Virtual Library - Day 1

On the first day of our group's assignment where we have to work using the online, virtual socializing programme Second Life, we are tasked to create a virtual library whose design is focused around housing our architectural journals.

Initial conception

Starting out, we chose a site off the coast where the design would be slightly submerged underwater. Being built near between two high rising mountains and an open lake surrounded by peaks there's a sense of privacy and serenity to the site.

The location however doesn't obstruct interesting views the inhabitants can experience and we're keeping this thought in mind when confronting the overall design to maximise views.

Dome

Our design brief established a 50m square floor size for the design. So far there is much confusion within the first year architects in exactly what this means so we're in the process of asking our lecturer but to be on the safe side we stuck with 7x7m dimensions.

Another note for our design is, with the use of custom scripts using Scratch for Second Life, we wish to have multiple moving and rotating parts within our design. Cylindrical geometries therefore was our first thought however we are still wanting to add other curving elements and geometries to make the overall structure more visually engaging and interesting.

One tip for other users of Second Life is that linking all your objects together then naming it would save a lot of time than individually naming them.

Our group then started experimenting with potential design elements.

For me I created an archway that keeps with our building them of rotation, movement and curvature. Experimenting with the shape, a gothic design of high ceilings emerged. However this didn't exactly fit with our intentions so we saved the shape into inventory in case we need it again.

I also experimented with a spiral staircase, however it takes a large amount of space and doesn't add much to the design except linking each level to each other. Maybe running it around the outside would solve this problem.

Arch

My teammates experimented with extending the design underwater, however making the space inhabitable was a problem as there is no way to keep the water out of the structure so the space would always be submerged. We're still figuring out how to incorporate water into the design.

Underwater Level

 As the dimension restrictions require our evaluation of the space and how to achieve space at different levels. We still have to import our respective architectural journals to place within the building and how to make the multiple levels more congruent with each other yet still attain an interesting space.