[Dmitri, Lance, Andrea, Luke] KCAI Wayfinding System

In its current state the Kansas City Art Institute is in dire need of a wayfinding system that extends the current branding and identity successfully into the environment that surrounds the school. The goal of this new system is to unify the buildings on the campus as well as the students who attend the school. We envision doing this through the idea of translucency and transition, by defining buildings and spaces through the use of transparent planes. Each building has been outlined including the buildings that are on the outer edges of the school such as; Illustration, Design, and Jannes Library. Each building shape will be used by it’s own contour to establish visual cohesiveness as well as perspective.

There will also be a small historical feature through the school campus on benches that will be placed facing the building it is referencing. These will be placed around all buildings that have an interesting story to further define the schools unique historical contribution to Kansas City. For example; Howard Vanderslice purchased and donated this 35 room mansion, known to us as Vanderslice Hall, in 1927. The Art Institute found its’ home in one of the finest sections of the city, being surrounded by two museums & a plethora of historical buildings.



















Super Group Present

Spatial: Wayfinding Inspiration

Outer Space: The Unknown

Standing 42ft high to represent the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything (as said in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), this monument is dedicated to the exploration and unknown nature of space. The basic form of this monument is a cone shape with the smaller end mounted to the ground, while the wider area is open up to the sky. This basic shape is to provide a sense of depth and dimension, much like the vast infinite space of the universe.The cone shape is made from copper and is mounted up on a slight higher ground. The material of the copper was chosen to (over time) reflect the historic aspect and reflect the idea that over millions of years, the universe has changed, much like the copper will over a period of time.

As for the senses, viewers are able to SEE not only the outside structure, but they are able to actually walk inside and take a gander up the monument to see if anything passes through their sight. If something is lit, the inside copper texture has a reflective quality which will create a very engaging visual. This reflective nature of the inside could be referenced from the reflective nature of the moon and how it is "lit up" by the reflection from the sun. Once the viewer walks inside/ near the inside they will HEAR music that will enrich the experience. Gustav Holst provides a classical sound to this inside of this monument that is adventurous, nostalgic and even a little ambiguous sounding. The monument is lined on each side with rivets, which is a great detail TOUCH point. The hammered copper and turquoise transformation it takes on also allows for an interesting texture that viewers will surely touch. Another touch point is the ground. Surrounding the monument is a black "space rock" that will just add another experience for the viewer...walking on black rock. It even highlights the monument more with the black background. I envision this rock having a distinct sort of smell, something that can't be explained or pinpointed...an unknown, unfamiliar scent.






Monument SPACE Poetic Final

SPATIAL: Monument to Space

Monument_SPACE_presentation_practice

SPATIAL: Space Progress

So I've decided to continue developing the avenue of concept 1. To recap the viewer would be able to walk underneath it and interact with it. Once underneath, this cone shaped monument would allow the viewer to look up and find a distinctive point of reference in the sky. This idea would create a sense of depth and distance, a never ending illusion. It would be possible too, that things were to be poking out and intruding the space inside to further provide a sense of distance. The shape is a cone shape referencing a space shuttle or even a telescope. I also thought about how it would look at night, so I figured there could be some orchestration of lights within the outside or inside.

I have also thought about some other things. For example, depending on what time of day there would be one spot that would be able to light the whole inside of the monument. I envision this being somewhat representative of a supernova. This idea of light hitting specific areas could also play with activating sounds. These sounds could consist of anything from The Planets soundtrack or sounds that sound like "zooming" or "exploding". I'm not sure if space does have sound, but who knows.

The scale of the monument would be 1/2" = 1". I think the height of this monument is going to be 42ft, since the number 42 is thought to be the number of the universe (not just in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy), but also a couple of other things. (like the angle curve of a rainbow)

As for smells, I'm still tossing what the smell would be like. Can you really put a definite smell on adventure? Well as far as what space smells like, my research has revealed that it has a gunpowder-esk kind of smell. Some other descriptions are: fire/burn smell/ozone/electrical smell/hot metal & fried steak.

Interesting Fact Alert: NASA has even hired Steven Pearce of Omega Ingredients to create a scent for space, so they can utilize it in the training processes.

Taste is also kind of different and hard to represent on the monument. Space food has evolved since the early days and astronauts can actually eat regular food, but I think it would definitely be an "adventurous" experience to have tubes of food available for monument viewers.

Location- I'm weighing 2 different options for locations of the monument.
1. Rising Star, Texas - As this little town looked for an idea for a name, they were unsuccessful...until they noticed the twinkling morning star that showed up every morning and decided to name it Rising Star.
2. Mars, Pennsylvania- This is also a small town, that's home to the Mars spaceship. This town embraces the Mars name a lot as they have places like Mars Tools and even have their sports team named The Planets.
3. Vegas- I also thought this would be an interesting spot to have an interactive space monument. It has everything from around the world, so why not something from out of this world. haha

SPATIAL: Monument Sketches

When I began brainstorming my monument toward space and the universe, I didn't want things that were too representative of space. I also mainly tried to think of functional, interactive monuments, ones people would be able to interact with first hand.

This first idea is something rather experiential to the viewer. Ideally, the viewer would be able to walk underneath it and interact with it. Once underneath, this cone shaped monument would allow the viewer to look up and find a distinctive point of reference in the sky. This idea is create a sense of depth and distance, a never ending illusion. It would be possible too, that things were to be poking out and intruding the space inside to further provide a sense of distance. The shape is a cone shape referencing a space shuttle or even a telescope. I also thought about how it would look at night, so I figured there could be some orchestration of lights within the outside or inside.

This second monument idea is a visual reference to the shape of a crater. The thought is that the inside of this shape would be able to house an exhibition relating to space and exploration, possibly even something that changes over a couple times of the year. I see this being shaped within the earth, yet somehow preventing a flood in the crater, possibly some illusion to the shape rather than literal one. Also, the windows within this space could be a way of interaction, maybe both inside and outside. (can't see through them) Or I can see them being available for a 360 degree view.

The third idea is also a space in which the viewer would be able to "walk into". The overall shape is a circle, a reference to the never ending universe we live in. The shape could also represent UFOs, a planet or planet ring, orbiting. The inside of the space I view as housing possibly informational relating things, maybe engravings of constellations or planet symbols. I also see the inside being an augmented reality experience somehow.

This last idea is a large scale monument representing the idea of orbiting around the sun. I see this monument being outdoors and in relation to the space, there would be nothing surrounding it, therefore in relation to the world it is small. The universe currently has no end, so placing it outdoors around nothing could be interesting to explain that the solar system we live in is just a small portion of the universe.

Some things to think about:
THINK CONNOTATION!
Oculus
Maze - crop circle - adventure
smell & sound
The Planets - Gustav Holst
Beacon
?Raiders of the last arch
Holes for different reveals - interaction with the sun

SPATIAL: An entirely new kind of architecture

Corbusier was a revolutionary architect. He believed there were five key points to creating the best building that took in to consideration the elements, the world around the building and the structure of the building itself.

We have designed an exhibition that exemplifies his five points, essentially a space that persuades the attendee that Corbusier's 5 points are the ideal when it comes to building design.

The exhibition is in two parts, the physical space and the digital iPad navigator that shows you around the space.

The visitor to the exhibition is greeted at the door by the exhibition title, and a collection of images of Corbusier's buildings abstracted into three colors. These colors form the basis of the exhibition style and are used throughout.

The visitor can pick up an iPad from the welcome desk and is immediately faced with the building design we are using to show in the exhibition. They can manipulate the building with their hands and move around it to see the five points.

The iPad and physical space work together to provide an experience that is both experiential (physical space) and informative (iPad). We felt that rather than just using text on the walls which people might not read, by giving them a tablet to hold and by them having to make the connections, it would be a deeper and richer learning experience.











Corbusier Tom Edited