughout the canteen the same this also helps with way finding. This colour scheme of browns and greens is meant to reference nature and forests. Furthermore they have forest graphics and tree motifs covering some of the walls and windows.

Aesop at Merci By March Studio

March Studio has trapped 4500 cardboard boxes behind a netting in this store for Australian brand. This amazing installation uses the brands own packaging to create the installation. This also acts as a focal point and furthermore advertises the product all at the same time. As we are in visual arts and design strand I think a installation as a focal point would be a great idea as it ties in with our strand and what were all about.

Monday 4th Classwork

What do we mean when we talk about branding?

A brand uses a "name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them to symbolise a company

What does it involve and why is it so important?

• Understand wants and needs of customers
• Simplistic
• Memorable and recognizable
• Delivers the message clearly


Interior Design and Branding

How does the nature of the interior of the building affect you?

The interior of a building can affect your mood and also the environment. Mood is mainly down to the colour palette the designers choose, as colours have a chemical effect on your brain. Furthermore if the space is cramped, cluttered and dull this can affect your mood, if the space was light, airy and open your mood would then also change.

What elements are important?

• Colour
• Space
• Lighting
• Way findings
• Patterns

How can we include branding within these elements?

• Key colours
• symbols

Architectural space

The Pompidou Centre in Paris has unique architecture. The building is designed so that there is more space inside as all the service sections are on the outside of the building – elevators, stairs, water and air ducts, escalators are all outside. This amazing architecture allows the public to see how the building functions and all the different areas are colour coded – the air pipes are blue, the water pipes are green, the escalators are red, the electricity is yellow. This building is one of the most visited attractions in Paris.

The Saint Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most recognizable buildings in Moscow, Russia. This building is located in Red Square. Despite its size Saint Basil Cathedral is the finest in Russian church architecture. The bold use of colour’s and spiral shapes make the building a breathtaking sight. Each of the chapels is topped with a unique onion dome. The combination of spirals, strips, angles and intricate detail makes the cathedral so unique. The building is heavily based on religious meanings and metaphors.

Akshardham Temple, New Delhi. This temple consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, and 20 quadrilateral shikaras along with spectacular Gajender Pith with plinth of elephants carved on the stone. The immense detail and sculpture of this building is incredible and simply breathtaking. The symmetry of the temple is unbelievable as the intricate carving would be hard to repeat identically. The wet footpath creates a reflection of the building, which adds to the overall view.

Manzana de la Discordia - Batlio's House (Gaudi). I took a trip to Barcelona with my school where we visited many of Gaudi’s outstanding pieces of architecture. Gaudi’s work is admired and loved by architects worldwide. His work is one of the most unique architectural styles. Most of his work is adorned with coloured tiles arranged in mosaic patterns; the use of colour is incredible. The combination of colours, original design and shaped stonework creates a breath-taking experience.