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Show e Mooney HEURISTIC METHODS IN ARCHITECTURE Daniel Kidd, (Anne Mooney) College of Architecture and Planning This project can be best described as a viewing device. Derived from a conflation of sources, this piece is an attempt to delve into mysterious regions of the human psyche, our fascination with watching other people, and the architecture that we create for this purpose. Voyeurism is part of the human condition, and is particularly evident in the proliferation of theatres, sports arenas, and various other performing venues. The architectural implications of this project are apparent if we acknowledge the vast amounts of space that some of these venues occupy. The spaces we create to view other people can give us insight into several of the most intriguing and fundamental aspects of our species. The conceptual framework for the model began with the notion that these performance spaces are similar in a way to a void. They define space as a volume, like a clearing in the forest, unlike conventional methods of enclosure. This notion of the clearing in the forest began to be the engine for the basic conceptual scheme of the design. The exterior volume created by the mesh is representative of the forest itself. The viewing portal arms that protrude on each side are breaks in the trees where one can catch a glimpse of the clearing from outside. In several of the viewing portals are images of athletics, and various performances, each capturing different aspects of the forms of entertainment we are inclined to watch, but all are unified by the theme of the voyeur. The observer will engage this piece will see slides of performance in some portals, and a reflection of themselves in others. Through this process one can make the connection between being the voyeur, and seeing the voyeur. The image of the reflected eye begins to represent both the voyeurism of the self, and the voyeurism of the group. This project has broadened my understanding of the process of design. The methods of refinement explored, and the abstract conceptual approach to deriving form has been an invaluable experience in my education. It has exposed me to an entirely different way of approaching design with both a creative and analytical strategy, and for me, has extended the boundaries of the realm of architecture. Through similar application of many of the experiences I have culminated through this effort, I hope to experiment and continue to push the envelope of design throughout my educational and professional career. {38} |