Professional Documents
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Fall 2008 Instructor: Stephanie Stuefer
Project 2: Space: Internal Volume and External Form
Readings: Launching the Imagination: Principles of Design (p221238)
Artist References: Joseph Cornell, Bill Griffith, Paula Winokur, Antonio Gaudi
Volume: The size or extent of a three dimensional object or region of space.
Mass: A unified body of matter with no specific shape.
Form: Form is usually the fundamental aspect of a solid object.
Shelter: Something that affords cover or protection (Definitions taken from Design Language, by Tim
McCreight)
This definition can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Certainly physical shelter can be found within architecture.
Clothing and shoes can afford shelter as well. Spiritual or religious philosophies, concepts or mental picturing can
also provide shelter.
Goals: You must make some sort of structure that defines an interior space and an exterior space. Please define
shelter in terms that express what you value most: (physical, psychological, emotional shelter). Primitive structures
like yurts and huts are architectural forms that were basic structures built for physical shelter. These structures
were not based on the cube. They were not boxlike in form like much of today’s western architecture. Using a
form that relates and/or considers interior volume and exterior mass you should create a 3D form, which reflects
your psychological ideas of personal shelter. Imagine yourself inside the form. Is the surrounding form sheltering;
cocoonlike, womblike, a nest, or does it seem too small and make you claustrophobic? You are to define the
exterior form through the interior space it holds. Please be sure your final resolution is fully 3dimensional, well
crafted and conceptually successful.
Objectives:
To interpret the definition of shelter and develop a personalized, 3dimensional concept
To examine interior and exterior space and their relationship
To research your interpretation of shelter through primitive or modern architecture
To explore color and surface texture that will enhance the feeling of shelter
Procedure:
1. Written exercise: Define “shelter” first in your own words from an intuitive/personal standpoint (use your
imagination), then give a dictionary example. What are you protected from? How are you protected? What
images come to mind? When are you feeling protected? Are people near? Is it a space or a mindset?
Research various types of shelter, going beyond the typical representations we associate with shelters (things
with roofing and walls). Use the library and Internet, look around. Think about what truly defines this concept
for you.
2. Bring 4 examples of your research to class: 2 artist examples (you may bring your laptop show the artists'
work) and 2 photocopies/objects that relate to your ideas about shelter.
3. Sketch forms you are considering. Evidence of time and effort must be evident in your sketches.
4. Select your most effective idea from your sketches. Make a maquette no smaller than 4” in any direction with a
surface design mapped out in your sketchbook. This will allow you to contemplate your surface and realize the
object in three dimensions.
5. Present your idea and maquette in a process critique. We will talk about building methods.
6. Start building. Your form should be at least 14" in any direction and no larger than 20"x 20" x 20”
7. Develop surface and color for your sculpture using your maquette and testiles.