ROUGE RHYTHM
WEI YING'S PORTFOLIO
Project 2: Me in Space
INNER ZEN
For our second studio project, we explored the notions on scale and proportion and developed an understanding of scale and proportion in the relationship between the body and space.
In a group of 3, the conceptual story behind the created space that we wanted to project is that we are seeking the right balance between our physical and mental state to achieve an inner zen mode within ourselves. The space consisted of two trapeziums arranged in spatial tension manner. With the idea of "space deception" in mind, we played with the idea of "illusion of space". An axis line defined the ends of both trapeziums.
I am able to identify basic design principles in spatial organization and design and produce a space that embodies and expresses an idea of conceptual narrative.
Project 3: My City Dreamspace
ZHORA'S PRISM
In the final project, we are required to design a dreamspace for a particular character by ‘grafting’ or engaging it to the walls of an imagined “city” on an empty abandoned plot. First, there were four film titles to choose from. Namely, Blade Runner (1985), Steamboy (2004), Fifth Element (1997) and Ghost in the Shell (1995). In a group of 5, we had chosen Blade Runner. The film was set in the year 2019, in Los Angeles, where it depicts several genetically engineered organic robots called replicants—visually indistinguishable from adult humans escaped from off-world colonies hiding in L.A. The Replicants were avoiding from being captured and killed by the Blade Runners.
Project 1: Self-expression through Object.
ABSTRACT/SURREALISM PAINTING (poster colour on paper)
For our very first studio project, we are introduced to different methods and approaches to represent the conceptual narrative of our abstracted sense of self.
I have came up with a poster colour painting mounted on a self-made box that contained 6 pieces of tissues within as I tried to find the best way of communicating my narrative to people. The idea of this painting was inspired by cartoonist/ artist, Coplu.
At the end of this project, I learned to identify and abstract theme/ideas of the ‘self’ and able to construct a representational piece of art based on the initial ideas that have been abstracted and redefined through the process of translation and interpretation.
Architectural Design Studio 1
Painting of a red human figure reaching out towards the sky, trying to get hold on a cracked egg in an abstract/ surrealism manner. The eggs represent the uncertainties in the future and the red figure that is reaching out towards the skies describes me of constantly trying to break out from my comfort zone.
The overlapping brushstrokes are meant to bring out the deep thoughts and inspirations that I had put into this project. The very few figures supporting the base are my loved ones.
Presentation Board
 Scale of 1:1 cardboard installation, creating and experiencing spaces based on the conceptual narrative of the self. |  A strong axis line is formed with a gap between 2 trapeziums that symbolized the balance in life. |  A checkered surface articulation of the trapezium of the installation created square spaces that allow visitors to experience a different kind of feeling. |
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 A glimmer of ray that shone down from the exposed roof left people seeing the world from a different angle. |  The louver slits on the other half of the trapezium is meant to deceive people by giving them an impression of a wider and open space. |  |
 |  Experience a different kind of feeling from this perspective. |  Group photo with my colleagues. |
 Study Model in the scale of 1:75 before the 1:1 final installation. |  Learning, feeling and experiencing the space we had created for the warm up exercises. Material used: Raffia string on selected site of our choice. |  |
 The tedious measuring and cutting-by-hand process of the corrugated cardboard strips to slot them into crisscross checkered manner that stood as the installation's wall. |  Corrugated cardboard were slotted together to create a supporting base for the installation. |  The installation process of Inner Zen. |
Next, we created and built a site model based on the screenshots that we had captured from the movie. It was a rather challenging task as the movie settings were very dark and misty, apart from the flashy neon lights that mimicked the streets of Harajuku, Japan.
Then with the site model done, each of us had to pick or create a character with a background narrative that fits into the movie and develops a "dreamspace" for them.
The character that I had created is Zhora, a pole dancer replicant, working in L.A's glitziest nightclub to conceal her true identity. She was hunted down and killed by a blade runner. Prior to her brutal death, she was resurrected and live in another body that she had secretly replicated before her death. After her rebirth, she continued her life as a pole dancer with a whole new identity.
Zhora was depicted as a cold, aggressive, cunning and bold character.
Movie Poster of Blade Runner.
Screenshot from the film showing Bradbury Building that was extensively used in the film as one of the character's residing place.
This screenshot showed another building from the opposite of Bradbury, the Million Dollar Theatre.
The site buildings in real life. The image on the left is the Bradbury Building whereas on the right is the Million Dollar Theater.
Bradbury Building on the left and Million Dollar Theater on the right
The vacant alley between two buildings that hosted as the site for my character's individual space.
Bradbury Building on the left and Million Dollar Theater on the right
Site Model
ZHORA'S PRISM (INDIVIDUAL SPACE)
Design Concept: Deception
Flamboyant
Transformation
The Prism took on an irregular form, formed by triangular planes that joint together to give off a rhythmic undulating surface treatment. It is flashy and aggressive. The Prism is designed with a hidden private space to bring out Zhora's deceptive nature.
Aerial view of the Prism
 The PrismA lawn was designed along with the Prism for Zhora as she tried to pass on as a human that needed the comfort of nature and greenery. |  Left ElevationThe solid triangular planes took on a transformation to smaller planes (into a much more geodesic form) to indicate the change in identity after the resurrection. |  Front ElevationThis is the access area into the semi-public space within. It was intentionally designed with wide opening to deceive visitors into believing it as a welcoming space. |
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 |  Rear Elevation |  The LawnThe lawn took off an irregular platforms of triangular surfaces |
 An IdentityZhora's career as a pole dancer had a huge impact on her personality and character. Colour changing LED lights are placed in the model that served as the strobe lights in her dance studio. |  IridescenceThe LED lights gave off an iridescent finished to the Prism that represented the irregularity of her character. |  |
 Study Model 2The form of Prism is more or less fixed during the semi-final stage of the designing process. |  |  Study Model 1The very first study model in a much smaller and compact form with only 3 spaces available. |
Presentation Panels
By the end of this project, I am able to design and produce a space that embodies and expresses an idea or conceptual narrative. Moreover, I learned to identify, articulate and apply basic design principles in spatial organization and relationships. For materials wise, I had selected and applied suitable building materials to embody and enhance the sensory experience of the space
Overall, it was a really exhausting but amazing experience setting up this space installation. We definitely gained alot from this project as not only we had to think about the design but also experiment with the structure and technique of joinning the cardboards together without any adhesive medium. Not to mention we went through a couple of trial-errors and minor heart attacks during the installation process, trying to get the structure erect upright. It's been a great fun!
The Prism would be hanging mid-air between the alley of the Bradbury building and Million Dollar Theater.