stuck - acsa-arch.org

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CROSS AMERICAS: PROBING DISGLOBAL NETWORKS 8 STUCK Composed as an ethereal, tenuous experi- ence, STUCK was designed to embrace light and darkness. A collaborave design project STUCK was an installaon designed, funded, created, fabricated, and constructed by 18 students in a thesis studio. The installaon served as showcase to present each of the student’s thesis research books. STUCK was conceptually developed over a month through sketches and full scale prototyping with con- strucon and exhibion occurring over a five day period. The ght me line required the parcipaon of all 18 students – peeling, scking, and adhering 35 miles of packaging tape across a steel uni-strut structure to form two main atria. Addional occupiable tendrils stretched to aach to the main structure, sta- bilizing and forming tunnels and slings into which to climb and recline. Visitors were able to gather and browse thesis books in the atria before climbing into the tendrils for inmate reading. As darkness reduced the light, STUCK transformed from reading space to alternate experience; reading became impossible and skin became digital scrim, transformed by music tempo and volume, and array of videos projected onto the skin. In this incarnaon, the focus shiſted from form and books to exploitaon and manipulaon of space, per- cepon, and material properes. STUCK was a collaborave gallery installaon produced by the students of Studio 400_2015, an architectural thesis studio at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. STUCK supported a variety of interacve KAREN LANGE California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo experiences, opening and exploring the rela- onships between book, user, material, space, and collecve group. The use of a collaborave learning experience within thesis serves to unite the students through shared involvement, assisng them in their efforts to become a cohesive enty, a funconing and funconal studio. This enty, as also formed through field trips, all nighters, exhibions, and criques, allows the students to trust their studio peers becoming a think tank (or “do tank,” per conference plenary speaker, Alejandro Aravena) in order to be comfortable in the studio but also in thinking creavely individually. Common experience which is rewarded through acon, response, and publicaon, reinforces the strength of the group, but in addion, the individual gains power through associaon. STUCK was a part of a long term academic agenda, Bookshow, that makes up part of the Studio 400 curriculum. Across years Bookshow has formed a collaborave, cre- ave bond and compeon beyond the con- straints of the exisng academic year. Studio 400 (named aſter the studio room number, joining past and future students across me) is not only a locaon but a state of mind. Its very nature is one of compeon between years, not within the year. Studio as a pro- ducve whole works when the parcipants know, like, and trust one another. STUCK, as well as all past Bookshow installaons, is a generator of confidence and imaginaon, speaking to the collegiality of the group, the common goal of display, shared experience of design and construcon, but also about its shared experienal nature. Bookshow installaons are a way for students to share and disseminate their research; the individ- ual books while interesng become compel- ling in an environment made specific to their consumpon.

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Page 1: STUCK - acsa-arch.org

CROSS AMERICAS: PROBING DISGLOBAL NETWORKS8

STUCK

Composed as an ethereal, tenuous experi-ence, STUCK was designed to embrace light and darkness. A collaborative design project STUCK was an installation designed, funded, created, fabricated, and constructed by 18 students in a thesis studio. The installation served as showcase to present each of the student’s thesis research books. STUCK was conceptually developed over a month through sketches and full scale prototyping with con-struction and exhibition occurring over a five day period. The tight time line required the participation of all 18 students – peeling, sticking, and adhering 35 miles of packaging tape across a steel uni-strut structure to form two main atria. Additional occupiable tendrils stretched to attach to the main structure, sta-bilizing and forming tunnels and slings into which to climb and recline. Visitors were able to gather and browse thesis books in the atria before climbing into the tendrils for intimate reading. As darkness reduced the light, STUCK transformed from reading space to alternate experience; reading became impossible and skin became digital scrim, transformed by music tempo and volume, and array of videos projected onto the skin. In this incarnation, the focus shifted from form and books to exploitation and manipulation of space, per-ception, and material properties.

STUCK was a collaborative gallery installation produced by the students of Studio 400_2015, an architectural thesis studio at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. STUCK supported a variety of interactive

KAREN LANGECalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

experiences, opening and exploring the rela-tionships between book, user, material, space, and collective group.

The use of a collaborative learning experience within thesis serves to unite the students through shared involvement, assisting them in their efforts to become a cohesive entity, a functioning and functional studio. This entity, as also formed through field trips, all nighters, exhibitions, and critiques, allows the students to trust their studio peers becoming a think tank (or “do tank,” per conference plenary speaker, Alejandro Aravena) in order to be comfortable in the studio but also in thinking creatively individually. Common experience which is rewarded through action, response, and publication, reinforces the strength of the group, but in addition, the individual gains power through association.

STUCK was a part of a long term academic agenda, Bookshow, that makes up part of the Studio 400 curriculum. Across years Bookshow has formed a collaborative, cre-ative bond and competition beyond the con-straints of the existing academic year. Studio 400 (named after the studio room number, joining past and future students across time) is not only a location but a state of mind. Its very nature is one of competition between years, not within the year. Studio as a pro-ductive whole works when the participants know, like, and trust one another. STUCK, as well as all past Bookshow installations, is a generator of confidence and imagination, speaking to the collegiality of the group, the

common goal of display, shared experience of design and construction, but also about its shared experiential nature. Bookshow installations are a way for students to share and disseminate their research; the individ-ual books while interesting become compel-ling in an environment made specific to their consumption.

Page 2: STUCK - acsa-arch.org

9International Project Proceedings