brief:
The aim of this project is to document and represent the materiality in and around the Parkside Building and adjacent areas. You are tasked with creating rubbings, sketches, impressions and photographs of materials in the surrounding area from paving slabs, bricks, concrete facades, manhole covers, drain grates, trees, rocks etc. The outcome of this exercise will be to create a representation of these materials and textures in the form of a sample board or rather a touchscape to describe the materiality of the site.
Explorations 2: touchscapes
We began with exploring our surroundings. Using graphite, charcoal, pencil and photocopier paper; We went on a journey around the campus creating rubbings and imprinting material textures and shape by laying our A2 and A4 over the top. Then using my document scanner I scanned in the images I intended on interpreting. As seen above. I was interested in the effect that typography had, when using the graphite and also paving slabs were particularly interesting because you can see the different levels in the tone of the graphite.
From there we went on to interpret our rubbings and drawings into a touch scape. Gathering scrap and recycled bits to replicate and represent materials and structure around me. Using multipurpose adhesive glue and mount board I began create. I decided to take the typography aspect from my rubbings and the nature aspect. Architect and authors Kalyani Wankhede and Amit Wahurwagh define Touchscape as "The Sensory Experience And Perception Of Urban Spaces" in 'The international Journal On Emerging Technologies'. I think these Touchscapes we created while are definitely about materials. Are also about the quality of space, sensory and physical parameters on an area. Whether it be manmade or natural aspects. Touchscapes represent the experience and satisfaction of the users and how to improve it. They help designers represent this in a physical form.
This here is the final outcome of my Touchscapes project. I created my own form of landscape instead of just a sample board, in a sense it helps imagination when it comes to finding the senses you are trying to portray; but I decided to develop these materials and structures creating new versions of the latter. I am personally disappointed with this attempt because my original aim was to have a more traditional sample board touchscape like interior designers use. If I was to develop on this and improve my outcome I would use annotation and captioning to better present my ideas because I think it would create a clearer plan if I was presenting to clients, developers or project leaders.