raw chess

Ethan Donaldson

https://theconstructor.org/building/properties-of-building-materials-construction/14891/

https://www.srmbsteel.com/content/5-essential-building-materials




Brief

The objective of the project is to convey the ranging strengths of raw building materials in form of chess pieces (higher status pieces will tend to be stronger. The physical project is a set of six chess pieces, each with a different material. All materials are made out of themselves, or emulated through other materials. Each different material stands on its own pedestal. The pieces are made out of the material they are to represent the unspoken hierarchy of building materials on a hardness scale. One idea was to unify the look of the set was to make all the materials look natural and unaltered while asymmetrical. Another idea was to use a shared focal point, and put a concrete foundation under each on of them. The relationship between pieces is shown through this as well as an untouched feeling. There are no question that the pieces are simple and convey the message of different material strengths, but one might ask why the king is made of glass: it's because the piece is unique and fragile compared to its others, alike glass to the other materials. To make the pieces, various methods of casting were used, as well as clay work and carving. The player should experience a unique game of chess because of the unorthodox pieces; the touch of each piece, the temperature, even sounds. 

I wanted hierarchy to play a big part and be physical, as well as the identities of the pieces. I used the practice drawings (emotion) to assign the shapes to each piece, based on how it made me feel and its own personality. This projects will probably influence my future projects because now I have a feeling that I can recognize/create an aesthetic identity.