Take One, Action

Group 7a:

The first take filming in a public area always brings a bit of nervousness to the team, even though we all need a little nerve to preform. When making an interjection in a public space, there is usually only one chance to get things right. As for group 7a, we decided to split up the roles so that there would be 2, sometimes 3 cameramen on the ground and 4 actors in the public display. After a good first day of filming, with the weather cooperating and unexpected participation from various audience members, the footage can be taken back to the tent and begin to make its way into a cohesive film.

Ideas in the Kettle

Group 7a:

While our first impressions happened on site, the initial ideas began to brew in the tent. The photo above is a great display of our unique design process. We primarily began with studying the large map provided at the beginning of the project. From there, each team member began to dissect the characteristics of the site while formulating ideas on how to interject with the current static environment present in the locale. Each person’s note-taking style is quite different, where one might justify her thought’s as words, the other might prefer to begin story-boarding a film’s plot through sketches, and another will use layers of transparent paper to apply layers of ideas to create an abstract sequence. The overall diversity of the visual notes communicated within the group is ultimately needed to convey ideas, communicate, and develop a core concept.

What to consider

Research led us to delve into the significance of the buildings that some, still stand today. How architects found importance in relating their buildings to historic events or times or timelines of style. Alike how J A Campbell, the architect of the building in this locale, had his signature style of decorating the facade of his buildings with lion heads, cherubs, dolphin heads and was very interested in ship prows. These would all feature upon his work. We considered how there was a vast difference in the types of buildings being constructed in the present as to the past. This is due to a multitude of reasons and a shift in what is valued as important. Office spaces that soar into the sky, consisting of a lack of ‘personality’ could be argued bringing in 9,000+ jobs to the city’s people. So in modern Glasgow, what do we value as more important? Can we be elegant and thoughtful with our modern architecture and simultaneously encourage economic growth and culture. Or are we creating a new culture of who Glasgow’s people are what we do.

Group C

First Impressions

Upon arrival, an immediate contrast struck. The familiar comforting red sandstone of the building stood although tall, subdewed by the overbearing suffocation of modern office space.
Glassy, aggressive, fancy and modern, the financial district is taking over this location.
Of what two red buildings still existed, diagonally mildly encouraging one another to hang on in there, the question struck, what of Glasgow’s personality will be retained in the future.

Group C

First Impressions

Group 7a:

71-75 Robertson Street is definitely a “fish out of water” as one might say. Being located in Glasgow’s International Financial District, or IDF for short, this particular structure has definitely seen better days. What makes this site most unique is how it feels “out of place” in terms of its surroundings. Speaking architecturally, the reddish-tinted stone of 71-75 Robertson stand-out compared to the adjacent twenty-first century glass and steel office developments, of which 9,000 employees call their home-away-from-home every weekday from dawn to dusk.

At the street level, this part of Robertson Street lacks the vegetation that contributes to making a streetscape more “inviting.” Yet, as seen in the photograph above, the greenery is actually found spilling out of crevices on the weathered facade and further add to the overall irony of the lane. Despite all of that, what struck the interest of group 7a the most was the feeling of “unwelcomeness” that each team member felt during the time spent on site. A regular on this lane may question the presence of students around here because they have no business lurking around the city’s financial district, but shouldn’t the city streets belong to everybody?

Using the feeling of alienation as a means of inspiration, group 7a will be working to interpret that feeling in ways that can be potentially reversed and inflicted upon the regular users of this locale, in this case the business men and women contributing to the already static environment found throughout the IDF.

Group Site Visit

Tuesday morning Group 7 ventured on to explore the locale at risk on Robertson Street. The locale is based in Glasgow City Center with close proximity to Glasgow Central Station. Previously the site had been occupied by a general store and a warehouse along with  a business in steam engine indicators. The general store caught fire in 1900 and spread to the warehouse adjoining it and to adjacent buildings in the area. This incident led into the construction of a Glasgow style office building in 1901 by John Archibald Campbell. The red sanstone ashlar building was home to various business such as advertising and event agencies, bookbinders, dry cleaners and a needle exchange before reaching its current occupancy of one business operating on the ground floor whilst remainder of the building is left abandoned with nature growing out and on the facade as it slowly reclaims the historic building.