Palimpsest in architecture means the accumulated iterations of design or a site, whether in literal layers of archaelogical remains, or the figurative accumulation of design and reinforcement of ideas over time.From the outset, my design of cinematheque had been driven by a series of transformations rather than being piloted by a single concept. It was through these continuous experimentations of techniques and media that the ideas and potentials began to emerge.

Emerge means monstration, to come forth.

This continuity in the process of explorations was rather informed by the notion of layerings. Whether it was diagramming, drawing or modelling, the production of idea at one stage was regarded as a starting point for another stage of exploration. The idea extracted was then superimposed upon another as the experimentations progressed.

The primary objective was to pursue potentials through layers of iterations and transformations.

MEMORY=LAYERS =PALIMPSEST =EMERGENCE

EXPLORATION OF DESIGNING TECHNIQUES#01

veil overlay

a veil covers and hides.

Its woven convexity harbours something, someone, some presence.

What it conceals is presented as emergent potential through a traslucency which both resists and yields - a gauze, frame, site of production...

video mapping: deconstructed into frames and then re-layered.

video mapping: deconstructed into frames and then re-layered.

Transparency, as I have seen it emerge through the layers...

Intersect = [v] to cut between.*INTER = among, be-tween, betwixt; *SECTION = SECARE = cutting off, cutting, division; *ISEKTI,lith.= “to engrave, carve.”

Intersection = [n] A place where things intersect, especially a place where two or more roads cross.

EXPLORATION OF DESIGNING TECHNIQUES#01

intersections

Intersections emerged as I layered one line over another.

motion mappings:intuitive drawing of motion

shadow mappings: shadows projected from the steel crane in eveleigh site.

location: pedesrtian entry/observation platform

eveeleigh market

paint shop

Intersections emerged as I layered one line over another.

I was interested in the process of how product came to be, rather than the product itself.

CONGLOMERATIONOF IDEAS

This stage indicates the transference of techniques from the previous experimentations- overlaying & intersections. Here the techniques were employed in constructing three strands of process, which include deriving architectonic idea from the movie, analysing building-site relationship and exploring the potential of materiality.

Again, the intention of applying such techniques was to anticipate the emergence of potentials through the layering of concepts and ideas, which were worked across different registers and materials produced during the designs studio.

deconstruct of memories

OVERLAY 1

OPA

QU

E

TRAN

SPAR

ENT

architectonic assemblage (di�erent opacity)

architectonic assemblage(different opacity)

opaque

transparent

OPA

QU

E

TRAN

SPAR

ENT

architectonic assemblage (di�erent opacity)architectonic assemblage (outline)

The first overlay was based on the notion of assemblaging. Physical architectonic models derived from the movie were transferred, deconstructed and reassembled in a collage digitally. This created a network/layer of planar components within which some territoties began to suggest certain spatial potentials, which were then translated into the massing models of the building (cinematheque). Again, the massing models still remained self-referential(detached from context) but the idea was ready to be brought into next stage.

assemblage is a plane of immanence, a field of potentials...

architectonic assemblage(outlines)

Assemblages split and sectioned

1A 2a 3a 4a 5a 6a 7a 8a 9a

1B 2B 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 9B

assemblages split and sectioned

massing

circulation paths

extraction of site memory OVERLAY 2

The second overlay was based on the technique of grid superimposition.The conceptual idea was to introduce the site elements into the massing model through the transformation of mapping tectonics into architectonic framework. The similar method was inspired from Bernard Tschumi’s Parc de Villete, his crimson grid follies which was a product of superimposing lines and points. The resultant framework was eventually incorporated into the massing model, filling up the negative space in between and form the circulation spine.

through mappings, the memories of the site were unearthed...

site gridlines

visual perspectives 01visual perspectives 02

motion pattern 01motion pattern 01

overlaying

3-D extrusion

locating the patterns within the lattice.

= nodal points

visual axis

site grid

extraction of site memory OVERLAY 2

shallow space

deep space

materiality via layering OVERLAY 3

The third overlay is defined by the exploration of materiality AND the chosen theme is transparency. the theme was essentially inspired from the previous techniques of overlaying, and this was further reinforced through the second strand of movie modelling undertaken individually during the course of the semester. the idea of differing opacity was then fed back into the building, especially the framework, which subsequently affected the organisation of functional and circulation space within the cinematheque.

materiality via layering

matrix, a network of intersected lines with differing intensity...

transparency photograph

EMERGENCE OF DESIGN

this final design of the cinematheque explored the notion of palimpsest. Rather than driven by a single design concept, it is an embodiment of all the experimentations of ideas that were undertaken during the whole semester. the core intention is to realise the objective of the designs studio - assemblage, that is, the totality of a design field which emerges through working across different registers and materials produced throughout the semester - while acheiving richness of meanings within the building .

through layers the ideas began to conglomerate...

wilson street level 1:500

carriagework level 1:500

wilson street

carriageworks level

wilson street

EW section 1:500

NS section 1:500

..and create a ‘field of palimpsest’, within which the design emerges.