Piranesi's book has direct links to ancient roman engineering. This image is of his anaylsis of the Aqueducts.

Analysing how placement of exhibits in a space effects weather people look at them. In a building that isn't dedicated to looking at exhibits, people are less likely to go out of their way to look at something.

In order to hang the skeleton and the 1980's items in the site we decided to design and make a metal grid that would be attached to the ceiling in our chosen room.

With the 'shock-value' being one of our main focus' we decided to record the reactions of the drama students and how they interacted with the skeleton.

Placing the skeleton on the site.

Day Seven: Coffee and walnut cake // Pre-presentation tutorial

The calm before the storm..

Running through each group's work and their respective presentation sheet that we have asked for, in order to best convey their final work before they present it to Special Collections tomorrow.

Quick sketch of one of the Vivienne Westwood corsets.

Testing shadows.
Having decided to hang the skeleton we tested out different lighting options in our blacked out room to see which ones created the more dramatic shadows. It was also important for us to see which lighting situations showed off the corset in the clearest way.

1:1 scale model
Producing a scale model of the room we are working with enabled us to see the different way in which we could use the space within the room. By adding lights at different angles to the model we could see which angles produced the best shadows on our skeletons and showed off the corsets in the best ways.

Hand drawn picture of the skeleton we used to dress the corsets.

Perspective

We got our final position at a high level staircase, behind which there is a balcony, so that people could observe the stool either from bottom or from the top side.

1:1 Prototype on site

We took the prototype to site we chose after we managed to assemble it in studio. During the period of reassembling, we fixed and modified some parts in order to better fit it on site.

1:1 Prototype Making in studio

Plan and measurements

The proposed position is marked on plan before we actually assembled on site. Also, we worked out the measurements of the 1:1 prototype before we start to make:
4mm diameter dowels @ 300mm
50mm diameter styroform balls

Final test model

Test Models

Based on the initial concept, we created a series of models to test the geometry and structure. Materials chosen to use is tiny wooden sticks, which measure 60mm, and blue-tack as connection bits. Additionally, we did a 1:5 scaled staircase to help understanding how the object could properly fit on site.
So far, we came to an agreement to leave an opening on top as a viewpoint, and to make the 'cage' flowing down over several stairs.

Testing Reactions

We put the skeleton in the actual site and photographed the drama students' reactions, getting some very odd looks. Not entirely sure if they thought it was creative, or just plain weird!

The Skeletons!

We put the real skeletons to the test today and hung them up using clear fishing wire, which proved strong enough. We blacked out all the windows in the entire room lit the corsets from different angles. Very spooky!

Model Prototype

Today we made a replica model at a 1:10 scale of the real situation. This was really helpful to see what the final version would look like. We tested out 1980's clothes in collaboration with the corset and put the models in a black box to give us an idea of what the room would look like blacked out.

Presenting our model to members of MMU staff gave us an opportunity to improve our idea and discuss its details. After getting feedback from specialists we were able to refine the design in terms of lighting, security and safety in context of the site we chose - the John Dalton building.

The finished 1:1 prototype with a model representing the stool.

Working on the 1:1 model in the workshop.

We started with a scaled sketch model of the design. While making it we found out which areas need improvement, which made planning the 1:1 model easier.

After visiting the sites and seeing the artefacts from Special Collections we started working on our design. We decided to choose the 3D printed Femur Stool. The initial idea is inspired by Nelson Mandela sculpture in South Africa. The suspended from ceiling structure allows to explain the use of the stool by showing a representation of a person using it, without distracting attention from the object.

We also visited Manchester Museum. Compared to the Gallery it seems to be more traditional, but was also a good opportunity to study the exhibition and allowed us to come up with ideas for our own designs.

On day one we visited Whitworth Art Gallery. This allowed us to observe how objects can be exhibited considering not only the way of displaying them but also the use of light.

Last stage, attaching the birdcage. All that were thinking now is how we are going to get it in the lift

Final Prototype is finally almost completed, very happy with how our design looks it real life.

Big surprise when the CNC finished cutting out our pieces, This thing is HUGE

Final cage for the prototype. Representing a cylinder with an octogon.

Using black paper to cover the windows in order to black out a room. This enabled us to create more dramatic shadows in the room.

Concept Idea

Using Photoshop we produced an image with skeletons in the site we chose to create a representation of what the exhibit would look like. This gave us an idea of the space available and how it would be seen from the outside.

Whitworth Art Gallery Visit - Exploded Shed by Cornelia Parker

We visited the Whitworth and got inspiration for our project, looking especially at the light used and the way the art work was presented, eg. hanging.

Precedent & Initial concept

Employing the samba wood with Styrofoam ball as connection, the molecular structure is a good representation to the bone-shaped microstructures inside the core of the stool, as well as its polygon surface. Therefore, we had our initial concept to create such light-weight structure to protect and display the femur stool.

http://arnoldgoron.com/window-display-isabel-marant-2011-2010

MMU special collection - femur stool by assa ashuach

The collection we chose to take is a 3D-printed chair. The stool is aimed to generate maximum load-bearing capacity with a minimum of materials, and is designed to mould itself to the weight and posture of whoever is sitting on it. The maximum load it can bear is 120KG.

http://assaashuach.com/portfolio/femur-stool/

Site visiting - the Brooks building.

It is a new campus building for Faculty of Education and Faculty of Health of MMU. The most impressive part is the spacious public space on the ground floor, facing a large open outdoor garden. With plenty of chairs and staircases, students can enjoy an innovative communicating and learning environment.

Reinforcing the structure.

Final prototype. Myself for scale.

Interesting exhibits which stood out on the visit to Whitworth Art Gallery. Suspended on strings.

Concept Ideas.
Having chosen our site we worked on concept ideas, working with the skeleton as the main focus for our project. We were inspired by Vivienne Westwood's shock-value approach to her displays.

Image showing how people can sit around the frame, allowing them to view the interesting surface detail of the artefact.

Method for transporting the frame.
We split the model into three larger sections, allowing for an easier reassembly process.

1:1 model on site.
Shadows created from the structural frame.

1:1 model on site.

1:1 model on site.
View from balcony area above.

1:1 model on site.
We have made use of the balcony seating area behind the model as a viewing platform. This also provides a greater degree of protection for the structural frame and artefact within.

1:1 model on site.

Precedence.
Whitworth Art Gallery Visit - Exploded Shed by Cornelia Parker.
Inspiration for interesting ways to hang or display artwork.

A wider frame action photo, with double takers presenting their projects to members of MMU staff.

(Had the camera not decided to focus on nothing this might have been a far better picture.)

Canon, Nestor and Joe talking with IT and capital projects staff, considering the attachment of their vessel containing the weighty Cantagalli jar to columns in the Brooks Building.

Yiting, Dishun and Rob discussing lighting possibilities for the Ashuach chair with facilities staff, a potential difficulty when displaying the artifact in the naturally lit Brooks building

Aysha, Justyna and Shueb discussing security, and health and safety concerns when presenting the Ashuach stool in a cage-type structure suspended from the ceiling of John Dalton.

Asim and Trevor talking with IT and capital projects on the differing methods of projecting the contents of the Piranesi volume onto the wall of John Dalton.

Day six; Salted caramel and chocolate brownies // Consultation with MMU property services, health and safety and security

Today the double takers informally presented their schemes to MMU staff from health and safety, security, IT, facilities and capital projects, who offered their time to help with advise on potential technical detailing of the work.

The exercise was to allow double takers to consider their designs in a working environment, allowing for parameters and obstacles that they might encounter in a live project.

The advice offered was very useful and informative, and the feedback from the MMU representatives was positive across the board.

Cracking work all round!

One of our fellow students testing the rigidity of the design.

We had to transport the model from the workshop to Chatham to present to the 5th year students.

Completion of the 1:1 prototype was christened by Jim from the workshop

The "bird cage" design that we chose to house the artefact. Easy part nearly finished

Construction of the bird cage begins. Finally starting the final prototype

Designing the cage for our artifact. Going from a cylinder to an octogon.

Final test model (1:5)- we allowed the frame to remain open at the front of the design, to allow an unobstructed view of the Femur stool.

Test model (1:5)- starting to adapt the frame to interact with the site, flowing up the steps of site 3.
The plastic container is used to represent the Femur Stool. This model raised concern over the frame's bracing obstructing the view of the stool.

Test models exploring the idea of a hanging exhibition frame.

Precedent:
Molecular Structure, Arnold Goron, Structure in samba wood connected with styrofoam balls, electric motor, Isabel Marant, rue saintonge, Paris, 2011

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/156429787027742859/

Initial design sketches and analysis of the Femur Stool, Assa Ashuach studio. 'Exterior Optimisation', was a main focus for this project, making use of 3D print capabilities. We propose extending the polygon surface of the stool, in order to create an organic framework which would surround and exhibit the product.

Kamal on the losing side of a heated design discussion with the corset group..

Week 2!

Day Five: Lemon Drizzle Cake // Prototypes

After the first week of introductory meetings, design concepts and sketch models where the double takers nailed down their ideas within the ethos of the project, all five groups took large strides towards the construction of their prototypes on friday.

This week is all about finishing off the prototypes and adding polish to their proposals, before presenting the ideas to MMU.

Downhill to the finish line from here!

Finished 1:1 prototype!

Bonus day 4 - Checking in with the second Ashuach stool group, design discussions and material considerations

Testing out the model halfway through its assembly. Takes the weight of a person but needs more layers as it began to bend slightly.

Halfway through assembling our 1:1 model.

1:1 scale model of final design

Refined prototype model

First prototype model to house a Piranesi volume

Model prototype making to house one of the Piranesi volumes.

Model prototype making to house one of the Piranesi volumes.

Improved prototype, with less wasted materials and seating which connects to the main structure. Includes a shelf for a projector to project images from the book.

Design discussions - Cantagalli drug jar

Design Discussions - Ashuach Chair

First prototype of our initial design to be used to display Piranesi's book Le Anchita Romane, taking the technique used for etching his images (linear lines) and converting it into an architectural form.