Power is conveyed through the heirachy of the offices. The solid structure of the form also highlights the notion of power. The building blocks, and steps resemble the stages in Ratan Tatas life in which he went through to achieve todays power.
The notion of power is portrayed with the overwhelm size of the opening facade. The 3 structural columns revealed, resembles Zhang Yins nature, as having nothing to hide,
"...An honest, business woman.. accumulated fortune by arduous work, penny by penny."
Columns could represent her solid foundation chieved through her years of hard work
The elevator relates to both clients. The see through glass walls emphasis Zhang Yin honest personality. The risky idea of stepping on thing ice/glass, suits Ratan tata. As he is a risk taker. but his risk are ensured with his great knowledge of the industry, symbolized by the steel frame.
The Dinning space is what connects the two spaces together, all lifts destinate towards the dinning space. One of the main features of this space, is that it forces/leads the clients to work together. The space is placed in the middle between the spaces and is built symmetrically. the way the lifts come in are also symmetrical A gentle cylinder light effect is places in teh middle of the room to give some light and warmth. and than spots lights a used to shine onto the middle of the space, where the table is to draw all attention. the Ceiling light is also subtracted to focus on the centre
ZHANG YIN
Zhang Yins spaces uses its entrance facade to overwhelm the people, as it is particularly large. 3 large columns are used to represent and symbolise the structural foundations of this building and power of Yin. however as you approach Yins space, it becomes simpler. Keeping with the rule, nothing too fancy, normal lighting. Big windows, and an open ceiling to convey the open-ness of Zhang Yin. A little power and control over her space is seen throught the heightened platform that her desk is placed on. ( with a dim spot light shinning on it)
RATAN TATA Ratan Tata's office is basically arranged from 3 symbolical, solid "building blocks". They are arranged like a stair to reinforce the "building block" notion. The form of the stairs also highlights the hierarchy of power in Tata's office, as you can see Tata's desk is places at the top, and his staff and reception is places at the bottom. The reason why he is at the bottom space, is because he does the unthinkable ( studying architecture, and becoming chairman of India's largest conglomerate) The massive office, hangs on to teh bridge with only a single piece attached to the backing of the office. Its like "hanging on by just a thread", highlighting his risk taking characteristics again. the office is also deliberately open as it leaves the office much brighter this way.
i deliberately faced all facades of the offices and the meeting space towards the sunny side, to convey the idea of always looking at the bright side of things. An important quality, when one has so much power...
the original 4 square cubes were altered a bit, just to allow some leg space. the same idea is kept. having the "build blocks" idea. each part of the table moves up one after another to form a one. to show that the rise to power is taken in stages.
And when the clients leave, the table collapse back down as ONE, (instead of falling down one by one) this reinforces the need for unity after the clients collaboration with each other.
My initial plans for my elevator journeys, got too complicated for UT2004 to handle!
The obvious improvement from my first proposal, is that Both elevators intertwine with the bridge and the meeting space. (instead of ignoring all spaces and moving by itself). Having this intertwining motion also allows me to accommodate for the up and down motions which i initially wanted, to symbolise the clients "ups & downs" they went through in life to achieve their power and success today. the 2d motion resembles a business line graph.
i wanted to further enhance this elevator journey by brining in the idea of building blocks. solid building blocks which are needed to gain power. Ratan Tata's space, is basically made of 3 identical building block, conveying a solid foundation. Ratan Tata's elevator would also go with idea of building blocks.
My primitive version of the elevator was than transformed a to a more modern elevator. i had ratan tata step onto thin ice/glass as he went on the elevator as, he is a risk taker! however this risk is reinforced by his years of knowledge, symbolised by the steel frame. this elevator is than split up into 3 components. as the elevator moves they break apart! one piece flies faster, another laggs behind. This is to convey that power is did not come into rata's hands in a single shot. It also conveys the unpredictability of the client. there were "components" ( which could be family, cash flow problems, economy, sales) which lagged behind, or came too early. but as rata reaches his destination all these components comeback together as one reunite his power.
The same elevator is than used for Zhang yin, as both clients are connected through the idea of power, and the bridge. Zhang yin's elevator ditchs the building blocks idea and, keeps a solide elevator. the reason why the glass is still used is to further highlight zhang yins statement:
"I'm not afraid of being No. 1. As a listed company everything at Nine Dragons is transparent ... accumulated my fortune by arduous work, penny by penny.""... honest business woman"
she has nothign to hide from and is not one of those flashy. Hence the breaking up of elevator was not needed.
However, these movement of the elevator as proven to be too complicated for UT2004 or for me... the elevators sometimes work, and sometimes, cause clients to plunge to their deaths. such a risky elevator should of been taken down. But i remebered both clients are entrepreneurs, especially TATA
"We need to be bolder and willing to take bigger risks abroad," so i left the elevators there, to use at THEIR OWN RISK. i have put red spot lights to indicate which elevators "are risky"
here is proof for a successful journey via the elevator. furthermore, i decided that limiting each client to one elevator was wrong. as these elevators only could bring clients to meeting space and not back. it would also be like limiting their power of choice.
So i decided to make another set of elevators. This set of elevators calls for a collaborative effort on top of the bridge. another meeting space if made ontop of the bridge, it could also be used as a balcony.
Tata, received another solid elevator to take him to the top of the bridge. This elevator, went through a shaft, which shined diffent colours of light, to convey a journey of variety in his reach for power. Zhang Yin has a solid set of stairs to get to the top of the bridge (again, nothing too fancy). There is a central elevator on the bridge which is made up of the same components used for other elevators, arranged with collaborative means. this elevator than takes clients to the meeting space, and back.
notice how the only way to leave the meeting space is through the one elevator. they leave in unity, and are not able to go their separate ways. This concept is further reinforced, with the table closing up as a whole and going back under ground. New pair of "collaborative" elevators
this image also lead me to realise that lighting can also come from the floor the tiles of the floor really lead the views eye to the central part of the space
chairs can be used to really enclose the dinning experience, to an intimate experience irregularities in the space, adds some interest in the space.
I realised Clients with such great power, wealth must have great control of workers and office a recption table is planed to be added
The entrance is particular important, as it give a first impression. These are photos i took of the entrances of some particularly Large corporate building . I feel that they all really give a strong impact, when some one enters. 2 ernst & young 1 the sunlight here adds an awesome effect, could use this technique in UT2004 screen captures 4 imipressive low angle 3 large open ceiling gives a sense of inspiring awe
Alteration of elevator movement i decided to have two elevators, elvator will intertwine more arround the bridge, interact with each other spaces, where as the old one ignored everything. but still keeping the ups and downs, like a line graph representing their life/success story
WHOLE BUNCH OF TEXTURES i did a lot of textures, and will need to choose 36 of them
The table is initially placed below ground level, when clients are not present. clients come. each cube rises up one by one. this goes with the theme of the elevator. the rising relates to the "rising success" of the clients. and as all cubes come together to for one unity. It conveys collaboration. which is what the table is partly for. " The space hanging on the horizontal surface is a place for your clients to meet for a working lunch." 0the table is wide enough on all side so clients can have space to eat, and put their documents on, but is not too big as clients will be separated. closer seating allows closer conversations.
and as the client leave the table, the table returns underground as a whole, to further highlight unity/collaboration, taken place in the meeting space
Power is conveyed through the heirachy of the offices. The solid structure of the form also highlights the notion of power. The building blocks, and steps resemble the stages in Ratan Tatas life in which he went through to achieve todays power.
The notion of power is portrayed with the overwhelm size of the opening facade. The 3 structural columns revealed, resembles Zhang Yins nature, as having nothing to hide,
table or chair?
the same idea can be used for both the chair and table to creat unity. An important notion in creating the meeting space
a detachable table, with no screws/glue needed
