Printed Book

              

I feel this book holds all the information for the reader to get a good understanding of the key elements of the history behind Dudley Zoo's historic structures. At the same time it tells the story of how man and animal interact and the little understanding between them. The book started off as a simple childrens book but has now become a book that sits between a book for a child and adult. I feel there is no age limit. it also sits between fairytale and fact. I decided to leave the ending open, where in words it doesnt state that it did or didn't have a happy ending but is left in thought.

                       


                                                           Front Cover

 

   Back Cover

 

 

 

    Below are a few of the books Double pages

 

 

 

After Binding the book together I realised that the text on the one of the pages (image below) is to far over to one side which means its a little difficult to read the last words on each sentence. There were other small things I noticed with the prints like some of the colours are maybe a little dark so the text is a little harder to read and also the text on some pages is a little much. overall I am really pleased with my print outcomesas at the start I didn't think I would achieve illustrations as good as they are as I have never been on for graphic design I feel that taking this path in the project has shown me some hidden skills I didn't no I had.

 

 

 

Final Text

Below is the completed text for the book. The blue text was taken directly from the John Allan Book - Architecture and the Tradition of progress- RIBA Publications 1992.

  .

Lubetkin and the 3 Bears

This book is based on the historical concrete structures ‘Tectons’ that were built for Dudley Zoological Gardens. The Earl of Dudley and local businessman Mr E. Marsh commissioned Russian born Architect; Berthold Lubetkin to build the Zoo. Lubetkin worked alongside the Tecton Group to complete 13 of these structures ready for when the Zoo opened in 1737

Once upon a time there were 3 brown bears: Mummy Bear, Daddy Bear and Baby Bear. They all lived in a very, very small house and were really unhappy. One day 2 men came to visit; the Earl of Dudley and Mr Marsh a local businessman who promised to get the bears a brand new house built, big enough for them all.  The bears were so excited they decided it would be the perfect time to go for a walk.
While they were out enjoying the beautiful sunshine, a man; Berthold Lubetkin who was new to this part of town   spotted the bear’s small house and decided to have a closer look. He knocked on the door but there was no answer, so he just went inside. As Mr Lubetkin went into the house he had to bend so far down he nearly fell over, the door was just too small. 
When he was inside he couldn’t even stand up, so as he tried to move around the house he just kept getting stuck. Mr Lubetkin continued to look around the house trying to figure out who lived there. With no such luck he decided to leave.

As Mr Lubetkin tried to get out of the house he bumped into the three bears who were really puzzled by this strange man squeezing out of their front door. “What do you think you are doing in our house?” growled the bears. 

Looking a little scared he tried to scramble out door a faster but was slightly stuck, eventually Mr Lubetkin managed to squeeze himself out. He told the bears how he was curious about who would live in such a small house and that he was saddened that they had to live in such a place. Mr Lubetkin told the bears about the big building projects he had done before and how he was willing to help them out. The bears sent Mr Lubetkin to see The Earl of Dudley and Mr Marsh who had already promised the bears a new home.

Mr Lubetkin told the two men how this build would not just benefit the three bears but the whole of Dudley Town.

“Housing is so vital a need, affecting so many aspects of the life of the people that it must not be left to the vagaries of private enterprise. The provision of efficient houses must not be organised nationally through legislation designed to encourage the use of the best technique and to discourage racketeering.” 

 After meeting up with the Earl of Dudley and Mr Marsh, Mr Lubetkin was ready to take on another big project but he only had a short amount of time to do it. So he called on some of his friends to help him out The Tecton Group. Mr Lubetkin really wanted to give the bears the best house he could.

Mr Lubetkin visited the bears to show them the plans. They were so excited.

 “Architecture is the tool for social progress” he told them. 

“To pass from theory to action requires the conjunction of the following factors: a political power of the kind we want – clear sighted with firm convictions and determined to bring into being the best living conditions that have been worked out and committed to paper."

The bears looked a little confused but still nodded and agreed with him, as they were really excited. Baby Bear was so excited; he kept rolling around and around, until he got very dizzy.

Mr Lubetkin and the Tecton Group got to work and a few weeks later he brought the 3 bears to see their new house. They were so excited. They went inside and looked around but they were still unhappy. “This house is just too square!” they moaned,

“I won’t be able to roll around and around in a square house!” shouted Baby Bear. Mr Lubetkin looked a little puzzled; he sat down to think for a while and then he left.

Mr Lubetkin and the Tecton Group got to work on a new house for the bears. A few weeks later he returned and took the bears to see their new house. They were so excited. As the bears got to their new house they were really puzzled by the look of it,

 “This house looks like a big chimney.” Mummy Bear said. Daddy Bear sighed, (Big Sigh) “let’s just go inside and take a look it might be perfect.” So off they went inside the house. Mummy Bear walked around the house and was disappointed

“This house is just too round.” Moaned Mummy Bear.

Mr Lubetkin looked a little puzzled.
“You walk around and around and then end up back in the same place. Now I’m all dizzy.” she sighed and with a very sad face she sat down to rest.

Mr Lubetkin sighed (BIG SIGH),                                            

“Man makes his environment to co-operate with his purpose, his changing preferences and pre-occupations produce a new environment. Yet this changed environment itself generates change since it in turn conditions the new man with his newly acquired needs and possibilities. And since Architecture clearly forms a substantial part of our environment, it is logical to conclude that it influences the changed man, however imperceptible and gradual this process might be at times.”  And off he went.

Daddy Bear looked at Mummy Bear ………..

A few weeks passed by and Mr Lubetkin returned with the best news ever. He promised the bears that he had got their house perfect this time.

As they reached the house Mr Lubetkin told them how this was his best design. He told them how he had managed to create them a big open-aired space, big enough for them all. They were all extremely excited and ran straight towards their house.

“Here materials and shapes have been introduced which seek to re-establish what may be called normal human contact. The natural wood in which the walls are panelled has warmth, texture and variety. The occupant of the room can lean against the walls without care, and even plant a dirty hand against them…. These points may seem to be small factors in interior architecture, but they are more important than their practical expediency.” Said Mr Lubetkin

The three bears were rather puzzled and just looked at each other, but as they were so excited the bears didn’t question Mr Lubetkin, they just entered the house and looked around. They knew it was perfect!   They all said “it’s not too square; it’s not too round, This Is just right!”

The bears were so happy; there was so much space they couldn’t wait to show their friends. They couldn’t believe they had been given such a great big space to live in.    As a big thank you to Mr Lubetkin and the Tecton Group the bears announced they were going to name their house The Tecton, which made Mr Lubetkin really happy. 

As the weeks passed by more and more structures; a lot like the bears were built, eventually there were thirteen. They were all called The Tectons. The three Bears were even happier as now they weren’t alone and they always had many daily visitors.

After all the structures had been finished and everyone had moved in, Mr Lubetkin made a grand announcement

“I have the unfashionable conviction that the proper concern of architecture is more than self-display it is a thesis, a declaration, a statement of social aims of the age. How can one exercise a value judgement when one is confronted with magic? Yet it is here for us to see.”

Mr Lubetkin left leaving behind his legacy and believing he had given the three bears a paradise to live in. He truly thought they were destined to live happily ever after, BUT DID THEY??

‘The concrete problems of socialist building construction ought not to be limited to the mere planning of industrial and social processes in terms of space and material; form ought not to be allowed to fulfil their functions merely passively. They should, on the contrary create a powerful impression on ideology of the masses by every plastic means which the imagination can command. It does not displease, it merely lacks its full flavour until the cook explains....  Modern Architecture can get through to us in our own language.’               

Final Illustrations

These are some of my final book illustrations. The Bears have now been changed from the earlier illustrations I did, which were more child-like. The bears now have a more realistic form and I decided not to place clothes on them and keep them as bear-like as possible. I also choose to use one of the Original Plans for Dudley zoo's bear ravine.

 

I am pleased with the way they have turned out and the messy edging that are on these images will be cropped off once they are printed out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early Illustrations

These are my first set of Illustrations I am pleased with the way they look but

need to make some changes. like some of the colours are a little over powering and the way some of the text gets lost into the illustrations.

 

 

Book Examples

 

This book has simple, bold and bright illustrations for younger aged child.

 

 

This book has painted style illustrations which would suit all ages, but not as bright as the other two book examples on page.

This book has simple illustrations but more for older aged children they aren't as bold but thats usually because as it's meant for older children it doesn't need to be to boldly coloured to kept them engaged within the story.

I definitely feel that my illustrations need to sit somewhere between my first and last example on this page. not to young but not too plain/boring either.

Print Pitch

For my print I want to turn my video story into a full book story and create all the Illustrations for it. For this I think I will have to consider how I want the Characters of the book: Simple and child-like or more complexed for and older age range. also The text will need looking at and editing a little and adding more actual fact to the story for it to be able to send a message across to it's reader.

Edited Version

    Lubetkin and the 3 Bears

Once upon a time there were 3 brown bears: Mummy Bear, Daddy Bear and Baby Bear. They all lived in a very, very small house and they were all really unhappy. But one day 2 men came to visit; the Earl of Dudley and Mr Marsh; who promised to get the bears a brand new house built, big enough for them all. 

The bears were so excited they decided it would be the perfect time to go for a walk. While they were out enjoying the beautiful sunshine, a man; Berthold Lubetkin who was new to this part of town spotted the bear’s small cage like house and decided to have a closer look.

He knocked on the door but there was no answer, so he just went inside. As Mr Lubetkin went into the house he had to bend so far down he nearly fell over, the door was just too small. 

When he was inside he couldn’t even stand up, so as he tried to move around the house he just kept getting stuck!  “This house is just too small” he thought, “I wonder who lives here”

As Mr Lubetkin tried to get out of the house he bumped into the 3 bears who were really puzzled by this strange man squeezing out of their front door. “What do you think you are doing in our house?” growled the bears. 

“Errrrm errrm errrrmm is this really your house?” Mr Lubetkin replied slightly scared.  “Yes it is! But it’s far too small for us” said the bears really sadly. “Well I was just passing by and was extremely interested in such a strange building, Mr Lubetkin replied still slightly shaking.

He then went on to tell the bears how he had never seen such a thing and that their house was wrong for them and he wanted to help them out. The bears sent Mr Lubetkin to see The Earl of Dudley and Mr Marsh.

After meeting up with the Earl of Dudley and Mr Marsh, Mr Lubetkin was ready to take on another big project but he only had a short amount of time to do it. So he called on some of his friends to help him out. “My friends the Tecton Group will help me.” he told the bears. Mr Lubetkin really wanted to give the bears the best house he could.

 Mr Lubetkin visited the bears to show them the plans. They were so excited.

 “Architecture is the tool for social progress” he told them “a house without bars is what I am aiming for. Open –air is definitely what you need.”

Mr Lubetkin continued to tell the bears,             

“To pass from theory to action requires the conjunction of the following factors: a political power of the kind we want – clear sighted with firm convictions and determined to bring into being the best living conditions that have been worked out and committed to paper; an enlightened population that will understand, desire and demand what the specialist have envisaged for it; an economic situation that makes it possible to embark upon and to pursue building projects which, in some cases, will be considerable.”      

The bears looked a little confused but still nodded and agreed with him as they were still really excited.                                                                            

Baby Bear was so excited he kept rolling around and around, he got very dizzy.

Mummy Bear was so happy. She was going to get lots of space and wouldn’t keep getting squashed by Daddy Bear. Daddy Bear just wanted his family to be happy and somewhere he could read his newspaper in peace.
Mr Lubetkin and the Tecton Group got to work and a few weeks later he brought the 3 bears to see their new house. They went inside and looked around but they were still unhappy. “This house is just too square!” they moaned, “Too square?”  Mr Lubetkin asked.

“Yes too square” replied the bears. “I won’t be able to roll around and around in a square house!” shouted Baby Bear.

“Ok” said Mr Lubetkin                                                 “I will sort it out for you.”
So yet again Mr Lubetkin and the Tecton Group went back to work on a brand new house for the bears.
A few weeks later he returned and took the bears to see their new house. They were so excited.
As the bears got to their new house they were really puzzled by the look of it, “This house looks like a big chimney with lots of holes.” Mummy Bear said. Daddy Bear sighed, (Big Sigh) “let’s just go inside and take a look it might be perfect.”
So off they went inside the house. Mummy Bear walked around the house and was disappointed “This house is just too round.” she said.

“Too round?” asked Mr Lubetkin

“Yes too round” she replied “You walk around and around and end up back in the same place. Now I’m all dizzy.” she said.  With a very sad face she sat down to rest.
“Oh dear.” sighed Mr Lubetkin,   

“Man makes his environment to co-operate with his purpose, his changing preferences and pre-occupations produce a new environment. Which is at variance with the previously established ways of thought. Yet this changed environment itself generates change since it in turn conditions the new man with his newly acquired needs and possibilities. And since Architecture clearly forms a substantial part of our environment, it is logical to conclude that it influences the changed man, however imperceptible and gradual this process might be at times.”  And off he went.

Daddy Bear looked at Mummy Bear “What on earth was he talking about? Does he not realise we are bears?” he asked. “Clearly not” replied Mummy Bear.

A few weeks passed by and Mr Lubetkin returned with the best news ever. He promised the bears that he had got their house perfect this time.
“This is not just any house this will be your home” he said to the bears. They were all extremely excited and couldn’t wait to see this amazing house. So off they went.
As they reached the house Mr Lubetkin told them how this was his best design. He told them how he had managed to create them a big open-aired space, which would be easy to keep clean and really hygienic.  

“Here materials and shapes have been introduced which seek to re-establish what may be called normal human contact. The natural wood in which the walls are panelled has warmth, texture and variety. The occupant of the room can lean against the walls without care, and even plant a dirty hand against them…. He can throw rubbish on the fire and drop ash on the floor. These points may seem to be small factors in interior architecture, but they are more important than their practical expediency.” Mr Lubetkin said

The 3 bears were rather puzzled and looked at each other,                                                                 

As they were so excited and couldn’t wait to get inside the bears didn’t question Mr Lubetkin, they just entered the house and looked around. They knew it was perfect!                                                     They all said “It’s not too square, it’s not to round, This Is just right!”

The bears were so happy; there was so much space they couldn’t wait to show their friends. This is such an amazing house. As a big thank you to Mr Lubetkin and the Tecton Group the bears announced they were going to name their house The Tecton, which made Mr Lubetkin very happy.  

As the weeks passed by more and more structures; a lot like the bears were built, eventually there were 12. They were all called The Tectons.  The 3 Bears were even happier as now they weren’t alone and they always had many daily visitors.

After all the structures had been finished and all the residents had moved in, Mr Lubetkin made a grand announcement

“I have the unfashionable conviction that the proper concern of architecture is more than self-display it is a thesis a declaration a statement of social aims of the age.”

Mr Lubetkin left believing he had given the 3 bears a paradise to live in and that they were destined to live happily ever after, but did they?

Early Draft

    Lubetkin and the 3 Bears

Once upon a time there were 3 brown bears: Mummy Bear, Daddy Bear and Baby Bear. They all lived in a very, very small house and they were all really unhappy. But one day 2 men came to visit; the Earl of Dudley and Mr Marsh; who promised to get the bears a brand new house built, big enough for them all. 

The bears were so excited they decided it would be the perfect time to go for a walk. While they were out enjoying the beautiful sunshine, a man; Berthold Lubetkin who was new to this part of town spotted the bear’s small cage like house and decided to have a closer look.

He knocked on the door but there was no answer, so he just went inside. As Mr Lubetkin went into the house he had to bend so far down he nearly fell over, the door was just too small. 

When he was inside he couldn’t even stand up, so as he tried to move around the house he just kept getting stuck!  “This house is just too small” he thought, “I wonder who lives here”

As Mr Lubetkin tried to get out of the house he bumped into the 3 bears who were really puzzled by this strange man squeezing out of their front door. “What do you think you are doing in our house?” growled the bears. 

“Errrrm errrm errrrmm is this really your house?” Mr Lubetkin replied slightly scared.  “Yes it is! But it’s far too small for us” said the bears really sadly. “Well I was just passing by and was extremely interested in such a strange building, Mr Lubetkin replied still slightly shaking.

He then went on to tell the bears how he had never seen such a thing and that their house was wrong for them and he wanted to help them out. The bears sent Mr Lubetkin to see The Earl of Dudley and Mr Marsh.

After meeting up with the Earl of Dudley and Mr Marsh, Mr Lubetkin was ready to take on another big project but he only had a short amount of time to do it. So he called on some of his friend to help him out. “My friends the Tecton Group will help me.” he told the bears. Mr Lubetkin really wanted to give the bears the best house he could.

Mr Lubetkin visited the bears to show them the plans. They were so excited.

 “Architecture is the tool for social progress” he told them “a house without bars is what I am aiming for. Open –air is definitely what you need.”

Baby Bear was rather excited he kept rolling `around and around, he got very dizzy. Mummy Bear was so happy. She was going to get lots of space and wouldn’t keep getting squashed by Daddy Bear. Daddy Bear just wanted his family to be happy and somewhere he could read his newspaper in peace.

Mr Lubetkin and the Tecton Group got to work and a few weeks later he brought the 3 bears to see their new house. They went inside and looked around but they were still unhappy. “This house is just too square!” they moaned, “Too square?”  Mr Lubetkin asked.

“Yes too square” replied the bears. “I won’t be able to roll around and around in a square house!” shouted Baby Bear.

“Ok” said Mr Lubetkin “I will sort it out for you.”

So yet again Mr Lubetkin and the Tecton Group went back to work on a brand new house for the bears. A few weeks later he returned and took the bears to see their new house. They were so excited.

As the bears got to their new house they were really puzzled by the look of it, “This house looks like a big chimney with lots of holes.” Mummy Bear said. Daddy Bear sighed, (Big Sigh) “let’s just go inside and take a look it might be perfect.”

So off they went inside the house. Mummy Bear walked around the house and was disappointed “This house is just too round.” she said.

“Too round?” asked Mr Lubetkin

“Yes too round” she replied “You walk around and around and end up back in the same place. Now I’m all dizzy.” she said.  With a very sad face she sat down to rest.

“Oh dear.” sighed Mr Lubetkin, “I will sort it out” and off he went to rebuild the bears a new house again.

A few weeks passed by and Mr Lubetkin returned with the best news ever. He promised the bears that he had got their house perfect this time.

“This is not just any house this will be your home” he said to the bears. They were all extremely excited and couldn’t wait to see this amazing house. So off they went.

As they reached the house Mr Lubetkin told them how this was his best design. He told them how he had managed to create them a big open-aired space, which would be easy to keep clean and really hygienic.

The 3 bears were so impressed they couldn’t wait to get inside. As they entered the house and looked around they knew it was perfect. They all said “It’s not too square, it’s not to round, This Is just right!”

The bears were so happy; there was so much space they couldn’t wait to show their friends. This is such an amazing house. As a big thank you to Mr Lubetkin and the Tecton Group the bears announced they were going to name their house The Tecton, which made Mr Lubetkin very happy.  

 As the weeks passed by more and more structures; a lot like the bears were built, eventually there were 12. They were all called The Tectons.  The 3 Bears were even happier as now they weren’t alone and they always had many daily visitors.

 After all the structures had been finished and all the residents had moved in, Mr Lubetkin made a grand announcement

“I have the unfashionable conviction that the proper concern of architecture is more than self-display it is a thesis a declaration a statement of social aims of the age.”

 Mr Lubetkin left believing he had given the 3 bears a paradise to live in and that they were destined to live happily ever after, but did they?

ugraded idea

After deciding that my chair didn't work with my Idea it was suggested that I scarp the chair completely and maybe use one of the kiosks from the zoo instead. I decided I would use the Kiosk and try and get the public to engage with my idea rather that just having myself or one other reading the story I would have different members of the public to read a section of the story from the kiosk. My work will now be a socially engaged piece of art.

Finished Chair

 

 

The finished Storytelling chair

 

 

 

 

These are images of the chair I produced. I  took down to Dudley Zoo and placed it in the area I intended to use for the Video (Bear Ravine) but I felt it didn't work right. I didn't get the feeling I was hoping for it looked out of place I tried moving somewhere more fairytale like but it still did'nt work for me.

Chair Designs

These are some simple chair designs I drew for my Storytelling chair each based on the Tectons, each having Curves within the designs.

New Video Idea

I started thinking about my own visits to the zoo not the ones I had been on for this project but in general and I thought about how I had never really looked at the structures themselves or even noticed how they really did look. They are quite interestingly shaped and built and really aren't animal friendly in a sense, yes they were built intending for the whole open-air purpose and for the hygiene reasons but not for the animals welfare. For me they are more sculptural rather than a structure for housing. I then thought about how when I take my children we do just look at the animals and that's it, we read the information about the animals but there is nothing about the structures to say that they are infact a piece of Dudley's history. 

Based on these thoughts I started thinking about if we did educate people on these structures and how there would be another interest at Dudley Zoo that's not just the animals. 

I remembered an event I attended with my son the zoo had a few years back, that brought a fair amount of parents and young children to the zoo for the day it was a Prince and Princess Day the children could dress up in costumes and take part in activities that were going on in the castle grounds and enjoy the zoo at the same time. 

Another day out I had been on with my son was to Warwick Castle  it was a school trip and they had got alot of people dressed up and a section of the castle had been turned into a princess's room where they had the story of the Princess and the Pea told but also acted by an actress the children absolutely loved it.                                                                                                        


http://www.warwick-castle.com/explore-castle/the-princess-tower.aspx



This got me thinking about creating my own story based on the classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears using facts on Dudley Zoo and its Tectons. I'm also planning to produce a Storytelling chair that would be part of the video I would be making. I intend on making the story as factual as possible with a fairytale twist so it's both good for children and adults. my plan is to have someone  sit and read this story on the chair I produce from inside the bear ravine at Dudley Zoo.

post pitch idea

After pitching my idea and discussing it at a tutorial it came to light that this was rather a terrible idea and wouldn't get much of a reaction from the viewer. It was suggested that I could take footage that is almost still and have a range of sounds playing over them, which would give the viewer that feeling of wanting to know more and where the sounds were coming from. I wasn't very keen on this suggestion at all it wasn't me. Another suggestion was that I make something that was influenced on the bear ravine or surrounding features. 

I didn't just scrap my Idea straight away I did return to the zoo to do some quick filming to get some footage from the cage to see what could be viewed from  the cage itself.

The footage that I did take from the cage and it didn't work you couldn't see a great deal from inside there so it wouldn't work as a film at all. I am now going to fully scrap the idea and move on to a new one.

Idea

My idea was to have a film based on a day in the life of ...  Using the existing cage which remains on the middle platform of the bear ravine (image below) 

Using this part of the structure then filming a person locked inside, then having a split screened film where you get the view from the inside of the cage out then vice versa. From this I was hoping to get the sense of what it must of been like to have been trapped inside of this cage for long periods of time with nothing to do and no one for company except the people watching you.