Concept Model 5 (Frame)

(Aluminium wire)

This model addressed the frame of the building, and started to map the potential layout and plan of the area.

Concept Model 4 (Massing)

(Wax, paper cast)

I begun by creating an exact copy of the existing buildings. I then poured liquid wax into the cast. When the wax had dried, I immersed my model in water overnight, leaving the areas not encased in in wax under water to deteriorate away, leaving a transformed expression of the original and existing structure.

Concept model 3 (Plains)

(Plaster of Paris, material bandage and card)

This model addresses the vertical qualities in my section cut of the site. I will need to ensure the 3 separate buildings are some how tied together to create a single homogenous design.

Concept model 2 - The Mermorial Diamond Factory

(Aluminium and twine)

Communicated through this model was the idea of holding onto the industrial textiles heritage, whilst designing for a modern day diamond factory

Unit 5 Forest Mills Site Model

(Unit 5: Site Model in stained wooden block and White card)

(Scale 1:200... roughly 2m x 2m)

I feel I should congratulate the modelling team on a job well done here. I know a lot of effort went in to this piece, by both the modelling and surveying teams across the unit, which is obvious by the quality and accuracy of the finished article... wow we are a talented bunch! Haha Well done folks.

I am informed the colour and degree to which the blocks are stained are equivalent to the age and time period separate elements of the site were erected. 

My chosen site is a slice through 3 time periods, a section through time, a factor to be considered in my concept and initial designs.  

Concept model 1

(Card board former, Plaster pour)

With the brief set, and site study well under way, it was now time to start thinking structurally. My first concept model involved pouring plaster into a card board former made previously, mimicking, or implying a structure. 

The leading idea behind this ties in with the concept of 'commemoration' which has been running through my project. The idea of respecting the sites past, and commemorating it in return through considerate transformation, allowing the existing structures to live on in their transformed state.

By pouring the plaster into my former, representative of the rooms, corridors and 'form' of the mills interior, the negative space of certain areas are cast in plaster, leaving others un-cast.

When the plaster set, and the former was removed, the result was a form dictated by elements of the original structure, yet manipulated and transformed into a unique structure.  

Urban Decay...

(Photographs shot on site at Forest Mills, Radford. Finished in photoshop)

Neglected, Abused, Forgotten...

So is the story of Forest Mills, once at the forefront of the worlds lace industry, now a decaying memory in Nottingham's pages of history.

The constant squeak of rats and stale stench of neglect was a constant reminder I was intruding, and my Levi Strauss didn't appreciate the spiked razor wired fence we had to scale in order to get these shots, but it was worth it in the end... beautiful isn't it?

I love the World War 2 aesthetic achieved in these ones, although the raw shots are just as nice. I hope you don't feel they are over photoshoped, I try to achieve a distinct theme in each shoot, but always keep a copy of the raw photographs. This is very important I feel. 

Anyway, this is my site... what a gem ay!    

Regaining Control

(From top to bottom: Controlled experiments in wax, plaster, concrete) 

After a very successful crit, it was pointed out that what started as a very controlled and precise industrial focus had transformed into a very loose, unpredictable method of working. This was fine if the avenue I wanted to take this project was in fact loose and unpredictable, however in reflection I discovered the need to regain control and tame the beast!

Above is a series of experimental pieces in 'wet' materials. These include wax, plaster, and concrete. With the use of varying formers such as wine bottles, bricks and tights, I was able to control to some degree the product produced. An unpredictable form was created with certain controlled parameters set.

Many interesting qualities were yielded from this exercise, such as potential structural elements, and again hidden qualities in materials.
Casting concrete in tights for example, even though in some ways in-successful in creating the elongated forms I intended, (maybe due to the fabric absorbing moisture from the carefully balanced mix causing it to crack and crumble) did produce interesting results seen above.

Hidden Qualities

( An experiment in plaster)

(Size, 2m)

Here we have my first experiment in plaster. As a reaction to my last piece, I have created what has turned into quite a sculptural installation. Although this was never my intention, it has bridged a gap in my thought process, and for that has been a very worthwhile exercise. 

Like the hidden quality of bone, a materially worthless specimen, when turned to ash becomes immensely valuable to a loved one during the morning process. To then be transformed into diamond, one of the most valuable materials known to man, and at the same time retain its emotional importance, the product becomes almost priceless.

This plaster specimen was created using a number of materials such as cloth, bandages and varying plaster types. I have highlighted the flowing quality of the draped cloth, and juxtaposed this against the harsher qualities plaster possesses. 

However, the problem with this piece is simple. It contradicts in a way the quality of the plaster itself. It instead implies these qualities. An example of this would be the flowing drapes. Plaster, being a viscous liquid like substance possesses the quality implied here, however the initial structural and therefore former of these elements was in fact the draped plaster. Now the plaster is chemically set, it too has a structural quality, and no longer relies on it's cloth foundation.

On a lighter note, it has been pointed out that it looks like a dress... Lady Gaga, interested?

You see bone, I see... Diamond?

(Top: Chicken Bones)

(Middle: Glass jar of Ash)

(Bottom: Diamond Ring)

(Photographed in artificial soft box, Diamond photographed in natural light)

(Scale: 1:1 Collection)

Whilst producing my third diagram, I begun thinking about my 3 general categories. It became apparent quite quickly that 2/3 of these resulted in direct benefits to human beings, either physically or psychologically. These benefits ranged from the obvious prolonged life due to organ donation, to boosted self-esteem of e.g Cancer patients who will benefit from a larger selection of colours and styles of wigs produced in the process of hair recycling. 

This category quickly became the focal point of my diagram. By far the most interesting was the effects my industry had on the mourning process of the family. 

During my research, I had discovered there is currently technology that exists that will in fact turn the Ash of the deceased into Diamond.

"Carbon released during cremation is captured as a dark powder, before being heated to produce graphite. The graphite is then sent to a lab where it is synthesised into diamond."

I decided to represent this process in a very literal way. The bones are in fact real, and were obtained through a method similar to that of creating chicken stock. The ash is that of burnt paper, presented in a 'Kilner' jar. The choice of jar is symbolic of the products links to preservation, the idea of preserving the memory of a loved one. And what better way to show someone they are loved than to present them with a diamond engagement ring? (Donated very kindly by my girlfriend... we are not engaged by the way!) I'm not suggesting people start proposing with the remains of the deceased, but I think in terms of the project, the diamond ring added a certain edge that raises interesting questions about the process. The ring was displayed between two galvanised screws in order to represent its industrially synthesised creation.

These objects made quite a good collection and sum up the process quite well I feel. What are your thoughts? Who wants to be a diamond one day?

The Human Recycling Programme part 2

(Initial diagram, later extended to A1. Image was hand drawn before being imported into photoshop for image manipulation, finished on illustrator)

In order to refine my process and discover it's capabilities, I decided to take my investigation further. To do this, I systematically categorised different 'levels' of the human body, and recorded their potential uses. I also thought it would be important to record the processes involved in their recycling procedure, and the resulting specimen created.

From this, modifications to my original process could be made.

I found that the avenues for exploration were quickly drying up, as the mapping diagram had become very specific. To counter this, I opened the investigation back up by categorising the specimens into 3 catergories:

1. Environmental impact
2. Human mental impact
3. Human physical impact

By doing this, the generality opened the project back up for development.

The Human Recycling Programme

(Rotring ink and Graphite on Cartridge paper)

(Scale: A1)

I am aware of the immediate negative perception the title of this industrial process generates, however hear me out.

This proposal anticipates a future statistic of 90% public participation in the scheme. The public taboo will have disappeared, and moral issues tackled.

Stand alone 'recycling centres' will create a completely new industry. The need for these stand alone centres are paramount, as increased strain on the diminishing capabilities of the NHS can not be tolerated. A local, low skilled workforce will be needed to manage the mainly robotic and automated process, meaning employment figures will increase, as well as the increase in corporate interest due to the pull factor of industry. This new industry will bring both employment and wealth to the area, resuscitating the many brownfield sites such as Forest Mills.

So how does it work?

Again, cynical readers need to appreciate the conceptual aspect of my design, and take the following as a general overview of my ideas. (Please note: All technology described is existing and used in the present day to some degree)

I have expressed my future concept as a single process diagram.

• The diagram starts at the point of death (cell decomposition will begin immediately)
• The diagram splits in seperate directions

1. (Considered today as the natural root) burial and decomposition (Here the diagram ends)
2. Method of human recycling (The start of my process)

• A swift scanning and selection process determines suitable donations to be obtained from the individual (Conducted on a nano scale by robots capable of swimming through he human blood stream)
• Immediate measures are taken tailored to the individuals donation E.g injection of anti coagulant into blood stream of rare blood type donor.
• The individual is put into a cryogenic state in order to halt decomposition.
• Storage before transport to site
• 'Heating process' brings the individual to a state suitable for transplant
• robotic aided process of organ removal/ blood extraction etc
• Incineration of all unused carcass under traditional cremation funeral conditions (Family invited etc)
• Temperatures of 850 degrees are reached within the incinerator, therefore energy is harboured from this process and put back into the system in order to offset the industrial process's energy debt.
• Ash from the cremation is collected and presented to the family to keep.

The whole process should take no longer than a traditional time scale of death to funeral process, therefore the public perception of the 'traditional' funeral process is unchanged and unaffected, therefore improving public perception.