Atlas Definition = Sterility and Opulence

Office building interiors are very similar in the sense of lobby spaces, cores, and office floor space;  it is the lobby spaces that are lavished with attention, creating expensive opulent spaces, with the office and circulation space sterile in comparison.

Each zone (office floor, core, lobby) is treated as separate compartments; and this treatment is utilized through most office blocks, therefore opulent lobby spaces become generic, in comparison to other office spaces and to the space it inhabits.

Opulence is specific to the situation that it is in; a space that is saturated with a certain style becomes generic in context to itself therefore a space has to have a reading of both sterility and opulence for the opulence not to lose its being.

This formal investigation looks at giving a reading of both sterility and opulence through varied transitions of the structural elements, materials as well as the spaces that they create.  The opulence comes from creating deviations of the generic program material and structure within the office space, anchoring the opulence to the generic background in which it sits.

Formal Language Diagrams Atlas Plate

The generic in context to canary wharf is the uniform office grid and flat surface that is in abundance throughout.  The opulence in context to this is creating deviations of the line, grid and surface, (thin to thick, straight to curved, flat to volumetric and smooth to fragmented) creating varying moments of opulence within a primarily generic environment thus not allowing the opulence to become generic.

After hogging the laser cutter and doing tones of gluing; the first part of the model is finished.

The aim of the formal language is twofold; to create an illusion within its surroundings (canary wharf) and in the language of architecture as propaganda to have a duel meaning/purpose with the aim of which to suggest towards a certain goal.

The certain goal of the theatre is to bring opulence to a sterile environment, and to encourage through suggestion to the inhabitants of canary wharf to participate.

1. The facades

The facades are based upon a standard panel size utilized throughout office buildings (thus within the site canary wharf).  The facades suggests to the language that is hidden within with openings and vistas placed to create moments of interest, with the aim to direct and draw people into the structure.  The facades start to hint at sculpted surfaces whilst having a linear grid overlay that falls into these sculpted points.

Type One

The lesser sculpted of the two; externally utilises the linear grid that falls into a sculpted point, internally the sculpted surface is apparent, created through peeling away a surface to increase its volume.

Type Two

The greater of the sculpted two; utilizing the same grid, however, the panels show a greater peeling away of the surface to create a vista, a point of interest to what lies within.

2. The sculpted models

This series of models explores internal volumes; transitioning from linear and flat to curved, faceted, sculpted, enclosures.  The aim of these models is to draw the eye along the surface.  These models look at becoming the circulation within the structure, circulation that becomes program, drawing user into specific areas within the building.  Utilized through creating further vistas, or lines of interest, that become further fragmented the deeper one travels along the desired route.

Sculpted model One

Exploration of a linear surface, to create a curved, faceted, sculpted point of interest.  Utilizing a metallic surface to express this with a linear vista that runs along its surface.

Sculpted model Two

Exploration of two linear surfaces to create a curved sculpted smooth surface and a curved, faceted, sculpted surface with a point if interest.  The metallic surface has a transition from a blacked out surface to a shiny faceted surface.

sculpted model Three

Exploration of three linear surfaces that create curved sculpted smooth and faceted surfaces as a point of interest.  The smooth surface creates the most volume, it has smooth sharp lines that run along its surface to draw the eye along it.  The reverse of this surface creates a volume that incorporates both this and a smooth faceted surface that has a transition from backed out to shiny and faceted surface.