There is something heartwarming about the construction phase. I
can’t exactly put my finger on it, though. Perhaps it’s the thrill of
constantly being on site, or the relief of successfully getting the design
approved by the client or the devil we all love to hate – council! The
Muizenburg project I blogged about the previous week is finally being given
life to, today. Yay! But I am not exactly happy…
As much as I am enthusiastic to see something that I worked on
become a physical entity, the designer and the inner perfectionist in me are
not exactly fond of the design. Yes it is just an extension, and yes the
clients love it (they gave a lot of input) but there is something “builder”
about it.
I feel that it lacks that spark, that creativity and that constrained
design liberty the existing structure generously offered. Maybe I am just being
too finicky and I am looking at things through the eyes of an over-imaginative
student who is used to designing without actual budget constraints. The ,manner
in which the functions are placed and how they are linked isn’t exactly the
problem. In fact they work well, given the site conditions faced. My problem
lies with the aesthetics. Why?
Well, the existing structure is a Victorian beast with a pitched
roof that slopes on all four sides. The new structure doesn’t complement that
at all, in my opinion. The new structure (like I described in the previous
post) consist of two rooms “lining up” behind the existing structure. Each room
has a roof that slopes to a side that opposes the other, both corrugated sheet
unlike the existing tiles roof. I am aware that the language they speak should
not necessarily be identical, but it should at least have common grounds or
intense contrast – and not lurk in the middle, as that will be its demise.
Who knows, maybe my view will change when the structure has been
fully erected. I do not dislike the design, I am just sharing my design opinion
which changes from time to time.
Construction pictures below!
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