The first third year drawing unit (Architectural drawing), asked us to find an abandoned building within a 50km radius and re-invent the space. Where am I going to find something around here? Actually, about 28kms down the road. Gemtree is a road house come camp ground, resort (cause they now have a public swimming pool!) they run fossicking tours and do things like paddy melon bowling and camp ovens on Friday & Saturday nights during tourist season. And right out the front is this -

This is Mt Riddock homestead, not the original but the second edition. Mt Riddock, is a property which is further down the Plenty H'way from here. The building is heritage listed as it is one of the only remaining examples of construction of its type. The story goes that the type 3 version was built right up against this one. It was used as a store room and became infested with snakes. The owners couldn't remove it unless they could find another place for it. The owners of Gemtree came to the rescue and since I did this project have secured a small grant to put up story boards detailing the history.

Some photos from the inside -

First step was to do some drawings. These are my favourites -

This is my statement about what I did with it -

The work ethic and culture of the early pioneers dictated that very little weight would have been given to the aesthetics of a building, even one used as a home. This is very true of the dwelling used as a subject for these works, which would have been thought of as purely a place of some shelter.

It has only relatively recently been recognised that there is a profound connection between emotional health and ones constructed surroundings (Sharpe 2016). My drawings will not seek to subvert the use of Old Mt Riddock homestead, but will endeavour to alter and enhance the entire living experience of the occupants. Giving them a pleasing exterior to look forward to when returning home, and a comfortable, enjoyable interior space.

A layered approach will be taken, paying homage to the original building by a work on paper, which will acknowledge the angles and lines of the actual structure, providing the bottom layer, while a view of the invented façade and interior will be worked on drafting film, allowing the underdrawing to be seen beneath. The works will predominately employ dry mediums such as pastel and graphite to echo the harsh dry environment within which the building sits.

Reference:

Sharpe, Stephen Hon. A/A. 2016. “Practicing Architecture: Headspace: Psychology and Architecture”. The American Institute of Architects. Accessed April 28, 2016, http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB102121

And here is what I did with it -