Darkroom
2017-18
As an introduction into building at human scale within Hooke Park, myself along with five other course mates designed and built this photographic darkroom over the course of eight weeks. All of the timber used was felled and milled within the forest this building is situated. The forest facing window acts to frame the view as it peaks out from the existing frame. The project has also been featured on Cabinporn.
This preexisting frame acted as the scaffolding to which the darkroom was designed and built around.
We first spent one week building and lifting a eight by eight meter (26 ft) roof above the structure to keep us dry while we worked below.
Through a series of quick spatial exercises and design iterations within the frame we developed a design and began construction.
A view within the unfinished darkroom with the front window acting as a camera obscura to project the forest inside.
I developed a custom CNC cut pattern for the large sliding down, and charred the timber to contrast from the rest of building.
The final outcomes provides a place of contemplation for the construction of images within the forest, allowing seclusion within its sheltered interior.