Category: Push/Pull – Part 2 – Spaces

1. Clouds

We both like the idea of ‘hanging’ something and the idea of having natural light interact with our objects. So, we are thinking of making a cloud shape inflatable and having it floating by the window on the first floor of Hunt library. Since a tube has to be attached to blow air into the inflatable, we are also thinking of making that tube into a chimney. So the whole object would look like a chimney blowing clouds into the air and, ideally, the natural sunlight would shine through the cloud.

2. Doorway

This ‘doorway’ evolves from an actual door. We are thinking of how to encourage people to communicate and interact with each other more. A door represents the unfamiliarity between people and when you open the door and walk across the door, we get to know each other better. When designing this shape, we consider that a more abstract shape of a door might be more interesting and artistic. So we simplify the shape into a dome with wires or strings attached to it to create some tension.

3. Teddy Bear

This object is a combination of our push/pull 1. We combine the pear shape and the bear shape together to build a large, teardrop-like bear. This is actually our favorite idea! Imagine having a large, soft teddy bear appear in the library and students get to hug it while tired. And teddy bears used to be our childhood toy. As we grow older, the bear changes its shape. However, it is still there and serves its purpose of comforting us. We now have two thoughts. One is to make it into a tear-drop shape and the other is a square shape. Both shapes are variants from the original teddy bear. 

There is also the option of making a “generic”, very recognizable teddy bear shape. We want to play with the idea of bringing this extremely nostalgic, reminiscent object into the library space. We thought it would be interesting to play with the idea of the line between childhood and adulthood. A childhood toy in a space where students are just crossing those boundaries from childhood into adulthood; perhaps the teddy bear would invoke feelings of relief, comfort, nostalgia, but also perhaps discomfort, melancholy, yearning.

Rough 3D Models of Possible Forms:

Here are our 3 ideas:

The first one is a tree. This would be a combination of Asad’s object with the twisted pouches and the twists would instead be Lori’s fruits. Ideally this one would be placed somewhere outside.

Our second idea is a totem pole, where we would combine and iterate on the eye’s from Lori’s fruits and add in the ties from Asad’s object with the cones and rope used to tighten and loosen it. The ties would create different sections and could also be used to open and close the eyes. Ideally this one would also be placed somewhere outside.

Our last idea is to create an archway, where we would combine the twisted pouches from Asad’s objects and the arms of the fruit from Lori’s object. The twisted pouches would be combined into the archway, and the arms of the fruit would drape down from the archway to create a curtain of sorts. This one could be placed either inside or outside.

Timeline

1. Final rhino file – March 7

2. Pattern tracing – March 9

3. Sewing the object together – March 14

4. Testing and inflating – March 15