Notes on Design

NARRATIVE: A man lives in solitude seeking inspiration for his next creation.

For my project i focused on the idea of the room framing a view, using each opening in the rooms as a view finder. The room in the painting captures the image of the sea through door. This is the focus of the painting.

I chose this image mainly because of its light qualities compared to the others which seemed more dark and depressing. Looking beyond the surface, you can imagine a lonely old man sitting on a chair staring out this door for hours, trapped in this world of his with nowhere to go: quite a depressing idea.

This scene is surreal. The way the door opens out to what seems to be the water directly below changes our perception on the purpose of the door. I have extended this idea further in my design distorting the use of typical building elements. The stairs for example that lead into the roof, or hang off the side of the building, and the cut outs in the walls and roof that allow light and air to flow in but no real visibility out.

Each room frames a view in a unique way, whether it be obscured or free, it challenges the way we think about simple things that we have seen many times and encourages a new perspective. The view wont vary too much but our perception of the view can change from minute to minute.

The rooms are offset at different angles, wrapping around the lighthouse, each framing a unique view. The elements are positioned to achieve maximum privacy and to emphasise the idea of seclusion and separation from life around him.

The building is a heavy concrete structure with some timber elements which add warmth where appropriate. However, i think the concrete is appropriate in magnifying the idea of a cold, secluded reality contrasted with the beautiful views that surround and inspire the artist work. The abandoned Lighthouse itself is white render which contrast with the elements attached.

The big open spaces in this building, you could imagine, magnify the illustrate further the idea of loneliness.

As you enter the building there is an abundance of space with light pouring in from the opening in the roof. You are then confronted with a choice. Directly in front is the main living area where this open space continues to provide enough room for day to day activities, with stairs that hang from the side of the building that you may want to sit on to get some fresh air or take a dive into the water. The middle room serves as a studio office area. This is where the room from the painting is locating. It allows an escape from work and allows some contemplation, relaxation, and a quick hit of inspiration (a taste of freedom) but restrictive enough to keep you moving and focused on the task at hand. At the top of the building is the bedroom. It is closed off and private, opening onto the landscaped roof.

My drawings show the complexity and distortion, giving a feel for the open yet restricted use of space.