Project Two: Final Model

Project Two: Floor Plan

Stairs connecting the octangular tower to the octangular room flow from the top of the grid box, continuing under the box and up again.

Contrast of the solidity and enclosure of the tower and the stairs with the open gridded space which suggests a freedom that is fragmented in the "prisoner's" mind and also physically unattainable. 

Project Two: Circulation

Plan of Circulation: The occupant begins at the octangular tower and follows a difficult path down towards what they hope is freedom and society.

Elevation of Staircase.

Clockwise from Top Left:

1. Octangular Tower: I used a octagon shape for the plan of this tower to evoke a subtle but not complete sense of security and freedom.  This is because an octagon is not a complete circle (sense of security) but also obtuse angled (uneasiness). The slits of in the wall allows light to enter but is too narrow for the prisoner to escape or get a clear view of his surroundings. As this tower is meant to be used as a bedroom when the sun rises it will filter through the slits and fall on the prisoners bed waking her. The slits in the wall also guides the prisoner's eyes to the small window which gives a view of the gridded box (freedom).
2. Beginning of the Staircase: From the door of the tower the prisoner is able to see a flat landing and part of the ceiling of the steep staircase. The rays of light seems inviting as it is seen as a way to escape from his isolation. After walking through this small landing a small tall window appears on the left giving another glimmer of the gridded box. Right after this small window the prisoner is faced with a large and extremely steep staircase with the lights falling along the wall on both sides and the sheer length of them it give a sense of falling which never ends.
3. End of Staircase: The steep staircase ends abruptly with a staircase which is a lot more gentle and opens up to a open landing. This give a transition stage between the steep stairs and the landing.
4. Reflecting Landing: This landing is bathed in a yellow glow from hidden yellow glass panels in the corners. This colour gives a hazy reflective tone to the atmosphere of the landing but also symbolises her cowardice as she does not continue on her journey but sits and reflects
5. Unstable Staircase: This staircase is unstable in the way it is held up by small beams and is open to the elements. This not only makes it a frightening staircase to move along but the changes in riser level, step size and ceiling height makes the prisoner climb and duck on her way up towards freedom.
6. Final Ramp: After the unstable staircase the prisoner is faced with a ramp which they believe to be a easy rise up to the top. When they turn the corner however a steep ramp comes into view with small steps for gripping on. At the end of this ramp is a small doorway which allows light into the dark corridor.

After this hard journey to what she thinks is society and freedom she walks through the small doorway but is hit with a room which is larger than her tower but is the same in shape and form. This is a reflection of the idea that once you become a prisoner whether you committed a criminal act or if you were a victim, you will always be seen as and feel like one which is something the rest of society cannot fully understand.

Project Two: Working model: Playing with Light

Testing the use of grids and tracing paper to create shadows and silhouettes

Creating spotlights and atmosphere in a room by using slits in the corners of the wall.  

Overhead skylights right above walls create a rigid line pattern along the wall.  These contrasts of light and dark evokes the idea of bars in a prison cell.

Another attempt of the staircase with the light coming from below the actual steps.  However the light needed to create this effect has to be quite strong; not really applicable when using only natural lighting.

Project Two: Painting

Eleven A.M. by Edward Hopper

• The room seems cluttered and dark behind her giving a depressing mood but makes the room seem contained and small
• She is looking down onto the street: wishing she was joining those in society. 
• Lighting only coming from the open window: suggests that it is her only access to freedom and is a contrast to her environment inside the room
• She is naked: symbolises how she is not ready or not able to leave her space.  Her nakedness also suggests that she doesn't get visitors and no one else lives with her. 

Final Narrative.

"A prisoner alienated in a tower longing for escape"