SANAA and Spatial Effects of Glass

  Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa established the SANAA (Sejima And Nishizawa And Associates) in 1995 in Tyoko. In 2010, Sejima and Nishizawa were awarded the Pritzker Prize.

http://www.archdaily.com/54195/

  "Their projects have universally admired exactitude and clarity. While their works pursue a consistent ethos of transparency which is not merely visual, material or literal. Since the beginning of their practice, Sejima and Nishizawa have stated, their pursuit of transparency is more than physical; it is about the clarity of programmatic relations and explicitness of spatial organization."
 ----Engineered Transparency The Techinical, Visual, and Spatial Effects of Glass

Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio
http://www.archdaily.com/54199/glass-pavilion-at-the-toledo-museum-of-art-sanaa-pritzker-prize-2010/

New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York City, 2007
http://www.archdaily.com/70822/

Christian Dior Omotesando Building
http://jennyp12.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/christian-dior-omotesando-building-2/

By challenging our understanding of transparency, horizon and gravity, they produce a obvious tension that is dependent on the observer's position. Their works, such as the Flower House and the Okurayama Apartments always belie the sophistication of mechanical and structural system.

Okurayama Apartmentshttp://www.nhit-shis.org/modern-okurayama-apartment-design-by-kazuyo-sejima/

 Flower Househttp://afasiaarq.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/sanaa.html

  Even in the models, the expected clarity of Plexiglas is undone by an overwhelming whiteness that hides edges and boundaries. Beyond the blurring of inside and outside, floor and ceiling, the observer is often left wondering how the columns could possibly be so thin, or whether the wall are really made of glass.

Respond to the Surroungdings

  Before I talk about this topic, I want to ask a question: Is it necessary to respond with  the environment surroundings buildings?
  Hadid said, if the the surroundings is the shit, why do buildings need to echo it?
  So, respond is flexible. It is not necessary to respond the environment every time. And the building we created will be the new environment of that area.
  About our project 2 in Winchester, the handout shows  "the building acts an environmental filter, and good design may be used to control the internal spatial and environmental conditions." In the stage 1, we made the terrain model and analysed the physical characteristic of the site. This is a conservation area , I believe it will be nice to echo the environment.

  This is a museum, teshima art museum, designed by architect Nishizawa Ryue (he and Kazuyo Sejima established the SANAA)and a Japanese artist. This museum has the respond to nature through its shape, composition and spirit.

model of the museum in Venice Architecture Biennale 2012

  The museum and trees echo each other, showing the boundary of the artificial building and nature.

  In the museum, there are lots of "water bays" on the floor. They change their shapes and directions when the wind blows.

  The voice of seawater beating rocks and wind blowing leaves echos in that space. The change of the whole building follows the change of sun and time.

  In my eyes, it is a perfect respond to the surroundings. The idea is so nice! Nothing is fancy, but everything is natural and makes people comfortable.

  Turn to project 2, I want to have a intensive respond to these endangered trees, particularly the Yews. In my hometown, the Nanyue montain which is the one of 5 greatest mountains in China has some Yews. When I was little, my grandfather taught how to recognize these trees.

 Maybe I will use the shape,round to do my design. But I cannot give the conclusion now, I try to keep an open mind.

Disney, The Lord Major's Show and Use Atmosphere to Create The World You Want !

  When I stood at the front of St. Paul's Cathedral, I felt that I could not think due to the continuous rain and cold wind. "When will the Lord Major come?" I had been screaming in my heart. Oh, yes! On Saturday in London, it was The Lord Major's Show. Every year the Major of London has a big demonstration. Today, there were  21 bands, 150 horses, countless vintage cars, helicopters, robots, unicycles, dancers, beds, bathtubs, and one camel - not to mention half a million spectators. How grand demonstration was! This time was the second time in 800 years, the City of London welcomes a woman to the office of lord mayor(686th lord mayor).

             

we were waiting in the rain

come on! they are coming! so cool!

  The demonstration started around 10 am and was over about 12 am. So, it meant I stood in that harsh weather for 2 hours! At the beginning, I was excited and I cheered for the beautiful horses and Scotland music. When my hands and feet were freezing, I could not be excited like the beginning. Although, I can't help myself hailing to the soldiers,dancers and other perfumers, since they looked like very happy and they put on the show. Some perfumers just wore the short T-shirts or dresses, they were so brave! You know, the weather was really bad! 

  

dancers danced at the brisk paces with the high heel shoes

  These dancers made me think of the dancers in Disneyland who pull up to the parties. They create a wonderful fairy tale world and every visitor immerses in that world! This is the atmosphere's magic!

  Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere......

  For me, it is an key point in my design. Catch the atmosphere, catch the people's hearts and create my own world. Maybe it is a fairy tale world with sweet candies which makes everyone happy, believe this is a wonderful world and can escape from the daily grind. 

  Look back to the Zaha Hadid's works, she also uses the atmosphere to creates her own kingdom. Her futuristic architectures create a cool world where people can experience the disposition of the buildings and image the future through her sharp lines or curves.

  And I want to mention a Japanese architect, Kazuyo Sejima. In her works, people can experience the tranquil atmosphere. The architectures give people the feeling of "floating", "graceful" and "light".

  Actually, think carefully,"atmosphere" is a abstract concept and it is a feeling. I cannot just follow my feeling to do my design. I need to summary some principles about the atmosphere I want.