PROCOPIA

FRAME VS FIELD

ARCH10001 MODULE 3 - THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

This project explored the concept of a frame in its respective field. It presented the correlation between a 3 dimensional space and a respective frame found within the space. Together the project seeks to tell a story, perceiving a given story and translating it into a 3d modelled world.

This project allowed me to consider the flow of time as well as the different emotions and feelings evoked by different environment, playing with darkness and light as well as creating a structure that best represented the story, linking themes and spatial factors.

Software Used: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Photoshop, RHINO 3D

DESIGN PROCESS

PROCOPIA - CONTINUOUS CITIES

The passage assigned was about Procopia in the novel Invisible Cities written by Italian writer Italo Calvino. It was published in Italy in 1972 by Giulio Einaudi Editore.

The passage follows the story of the protagonist, Marco Polo as he returns to the same inn every year as a stop along his travels. The passage explores the protagonist and his experience in the inn and how multiple faces appear in the window and in the room with each time he visits.

By the end of the passage the room in the inn is filled with so many faces that the atmosphere becomes dark and the calming exterior outside the window is no longer visible.

From this, I gathered the two main themes of the passage of time as well as the darkening and a sense of claustrophobia and tension as time passes in the inn.

NOTATION FIELD

ITERATIONS

Creating a channel to represent the passage of time, experimenting with tile densities to show the increase in weight of atmosphere as time progresses.

Creating a spiral instead to show a continuous flow of time; where the pathway in represents the common return to the same location despite the passage of time. Gaps between spirals to allow for bright external environment to shine in.

Lengths and densities and precision of the tiles increase down the channel reflecting the wear and tear and aging of the environment while creating a denser and heavy atmosphere.

FINAL NOTATION

I imagined the passage of time as a ring of spirals, which also served to act as an enclosed structure and environment that was the inn. Within the spirals the loosely tiled pathway acts as the common point returned to on the protagonist’s journey.

As time passes, the structure of the spiral becomes more loose and worn due to age. At the same time, the panels of the spiral become more heavy to represent the overwhelming tension created by the increasing number of faces and figures appearing each year. In contrast, the outside environment portrays a calming exterior seen outside the structure.

DETAIL MANIPULATION

PERSPECTIVE 1

For the second perspective, I aimed to show the darkness created from the overbearing nature of the faces on the long pieces. Despite the bright background being visible in the background, the dark blue colour wash emphasises the already dark surfaces of the pieces and its overwhelming nature.

In choosing this perspective, I has also angled the light to face away from this scene in order to cast prominent shadows and further emphasise the darkness.

PERSPECTIVE 2

For the first perspective, I wanted to portray the perspective along the pathway, showing a repetition in nature of the common place within the spiraled structure.

A red colour wash is used to promote tension as the environment grows darker. The use of wood textures are used to create a more a natural and comfortable feel for this place of temporary residence. This provided a kind contrast from the kind faces, to it’s increasingly overbearing nature.