Group Work Report

Group Work Report

Yana Fenech,  Natalya Pace Gasan , Shannon Grech and Stefan Sant

For task 2 we were required to get in groups and research and observe the elements of products and spatial design. Our chosen style was Organic Design which started in 1930’s-1960’s and resurfaced in the 1990’s. As a group we already knew each other well so it was quite easy for us to plan and schedule some meetings. When it came to organizing group meetings we decided to book a class after school so we could work and discuss the topic together. Personally I didn’t have a leading role because we worked as a group and did most of the work together. We decided to do some contextual research individually before meeting up so then we could discuss all our work further on for our presentation.

Organic design is a movement that has no limits to, style, as it amends according to nature’s requirements. It is concentrated on the procedure of construction that compliments nature.

Organic Design

Organic design was first introduced by Frank Lloyd Wright. He was a famous modern architect from Wisconsin. Wright designed iconic buildings with unique features. He believed that what he created should embellish the landscape around it. Wright wanted his architecture buildings to integrate with natures surrounding and as a structure becomes one with nature and isn’t an eye-sore.

Some characteristic of organic design include of; Smooth lines and curves, holistic design, delicate forms inspired from nature, materials that were commonly used during this movement are natural and also synthetic materials that give you the ability to manipulate it into an organic form.  Although being a movement inspired from nature, there was still the use of simple and geometric forms.

Seff Farrugia - Casa Azul

For the presentation research we took the opportunity to discuss the collection Casa Azul personally with Seff Farrugia. Seff Farrugia is a textile designer from Malta, she studied Arts and Design in Mcast and then continued her studies in London Collage of Fashion.

The collection Casa Azul was deeply inspired from Frida Kahlo’s poetry and home.  All the outfits include delicate knitwear, which Sef is highly skilled in doing.The colours used are bright pastel coulours  that when put together complimnet each other very well . Hand drawn illustrations were also included with the other fabric manipulations and knitwear. When all thes teqchniqes are put together they make an intresting compoistion with organic characteristics.

The pieces show a very flowing form and when worn it creates an organic impression of nature with the moevement happening. Some of the pieces also include organza floral shapes which were  cut and sewn by hand, this piece gives the feeling of naturall  elements that are found in flowers. Some other details incude of small fabric manipulations that are repeted and resemble organic forms. Something else is that the collection is almost all made up of natural materials like silk.

The Church of St. Joseph by Richard England

This church was finished being built in 1974 designed by the architect Richard England. The inspiration for this church comes from the ‘’girna’’. The girna is a kind of hut that is normally found in a field, in the Maltese countryside. The girna is not always found to be in the same structure and form, it depends on the person who built it. It could be found in a circular, oval or sometimes even a square form. the structure of the girna is built from rubble wall which gives it a strong interpretation of nature.

In the Church of St. Joseph, you can see the resemblance between the girna, as it has powerful curves and an organic form. The church looks domestic and has many repetitive forms. The colour of the building is orange/peach pastel which is a very neutral colour and the walls have a rough texture which gives it a raw finish.  

Dining Pavilion.

This pavilion is a good example of what Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to define. This pavilion is an extension to a kitchen that is found in an 18^th century house in Malta. This pavilion id made out of mostly aluminum and glass. The owner of the house wanted to extend the kitchen with the idea to connect that area with the garden, this was achieved by creating a screen layer (structure) in the middle.  The pavilion was designed to compliment the stone walls and the house and not something that clashes with the existent surroundings.  the screen complimented the dining area and creates a link between the exterior and interior with the use of plant surface/structure.  This was made from hemp and flax by a French artist Aude Franjou. This type of material used is known to be strong and endures heat and other weather extremes. It has some organic element to it because it has a raw look and represents natures characteristics well, like a tree growing over the glass. This pavilion allows maximum vision of the garden and connects the interior space with nature with the use of light and shadows created by the structure.

Reference -

I got some information from my own blog on organic design.

Ltd, A.N. (2016) Sef Farrugia launches Casa Azul collection. Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121202/fashion-beauty/Sef-Farrugia-launches-Casa-Azul-collection.448179 (Accessed: 20 May 2016).

Organic architecture (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_architecture (Accessed: 20 May 2016).
Manikata (2015) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manikata (Accessed: 20 May 2016).

Franjou, A. (2016) Aude Franjou, lin sculpté. Available at: http://www.audefranjou.com/fr/ (Accessed: 20 May 2016).

Ltd, A.N. (2016) St Joseph in Manikata. Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111013/environment/St-Joseph-in-Manikata.388896 (Accessed: 20 May 2016).