Gordon Matta Clarke

I have been reading about Grodon Matta-Clark and there are many things which I can relate to with my own work, as he was not only interested in visuals and appearance but also the community and how architecture can be created to revitalise it.

An extract from a written piece regarding his project Days End.

'it would seem within the rights of an artist or any other person for that matter to enter such a premises with a desire to improve the property, to transform the structure in the midst of its ugly criminal state into a place of interest, fascination and value.'

Remarks from an interview in 1977:

'why hang things on the wall when the wall itself is so much more a challenging medium?... A simple cut or series of cuts acts as a powerful drawing device able to redefine spatial situations and structural components.... There is a kind of complexity that comes from taking an otherwise completely normal, conventional, albeit anonymous situation and redefining it, retranslating it into overlapping and multiple readings of conditions past and present. Each building generates its own unique situation.'

I can directly relate to this quote, in not only what I believe but also what I am trying to achieve  in nearly all my work. It specifically relates to this project in terms of redefining  the space through a series of unexpected holes which will develop in my structure but also in terms of layering information to create a new and dynamic environment which draws upon the past. 

I can identify points of interest and relevance with most of Gordon Matta-Clark's images but these are specifically relevant to what I'm trying to create for 3b, a point at which you can stand and then another view can be opened up to you. The idea of a view within a few is something I began to investigate for 3a and for 3b would like to resolve - I think it's going to be a changing view, something which appears and changes over time so that your view from one point may change over the life cycle of the proposed installation period of two years. 

 Bronx Floors 1972 and 1973

 Bronx Floors Four way wall 1973

 Office Baroque 1977

Splitting 1974

Gordon Matta Clark's collaged images of views led me to create some photoshop composition combining drawing and photographs.

Exploring film and projection

Currently I am thinking that I will project films by Ronni Horn, I like the idea of using something linked to the earth, and her water films are beautiful yet informative. This again links back to the idea of being bombarded with information much like you are when driving, particularly around central london.

26.03.11

I've been trying to do some drawings which represent the theme of my project better - using delicate forms using this idea of history dissolving. I think it could be useful to use this (or possibly something else as a theme for all my drawings so they start to speak about a particular language.

Wall structures and route options

These drawing take the plan and add some useful information about how my proposal works to it, in terms of interaction form different parties.

I have created a series of narratives of thoughts and conversations by visitors to the site, proposing the feeling and views that might be felt by different visitors. 

The route a car can take through my proposed intervention. 

Some of the different routes a pedestrian can take within the proposed space. The pedestrian will be able to wander through small gaps in the walls through which a cars inhabitants can only look. 

Layering the maps to show interaction within the space. 

Composition, wall plan and layered information to show interaction between cars, pedestrians and the spatial arrangement of the walls.

Susan Hiller Exhibition Tate Britain

Early Design Representations

Sketch model trying to show how the walls would be broken up to allow pedestrian to cross routes within the main car route - allowing for further interaction. The model was successful in that the lighting highlights the gaps much as is the aim for the proposal, although as it was made straight onto the plan the suggested drawn routes make this a little confusing to understand. It helped me to see the plan in 3d and the next progression needs to be to think about wall thicknesses which will also affect the lighting conditions. 

reference - Ugo Rondinone