Ineffable Architecture
Ineffable - too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
This seminar course attempted to understand the concept of ineffable architecture, specifically certain qualities or experiences we as students have personally felt in spaces we have been in.
I chose to focus on light and reflection, trying to represent, draw, and recreate some of those ineffable characteristics I had once experienced. I began by looking within my own travels and looking at images I took expressing those moment in my memory. Filtering this down to a dozen instances, I edited the images removing color and increasing the contrast, generating a more dream like image reminiscent of my own memory of the space. From these I selected two to re-present through a charcoal drawing. These drawings emphasized the unobtainable feeling expressed in my mind through very tedious erasure of material.
The next step was to recreate this experience for others physically. In order to do this I constructed a temporary reflecting pool of sorts in the architecture atrium, where hundreds of people passed through daily. This was done using simple wood barriers and existing condition and a very large piece of plastic filled with water. The plastic had to be tight and seamless without leaks or the effect would be ruined by water bleeds. Two tests were made with different surface materials placed within and beneath the water. Mirrored Surfaces were also placed around the pool to created increased reflections.
Images below are in order of creation, from first test to final test throughout multiple days as shown.
SITE: Architecture Atrium, UFlorida Campus
PROFESSOR: Tom Zook
YEAR: Spring 2016
COURSE: Ineffable Architecture Seminar
*Selected for Accreditation