Modelling: The Double-Bass District Elements

Environment/ Asset Design- Lots of Signage!

Embarking on some of the last few pieces of District furniture. I needed to finish the signs preceding a few of the Districts.

Following Red's fall down the stairs to the Double-Bass District, he scrambled to his feet and is faced with Design number 2

Chosen Design 2

Later, after his ascent from the Double Bass District, Red finds himself on the precipice of the Harp District. A few lovely little birds fly by, carrying Signage Design 1 to inform him of his place in the world.

Chosen Design 1

 Directly behind Red is the Horn District. The squiggly spaghetti like structure of design number 5 will be the Horn District Sign he will see. Shortly afterward, he sets off with steely resolve to find the summoning light in the distance.

Chosen Design 5

A while later Red finds himself caught up in a stampede of fellow notes as they all speed towards the summoning light in the distance. It puts both Red and the Trumpet District sign in a bit of a spin!

The design was supposed to point in the direction of the district. The first sheet of designs I focused on creating it entirely from Trumpet elements. However they didn't communicate direction very well at all. So in sheet two I took a more obvious approach and we settled on design number 5.

Chosen Design 5

Finally the Percussion District. Red arrives in spectacular fashion, delivered by the hook of a crane to find himself in the middle of a Construction site. 

The Percussion section is comprised of multiple instruments, unlike the others. Initial sign designs were therefore a mix of instruments. As I struggled to nail it down, it was highlighted that I had missed the most obvious connection. Triangles are well known for warning and caution signs, so that was the instrument I then fixed on to complete the Percussion District signage.

Environment/Asset Design- Double Bass District- Cables and Turbines

The Double- Bass district was in need of some filling out. Though not too much. The district is a cavernous subterranean power station of sorts. The Double-Bass strings operate like power cables, lighting up when vibrating, but they had to attach to the floor somehow. So here are some ideas for structures anchoring them to the floor and walls.

The multi- levels of thumbnail 5 have been chosen as the main base styles.

Secondly I embraced the concept of some Double- Bass Turbines. These machines will each dwarf Red in the huge space.

Environment/Asset Design- The Double Bass District

I have been working on trying to lose those more distant outlines leaving behind only smatterings of colour to hint shapes. Things only started to make sense when bearing animation in mind. 

The majority of this space will be communicated with a play on positive and negative space. Parts of the architecture will be lit by Red himself as he passes by. Further illumination will be caused by intermittent surges of power in the Double bass strings. And perhaps the values of the watery Cello district above. 

The double bass district is supposed to be very dark, which makes it hard to communicate what the overall space might look like. This is why I have concluded with a before and after take on the situation, when the strings are idle and then when active.

When idle, perhaps the only light is either Red illuminating the base of the structures and floor and the blues of the water above.  And outlines are limited to only what is lit. BUT during a power surge the cables ripple and glow a hot furnace orange, illuminating the almost endlessly tall room.

Idle                                                      Active

Environment/Asset Design- The Double Bass District

Returning to the Double Bass District, I'm trying to replicate shapes and create expansive spaces. As a nod to the previous Atlantean Cello environment, I felt it might be nice to have the shimmering light through water dance on the floor of the subterranean Double Bass District.

At the moment I'm having trouble with what information to leave in or take out. Perhaps there should be less in the way of white outlines so that the coloured rim lighting appears bolder in the dark spaces.

With outline

 

Without (much) outline

It's certainly more abstract! Perhaps I need a more established middle ground between the two.

Environment Design- The Double Bass District

'Put yourself not on the outside the double bass looking in, but rather inside a double-bass looking out; we're inside the 'echo chamber' of the double bass, which is from where the rich, low tones of the instrument resonate.'

'the double-Bass district reminds us of turbine halls and power stations.'

This is the hardest district so far. Trying to visualise the Double Bass from the inside is proving difficult. But there are some internal photographs of the instrument on google which helped a lot. I've used reference photos of turbine halls and power stations for guidance which helped me visualise sketch 2. 

I haven't been able to unify a colour scheme- The Brown colours have been taken from photographs of a deep underground cave system which I thought may be a fitting place to start. I'm hovering between continuing to use blues for arcing electricity, or insinuating windows to the Atlantean world Red left above him. Then again, the power running through the double-bass strings could be entirely new, perhaps a more fiery warm colour. Either way I'm open to suggestions on this particular district.

I imagine the deep power of the Double-Bass district to have the dormant strings hum with an orange glow. While those vibrating with power explode in a bright yellow light.