Final evaluation
For the final out come of my project, I have managed to produce a 1:100 scale model of my building, ‘The Parasol’. The Parasol is a building made up of the excising façade, which I have replicated on one side to give the illusion of an old building within the location, and then as you look to the other side you find a new and exciting piece of architecture. The roof is made up of oversized parasols forming an eye-catching structure to the building that will eventually hold an indoor beach with the sea, sand and amusements arcades. Looking back at my original project proposal, I believe that I have achieved my target of producing a building and concept that will bring something unique and unusual to the area and have managed to produce a fairly good quality visual representation of my final design idea for people to view.
Throughout my entire project I have kept a log of all the work I have been doing through a blog and sketchbook. Both of these methods have helped me to keep on track with what I was doing and enabled me to gather all of my research and initial ideas together so I could focus my project and eventually come up with a final concept and design. The use of the FMP plan allowed me the chance to make sure that I organised my time and project appropriately so that I did not encounter any of the problems I predicted. This meant that my project developed from research to my final outcome fairly smoothly without having to rush or compromise any aspects of my design.
The first target that I set my self was to complete a wide range of Primary and secondary research that I would continue to add to throughout the project. I met this target by making sure that I visited various museums such at the Victoria and Albert museum and the Royal academy of the arts for inspiration and initial ideas. Along with this I made sure I used a range of sources in order to complete my secondary research including books, the Internet and articles. Lastly for this target I made sure that I visited my location site so that I could get a feel about the area and also find out the size of the land so I could start designing for my final outcome fairly early on within the project.
My second target was to create a wide range of experimental models to aid me with the visualisation of my project. To reach this target I produced a variety of small models using different materials that helped me to understand what my building could potentially look like and also enabled me to show fellow students and tutor my initial ideas in 3D. Although not all these experimental model were to any particular scale, I was able to use lighting and scale model people to show what the structures might look like in context which made them really come to life as buildings.
My last target was to make sure that all my work was completed in time for the final hand in and presentation show. This included making sure that my blog and sketchbook were up to date with all my work ranging from my initial research all the way through to my final outcome pictures. This also included making a presentable model to visually represent my final outcome along with producing two A1 sheets to show the most important aspects of my project.
Looking back at the targets that I set myself during the FMP plan, I believe that I have met them to the best of my ability by making sure that I took in to account any problems that might have presented themselves and was therefore able to avoid any complications such as running out of time or not having the right materials.
Throughout my project there have been many developments that have contributed to the final outcome I have produced. From the very beginning during the main research stage, going to museums and looking at unusual building designs meant that my project was able to develop quite quickly into making a decision on what my final concept idea was going to be. This soon led to initial idea and coming up with my idea of designing a building to house an indoor beach. Once I had decided on my idea, my project developed even more from doing initial design Ideas for the building to deciding what aspects of a beach I was going to include within my structure.
Looking at my final piece and the model l have produced, all of the research and work I have recorded on my blog and within my sketchbook have enabled me to focus my development process meaning that I was able to produce a final outcome that I am proud to see in the show.
Right from the first group reviews and evaluation groups we had during the first week of the project, I was given the chance discuss with fellow students and tutors my ideas and designs so that I was able to gather constructive feedback about how my project was progressing.
At the beginning it was good to get feedback about the types of research I was completing and also gave me the chance to express some of the initial design concepts I had come up with to see what people thought. This meant I was able to start focusing my ideas and research more. As the project progressed, I was able to have one-to-one tutorials with various different tutors who all had different opinions on my project and gave me good ideas on how to progress and what to look in to next. Although this was very helpful, I did find that I was being given so many ideas from tutors and students that I did not have time to look in to all of them, so I decided that I was only look into the ones I felt were most appropriate for my project and the ones that I found would make my project more exciting.
Other advice I received throughout my project included feedback about the design of my building and how it could potentially be constructed within the real world, along with ideas and ways in which I could visually show my structure through producing a model, and how I would be able to construct it.
All of the feedback that I gathered from various people I found really useful as it helped me to progress efficiently through my project without getting suck with where to go next.
Looking back at my project, I believe that I have produced a project that I can be proud of. However, there are some aspects of the project that I feel I could have improved to make it even better.
From the beginning I completed a range of research using both primary and secondary sources, however I think that I came to a final design concept quite quickly and feel that if I had given myself more time to do initial research my project could have been even more unusual and exciting. Along with this, although my time management throughout the project has been really good and I have handed all my work in on time, I think I would have like to have had more time working on my final model so that I would have been able to produce a model not just of the architecture and exterior of the building but also of the interior design.
During the project I think I have developed many different skills from making sure that I was organised with my time management as well as making sure I had all the equipment and materials I needed in order to progress within my project. I have also developed skills and confidence in presenting my work to a group of people to gather feedback about my project. This is something that is really going to help me throughout any career that I go on to do, as it has given my the confidence to express my own design ideas along with being able to give constructive comments on other peoples work.
Lastly I feel I have been able to develop my skills in model making by using different pieces of machinery such as the laser cutter to produce a high quality model that I am happy to see within the show.
Next year, I am hoping to take a year out to potentially take a job within the industry producing architectural models before going on to study architectural technology at Westminster University. I believe that this year at Ravensbourne has given me the skills and understanding about how university life will be and also given me an insight into what the design industry is like. I feel that I am now able to be excited about my future and look forward to what it has to throw at me.
