5. IDEA!
Almost immediately after looking at my paper sculpture, I noticed peaks forming. I suppose this factor, in
addition to my longing to hit the slopes, inspired me to create a something related to the mountain; in particular, a ski
lodge.!
I began envisioning a spacious, light-filled, modern space that would challenge the idea of a traditional ski
lodge by bringing a new aesthetic to it, without losing its functionality. Although it has modern garage-door style
large windows, they are balanced by a wood façade that can be found in most lodges.!
I wanted to bring in a metal element, but instead of opting for the traditional steel, I wanted to bring warmth
and texture to the structure, so I decided to make the accents gold in color, and the exterior wing walls of corrugated
metal, instead of just flat sheets. I find that too often flat steel gets lost in drab light (which often occurs on a
mountain) and does not make for an inviting atmosphere.!
In terms of inspiration, I looked to some of the architecture for which Venice Beach has become famous. The
culture down there is more “skate,” but that has become quite prevalent in many ski resorts in the country, especially
with the younger, hipper crowd that is conscious of their clothing choices and image on the mountain. I believe the
design of my ski lodge is, however, sophisticated enough to appeal to mature adults as well. !
Although I did not allocate spaces in the interior of the lodge, the back area would consist of the kitchen and
food stands. The food would be high-end and with a good variety. This means everything from unique pizza slices to
high-quality Mexican food to falafel, soups, baked potatoes, and hot dogs for the kids. !
Toward the back would be a curved staircase, leading to a second floor for seating and/or special events. The
ceilings are high enough to accommodate this. The structure would work well at any point of the mountain because
of the sweeping views it provides. Ideally it would be located mid-mountain, where the mountain may slightly curve
at both sides, providing good views from the open windows, allowing the patron to see both parallel and uphill. !
6. IDEA (continued)!
The two wings are additional seating areas, but during the week, when children are less likely to be present, the
right wing would become a sit-down restaurant or event space, which would accommodate a variety of needs.!
In terms of interior decoration, I have lined the walls of the wings in a gold metallic. This would be slightly
subdued and would feature a chevron etching, providing texture to the space. If it looks too bare, large-scale black
and white photographs would hang on each panel. The floors would be square pieces of light grey stone, which harks
back to traditional lodges, but it stays modern with the precise cuts. The tables would be a light-colored wood, and
sparsely constructed, like a Parsons table, in order to keep clutter to a minimum. The chairs would be a lightweight
aluminum, also very architectural in feel, with some black padding on the seat, allowing for some comfort. Also
present would be fireplaces in the back corners of each of the wings. These would be large, although modern in feel,
for skiers to dry their gear as they eat. White sea glass would accompany traditional wooden logs.!
Though this would be used primarily in the winter, it would be a wonderful space to have available for meetings
and conferences in the summer. Even for small weddings, the wings could be utilized for dining space, and stages
could be built outside for entertainment purposes. !
I would want more than anything for this space to be functional, open, and light, allowing the beautiful
mountain scenery to permeate the dining experience, as it is unfortunately so excluded in some lodges today. The
food would keep individuals and families coming back day after day with delight, only enhancing an already
wonderful experience.!
7. METHOD!
I originally constructed my lodge out of cardboard, but it was nothing compared to making it out of foam
core, pieces of balsawood, acrylic, Formaline tape, metallic paper, and Plexiglas. !
I began by making the structure and then cutting all of the windows out. Gluing the strips of wood to the
exterior was the next feat, which proved to be amazingly time consuming, mostly with the front façade because the
cuts had to be so accurate. The pieces did not line up perfectly, but I did my best to disguise this. !
The roof and small windows are made of acrylic, and the exterior wings are of a paper with a slight sheen,
which created the look of corrugated metal very nicely. !
I intended to use only acrylic for the windows, but the walls of the wings needed to be load bearing, so I sought out
a less malleable material.!
The Formaline tape and metallic paper used to line the insides proved to be a great accents to the structure,
really pulling it together. !
This project has been a labor of love, to say the least, and I am very happy with the results of my first model-
building project. !
