Center for Architecture

Studio/Institution: Tom Svilans
Website: http://tomsvilans.com
Client: private
Software: Blender + Vray + Photoshop

Description:

This is a project I did to help out with a friend's thesis midterm. It's for a proposed architecture center here in Ottawa.

Timeline was super tight: got the drawings and references Saturday night, re-started yesterday afternoon due to major changes and finished tonight, with some time left for her to put together panels for tomorrow's presentation. That said, attention to detail wasn't the ultimate goal here, however I hope I've managed to hold up some sort of standard of quality...

Note: I ended up modeling all the furniture too, as the models we tried to use to speed things up were absolutely terrible.

Blender + Vray + Photoshop


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4 Comments


Mirza M. Kamran

said 14 December 2010 1:52 am
Can I crit on a design level? The furniture in the images seems to carry the images, especially in the second image. I think that's mainly your work. The Architecture itself needs a stronger concept. The lighting is also very monotone and gives a gloomy impression. I would have thought architecture centers would have an exhibition space as the focal point? How did your friend's submission go? What were the jurors' response?

On a rendering level, I think they probably saved your friend's honour! Very accomplished, though the lack of materiality is not your fault, the design doesn't seem to have been thought through to the detailing. I do like the furniture and the geometries. Well done in so little time!

Thanasis Karabitsakos

said 14 December 2010 1:58 am
Quoting kankan:
Can I crit on a design level? The furniture in the images seems to carry the images, especially in the second image. I think that's mainly your work. The Architecture itself needs a stronger concept. The lighting is also very monotone and gives a gloomy impression. I would have thought architecture centers would have an exhibition space as the focal point? How did your friend's submission go? What were the jurors' response?

On a rendering level, I think they probably saved your friend's honour! Very accomplished, though the lack of materiality is not your fault, the design doesn't seem to have been thought through to the detailing. I do like the furniture and the geometries. Well done in so little time!


I agree totally with Mirza.

Antoine Desjardins

said 14 December 2010 8:07 am
I like it, but I'm partial to austere minimal architecture. The forms and finishes you employed definately lend themselves to large volumes. The only real eyesore is that dark set of stairs.. and maybe a bit strong on the glare. Nice job overall.

Tom Svilans

said 14 December 2010 9:00 am
Thanks for the comments!

Tron: The shot with the stairs is definitely the least successful of the set. If I had more time I'd tweak it, I swear! But overall I hate the composition of it too, though it was necessary to show the entrance, stairs to the gallery below, lecture space and bridge to the right all in one shot. I think the minimalism of the project is mostly due to it being designed and modeled in only a couple of days It's the first design scheme in a much larger project (and it's only the first real review).

kankan: I really appreciate the detailed response and the critique of the architecture itself! I think in general that is somewhat missing from a lot of arch. viz discussion: how the visualizations and the actual architecture fit together. It's possible to do anything with arch. viz but the architecture is the real raison d'etre so it can't be overlooked!

In terms of concept, I think, for now at least, that it was primarily a programmatic response with some nice architectural ideas (the open circulation, interpenetrating functions, outdoor assembly space, etc.) however it may not be completely well articulated yet. It's not my favorite way of doing things (and I personally prefer a much more textured environment) but I think it's enough for this stage of the project.

Thanks for all your comments!

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Tom Svilans
Student
Canada

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