Positioning Statement
The Wintergardens is a heritage landmark in New Zealand, marking a significant piece of history since 1921. It’s inspiration dates back to 1851, when the Crystal Palace was completed. The Crystal Palace is a temporary location used to display technology developed during the Industrial Revolution. Now in present day, I am using the Wintergardens as a place of temporary exhibition, a place to reflect its history, and educate visitors through the use of physical interaction.
I will be using contrast as the concept to my exhibition design. This will be done with the use of materials, as materials have a range of textures, and densities. I will take advantage of the symmetry of the Wintergardens, using the courtyard as a transitional space, serving as the threshold between the contrasts. I aim for my design to emphasise the transition between one glasshouse to the other, while highlighting the contrast between the two glasshouses.
I will also be using colour as an aspect of my design, focusing on the warm and cold tones that are synonymous to both colour shades, and temperatures, reflecting the physical environment of the glasshouses. I was inspired by Gertrude Jekyll and her experience with colours, as her myopia interpreted distinguished colours as a “blur of colours.” I would like to incorporate this aspect of gradients within my space, enhancing the smooth transition.
Floor Plan
Concepts
Warm & Cold
- Synonymous to weather, temperature, colours
- The idea of weather & temperature is relevant to seasons, which the courtyard has statues that represent the seasons. This is one of the ways my design will link back into the space
- Temperature is significant to the Wintergardens, as the glasshouses showcase exotic plants that can only thrive in certain temperatures
- Warm and cool tones in colour are what we use to define temperature, such as Thermal Imaging Systems
- Warm tones like red and orange usually signify how “hot” something is
- Cool tones like blue and purple on the other hand signify how “cold” something is
- Orange and Blue are complementary colours, showing how they are on opposite sides of the colour spectrum
Gradient = Transition = Courtyard
While the glasshouses have a solid temperature, the courtyard itself is a blurred line. It is the threshold from entering/leaving the glasshouse, and the transition from one glasshouse to the other. It is what I consider the transition space. I see transition as movement; moving around the space, moving from one place to another. I would like to somehow document the idea of movement.
How materials should be interacted with in the space
I want to base the materials on how it may change/form depending on the weather. For example, when it gets cold, water becomes ice, while in the heat, it melts and becomes a puddle, sometimes emitting steam when it is boiled. I think this is an interesting idea to take on board with my design.
Design Iterations
AUT Spatial Design 