Carlton Mouton: Block 3: Pop-up Shop

'Pop-up Shop in Wuppertal '

Day 1.

Today we where given our brief and introduced to Liza Hitge. The brief was explained and the way forward was understood.

We where introduced to a software known as 'cognition' and asked to complete a series of tasks online using a link given and explained through Facebook. To our delight students where issued with Tablets to work on, but unfortunately, not all went as planned. The connection was a bit slow and the work rate and interest dropped. Fortunately for the students, the work was done online and as most students have access to the internet, worked could be done at home.

Day 2.

- Design Intent

The design Intent - as I understand - is our intention of what our whole initiative is based on. Take 'space' as an example, one would have to consider circulation, anthropometrics and the function of the design.

My design intent is based on: CYCLE

From start to finish

I would like to base my design on creating an element that will not only be functional, but at-most it should be sustainable in the sense of education, simplicity and efficiency. Almost as if to create a stepping stone on which others can step and reveal there innovations.

Context

Wuppertal was the first Rhenish mission farm in South Africa. The missionaries taught the crafts of brick laying, joinery, thatching, millinery, shoe making and tanning. The center piece of the village is the gabled thatched church.There are also three terraces of gabled whitewashed thatched cottages which each contain a garden. Open furrows carrying water for irrigation

Function

The function of my pop-up shop is a structure from which a service can be provided. The services will be based on what already exists in the town. As Wuppertal was a town where lots of crafts and skills where taught, learnt and utilized I would like to somehow incorporate these elements into my design. For example, selling of arts and crafts, plants and other innovative products, all to be made from readily available materials such as plastic lids, cans, wire, timber, etc.

Day 3

After my crit with Jolanda on Tuesday, I was able to point out the strong and weak points of my design. I also began to fully understand my intent and how to go about presenting it. Firstly I began to think of what type of materials are readily available in the area. Things like wooden pallets, fruit boxes, crates, wire, rope, leather, rocks and of course plants/ flowers, all came to mind.

I would like my design to be a bench mark, something for people to look at, understand, innovate and implement. The users should be able to make the pop-up on their own. Becoming individuals and allowing them to grow and be self-sustained.

Initial sketch

Working models to give scale to it all.

Today our task is to take our concept, and basically create alternative designs by re-looking at elements such as intent, form and most importantly function.

Form

The form of my idea derives from my structure requiring strength, rigidity and space. The parabolic shape or arc, derives from the context being made-up of mountain ranges, gable and a parapet walled church and cottages.

Context

Precedent

I have searched various precedent revolving around my intent and the structure itself. My intent of 'cycle', was determined by researching- who, what, where, why and how...

Who

who is the design for?
what will they be selling?
where will they be selling?
why will they be selling and
how will they go about selling it?

How

What

One of the precedents recommended to me was the Matjies huis. This structure is a frame structure cladded with woven straw that forms the shell of the structure. It is light, mobile and simple- containing the most simplistic details made of readily available materials.

Majties huis erected

Contemporay matjies huis

Detail of joinery

The task for tomorrow is for us to have final orthographic drawings, done by hand or on any program preferred. As well, we are required to have a working model and sketches of some details required in our structure.

Day 4

For the hand-in today, we require our orthographic drawings, scale 1:25 and some sketched details with our working model. We are required to pin up or work on the 7th floor, after which we will receive feed back on our work thus far.

Orthographic drawings

Pop-up deconstructed for transportation.

I, along with two of my fellow pupils had pinned up our work around 11:45 am and only received a critt on our work past 15:15pm. Although lunch included in the time, I personally felt that my day was a little wasted. Due to the fact that I had to wait for feed back before I could actually move on. Once I finally got the critt session, it felt to me as if it was to rushed and I felt like it was a little impersonal and the questions I had written down, where not even brought to attention due to the critt being so quick. Although the signature was given, my only advise recieved was to improve on my drawings.

Day 5

Today was the day for our final hand-in. The group I work with are my to friends Deen and Ibby. We where done by 09:00 am due to us pulling an all nighter at Ibby's office. Although the rest of my day was spent running up and down looking for lecturers and trying to find out what was required from us for our final hand-in and if we had to give an oral presentation. Long story short we could hand-in and go home, although I stayed to try and sit in for the marking and critique of my project. This was helpful yet, due to politics and individual opinions I was not able to get a final mark from the lecturers. I did however manage to understand how they went about marking the design process and overall assignment.