The Breath Before
In Berlin with Alex Schweder Studios. Installations, fabrication, design and more…
AGENCY
Alex Schweder Studios
ROLE
Architectural Designer, Fabricator, Graphic Designer
DATE
May 2022 – June 2022
Architecture — Performance
Over the course of the placement unit as Central St Martin’s I had the incredible opportunity of working with Alex Schweder, a New York based artist and architect, in Berlin. He coined the term ‘performance architecture’ and creates art installations that allows architecture to act as a prop to form and perform identities. This experience was vastly influential and very rich. I learnt numerous new methodologies and had the honour of working on many of his projects with him – including a Taipei installation and the Berlin installation ‘The Breath Before’.
I spent the summer of 2022 in Berlin assisting, New York artist, Alex Schweder in the design of his upcoming show in Tai Pei while also installing, fabricating and creating the graphic identity for The Breath Before exhibit. My role in these projects was mainly as a co-designer and fabricator, as well as architectural model making using Revit.
The Design
The slender tower sits between two blocks, which clasp it at either side. This illustrates an analogy for the the Arts and Crafts movement, like a jewel. An additional two storeys are added to the existing building mass to create a rooftop terrace and public bar which overlook the Square and skyline of London.
The massing is expressed vertically to emphasise it as a marker, which has a conversation with the lantern of the original Lethaby Building. The maximum height around the square is expressed by the top of the main facade, the clasps, while the roofscape sits above this level.
The steel frame of the 1960s building will be retained, while almost the entirity of the Lethaby will be kept and protected with the addition of an extension in the courtyard. This section was created using the team model on Revit.
The Breath Before… was conceptualized as a ‘spatiosonic’ instrument in collaboration with sound artist Mieko Suzuki. Simultaneously creating sound and space as an intertwined experience.
Designs for the upcoming Taipei installation.
Alex Schweder Installation — Taipei
Alex Schweder Studios was commissioned for an art piece for the opening of a new art museum in Taipei.
My task was originally to create a digital model and, as the idea clarifies, work on he construction drawings with Alex. However, the project developed, as did my role, so I began inputing on the design. A week into my placement, Alex received news explaining the show would be further away, in September, so we had a lot more time than expected to develop the concept and design. Through this task I got a real insight into Ward and Alex’s creative process and their collaborative techniques.
