By lifting the office/gallery space, the area at the bottom can be used for multi-purposes.
The light in this gallery space mainly comes from the lit cabinets, which creates a magical aura and experience for the visitor.
The diffused light from the upper opening that falls onto this gallery space captured my attention. It brings light into the space without harming any artworks which may potentially be in the space.
Fiona Margaret Hall is one of Australia's leading contemporary artists, noted for her diverse use of art forms. These include sculpture, painting, installation, garden design and video. I am particularly fascinated with how Hall's artworks deal with themes such as violence, and convey a strong message about the defects in society.The core theme throughout Hall’s work is the relationship between nature and culture. Throughout her career, Hall has maintained a lifelong commitment to teaching and studying as a means of furthering her art.
Hall’s choice of material and way she uses it, is critical to her art. Her art forms have the ability to speak to us, because they engage with contemporary life in intriguing ways. Hall deliberately transforms ordinary everyday objects and materials to address a range of complex contemporary issues such as globalization, consumerism, colonialism and natural history.
Fiona Hall builds up creations from tiny glass beads, as well as figures, heads and children’s toys woven with video tape from violent war films and baby clothes woven from shredded Coca-Cola cans. Hall’s art is essentially seductive to eye and challenging to the intellect. These works are all provocative and volatile, needing extreme care when viewed and handled.
Fiona Hall's extensive use of non-traditional media, materials and methods of display in her works reveal her attempts to break away from traditional art-making conventions, as a way to challenge mainstream values of histories and ideas.
Initial Idea/Concept:
Under the influence of hall, my Art Gallery Shop House is going to be created to a similar effect; the building itself is going to communicate the idea of deficiency and fragmentation, where spaces are separated yet connected. As many of Hall’s works are woven or knit, I have decided to bring the visitor on a journey of weaving through space, where they are led to find new meaning and make sense of the defects within society.
Poche Drawings
Plan (1:50)
Section (1:50)
Axonometric (1:100)
Meeting space/ Visitor area The openings are small, and located up high, providing the visitor with no view outside. Once in the space, the visitor can only long to go back outside or be in a place where they are more welcomed. Sunlight is still able to seep in, yet it is a very dark and uninviting space compared to the woman's well-lit area upstairs. 
Staircase Located in the centre of the study, the staircase acts as the connection between the meeting space and the private drawing space occupied by the woman. It is lit by sunlight that passes through the skylight directly above, drawing one's eye to the top space. The stairs lead up to the top space, once again symbolising this idea of self-centeredness; how every element in the study focuses on the woman herself. 
Woman's private space This area is only accessible through the staircase that connects to the meeting space. It is a separated area, displaying the idea that she is only concerned with herself and prefers to be entirely on her own. She is only focused on one thing as she progresses up the staircase, being the central desk in the room where she can perform her sketching/drawing activities. 
Glass panels & Openings The large glass directly opposite her table allows her to look out to seek inspiration for her drawing. It is a much brighter area due to the skylight above and number of openings.
I tested my model with this lighting and shadow study so that I was able to identify how exactly light enters at various times of the day. This proved to be extremely useful when I was drawing the lighting for my poche renderings.
Constructing the central staircase
Experimenting with the roof form
This new idea was based on a different interpretation of Vermeer's painting. I wanted to create a space for the mistress in the painting, who appears to be writing deeply in thought. The fact that her maid seems to be standing in boredom and isolation initiated my idea of creating a space for someone who is self-centered; focused only on themselves and completely ignorant of others around them. 
The site I have chosen for this idea is on a hillside, where there are beautiful views of the scenery. At the same time, this site is isolated and quiet; the perfect place for someone who needs to be alone, away from the busy city life. 
