Folly Design Study
Design Objective: Design a folly with three distinct areas, each representing their own theme of refuge, contemplation, or celebration.
The experience I was working to represent was one of growth. In the age of a worldwide pandemic, all of us have had to face our true selves and emerge from a difficult space together.
This is true of any journey, literal or figurative, we take in life. It all starts with an idea, incubated in a quiet place of refuge, sanctuary, and just a small burning ember of light.
We take that ember and nurture it; we reflect on the past and look to the future; we contemplate the ways we can face our challenges and emerge better than when we started.
When we find the strength to act on a goal, complete an objective, or come out of lockdown, we find ourselves better illuminated to who we are, and what we are capable of, and we celebrate our resolve.
They say that the meaning of life in not in the destination, it’s in the journey. This folly sets out to express that journey in a series of awakening experiences.
Inspiration
I drew inspiration for this project from the human experience. Using an abstract rectangle to express the human form in the various stages of experience from refuge, to contemplation, to celebration, I was able to move, rotate, stretch and reimagine the repeating shape in new ways during each step of ones journey through the folly spaces.
Initial Sketches
From the start, I knew I wanted an impactful entry to define the starting point of ones journey and naturally guide a visitor through each space. By slightly obscuring the spaces from the entrance, I hope to entice visitors to discover what's inside drawing them in from the outside world.
Final Model
1/16th inch scale
North View
Folly entrance.
Left: Refuge Center: Contemplation Right: Celebration
South View
Refuge to Contemplation & Contemplation to Celebration transition spaces (right to left)
Elevated East view
West end alternate entry/exit
Elevated West view
Refuge Interior
The idea of this space was to incorporate shifting direct light to bathe the visitor from above in order to elicit an emotional response. This space is designed to allow pass through & facilitate a pause in a place of refuge from the outside world.
Contemplation Interior
In this area, ones focus is drawn to the open roof, a direct view to the sky above. This space is designed to allow a short experience & facilitate a pause to ponder ones thoughts.
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