THE SEARCH ENGINE
A HUMAN FACTORY RESET
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Over the past few months, I’ve gathered ideas in my mind, and I’d like to take this opportunity to share them with you.
Summer
Brain.
Waves
-
Dissecting
The
Thought
CONCEPT
ONE:
‘DIGS’
An actors accomodation that puts the actor first. The actor will be able to create their own interior from a variety of bespoke furniture, putting them in control of their own interior decoration, connecting them to their real home. Touring actors are often neglected within the industry, and their accomodatoin fund is usually quite low with an added layer of the search process being overwhelmingly stressful. Digs will fix this problem.
Twist:
The project will spread across two sites - one for the accomodation and another for the conceptualisation and production of the bespoke furniture. The actor will choose furniture made by specialists from a catalogue and then just before the actor arrives at the accomodation, the furniture will be installed. The idea is to make a set within a set.
Considerations:
-Facade
-Modular furniture
-Catalogue
-Transportation
-Safety and warmth
-Freedom to express one’s self creatively
-Fast turnover / high volume of guests
Concept One - Digs. Image from http://www.novaloca.com (accessed September 2024). Colour adjusted by author.
Govan Shed23 Clydebrae St
Govan
G51 2AJ.
Glasgow
Listing- not listed.
Built- 1947
This giant warehouse is currently being used for sets within the TV/Film sector. The idea would be to transform this space into a set-design-style living quarters
for touring actors.
Concept One - Digs. Image from http://www.glasgowheritage.org.uk (accessed September 2024). Colour adjusted by author.
Leyland Motor Company
140 Salkeld Street
Laurieston
G5 8HQ
Glasgow
Listing - B
Built- 1930’s
This stunning building was constructed in the 1930’s in an Art Deco fashion by James Miller. This space will be where the designers and makers will construct the furniture and then transport it to Govan Shed
Concept two - Sono Sophia. Image from https://en.wikipedia.org (accessed September 2024). Photographer: unknown. Colour adjusted by author.
“This idea hit me in June, the date is now 26/7/24. It was the type of brain wave that makes you sit up straight in the middle of the night.
...In the Italian language, ‘Io Sono’ translates to ‘I am’.
Sono Sophia.”...
-extracted from my summer notebook.
Sono Sophia quickly became my new brand name with it becoming the name of my website and instagram as I found comfort in staying semi- anonymous on the web.
It was created as an online disguise, as I don’t like my full name being widly available for strangers to view on the internet. The brand is an opportunity for me to be an interior designer in my own terms, allowing me to stay somewhat anonymous while designing unique and heartfelt spaces, just without doxing myself.
CONCEPT TWO:
‘Sono Sophia’
Sono Sophia is an underground interior design studio that produces unique and heartfelt spaces, working in close partnership with our clients to bring the most insanely wild interior design concepts to life. The studio is made up of collaborators from all different backgrounds including brand strategists, graphic designers, textile specialists, scientists, carpenters, artists and of course interior designers.
Twist:
The creator of the brand Sono Sophia remains anonymous, just like Banksy. I believe this would provide me with an interesting design approach to designing an interior design studio where the main director is anonymous. What would this look like? Would their office be hidden away where only a few trusty staff know where it is? How would the client and director communicate? All of these questions pose a very exciting opportunity to create a super unique space and I could imagine myself having fun designing it.
Considerations:
-An underground site
-Anonymity
-Curiousity
-Communication
-Staff amenities
-The hidden office
-Client experience
-Distractions and excursions
Concept two - Sono Sophia. Image from https://en.wikipedia.org (accessed September 2024). Photographer: unknown. Colour adjusted by author.
St Peter’s Seminary
Barrs Rd, Cardross
Dumbarton
G82 5EY
Built: 1961–1966
Listing: A
Architect: Isi Metzstein
Architecture firm: Gillespie, Kidd & Coia
Barrs Rd, Cardross
Dumbarton
G82 5EY
Built: 1961–1966
Listing: A
Architect: Isi Metzstein
Architecture firm: Gillespie, Kidd & Coia
Concept two - Sono Sophia. Image from https://en.wikipedia.org (accessed September 2024). Photographer: unknown. Colour adjusted by author.
The first site I thought of when I thought of Sono Sophia was St Peter’s Seminary. I first came across it when I was researching buildings for my Manifesto project. The style of the building matches my vibe perfectly and I think it’s absolutely stunning, however there is an issue. Although it has a Glasgow postcode, I doubt my tutors would allow me to use this site as it’s too far out of the city. The intent is to find a building that has a similar modernist/brutalist style, while still being in the boundaries of Glasgow City.
The first site I thought of when I thought of Sono Sophia was St Peter’s Seminary. I first came across it when I was researching buildings for my Manifesto project. The style of the building matches my vibe perfectly and I think it’s absolutely stunning, however there is an issue. Although it has a Glasgow postcode, I doubt my tutors would allow me to use this site as it’s too far out of the city. The intent is to find a building that has a similar modernist/brutalist style, while still being in the boundaries of Glasgow City.
THREE:
‘Sono’
Sono is an interior design studio powered by sound. What happens when we remove sight from design and use sound and other non-visual related stimuli as our only tool for designing? The studio will have no access to any sight related inspriarion and will rely solely on sound, touch and smell to produce exciting and innovative design. The idea is to focus on the design process and outcomes of removing one of the senses from designers to see if this can push the already-stimuli-obsessed industry down a new path of designing for future generations in a unique and interesting way.
I adore this idea. When I came up with it in the summer I knew it was the right kind of project for me, so much so that I even created a business card to see how it felt to propel Sono as my fourth year brand.
Considerations:
-Non-visual inspiration
-Invigorating the senses
-Safety
-Tactility
-A non-visual library
-The listening experience
-How to keep staff members engaged
-Latest surround sound technologies
-The final outcome of design, accuracy and refinement
-When can sight be brought back in to ensure safe and accurate design?
Qusetion for my future self : What will this brand become?
My question to Craig Armstrong at his Q&A at the GFT.
I know it’s early days and the project will evolve, but I was already planting the seed for a sensory design based project by unconciously attending events that benefit the topic of my project, for example the Craig Armstrong Q&A at the Glasgow Film Theatre. Craig is a Scottish composer who has soundtracked many films, including The Great Gatsby.
Things from this Q&A that benefit my project:
-Sound is one of the most important and slept-on storytellers.
-Always make music from the heart to accompany a visual. Create with emotion.
-Use music as a tool to build atmosphere, big or small.
-Work fast and produce, then edit down afterwards.
- Always be prepared for changes. Compose back up plans.
SITE CONSIDERATIONS FOR ‘SONO’
North Rotunda, circa 1920’s. Accessed via www.bbcnews.co.uk
NORTH AND SOUTH ROTUNDASAddresses - 28 Tunnel Street G3 8HL and 100 Govan Road G51 1JL, Glasgow
Architects - Simpson and Wilson for The Glasgow Harbour Tunnel Company
Built - 1890-1896
Listing - B
Purpose - Vehicular and pedestrian access to the other side of the river.
Problem - The sites aren’t vacant.
GPO Tunnel access building, image from Google Maps
HIDDEN TUNNEL NETWORK
General Post Office Access Building, 76 N Hanover St, G1 2BQ
I did some digging (pardon the pun) and I found out that this building is an access point for a network of underground tunnels. The tunnel was built to house part of the telephone network exchange as a safety net incase Glasgow was ever destroyed in war, including nuclear. The tunnel is roughly 10 storeys deep and is believed to stretch across the whole of Glasgow City Centre..
SECOND ACCESS POINT: CADOGAN SQUARE
Authors own work
FINNIESTON CRANEAddress - Finnieston Quay, Glasgow G3 8HN
Built by - Carlisle firm Cowans, Sheldon & Co
Built - 1931
Listing - A
Height - 175ft
Weight Capacity - 175 tons
Purpose - Load heavy locomotives onto ships
Significance - Glasgow landmark
...FOR NOW
THE TUNNEL NETWORK CONNECTS FROM THE GPO ACCESS BUILDING TO CADOGAN SQUARE
Image screenshotted from Google Maps
Location: 2 Cadogan Square, Glasgow G2 7NP
Architect: Richard Seifert
Construction: 1968
Completed: 1972
Opened: 1973
Style: Brutalist
Class: B
Latitude:: 55.8601°N
Longitude: 4.2674°W
NGR: NS 581 653
Hyojin An, MDes Interior Design School of Design, INVISIBLE DIMENSION : Dialogue of Sensorial Appreciation of Space. Acoustic Sense – Humming Steps
A PROBLEM:CHANGING THE CONCEPT
MY IDEA HAS BEEN RECENTLY EXECUTED BY A MASTERS STUDENT
NEW IDEA:
Sono - Innovative Design Powered by Multi-Modal Stimuli. Choose your mode.
Sono is an interactive game-style exhibition where each visitor’s personal experience is uniquely shaped by the choices they make and the sensory stimuli that surrounds them. This multi-modal journey invites participants to navigate the space based on their instincts and choices, allowing them to craft their own subjective and objective experience.
THEME: DARK, DYSTOPIAN
GET,
WHO,
TO,
BY.
WHO,
TO,
BY.
I want to GET people who’re consumed by technology, WHO have lost their sense of self, TO critically think and re-enter their bodies BY providing them with an interactive exhibition that incorporates the five senses.
AFTER HAVING AN
ETHICS DISCUSSION, I REALISED THIS
CONCEPT
WAS SLIGHTLY
UNETHICAL, SO I
TWEAKED MY IDEA AGAIN
THE MATRIX MOVIE POSTER
VIDEO STILL FROM THE MATRIX
With the introduction to A.I generated images, liminal spaces are taking on a new meaning. Gen Z has created a new type of liminal space, a familiar memory far in the past, recreated through a.i image generation. These spaces can also be referred to as the backrooms, and if a person stumbles upon a backroom in the real world, then they have entered a new dimension hard to escape from.
1 Posted by ‘brwwwll!!’ Original author unknown. https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/613545149268465382/
2 Posted by ‘isa’ Original author unknown. https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/613545149268465400/
3 Posted by ‘liminal space’ Original author unknown. https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/613545149268465423/
4 Posted by ‘60minutesonacid’ Original author unknown. https://uk.pinterest.com
WHY?
THE HIDDEN TUNNEL NETWORK IS TOO ENIGMATIC
Dear Network Rail,
I hope this email finds you well. My enquiry is about the Botanic Railway in Glasgow – (Address: 730 Great Western Rd, Glasgow G12 0UE). I’m unfortunately unable to obtain floorplans or any of the specifications for this site, including sections and elevations which has posed a massive issue in starting my project. If there is any way you have access to the specifications of the railway, I would be eternally thankful if you could pass these on to me.
If there is any way you could help, I would be very grateful!
Yours sincerely
Sophia C
‘Sono Sophia’
CASE STUDIES
Pieces of Home’ How can we design in symbiosis with our local environments to shape the homes of tomorrow? by Space 10. Images from https://space10.com/projects/pieces-of-home
SPACE 10
Design agency in Copenhagen, Denmark
2015-2023 (Closed)
Key words: Radical thinkers, innovation, future
“Good design starts by asking the right questions”
SPACE 10
Design agency in Copenhagen, Denmark
2015-2023 (Closed)
Key words: Radical thinkers, innovation, future
“Good design starts by asking the right questions”
Solar Ascent, Lauren Davies. Heka sensory desin studio. Image accessed via https://heka.london/solar-ascent/
HEKA
Sensory design studio founded by Lauren Davies
“I am an ideas person with a wealth of knowledge about and a passion for sustainable innovation, wellbeing and sensory design.”
In an interview with Alexandra Lunn Studio, Lauren says that the sensorial experience starts from the very beginning and good sensory design should consider all the different executional outputs and touch points. She also says that our sense of smell is the fastest track to our memories.
..HEKA
Sensory design studio founded by Lauren Davies
“I am an ideas person with a wealth of knowledge about and a passion for sustainable innovation, wellbeing and sensory design.”
In an interview with Alexandra Lunn Studio, Lauren says that the sensorial experience starts from the very beginning and good sensory design should consider all the different executional outputs and touch points. She also says that our sense of smell is the fastest track to our memories.
Aguahoja detail at The Museum of Modern Art New York | Neri Oxman and The Mediated Matter Group
OXMAM
Neri Oxman, Founder and CEO of OXMAN, New York City
Oxman resonsates with me as their lab incorperates multi diseplinary approaches to research and design.Their lab is very beautiful and well designed.
“We design nature-machine interfaces in the form of products and environments across scales, sites, and species”
OXMAM
Neri Oxman, Founder and CEO of OXMAN, New York City
Oxman resonsates with me as their lab incorperates multi diseplinary approaches to research and design.Their lab is very beautiful and well designed.
“We design nature-machine interfaces in the form of products and environments across scales, sites, and species”
ONE FINAL PUSH
The need for detox...
A digital detox.
TO BE CONTINUED...
The idea for a digital detox space was sparked when I realised the damage screentime and has had on my mental and physical health. I want to create a space where humans can escape the challenges of the modern world.
NOW INTRODUCING
THE SEARCH ENGINE!!!