Just A Little
Academic | MIT, instructor William O’Brien Jr. 2022
This studio explores the concept of “vessel” for architectural space through an act of subtraction - removing, carving, excavating, sculpting, etc. - instead of a process of addition. It borrows imagination from noncanonical architectural precedents, such as industrial design and land art to inspire the design of the void. This project is composed with two parts - a “vessel” at the scale of objects, the concept of which is then carried to inform a “vessel” at the scale of subterranean architecture.
Story I. « Level »
I WAS BORN
A THOUSAND YEARS AGO
I LIVED
AFTER THE DEATH OF A PLUM
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I WAS BORN
A THOUSAND YEARS AGO
I LIVED
AFTER THE DEATH OF A PLUM
GIVE ME TWO ARMS
AND A LITTLE FOOT
GRAVITY
GRAVITY, MY LOVE
AND A LITTLE FOOT
GRAVITY
GRAVITY, MY LOVE
WATER, ALCHOLOLL, SPIRIT
BUBBLE BECOMES ME NOW
SO, NICE TO MEET YOU
STANDING ON MY FEET
I WANT TO GET CLOSER
FEEL
MEASURE THE CURVES YOU HAVE
GRAVITY
I USED TO CHASE YOU
WHENEVER, WHEREVER, HOWEVER
BUT IT’S TIME FOR ME TO FLY
AWAY FROM YOUR TIES
AWAY FROM YOUR TIES
FLOATING
ROTATING
BALANCING
ROTATING
BALANCING
TRAVELLING
NOT KNOWING WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME
YET ALWAYS REMEMBER WHERE I HAVE BEEN
Story II. « Just A Little »
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GROUND SLITS
A LITTLE RUPTURE
WHAT IS UNDERNEATH
HERE WE ARE
NEXT TO THIS LITTLE CHASM OF THE LAND
SLOWLY DESCENDING INTO THE UNKNOWN
FIND THE SPACE
AGAINST THE GEOLOGICAL MEMORY OF THE LAND
SEEDS FALL AND GROW
CONCRETE STAINS
ANIMALS VISIT AND LEAVE
SEASONS ALTER
WE GET TO TOUCH TIME
AGE
AND THE WRINKLES OF NATURE
THE SILHOUETTE OF SKY WILL GUIDE YOUR WAY
IT’S RIGHT THERE
BUT WE COULD ONLY KNOW WHAT’S HIDDEN
ONCE WE BOW DOWN AND TAKE A STEP
