M2.2 Contextual Analysis and Presentations

Photomontages

are used as effective tools to express ideas of the site conditions and develop a vision for interventions in an explicit yet abstract manner, each telling its own unique story

This will not only help develop —— but also enable to communicate effectively to the observer.

physical manifestations of ideas

How to create visual representation of a point

opt 1: identify what kind of feelings & emotions to provoke for conveying that point

opt 2: make an event or an action that conveys the point

opt 3: brainstorm and write a list of symbols & associations that mean the same

In composition, decide the following:

• choose geometry

• choose alignment

• choose color palette

geometry

• corners

  • sharp

• curved

  • soft

• overall composition

  • organic, straight, curvilinear,
    geometric, organic

• perspective

  • focused or haphazard

alignment

• horizontal

  • stable, slow

• diagonal

  • speed, edgy, energy

• distortion, broken, glitch

  • imply disturbance

color palette

• colorful

  • active, bright

• pastel

  • inactive, slow

• high contrast, accented

  • energy

• neon

  • futuristic

• monotonous

  • subtle, dull

• dark

  • mysterious, anger

Eidetic Photomontages

montage for site analysis, site conditions, design visions, and many
more

eidetic photomontages depicts

one’s interpretation of site, provoke feelings, emotions and highlight issues

eidetic photomontages to

develop presentation skills of spatial truths

eidetic photomontages is

a tool to record, assimilate and communicate information

Systems and systematic thinking

systematic approaches of addressing site project and programs

Systems and systematic thinking refines

key ideas and visions statements for selected sites to formulate efficient design methodology

Systems and systematic thinking enables

• exploration

• objectiveness

• clarity

SYSTEM

a whole or, a group of parts, a singular whole

Systems and systematic thinking explores

your multi-centricity

Systems and systematic thinking involves mapping of

parameters which otherwise seem disconnected, converting your thought process into executable design programs

in crystallography, interstitial sites, holes or voids are

the empty space that exists between the packing of
atoms in the crystal structure.

Design vision statement

convey the project intent and elaborate on how the idea in general can be implemented

Design vision statement convey

the essence of key design ideas and vision support with key words and write-ups

Program articulation

on the basis of your vision statement and conceptual exploration, you can create your own project brief and articulate its program requirements

“itemized” approach

helps us avoid overlooking site data

“itemized” approach is over simplified

referent drawings of the site

Referent drawing

is repeated as many times as we have data to present (number of data/parameters = number of referent drawings)

“logical-sequential” approach

requires us to think about the logical sequence of the information and how one piece of information depends on others

Referent drawings must be

as simple as possible.

Refinement

making diagrammatic forms as communicative as possible

Simplification

process of subtracting extraneous graphic information from the diagrams

Improvement

strengthening the meaning transfer between what the diagram is saying visually and what the site fact is saying contextually

Organizing the diagrams

Establish a sense of hierarchy and dependency from what you gathered

Organizing the diagrams (list)

1. Subject category

2. Quantitative-Qualitative

3. General-Particular

4. Relative Importance

5. Sequence of Use

6. Interdependency

Subject Category

Information labels of the site data parameters

Quantitative-Qualitative (“Hard data” vs “Soft data”)

• Separating the two will identify site data:

  • are not negotiable,

  • that cannot be compromised, and

  • that must be address early in design

in quantitative-qualitative, identify the

“Givens” in the project; Separate the data into ranges of mandatory attention in conceptualization

General-Particular

• Begin with site information that provides understanding on an overview level

• Then, Proceed to elaboration of that information on a more detailed level

Relative Importance

Based on knowledge of site and simulation of potential influences = prompts in organizing contextual data in hierarchical manner

Sequence of Use

Relates to previous organizing technique

Sequence of Use anticipate

the sequence on how you will need the data in design

Sequence of Use may be

on individual diagram basis or may be on diagram grouping level

Interdependency

The method requires studying dependencies between the various site characteristics and arrange them from most governing to most
governed

Achieve sense of logical site data sequence

= present info out of which other info emerges

Diagram grouping

Some information happens in a tandem in a series of related and interdependent diagrams

Individual diagram

Other site information with no obvious relationships and must be presented independently

Contextual analysis is a prelude to

designing for context

Implications for Design

Involves what we have to work with in terms of site before we begin to work with site zoning

Contextual analysis is our first

conceptual decisions which form designer-made context for subsequent design decisions.

Contexts are forces

which locate building spaces and activities on the site

Contextually responsive placement of spaces

• Approach 1

  • Function is a critical form-giving
    determinant than context

• Approach 2

  • Relation to context is more important
    than internal functional efficiency

• Approach 3

  • Large project with several site
    components

Man-made environments must

always adjust to the natural environment