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e x t r a . p o p c o r n

introduction...

The research sets out to identify what stimulation has come to mean today. It seeks to reposition the concept with respect to our dual, and often opposing, environmental and cultural realities. The response is architectural and takes the form of a bar and cafe: a physical space for people to interact and a place of hyper-stimulation, at once highly introverted and extroverted.

groundwork...

The proposal is a simple one, yet behind it lies a body of questions and issues that are infinitely more complex. In the first instance we find those issues that have to do with all architectural projects: comfort, sustainability and context. Then we find those that have to do with the program in particular. In this case, the role and form of a physical, social space for now and the future. Throughout the research these issues have been loosely organized under certain headings. At times they are comfort, sustainability, ephemerality and response. At others they become screens, frames and (de)constructed elements. These words are simply used to evoke certain images, all of which work towards the idea of stimulation.

Stimulation is that which establishes the links and connections. It fosters the understanding of our realities by prompting response. This definition is a personal one and shall be further defined within the context of the program.

Picture the body of a runner in a cold climate. He or she only ever wears enough clothes to keep the bite of winter from reaching his or her skin. The clothes is only enough to trap a thin layer of warm air around the body. In so doing, the cold wraps around every curve, stimulates every inch of skin, and carves out the limits of the body. This balance is tense yet comfortable. It is ever present and ever redefined. In the way it handles light, views and ventilation, a building and its occupants should be like the body of the runner, set in comfortable balance by always being aware of the forces that surround it.

The idea that a building respond to its contextual forces, site and culture, is certainly not new. What is new is the way in which it should also be responding to its changing culture.

There is no denying the fact that we are witnessing the emergence of a new image based society. Fueled by the media, this society is in the process of creating a reality in which virtual stimulation is changing the way in which we respond to our environment. In other words, our cultural, or human built reality, is in the process of detaching itself from our natural, or environmental, reality. Already our concepts of time, space, communication and perception are being altered, shifting ever more towards the virtual. What, we wonder, will be the role of architecture in this changing reality, if any.

Although they often seem to be engaged in a battle for attention, there is no reason why these dual realities should be detached from one another. The bottom line is that stimulation is about being alive, whether this means virtual or real. With this in mind, it is clear that one of the primary roles of architecture is to better define the experience that it shelters. A very simple example of this is taken from the book industry.

Even though it is much simpler to buy online, many customers choose to buy their books in a local megastore. They do so because of the experience associated with the purchase. In spite of being commercial, this example shows a decision and desire on the part of people to seek places that provide clear experiences.

In its own way, the virtual is prompting architecture to respond, which is a tremendous event. This architecture has already begun to fuse the image language with its own cultural heritage. The idea is not to extract form from the virtual, for its rules are different, but rather qualities than can in turn teach physical form and so heighten stimulation.

with respect to the program...

Given today's many vehicules available for communication and the growing strength of the virtual, one might question the validity of a bar or cafe as a space for social interaction. It could even be argued that they instead have become spaces of physical interaction. What is important is that the combination actually deals with many different and intense forms of exchange.

The following paragraphs introduce some of the main concepts encapsulated in the idea of stimulation. They are comfort, sustainability, response and ephemerality.

The research into the bar and cafe begins with shelter and comfort, the primary and most important concerns. The defining questions are what makes people feel confortable in a space, what makes them want to linger, to explore and to come back. In other words, what makes them feel good. The vital aspect lies in balancing protection and exposure: the interface or contrast that defines comfort. This interface occurs on numerous planes, including person to person, and person to environment.

Sustainability identifies both a mandate and a state of balance. Technically it addresses questions about the life of the building, its flexibilty and the choice of materials for eventual recycling and reuse. It is also fundamental in stimulating awareness by carving out the form and nature of the place with respect to the contextual forces.

Ephemerality is the zeitgeist. It speaks of change and of the virtual. More importantly, and common to both of these, it also speaks of layers. Ephemeral layers have never been as pervasive in architecture as they are now. They define the way we build, the way we research and structure our understanding, the way we suggest, and the way we develop and absorb images. Layering prompts us not to read in a linear way, but to view elements as an assembly and to understand them as a whole. Layers speak of skin, screens, filters and frames.

Response is the reaction to stimulation. Taken generally, it is about the elements of architecture that stimulate the mind and body. It focuses on that which prompts exploration and curiosity, that fosters recognition and belonging and that suggest the contextual forces involved.

... finally

Today more than ever, the richness and strength of architecture lies in its ability to stimulate us physically and emotionally, by making us aware of our environments. As mentionned, the research for this project shall focus on both traditional and current architectural techniques seen in the light of what stimulation has come to mean today.

In the end, it must be remembered that this thesis is about a contemporary social space and so must be able to serve the user, today.

fineprint

This website is based mostly on images and small captions of text.They are used to evoke and complete the greater idea. This page contains the only traditional body of text. It is in this way, as images would have been with Gutenberg, popcorn for the show.

cover / jumpstation / thesis proposal / design portfolio / resources

site: photos / site: technical / precedents / site & program / code & regulations

annotated resources / analytique / final / experimental



		e x t r a . p o p c o r n introduction... The research sets out to identify what stimulation has come to mean today. It seeks to reposition the concept with respect to our dual, and often opposing, environmental and cultural realities. The response is architectural and takes the form of a bar and cafe: a physical space for people to interact and a place of hyper-stimulation, at once highly introverted and extroverted. groundwork... The proposal is a simple one, yet behind it lies a body of questions and issues that are infinitely more complex. In the first instance we find those issues that have to do with all architectural projects: comfort, sustainability and context. Then we find those that have to do with the program in particular. In this case, the role and form of a physical, social space for now and the future. Throughout the research these issues have been loosely organized under certain headings. At times they are comfort, sustainability, ephemerality and response. At others they become screens, frames and (de)constructed elements. These words are simply used to evoke certain images, all of which work towards the idea of stimulation. Stimulation is that which establishes the links and connections. It fosters the understanding of our realities by prompting response. This definition is a personal one and shall be further defined within the context of the program. Picture the body of a runner in a cold climate. He or she only ever wears enough clothes to keep the bite of winter from reaching his or her skin. The clothes is only enough to trap a thin layer of warm air around the body. In so doing, the cold wraps around every curve, stimulates every inch of skin, and carves out the limits of the body. This balance is tense yet comfortable. It is ever present and ever redefined. In the way it handles light, views and ventilation, a building and its occupants should be like the body of the runner, set in comfortable balance by always being aware of the forces that surround it. The idea that a building respond to its contextual forces, site and culture, is certainly not new. What is new is the way in which it should also be responding to its changing culture. There is no denying the fact that we are witnessing the emergence of a new image based society. Fueled by the media, this society is in the process of creating a reality in which virtual stimulation is changing the way in which we respond to our environment. In other words, our cultural, or human built reality, is in the process of detaching itself from our natural, or environmental, reality. Already our concepts of time, space, communication and perception are being altered, shifting ever more towards the virtual. What, we wonder, will be the role of architecture in this changing reality, if any. Although they often seem to be engaged in a battle for attention, there is no reason why these dual realities should be detached from one another. The bottom line is that stimulation is about being alive, whether this means virtual or real. With this in mind, it is clear that one of the primary roles of architecture is to better define the experience that it shelters. A very simple example of this is taken from the book industry. Even though it is much simpler to buy online, many customers choose to buy their books in a local megastore. They do so because of the experience associated with the purchase. In spite of being commercial, this example shows a decision and desire on the part of people to seek places that provide clear experiences. In its own way, the virtual is prompting architecture to respond, which is a tremendous event. This architecture has already begun to fuse the image language with its own cultural heritage. The idea is not to extract form from the virtual, for its rules are different, but rather qualities than can in turn teach physical form and so heighten stimulation. with respect to the program... Given today's many vehicules available for communication and the growing strength of the virtual, one might question the validity of a bar or cafe as a space for social interaction. It could even be argued that they instead have become spaces of physical interaction. What is important is that the combination actually deals with many different and intense forms of exchange. The following paragraphs introduce some of the main concepts encapsulated in the idea of stimulation. They are comfort, sustainability, response and ephemerality. The research into the bar and cafe begins with shelter and comfort, the primary and most important concerns. The defining questions are what makes people feel confortable in a space, what makes them want to linger, to explore and to come back. In other words, what makes them feel good. The vital aspect lies in balancing protection and exposure: the interface or contrast that defines comfort. This interface occurs on numerous planes, including person to person, and person to environment. Sustainability identifies both a mandate and a state of balance. Technically it addresses questions about the life of the building, its flexibilty and the choice of materials for eventual recycling and reuse. It is also fundamental in stimulating awareness by carving out the form and nature of the place with respect to the contextual forces. Ephemerality is the zeitgeist. It speaks of change and of the virtual. More importantly, and common to both of these, it also speaks of layers. Ephemeral layers have never been as pervasive in architecture as they are now. They define the way we build, the way we research and structure our understanding, the way we suggest, and the way we develop and absorb images. Layering prompts us not to read in a linear way, but to view elements as an assembly and to understand them as a whole. Layers speak of skin, screens, filters and frames. Response is the reaction to stimulation. Taken generally, it is about the elements of architecture that stimulate the mind and body. It focuses on that which prompts exploration and curiosity, that fosters recognition and belonging and that suggest the contextual forces involved. ... finally Today more than ever, the richness and strength of architecture lies in its ability to stimulate us physically and emotionally, by making us aware of our environments. As mentionned, the research for this project shall focus on both traditional and current architectural techniques seen in the light of what stimulation has come to mean today. In the end, it must be remembered that this thesis is about a contemporary social space and so must be able to serve the user, today. fineprint This website is based mostly on images and small captions of text.They are used to evoke and complete the greater idea. This page contains the only traditional body of text. It is in this way, as images would have been with Gutenberg, popcorn for the show.
			cover / jumpstation / thesis proposal / design portfolio / resources site: photos / site: technical / precedents / site & program / code & regulations annotated resources / analytique / final / experimental