Plymouth Arts Centre and the Institute of Digital Art and Technology,
would like to invite you to a preview of Out of Scale


On Wednesday 16th June 2004, 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm at Plymouth Arts Centre.

Work by
Wayne Hemingway
Ron Arad Associates
Feilden Clegg Bradley
dRMM

Richard Rogers Partnership
Caruso & St.John Architects
Will Alsop Architects
Sana Murrani
GHM Consultancy Group
Rick Mather Architects
Henning Larsens Tegnestue
Peter Anders
Maia Engeli
Liminal
Jonathan Wright Projects

Arch-OS
Thomas Heatherwick Studio

Download the full exhibition PDF here

In May 2004, architects were invited to submit an object to be scanned by an Electron Microscope.
The scanned images have been blown up to A0 size and exhibited in the Out of Scale show at the Plymouth Arts Centre. Each original object fragment was gold plated to provide a consistent electronic image. The images are displayed along with these fragments for visitors to view both object and scale.

Out of Scale explores architecture’s relationship with image, digital technology, structure and materials, by focusing upon microscopic detail. The show reveals the unusual relationship that architects have with scale; how the digital systems and measuring tools transform models of actuality, from the precision of the scalpel blade used to make a model to the materials used to construct the finished building.

As demonstrated, when faced with such a decision, the architects have made some very unusual choices, all of which point towards larger issues fundamental to architecture.
The Richard Rogers Partnership chose to magnify Welsh Slate that is currently being used in the building of the National .Assembly for Wales; Will Alsop submitted a fragment of paint since so much of his architecture is developed from paintings; The Thomas Heatherwick studio contributed an image of the grain of sand that has informed their design of a building in Grange over Sands in the Lake District; Sana Murrani, an Iraqi architect has selected old technology in focussing on the point of of a HB pencil; Wayne Hemingway sent us a small piece of Lego that indicates a more playful response to the brief.

The objects and their images will be presented alongside Powers of Ten (1977), the short film by the architectural designers Ray and Charles Eames (www.eamesoffice.com). This film is a pivotal work that embodies architecture’s relationship with people, space and our perception of scale.
The main exhibition is at the Plymouth Arts Centre with a smaller display in the Portland Square building at the University of Plymouth.

The project was developed by Plymouth Arts Centre and the Institute of Digital Art and Technology. The show would not be possible without the skills and expertise of Glenn Harper and all at the University of Plymouth’s Electron Microscopy Centre.

Plymouth Arts Centre
38 Looe Street, Plymouth, PL4 0EB
Telephone: 01752 206114

Exhibition runs from 16th June - 11th July 2004
Admission Free