CUBE AND US
CUBE AND US
CUBE AND US
adaptable bubbles
peter sloterdijk
observations
Bubbles is a phenomenon often seen when soap and water is mixed together. Also, often seen mesmerized by children as they attempt to reach and pop floating iridescent spheres in mid-air. Bubble can be defined in many ways for its tangible and intangible quality. The dictionary Oxford Languages, defined bubbles as ‘a good or fortunate situation that is isolated from reality or unlikely to last’. With synonyms such as ‘illusion, delusion, fantasy and dream’. The concept of the bubble provokes physical and non-physical concepts of temporality and eternal moments. Physically, the sphere drifts directionless, until it vanishes into droplets. As a cluster, the form can shape shift and adapt. Remaining temporarily physical, but can be infinitely recreated. The notion of the bubble as spatial experience in an illusion or dream, reflect a space that fluxes in reality where the boundaries of the permanence and temporal is blurred.
To further investigate the relation between human and material, the material is brought into contact with the fingers.The connection between bubbles and human, specifically bubbles and children is one that has become more than just play. According to research on benefits of bubbles for children, interaction with bubbles is said to improve child development through visual tracking skills, motor movement, body awareness, spatial awareness, directionality and many more. How can bubble create an interactive, responsive and didactic environment for children?
process
v
[
v
v
]
concept
Using the organic shape extracted from the forms of bubbles, I further tested it in an interior spatial condition. However, I was not sure how to apply the shape as a modular system that is interactive and responsive. I thought of playful objects that children would play with and came across magnets. With the magnets I explored how its relationship with one another. The qualities of attract and not attract. I applied this concept into an interior condition, conceptualized the modules as interactive floor and ceiling. That can move independently or simultaneously, to create visual responsive conditions that engages adults and kids through function and play.
into site
existing
proposed
design
After testing the concept and design in an interior condition, I applied the concept into the site of a 2 bedroom apartment unit in Assembly Apartments. Testing how the modules can adapt to the existing features of the apartment, and how it can generate open form living. The removal of walls and assigned functions, creates an open floor plan that allow users to express and shape their living spaces to their liking.
v
structural frame
kit of parts
proposed design
stacking & rotating configuration
responds to limited ground space, offering varying vantage points and left over spaces between rotation that exterior floor and ceiling modules can extend to create space
low stacking configuration
wider ground space that can expand wide and height wise, creating neighbor relationships
straight stacking configuration
linear in height and width, all residents live in replicas of exterior, but interiors conditions are distinct in identity
