B. The prelude series pavilions
Again, Chopin’s piano pieces were precursors, specifically the 24 preludes from opus 28. The pieces are stand-alone works that do not precede a subsequent piece. Only four models comprise this series and in this case each model was made in response to a title selected from a list I devised to serve as goads or, at best, as architectural design briefs. I had no idea what any of the things titled were – I generated them as word play to offer me difficulty prior to, and during, designing/making.
10 Story Hotel
When you reflect upon stories you realise what a funny mob they are. Many claim to differ markedly from others: those formed from different cultural knowledges often think they are incommensurate; those from sciences barely acknowledge those from religions; many stories from politics try to shout down other groups of political stories. Scientific and legal stories conscientiously build on stories from their predecessors, while those from fiction maintain a pretence of originality compared to older stories of their ilk. Stories from designing, economics, engineering, history, music, or mathematics are all different and seek appropriate accommodation. Stories from fiction demand room to themselves – except for short stories and academic papers, a group prepared to cohabitate in journals, collections, and anthologies.
A story hotel must acknowledge that stories have beginnings and endings, clear structures or lacunae, conviction, and compassion. They challenge, raise doubts, delight, and surprise; they convince, and they disappoint. Such an accommodation must account for these differences and provide places for uplifting stories, and forgotten corners for those that are tall, twisted, dark, and convoluted. A story hotel sees them all. They stay, some are told in the sheltered telling space, they leave, and wander on their separate lives.
In making this model, I used themes from my prior stories introducing little that was new. The self-quotes are many. Included are pieces made in the same way or using the same materials as in prior pavilions. The list is long, but includes reclaimed timbers, laminated floors (this time flowing down the level change on the site), hull-like forms, a curved copper roof, brass columns, mesh elements, red frames, clear rods, mechanisms employing model motorbike parts, electronics shop pieces, a hint of flexible hose and a squared black box (made this time from a glued together elderly Rubik’s Cube). By this means the story of nine prior pavilions is told in the tenth one.
Base: 287mm x 220mm. Model: 321mm x 257mm. Height: 195mm.
Initiated: February 2002. Constructed: February 2004 – May 2004.