Research Week : Timetable

Here is my timeline of the first research week. I start with drawing Ravensbourne building in the middle  of the paper, then every new things I've done each day are drawn around it. I chose to draw all the things in circle that there is no beginning or no end. It represents my messy mind, I remember many things but I don't always know when or where it was! 

First day class at Ravensbourne - Choosing 10 items (samples of items) - Setting my student blog - Working for hours at Starbucks because I haven't had internet at home at this time - Visiting the V&A and "The Memory Palaca" exhibition - Going to Hyde Park and seeing Sou Fujimoto's Serpentine Pavilion - Choosing a memorable place to bury my time capsule - Going to South Bank, London Eye and bury my capsule. 

Week's Inspirations & Memories

Pictures of what had caught my eyes this week. This is also my first week in London so the beginning of my memories here ! 

Inspiring colors and textures @ Borough Market & Colombia Road Market

Old & New - Tower Bridge - The City

Different architectures everywhere ! West London & East London

Shops & Street Art 

@ Brick Lane, East London 

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion Hyde Park

"It is a really fundamental question how architecture is different from nature, or how architecture could be part of nature, or how they could be merged...what are the boundaries between nature and artificial things."  Sou Fujimoto 

I think this quote from Fujimoto well illustrates his work. We can totally see how this pavilion tries to be integrated in the environment how the architect tries to make it almost invisible. 

When you are really close to the building you can see through, you can see what surrounds it. It is part of the nature because at any moment you don't feel confined somewhere. Even when entering the pavilion you still feel like you've never left the park, the grass, the sky, you can ear the wind, the sound of people around..  

But in the same time when you step back, you can see that it is an actual building, something created my human and different from nature. I think this is how Fujimoto illustrates the boundaries he was talking about. No matter how close to nature a building can be, it will always be something artificial, ephemeral and part of the environment without being completely integrated in. 

I think this pavilion is well integrated in its epoch, where questions about environment and sustainability are on everyone's mouth. It is a perfect place for people who want to enjoy a nice day at the park. You can have a drink or eat something in the cafeteria, you can seat and enjoy the sun, you can climb the building and see the surrounding nature. It really gives the opportunity to think about the nature is beautiful and how you need to protect it. 

I've been really amazed by Sou Fujimoto's work. Architecture is something that interests me so much, and how it created his building is exactly how architecture should be for me. I love walking in the city and looking up to look at constructions. I feel so well and relaxed when these constructions are integrated in the nature, when buildings' size are not blocking the scenery, when they are painted in a natural and clean color, when there are lots of windows and glass...  

I'm sure Fujimoto will inspire me so much in the future, if I choose to pursue my studies into Architecture. 

Time Capsule Burial

It was pretty tricky for me to decide where to bury my time capsule. I didn't want to bury it in my house back yard because I've lived there for only 2 weeks and I can't say this house is really important for me (for the moment) and I don't have that much memories there. It is not a place that is close to my heart. So I thought about burying the capsule somewhere I've been lots of time and where I have great memories with my family and friends in London ! And this place, how I like call it : Blue trees, near London Eye, is my favorite place in London. It is one of the first places I've visited in London, with my parents when I've been for the first time in the city. 

I've been there every times I came to London (and I've been in the city so many times haha) and every single times I found this place magic. I love so much the South Bank area at night! I like to come here, just seat watching the lights and the marvelous buildings. 

This is where I fell in London with London and this is where I understood I needed to come back here one day. I feel so calm and peaceful while watching these blue trees and the beautiful London Eye. 

I've been here one night this week, after a very busy day, after walking for hours and feeling so exhausted. This place calmed me and I felt so rested and ready to start another day ! 

So this is me, burying the capsule, near my favorite trees. I'm glad because now, there is a little piece of me, in my favorite place. 

Design Museum

I've been to the Design Museum to visit the exhibition : "The Future is Here" 

I was able to see new process in manufacturing and objects from the "New Industrial Revolution" 

We can say it is a little like a showcase for British research and development

The Mo.Mo : It's a molecule scanner you can point at any item in your house, perhaps something you no longer need or want, to find out what that item is made of and what it could be turned into using a 3D printer.

Thanks to it you can recycle useless objects into ones you want. This devise can reduce waste and give a new value to our every day objects. 

I found this invention really convenient, when I see all the useless objects I have at home, still in good condition but that we do not use anymore. These objects will be able to have a new life and will still help us in our daily life, but on a modified form. 

                           

                           

 Mass customization : This process is trying to create objects that are more likely to please the customer (custom shapes, colors, textures...) but without increasing the manufacturing cost. 

Are 3D printers the future in manufacturing ? Will people be able use it to make more sustainable products that we will use for longer? Or will it give them the opportunity to waste more and more because things are cheaper and easier to make? Is it a good idea to give everyone the power of production? 

Extraordinary stories about ordinary things : 

One of the key roles of design is to create a sense of identity. 

Visual codes and symbols are designed to communicate clearly, quickly and across borders. 

Creating extraordinary objects workshop at the end of the exhibition. 

We can see what I've done there : My flying houses 

DAY 1 : Past Memories, Present Day

So here are the 10 items I chose to represent my past and present. I didn't have lots of things because I just moved in from France. I took what I thought was the best in everything I had in my luggages. 

- Yoga for dummies 

I chose this book, yoga for dummies, because I always have it with me, I think I bought it years ago, and I didn't start doing yoga yet ! Every year I say, I have to go to yoga class, I have to start reading this book .. And it is always on my shelves at home and I never read it. Now I have it in London with me and I hope I'll have time to read it and start practicing yoga now ! I think this book represents all the things I've always wanted to do and I've never done, because I had no time or because I was too lazy. This year is a new start and hope I'll be a new person trying to do different things ! 

- Floral Bracelet 

Here is one of the floral bracelet we are given in my family country village in France. I went there every summers and there is a big party in August, like the village's annual party. And we are given this floral bracelet every year. I have lots of them at home, I bring one in London. It represents all the good things I lived with my family, friends, cousins here every year since I am born. I think I lived there the best moments of my past life so I hope I will have such good moments in my new life in London ! 

- Train ticket 

 

I think this is the transition between my past life in Marseille (France) and London. It is my Eurostar ticket, I took to move in one week ago ! I made it like two flags in one, I am from Marseille, France is still in my heart, but now I am a "londoner". So this ticket is like me, divided into two cities ! 

- Pasta : Barilla packaging 

This one is a big one for me, because I love SO MUCH pasta, I think I will be able to eat some every day, every meals. Farfalle is one of the first things I bought here in London .. It also represents my italian origins. 

- Dreams catcher 

I think I have this dreams catcher since I can't remember. I always had it hanging in my room to protect me from bad dreams. It is one of my nursery friend that gave it to me. I told her I had bad dreams so the following day she showed up with this and told me that it will protect me ! It is kind of a cute story so I love having it with me everywhere I go. 

- Padlock 

I chose the padlock because I used to be shy when I was young. I generally don't like talking about me with people I don't know much. I'm kind of a secret girl, I don't go to meet new people. I may seem a bit snobbish, maybe it is because I am French haha, I always wait for people to make the first step. But when they do I can't strop talking, I am a chatterbox, I feel sorry sometimes for my friends!! :)

- Antigone, Jean Anouilh 

Antigone is one of my favorite books. It was the one that makes me wanted to take acting lessons. I like Antigone character, really complex, we don't know if she annoys us or if we like her. On the drawing I draw her stepping out of the cover, leaving her uncle and his rules. She chose to act like she wanted, good or bad choice she doesn't give up on what she thinks. 

- Sewing machine

Here is my grandmother's old Singer sewing machine. I love sewing and it was on this machine that I first tried. I love customizing and creating clothes, I actually had an online website with my best friend where we were selling our pieces. I should definitely try to keep up doing this here in London but I don't think I will have so much time. 

- Underground tickets from Marseille 

These are some underground tickets I was really happy to find hidden in my handbag. They are from Marseille's underground, I found them so colorful and beautiful. I found funny the fact that these tickets are pretty and lively, with a beautiful design, compared to the underground itself in Marseille. It is old, grey and dirty, not modern and pleasant like what we can think when looking at these pieces of paper. 

- Pineapple sock

The pineapple is like a big private joke with my best friends, something I won't explain here because I don't want you to already take me for a weirdo after 1 day of class, but this fruit is really important for me. It is like a symbol, it represents my closest friends in Marseille and my life in High School. This is actually a sock I bought in London, me and my best friend have the same pair. I think you will see me using the pineapple numerous times during the foundation year. I find it really design and friendly, isn't it ?