ann arbor MICHIGAN
University of Michigan Taubman School of Architecture
Critic: Hans TURSACK
suckerPUNCH: Describe your project.
Kimball KAISER:‘Super’ is borrowed from Supergraphics, the term that classifies the super-scaled, two dimensional geometries that began appearing on walls, floors, and ceilings in the 1960’s and 1970’s. These stripes, numbers, words, and arrows were applied to existing architecture after the fact to achieve optical effects. These results were often accomplished by disregarding architectural planes, betraying corners, and visually masking form with pattern. In these instances, Supergraphics had much more in common with Op Art and it’s older sibling Razzle Dazzle Camouflage.
- Kimball KAISER, “SuperLivery.”, Model View
- Kimball KAISER, “SuperLivery.”, Renders
- Kimball KAISER, “SuperLivery.”, Drawing Detail
- Kimball KAISER, “SuperLivery.”, Model View
- Kimball KAISER, “SuperLivery.”, Drawing Detail
- Kimball KAISER, “SuperLivery.”, Model View
- Kimball KAISER, “SuperLivery.”, Drawing Detail
- Kimball KAISER, “SuperLivery.”, Model View
‘Livery’ is the term used by designers for the specific set of colors and graphics wrapped on products such as automotive vehicles, trains, and airplanes. These graphics directly respond to three-dimensional form by requirement, and are often used to accentuate form by being administered in a manner corresponding to geometry piece by piece. The livery design process is considerate and precise. Whether or not the graphic jumps a joint or highlights it, wraps an edge or gets cut short, traces openings or folds them into color, the design of a livery quickly requires a magnitude of thoughtfulness.
‘SuperLivery’ as a conglomeration of the two terms begins to describe an argument and conceptual attitude for the graphic treatment of architectural surfaces. For example, the graphic as a design element should be specifically attached to an architectural form rather than be applied as an afterthought. The graphic is as equal in detail and material to any other component of architectural design. The process to achieve these results requires a SuperLivery to sometimes supersede form and become an autonomous compositional device - one in which form and graphic are designed in tandem, or use a process that privileges the graphic to be the conceptual driver for architecture, letting the SuperLivery be the skeleton in which form fills in the blanks.
