Melbourne Architects. ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects. (CHC, Clarke Hopkins & Clarke)

Deception of Reflection. Mirror.

2011-05-16T15:20:00.015+10:00

Reflection is deceptive. How you see yourself in the mirror is somehow different to how people see you or how you appear in photos and portrayals – both physically and perceptually. Your frame of mind is one of the many factors that determine the intensity of the deception.

As an analogy of this phenomenon, the “Deception of Reflection” Mirror is designed – an ordinary mirror with an extraordinary mirror frame. The frame’s reflection is somehow different to itself!!

No, it’s not a trick mirror or a funny mirror. This effect, which works with any mirror, is created by a special honeycomb surface on the frame, manufactured using coloured 3D printing. Two different colours are embedded into each of the concaved honeycomb cell wall so that at most viewing angles, our eyes see one colour and the mirror reflects another. The optical illusion serves as a reminder that, whenever one reviews oneself, bias exists depending on your frame of mind and point of view.

Deception of Reflection. “Diversity”
This design is a portrayal of those organizations which see themselves as embracing diversity while still operating in a homogeneous culture.

Deception of Reflection. “Green”
This design is a portrayal of those organizations which see themselves as a green organization while they continue to pollute.

Deception of Reflection. “Youth”
This design is a portrayal of those organizations which have long histories but only see their glorious and beautiful past and ignored their immediate and corroded conditions. This is represented with a rusted surface that has a clean and crisp reflection in the mirror.

The special honeycomb surface, created by colour 3D printer, enables the optical illusion. It will be extremely difficult to use hand-colouring to achieve the precision required.

The “Deception of Reflection” Mirror is designed by John Leung for ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects.

"iPad 2 Window" - Virtual Window Design

2011-03-04T13:32:00.007+11:00

How can we integrate the new iPad 2 into architecture and fully utilise its new features to achieve things that were not possible on the original iPad?

Introducing the iPad 2 Window - the most affordable and simple solution to a virtual window for your building interior. Using a specially designed App, the new camera and the powerful A5 processor, the iPad can track the face of any passer-by and adjust the onscreen image accordingly. In first person perspective, an illusion of a real window with outside scenery will appear. Since special 3D glasses are not required, this illusion is best achieved when only one user is looking at the iPad at one time. The user can also change the scenery with an iPhone and connect with friends through this window.

By integrating iPad 2 with architecture, it creates a visual connection between two physically separated spaces. As a nod to the environment, we will be upcycling refurbished iPad2s for this project, taking the functionality of the iPad beyond just a personal tablet in the post-PC world.

The “iPad 2 Window” Virtual Window & "iPad Wall" are designed by ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects. Please come back often to check out some of our new ideas!

“Bias of Thoughts” - Bookshelf Design

2011-03-01T14:17:00.008+11:00

Thoughts are biased. When ideas are passed from one person to another, due to the transfiguration of the communication process and the frame of mind of the receiver, they are always perceived with bias.

Inspired by the famous 2D drawing of the optical illusive bookshelf, a 3D structure is translated and the “Bias of Thoughts” bookshelf is formed. It can be used for shelving books and iPads as well as hanging magazines. Visually, the optical illusion serves as a reminder that, whenever one picks up a medium, ideas can be misinterpreted when passed from one end to the other.

The “Bias of Thoughts” Bookshelf is designed by ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects. Please come back often to check out some of our new ideas!

"Purposefulness of Shadow" - Chair Design

2011-01-20T13:55:00.007+11:00

Shadow is purposeful. Not only does this two dimensional adumbration create graphical cues, the shaded space between the shadow and the object also has numerous purposes. Architects have always been particularly fascinated by the use of shadow and shade in space. The architects who designed this chair aim to draw attention to the purposefulness of this humble but ubiquitous phenomenon of relative scarcity of light (or the relative abundance of darkness).

By constructing a three dimensional representation of a shadow and placing it underneath a chair, the “Purposefulness of Shadow” Chair is formed. Functionally, the “3D shadow” forms an extra rail to hang one’s coat without creasing it while one is leaning back. The (shaded) space between the “3D shadow” and the chair creates a compartment for laptops and handbags in a restaurant scenario. Visually, the “3D Shadow” disguises itself through optical illusion, bringing the focus to the minimal white chair.

The “Purposefulness of Shadow” Chair is designed by ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects. Please come back often to check out some of our new ideas!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T14:23:00.003+11:00

Happy Holidays everyone!

See you in the New Year!

from ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects

CEFPI Awards 2010 - Winner

2010-12-20T17:30:00.009+11:00

Northcote Primary School by ClarkeHopkinsClarke received CEFPI Awards 2010 - Winner Best Renovation under $1 million!

"Magic Carp-pet" - Rug Design

2010-12-03T16:19:00.000+11:00

The magical rug literally animates!!

When the rug is viewed through the specially designed glass coffee table, an animation of carp appears through a moire effect providing a surprise element of natural liveliness to the interior. The graphic apparition, replacing the traditional fish tank, is also a nod to the decreasing abundance of our most precious natural resource - water. Mythologically, the carp symbolises bravery and fortune. Linguistically, the “carp” becomes a humorous extraction of the “carpet” that reveals this intriguing little conversational piece on the floor.

The “Magic Carp-pet” Rug is designed by ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects. Please come back often to check out some of our new ideas!

"Parallel of Time" - Clock Design

2010-10-22T14:51:00.000+11:00

Time is parallel. The speed of time (on earth) is indubitable but everyone’s perception of the speed is somehow different. Using multiple clocks and cables to create a number of parallelograms, a design is generated: the Parallel of Time. The parallelograms are interconnected, creating an optically illusory axonometric timepiece.

Mechanically speaking, since the hands on every clock (within the same time zone) produce the same angle, the lengths of the connecting cables remain constant as the clocks run. The hour and minute hands are positioned on either side of the glass to prevent cable collisions.

Please visit "Parallel of Time" special site : www.chc.com.au/clock to see a digital demo and get more info on availability.

The “Parallel of Time” Clock is designed by ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects for the 50th anniversary of the architectural firm. Please come back often to check out some of our new ideas!

Our Upcycled Top Hat Wins @ Zenith Showroom Opening

2010-03-19T23:44:00.002+11:00

ClarkeHopkinsClarke is on Zenith’s front page & the Australian Design Review for winning the Best Corporate Top Hats Design at Zenith Showroom Opening on 11 March 2010. To express our commitment to the environment, our top hats were actually upcycled from the invitation posters of the opening party. Each hat was made with only two A3 sheets with zero excess scrap created in the process. They were also constructed using a pleating technique (similar to that commonly used by Issey Miyake) so that they were expandable to fit different sized heads! This origami construction technique has been around for many years and we are proud to have used it to create some eco-fashion.

To celebrate our win, we would like to share with you the instructions for these origami top hats! You can make one too with your own office trash paper!

To make each hat unique, we have decorated them with origami cranes, lilies, roses, paper planes and even ninja stars!
Read more »

More details about the iPad Wall (…it’s more than just a personal device!)

2010-02-04T16:08:00.001+11:00

Here are some more details about the iPad Wall:

• All the iPads would have specifically written software and be interconnected to each other wirelessly. Apple's software policy for such a project would determine the final method of delivery.

• You could see all the latest book releases on the wall! You could also do a book search, email, browse the net or leave a book review on the wall.
• If you just tap on a book cover, you could read the summary. You could also download the book to your own device (or show you how to find a physical copy within the library if it was that kind of library).
• You could borrow a book electronically. It could be free and the book you download from the library wall just expires at a certain time. (e.g. a time protected PDF) It would be different from buying an e-book.
• If you can't reach the book on the top tile, you could digitally drag the closet tile to you and the books would move along and come closer to you. (This works because all tiles are interconnected wirelessly)

The Recycled iPad Wall for our Library

2010-01-28T17:54:00.000+11:00

The biggest buzz surrounding the iPad might be its applications and features, but there are more uses for this product. The iPad has paved the way for affordable multi-touch screen-walls for building interiors. CHC has designed a library feature wall which utilises the iPad as tiles. The size of the iPad (242.8mm x 189.7mm x 13.4 mm) and the weight (0.73kg) works very well for this purpose. In terms of price, some of the more expensive mosaic tiles in the market nowadays cost over US$250 each, thus, however while iPad has a $499 price tag it contains state of the art technology which enables it to offer far more then traditional television walls. Thanks to the tiny size of the connectors now available in the market, the wiring of iPads on the library wall will be almost invisible.

Furthermore, to show our commitment to the environment, we will use recycled/refurbished iPads to construct the wall. This will significantly lower the cost of each computer tile. There is no concern for the wall being obsolete in a few years time with the launch of new technologies. Each iPad contains its own processor and hard drive, the combined processing power and disk space will be so large that the wall will last for many years to come. The modular design will also make installation and replacement very easy.

With the built-in features of the iPad and customisable applications, there is literally an endless number of things we can do on the wall. Interchangeable wallpaper pattern & video is just the beginning, but imaging a giant jigsaw that you can play using multitouch, an interactive aquarium scene, digital graffiti, interactive speaker wall, even a life sized digital bookcase for your iBooks! (If you can’t reach the top shelf, just drag it down with multi-touch!)

Typical television walls are just "so yesterday"!

Image 01
Image 02
Image 03
Image 04

See more at CHC