Commercial Artifact
Kent State University CAED
Critic: Jean Jaminet, Associate Professor
// "commercial artifact" seeks to investigate an architectural typology largely ignored, yet highly prevalent in our built environment. The mid-19th-20th century storefront as typified by every small town in America exhibits an inherent set of rules for their formulation; a syntax that follows from town to town and state to state, there is a misappropriation from place to place that results in slight variances of image between them that ultimately removes them from their original context. Like curated artifacts in a museum, here the mundane facade is plundered for its architectural elements and recontextualized into a residual digital image. An “untrue” yet alluringly realistic image that by nature begins to instill doubt into the viewer as they see elements in complete disobedience to their typical architectural role. By exploiting the subtle associations found between these facades we can generate new typologies through the re-articulation of the differences creating the new image seen at the right. The collage, curated from individual pieces from the photographic series seen here reuses common elements such as cornices, window hoods, iron tie covers, an assortment of window frames, doors, and other elements overlaid with faded signage alluding to the roles of the building in the realm of the commercial. From the photo collage a 3D model was created, using these normal floor plans for the apartment units, ground floor, and roof garden the photo collage | 3d model was augmented creating a conceptual floor plan & sections, again drawing from the individual architectural artifacts to influence formal design within.
