Final Research on " Wat Mahathat : Great Relics of Buddha "

                                                     A S H W A T I   T E R E S A  J O S E P H                                           

                                              Religious Temple at Ancient City Ayutthaya

Wat Mahathat Ruins from Ashwati Joseph on Sketchfab.

Wat Mahathat : Isometric Diagram of Past and Present Context

Now as ruins, Wat Mahathat used to be a Temple idolized for major worship containing the Buddha’s relics. Surrounded by canals in the past, the main royal ceremony included the Barge ceremony which included the King travelling from the Grand Hall to offer prayers and sacrifices at Wat Mahathat. Standing as tall as 50 meters, Wat Mahathat symbolized the major religious site within the city. Constant addition of stupas and increment of height to the main prang of the temple was done in order to symbolze the structures grandeur and influence of Buddhism. Sheltering the supreme patriarch, Wat Mahathat emerged as an important monastery and religious centre. History dates it as collapsing twice during the reign of two kings, consequently bothered with theft and robbery as well as beheading the Buddha statues during the Thai-Burmese War.

VI3 Members at Wat Mahathat Ruins

Declared as a World Heritage Site within the Historical Park of Ayuthaya, Wat Mahathat is left as ruins for visitors to observe. However, the structure still remains as a ruin making the main tourist attraction as the Buddha’s head stuck in a Bodhi Tree. The main circulation involves of passing this attraction afterwards proceeding to the grand vihara and later to the actual main prang further passing the monastery structure. Two gates border the site based on an east west axis symbolizing how axial plans developed in Hinduism carrying on to Buddhism. Many stupas of Various heights are placed surrounding the main prang in order to embellish and make the main prang look more huge in size.

 VI3 Members at the Ubosot (Monastery) Ruin                                                                               Wat Mahathat Ruins at Sunset

Wat Mahathat from Ashwati Joseph on Sketchfab.

Research on Past and Present Conditions

Wat Mahathat, the most holy and nominated structure of Ayuthaya City. Containing within the main prang is the Buddha's relic. Constructed mainly of laterite in the lower part to be topped in the upper part with brick and mortar. Now only the base remains, the collapsed part being probably looted after the fall of the kingdom. The prang collapsed twice, second collapse during the reign of King Rama VI. Continuous additions of various types of chedis, stupas were added to nominate the main prang and constant renovations were done in order to make it larger than the other structures. Placing smaller stupas, a clever method approached to make the taller and larger prang to stand out.

Present Wat Mahathat as Ruins : Location of  Market ,People Circulation, Spotlights.

1. Crow Bad Omen: Legend has it that just before when they city had collapsed, two crows had fought above the Wat Mahathat and supposedly died by falling on to the spire of the prang, their body pierced. This was recorded as one of the bad omen for the kingdom.

2. Reconstruction : Wat Mahathat, literally meaning "Great Relics of Buddha" should be constructed as large and elegant as possible (belief) since it houses the Buddhas relic. Built at a before 38 meters that collapsed, it was reconstructed again to reach a critical height of 42 meters in order to signify the religion's importance within the city.(However other sources mention that the new height went up to 50 meters) Mainly the prang collapsed due to the heavily ornate statues of garuda and devas that was built on the upper part of the main prang. However, now it remains as ruin. The base projects on sides hinting the presence of porch which may have been added during later reconstruction.

3. Royal Barge Ceremony : A Boat ceremony where the King had to travel from the Grand Palace in his barge along with other royal people to offer praise and worship to the Buddhas relics. In the past, Mahathat was surrounded by water canals making waterway the only possible way to travel to Mahathat.

4. Vihan Luang : Approximately 40 by 20 metres in size, this main vihan contained a mural painting of Vessantara Jataka. The deisgn of the vihan is known for its Early Ayuthaya era's square pattern with vertical lines. Currently this is the first place that current tourists enter after witnessing the fallen head of Buddha(stuck in Bodhi tree).

5. Ubosot: The Monastery is believed to be constructed  during the reign of King Boromrachathiraj I completed  in King Ramesuans time. This monastery is believed to be the residence of the Supreme Patriarch and other monks that lived nearby in other smaller ubosots. Another bad omen that followed was the consequent deaths of the patriarchs, one after the other that also proved as a bad omen for the fall of the kingdom. Their bodies were laid side by side at Mahathat.

6. Buddha's Relic : The main prang housed the relics of Buddha which made it the foundation and religious symbolic centre of the kingdom. This follows the practice of many countries who follows the Mandala concept where to imitate Mount Meru(centre of Universe) results in a square shaped town layout. Situated at the heart being the Buddha's  relic, which was protected entombed in a crypt beneath the ground (15 meters deep) in a seven layered pagoda, each of different material namely pewter,silver,nag(amalgam of copper and gold), twice of wood with gold spire, crystal layers, dark gamet topped with emeralds and rubies, the innermost gold box with lid containing the relic in sandalwood oil.

7. Beheaded Buddha Statues: Many stone buddha statues are located within the borders which is supposed to convey the life cycles of Buddha reaching to enlightenment. These however were beheaded during the Burmese captivity of the kingdom. Current tourist circulation occurs path through here, where a huge Buddhas statue(not beheaded) is present to which many pray and worship.

8. Buddhas Fallen Head : Stuck in a Bodhi Tree's roots, this proves to be the most attracted spot for tourists to take photographs of. The past recordings say the head might have been fallen from a thief who was stealing it or that it had fallen during the war.

9. Current Market and Ticket Counter : Located on the Southern side of Wat Mahathat is the current Market(small scale) which follows the Ticket Counter (Thai Citizen :20 Baht, Foreigner : 50 Baht).

Wat Mahathat Analysis from Ash Joseph on Vimeo.

Final Presentation : R2S

A S H W A T I   T E R E S A   J O S E P H

A Section of Digital Prosthetics : Receptacle for the Renounced Structures

R2S Receptacle for Renounced Structures from Ash Joseph on Vimeo.

  R 2 S   T h e s i s

Man's fight against time and decay, an inevitable thought of which the solution itself is brought by architecture. Something built becoming permanent. But this function of architecture preserving itself is yet attacked by nature's calamities and perpetual rhythm. Time never stops its duty of playing the role as the  Decaying or Preserving Master. In order to capture these decaying elements, it is necessary to invent something permanent that would embed in the history of mankind for the future generations.

Humans are obsessed with preserving structure. The result of this preoccupying thought of conserving and maintaining has caused an effect of constructing structures, erecting foundations and establishing boundaries between cultures. Since centuries as the permanent buildings itself are deteriorating at a large rate, these structures modify in reaction to Time. The UNESCO, an existing global organization already however provides preserving heritages after its 10 passing of criteria. Exceptional, outstanding, testimonial these are their tags of passing; as a result, some are left out. An excuse would be that they do not represent as the highest achievable masterpiece in human/natural history that serves as an exceptional testimony. 

R2S Virtual Debate from Ash Joseph on Vimeo.

Therefore an institution is called for that guarantees to store all that is historically essential to future generations. Verifying identity, the user enters an existing ruin, chooses his interested part that guides him to the connected issue witnessing the networks. Further involving in simultaneous discussions and debates the user casts his opinion in the R2S resulting in activating the structure's nomination. Crowd sourcing plays a huge role that may take one to interact with higher authorities regarding the issue. Thus providing a democratic way of preserving structures at its full to be easily conveyed virtually to other individuals who are not able to experience the real site. A library of data composed of particularly exposed, unenclosed, unprotected, decaying ruins.The team of innovators would work on establishing a virtual world embodying the experience of immersive environment dealing with : virtual perceptions and virtual feeling.

In terms of virtual perception, as  'matters of fact', the most outstanding, most worthy, most notable stands out globally. As 'matters of concern', they do too. In this case the purple green colored orchid being an uncommon sight for me as an outsider in the Flower Market. And at some point, something so ordinary as a Buddha's fallen head stuck in a Bodhi tree could be 'Matters of Nothing'.One such example of a fact  could be the Saweta Chatra Throne, a powerful monarch communication tool used to signify absolute power through an ornate throne. The Barcelona chair compared to the previous throne becomes as Matters of concern which at first acting as a status symbol later loses its value perhaps, because of mass production.

 Hierarchy, nomination, order, axis, framing were some terms associated in analysing these things.Diving more into a research phase, Ayuthaya as a site is chosen to evaluate the importance of nomination. The reason being already preserved by the UNESCO due to its contribution in rich history and Thai architecture. Currently, Wat Mahathat that contained the Buddhas relics, in the past being the most holy and religious site is placed in an east west axis. Most highest structure at a before 50 meters that time, nomination of religion plays a part within the ruling of a city.

Who decides this tag of nomination that has been followed since centuries? Pre-conceived perception does this. During my journey through the Pak Klong Talat where all flowers had the same potential of selling, it was my personal curiosity that played in judging what is important? As a fact, Latour mentions as how things fade away when appearing in mass resulting in a texture whereas the same thing individually would act as an image memory. Here the orchid stands out to me which is not in mass quantity unlike the other flowers.

The pavilion titled 'Renascita Di Valore' is an attempt to question this perception of how things are seemingly valuable but at the same time not, through a medium of filtering planes within a grid system. The user is required to enter this Virtual Pavilion and accordingly comparing the Saweta Chatra Throne and Barcelona Chair in a series of sequence that question  which personally stands out due to virtual perception. The grids provide a y-axis of time and x-axis of nomination.

Here,  Ayuthaya as an already preserved site passes for all the nomination rules given by UNESCO World Heritage. The challenge however is to question about those ruins which are unenclosed, open to major destruction, not protected just because they lack the tag of nomination given globally.The Receptacle for Renounced Structures or R2S platform would therefore make a space specifically for these ruins that do not qualify as World Heritages. Due to political, economical, social or religious concerns they are excluded. R2S having its own technology of V-Eye and V-Glove would enhance the virtual feeling of the structure. Acting as a 3D preservation space R2S would grant the qualification of protection resulting from polling of votes and opinions from a connected network of people around the globe. Even though if the site won't be nominated to that extent, the virtual space still allows it to be preserved permanently by 3D mapping technology. Virtually Preserved in Time !

R2S Virtual Tools for Interaction

V-Eye

The Virtual Eye Wear, received upon entering Wat Mahathat allows for scanning of the fingerprints of the individual in order for further accurate interaction depending on which finger is used within the R2S environment. The v-eye, similar looking to a pair of goggles consists of high sensitive embedded scanner on the surface exterior glass. The V-Eye also contains a GPS Tracker, located at the center. The tracker ensures the position of the user movement along the R2S Interface, this movement is later added on to the system of networks that convey data graphics to the upcoming participants. The surface glass is curved allowing a maximum  180 degree visible accessibility of the R2S space giving a panoramic view to the user. The heavy Glass surface is held by a  transparent holder( to avoid blocking maximum view) as well as a supporting plastic frame for maximum support. The V-eye enables the participant in the R2S interface to view the space virtually combined with real environment of Wat Mahathat.

R2S Tool : V-Eye from Ash Joseph on Vimeo.

V-Glove (Single Hand)

Along with the V-Eye, combined with V-Glove allows for enhanced experience in an immersive environment. The glove is sensitive to the touch followed by three main fingers :

- Index finger = Switch to Real Environment (Wat Mahathat) or other choosing options

- Middle finger = To join Debate or Discussions

- Ring finger = Casting Opinions/Polling of Votes

Participant should make sure that the V-Glove is always contained within the scanning vision of the V-Eye or else the tracking of hand movements and interaction with V-Glove are unable to recognize. The moment the individual's fingers are scanned in through the V-Eye, the fingerprints are stored within the database to relate with the further decisions made by the user.Each Tip of the glove contains a touch sensor that informs the R2S of what has to be displayed accordingly.

R2S Tool : V-Glove from Ash Joseph on Vimeo.

R2S Architectural Interface

Isometric of  R2S Space

Criteria for Selection of Structures:

1. Structures entered are to be man-made or man-made combined with natural environment, hence crowd sourcing acting as the major input.
2. R2S institution focuses on decaying, exposed, unenclosed, unprotected ruins.

3. Any nation, organization, community, state, region, group (2 or more) can enter their desired structure.

3. The result of these structures to enter the network permanently is ultimately dependent on the participating people to decide.

4.Judgement is made by analyzing opinions, majority votes related on issue.

5. In the end, R2S institution would guarantee protection of the structure from its fund.

6. All passing structures are however mapped digitally to form a place within networks.

Isometric Taxonomy created for classification of entered sites within the R2S Interface

Initial Research Phase How the R2S Works?

Khao Phreah Wihan, a ruin located exactly on the overlapping borders of Cambodia and Thailand was an interesting start as to the related political and social  issues developed. An ancient hindu temple built during the Khmer empire.  Situated atop a cliff named Dangrek Mountains, this temple resulted in a long called dispute between two countries of Thailand and Cambodia on an international level. Recently claimed as a World Heritage site, now the Khao Phreah Wihan belongs to Cambodia, last judgement taken by the International High Court of Justice.

Khao Phreah Wihan : Already nominated site by UNESCO

Following diagram depicts how this issue of "the temple belongs to whom?" would have worked out given the architectural interface of R2S.

Stage 1: The Visitor enters Wat Mahathat with his identity verified and witnessing the networks and grid system of R2S that are already activated by other users present on the site. Later, the user chooses an interesting part of the Mahathat ruin, the buddha statue which happens to be influenced by Khmer architecure. This "Khmer" influence acts as the common link between the visitor's interest and the contained issue within the R2S Space that leads him , in this case to the"Khao Phreah Wihan", dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Stage 2 : After having the visitor brought into this issue, the visitor if not interested in the issue may wish to choose to exit the interface by using the index finger via the V-Glove. Or else may continue on with briefing of the issue shown in virtual graphics and motions. The history of the Issue is laid out (shown in different colored boxes) :

1978 - Cambodian Refugees Expulsion

2008 - Military Dispute

2008 - Ownership Dispute

These related history gives the user the clue of what is currently occurring about the existing ruin. This is the point where the user has already chosen the issue, and the related ruin would overlap on the Wat Mahathat ruin allowing the user to compare and contrast between the two ruins given.Later on, further research on issue regarding the common key word "Khmer Empire" is brought in, since this was the key to the participant's start of interest. How Khmer relates to this issue is signified at the end of Stage 2.

Khao Phreah Wihan : If it worked within the R2S Interface

Stage 3 :  User is shown the current issues and news by virtual planes that helps to decide in casting his later opinion. After analyzing the given terms and state of situation surrounding the issue, the user may cast his opinion or poll his vote regarding on the ownership dispute. This is critical, since the answer is directly resulted in the nomination of the Khao Phreah Wiharn Ruin Issue. This one individuals poll or vote may result in drastic change of the Ruin's Position within the R2S Networks. 

After the polling, The user can either exit or enter a current debate/discussion thereby allowing interaction with virtual people who are not physically present in the site. Further this debate/discussion is recorded as a date that can be accessed by any type of social media including facebook,twitter,google +, etc. 

Stage 4 : The user is free to witness higher authorities involved in the matter, be it politically or socially. Direct interaction is guaranteed dependent on the participant's interest in the issue. Witnessing of Political meetings are made possible publicly making it a democratic way of viewing the issue. System being more transparent and not held within the bounds of law/authority.

Stage 5 : The issue having developed to be taken action by the ICJ (international Court of Justice) continues according to news, at this point the user may/may not be involved as recognized member from the R2S Interface to get involved with the higher powers. This is the most highest point where the R2S is granted authority based on a  democratic crowd supportive way.

At the end based on the most discussed issue or failure to end up in an un-recognized ruin the R2S  would eventually permanently map the ruins using 3d Mapping Technology and the ruin would be virtually preserved inTime within the R2S.

Further Research Phase : Renounced Structures around the Globe

1. Ruins of Ani : An Armenian City-state situated in the Turkish Province of Kars. Having a History of various trade routes and known for its famous religious buildings(churches,mosques), palaces, fortifications. Ani stood out as one  among the  technologically and artistically advanced structures in the world. After the earthquake of 1319, Ani was a forgotten city state (known for its glory) and resulted in abandonment.

2. Negev Mosque : Undergone many change in its physical use, the mosque located in Israel, currently serves as a call center employing many Muslim women (among the Bedouin Community) to work and re-inforce support for the females in the Muslim society.

3. Gol Gumbaz : Located in Karnataka, India this mausoleum is of Mohammad Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur. Influenced by Deccan architecture, the structure has simplistic dome deisgn. Vistied by many locals, this mausoleum is not yet declalred as a Heirtage site.

4. Naqshe-E-Rustam : A Necropolis, in Persepolis. Contains many mural carvings depicting old history and habitation. aqshe-E-Rustam contains many tombs and oversized rocks. However now severely damaged and victim of lot of excavations.

5. Salona City : An Ancient city located now in Croatia. Influenced by then Roman Architecture under their rule, Salona city possesses many characteristics such like public baths, amphitheaters, aqueducts, forum, roman walls, etc. Highly saturated with christian architecture, the reason of many big churches, baptisteries, basilicas, this city was destroyed largely during the invasion of Avars and Slavs during the 4th and 5th century. Now this site serves as a major study site for Christian religious architecture.

6. Caesarea City : A Town located between Tel Aviv and Haifa in Israel.Served in the past as an administrative center of Judaea Province(Roman Empire) built by Herod the Great. Abandonment followed by the Arab Conquest and later by Mamluk conquest.

7. Jama Masjid : Principle mosque in Delhi, India. Houses several relics and currently active as a mosque for a capacity of 25,000 worshipers. Built by the same king Shahjahan  who built the Taj Mahal and Red Fort(delhi). Associated issue being 2006 explosions within the mosque making 13 people in total injured.

WORLD HERITAGE SITES DE-NOMINATED BY UNESCO

8. Arabian Oryx Sanctuary : Listed since 1994 as a world heritage, this was the first to be removed from the Heritage list in 2007.The major issue concerned was the discovery of oil within the site that lead to poaching and habitat degradation of the wild animals(reducing sacntaury by 90% by the government). The government later willingly agreeing to its de-listing.

9. Dresden Elbe Valley : Listed in 2006 By UNESCO, located in Dresden, Germany. The controversial bridge construction led to its de-nomination from the Heritage List of UNESCO. UNESCO waited till 2008 to see whether the construction ceases, and later de-listed it in 2009.

Medium through Virtual Interaction : Wat Mahathat

By using the three main equipments, user is able to immerse into the virtual environment at Wat Mahathat.

1. V-Helmet : Allowing projection of surrounding virtual space

2. V-Gloves : Interaction of Virtual Ruin through hands i.e. touch

3. V-Shoes : Interaction of Virtual Ruin through feet i.e. stamping 

The user is then tracked by the System Camera and the point of position is transferred to the Networks where all his interactive data is collected and stored for others to see.

Additional Research

Some research on the locations and types of unprotected sites in the world.

Update on Process

Thinking on how the Virtual space would interact, its procedural interaction and end result.

After Effects Camera Tracker : Test Render

3D Camera Tracker from Ash Joseph on Vimeo.

Wat Mahathat : Process Iso

Isometric of Wat Mahathat

Proposal

Wat Mahathat : Track Camera and Warp Stabilizer Test

Test Render of using Warp Stabilizer and Track Camera on Adobe Effects.
Tracker Test Wat Mahathat ruins from Ash Joseph on Vimeo.

Isometric Of Wat Mahathat Ruin : Pinup 1

Light Brick and Dark Brick Texture rendered

Tourist Main attraction points for taking photographs and main math of circulation

Wat Mahathat : Process Isometric of Present Ruin

On the process of building the ruin. This is the present stage of Wat Mahathat. Will update with more details later.

Wat Mahathat : Initial Idea on Virtual Space

Wat Mahathat Ruins

Provided this time with a given site, my space is interested in allowing User Interaction by creating a Virtual Interface that acts as an educational platform and experimental tool. Using the existing grammar would serve as a pre-input language/logic to create or complete the structure resulting in nominating or de-nominating the site. 

Face of Buddha captured by the drop roots of Bodhi Tree

Tree buttress roots : Nature in control

How the Space works?

First phase would consist where there is a channeling of vista from afar that would get the attention of the viewer. It would project an idea of nomination already created by the previous user.These specific viewpoints are directly inferred from the main tourist attraction areas such like from the famous Buddha Head covered underneath the Bodhi tree, the ordination hall, and common areas from the main road and surrounding landscape.

Second phase is where the attentive viewer would approach closer towards the structure and realize the presence of an experimental tool. Thus wanting to experience it and further alter the existing projecting image created by the previous user. This he would develop by using a provided site grammar along with his own matters of concern that end up in resulting to another transformation/extension of the structure(which would be experienced by the next user).

As an example, if the user had been intrigued by the above 2 sites where he observed areas that showed nature taking over the site, he might be excited in an abstract manner to plant a tree on top of the ruin. This would be strictly under the category of Matters of Concern where the user feels the way to nominate a ruin would be making it more attentive by the dominance of a tree. In the same case, it can be something else too since the input method as mentioned before contains varieties of grammar extracted from the site. Various grammars would include of the Sema stones(grey stones), smaller stupas/chedis/prangs, certain buddha statues, singham(lion) statues, walls, other organic things, etc.

User 1 altering the existing landscape in respect to "Matters of Concern"

First Phase : Viewer attending to Temporal Illusion

Result

Output would consist of many versions of the structure created by different personalities(users) that can be analyzed later within an archive.

Advantages of using this tool:

- Possibilities of further exploration on other historic sites

- Provides output as various arrays of re-designing

- Allows to practice a 1 to 1 scale augmented reality on site

- Virtual Interface would not have singular appearance, temporal illusions dependent on user frequency.

Given that in phase 1 the viewer would experience a virtual reality in itself that is either being altered currently or been set-up previously. This would create a channeling of vista that the viewers would attend to from a distance.

Visceral Intricacy III : Renascita Di Valore

"A Throne and A Chair"

When we read the above statement, the language itself provides us a pre-conceived notion of how a throne stands out itself as a word. This project however being virtual nullifies the usage of language limited only to visual importance. Choosing the Saweta Chatra Throne from the Bangkok National Museum as a starting step made an approach towards an analysis on how it acts as a powerful communicative tool (through mediums of quality representing elevation, symmetry, orientation, axis, etc.). While the Barcelona Chair, supposed to be uniquely made for a one time picture for the King and Queen of Spain, later was consumed by the mass production industry converting it to a 'quantity' rather than 'quality'.

Initial thoughts that hit me were : Did the throne only act when its user was present? Or did it appear as much as important during the absence of the King? Was his presence necessary?

Highly ornamented and elevated, it provided its cultural influence throughout Thailand's history to mark as a royal status/hierarchy. Extracted facts to work with included- Visual hierarchy, contrast, appeal. When something acted as obvious attractions/contrasts that forces us to look at it and judge its importance, what are the affecting factors that make us choose different opinions? The experience of travelling through the flower market was to explore this challenge. One interesting quote from Latour mentions the difference between texture and image. How when one flower in mass quantity would be less appealing than the same one made unique. Analysis within video captured areas that included equally valued (same selling potential) things to look at decided by the viewer's personal curiosity(matters of concern) followed by color contrasts(matters of fact).

"To thou I bestow to judge"

The virtual space created concerns the narrative of producing perspectives of NOMINATION based on Cultural Values and Time. Highly concentrated on a structural modern grid, the space itself makes co-ordinates that are later tied to the Saweta Chatra Throne and Barcelona Chair. This constitutes of the Matters of Fact that are then over-laid by Matters of Concern provided by different viewpoints of the user dependant on which planar layer is chosen. The simulation would include in creating VISUAL TENSION to the user which relates back to my exploration through the Pak Klong Flower Market that nominated the user being the Judge of Visual Nomination. Hierarchy and Contrast are added with qualities of Material and Lighting to perform with another diagonal grid intersecting the co-ordinates of Matters of Fact.

Since we needed to develop to a stage where we needed to extract architectural grammar, my concern was to create a strict system that included using the basic grid structure. Through this it already over-laid obvious co-ordinates and proposed a pre-initial logic that would guide the user to experience a common grammar rather than being alien. 

Isometric Taxonomy of Renascita Di Valore Pavilion

Experiencing within

The perspectives include in playing with planes that when viewed through certain angle produces specific related events or provoking visual contrast relating to judgement. These are the information layers that are formed on the basis of the second grid adhering to Matters of Concern. When experiencing the journey with the Pak Klong Flower market, the most visually stimulating part was the discovery of green+purple orchids towards the end moving to a different spatial threshold. Driven by personal curiosity (matters of concern), I tend to move forward and develop an observational interest due to the contrasting colors (matters of fact). This is the same experience I want m users to have when they enter the pavilion. The rebirth of value. Value here depending on how the users decide to be a part in it. You yourself are the judge of nominating things. My placement of things according to cultural importance/value heirarchy are questioned when you as a user might de-nominate things visually in your mind. How much ever I guide you to follow my strict order of structural placement through grids, the experience that leads further is totally dependent on what the user chooses.

Perspective looking at the Sun Path: Sun's position at Mid-day

The complexity arises when there is occurrence of highlighting/disappearing things that lead to form a threading memory within our brains. Later after the experience within the pavilion, one might recall of what they remember or not and probably why. The analysis would include in questioning how much part lead to what. How much percent did the matters of facts play in the role of controlling your visual judgement of hierarchy?How much percent did the matters of concern play in the role if diverting (from the matters of strict fact) your attention to create visual tension?

 

Different perspectives of temporal appearances

Animation of Space

Animation focuses on an exterior isometric perspective to show the whole pavilion to get an idea of structured system. Further zooms into a viewers perspective towards the bottom zone of lesser value in nomination/cultural value. An example being the Knoll Factory- the current licensed manufacturer of the Barcelona Chair. As mentioned before, the chair lost its value when mass produced to many. Therefore the placement of Knoll factory has been down. Whereas the inspirational curule seat has been placed higher than the Barcelona Chair since it occupied its own cultural value of royal status and military discipline. The Curule seat comes from the Roman heritage and therefore is considered as a higher honor. The throne however placed in the middle level, higher than this would be the King himself and the crown. Other related objects to the Thing and Counterthing are placed respectively with certain distances along each grid modules. The video further emphasizes on the central space (a view where the user looks up to see merging of both things). This is the point of fusion where there is no limit of how a thing can be elevated or de-elevated, in other words it is a mix of being nominated/de-nominated. The designation of the thing is no longer valid according to Time nor Cultural value at this central point.

Renascita Di Valore: Rebirth of Value from Ash Joseph on Vimeo.

Simulation of Space through Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality helped in representing my model clearly since my Pavilion dealt with levels of hierarchy and order. It was necessary to show the placement of the things, so having live sectioning was one of the key features to be used.  Others included adjusting the threshold and viewing just the shadows.

Renascita Di Valore Pavilion

Matters of Fact                                                                                                                                                           Matters of Concern

Sun Path 

The roofing indicates a certain linear axis. Since my pavilion consists of the Throne placement within, it was necessary to form an act of reverence for it to show its context. By positioning the pavilion on a strict East West Axis, I take advantage of the sun to follow its natural path. When this occurs, the throne(meant to be in gold symbolic to expensiveness) reflects its material as the rays fall on it while the chair is cast in shadow( a metaphoric way to conclude its grayish context). At Midday, the sun would further travel to reach at a point parallel with the fusion point and later during sunset in the evening would make the Chair shine and visible.

Grid

Horizontal X-axis observed the time while Y-axis initiated the role of cultural value/hierarchy. The Time from the throne would start from 1851 on the starting co-ordinate while the other end starts from 1929, the time of Barcelona Chair. The middle is the merging of both things that makes time nullified and questions the value of time itself. The higher the placed thing more important it is culturally.

Placement of related things

The positioning of such things are in respect to the distance from the thing and counter-thing. Each would be placed logically within the systematic frame modules of the grid. By doing this it would later co-ordinate with the planar informations to depict certain related events or form a contrast of visual tension.

Placement of Things

The things are placed on a linear axis. The throne being against the eastern axis to have its face towards the sun when it rises. And the Chair against the western axis to be overshadowed by the sun forming an act of de-nomination. The central would consist of the zone where both things fuse together to form new inventory where value of time and cultural value is questioned and in the end remain void. Since this area would be a representation of both Matters of Fact and Concerns, there is no strict limit to an end of analyzing.

Planar Frames

These are the information layers that add to the basic matters of concern. These would involve in portraying certain event related to the things - the coronation of King, the photograph session of Barcelona Chair, mass production of chairs, context within Barcelona Pavilion and political context of Throne's position within the Anantasamakhom Building,etc. Other information layers also consist in creating visual contrast by lighting it up so fast that the viewers attention and memory is questioned on its reliability. How effective can one be in juding when placed in an environment that involves so much Visual tension.

Secondary Diagonal Grid 

This grid enables us a leap into an area where there is no fixed points of visual hierarchy or contrast. It depends on the viewer himself to focus on which direction he wants to look at and at which co-ordinates he would like to stand in to form specific perspective parameters. To thou I bestow to judge. These diagonal grids are formed by having the mid-points of each facts co-ordinates which later connect at the center to provide a zone of fusion. The radiating grid lines forms an abstract way to base the planar layers of information upon. The arrangement of planes are twisted/rotated/re-sized to follow these guides having a targetted view towards the thing/counter-thing/related object.

Renascita Di Valore from ashwati.joseph on Sketchfab.

Isometric of Virtual Pavilion: Renascita Di Valore

 Nominating/De-nominating Ayuthaya

As per the midterm review some of the critiques included that my focus was diverted to Visual Contrast/Hierarchy that lead in dealing with Matters of Concern. The point here that I missed was to maybe include the hierarchy of the things not strictly just based on cultural value or visual nomination but also on their functional usage/value. How frequent was the things used.

The fusion part lead to an interesting discussion of how I start merging both the things in order to create/invent new zone that has another meaning as opposed to the other starting points. The value of a things differed visually when the number of elevations were taken out. This is a fact. When an object is placed higher, it automatically appears to stand out. But does it still form the same attention when the material is changed or when its more ornate?

The Grid was considered as too direct and questions about using an organic shape could be a possibility were put forth. As in the initial phase I had plans of using a landscape because of its inorganic quality, it was later left out since a grid was more logical and understandable for the visitor. Yes, I did want my users to not get caught within an unusual grammar therefore I used the Modernism + Thai traditional grammar. However , the grid in its perfectness is balanced with imperfectness when the Matters of Concern step in. That is by forming a secondary grid that is diagonally oriented rather than linear. This helps in projecting radiating lines from the center that act as guides for the information planar layers to set it.

A possible step towards Ayuthaya would include in choosing a Site and playing with its Visual Context to highlight the natural attentions. This would be the Matters of Fact, where Ayuthaya is already considered as a historic site that adds serious cultural heritage to Thailand. The challenge would be when I play with nominating or de-nominating the site. How would I do it. Since I am in control of this Visual Quality- the process would further indicate in transforming the site perhaps leaving it as a Matters of Fact or intruding the Matters of Concern by additional alien objects attached to the structure to nominate/de-nominate it.