Vila [Town]

This project is the response to an assignment I was given while attending my post-graduate studies in Motion Design at ESAD Matosinhos (Nov. 2016 - Nov. 2017).

The briefing was to create an infographic illustration depicting a small town, which could either be completely fantasised, or based on pre-existing realities. I took inspiration from traditional Portuguese architecture from the Northern/Central region of the country. I used the Portuguese Regional Architecture Survey [Inquérito à Arquitectura Regional Portuguesa] that was conducted between 1955 and 1960 as the foundation on which to develop these illustrations.

The pictures can be accessed through this link: http://www.oapix.org.pt/300000/1/index.htm

After that, one building was to be chosen to be animated: its exterior in 2D, and both its interior and exterior architecture in 3D.

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Infographics

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Illustration Studies

Studies from real buildings — example: town hall (see Câmara Municipal de Santa Comba Dão, prior to the renewal of the window frames)

Sorting the layout of the town — where to locate the main facilities?

There is a school, a hospital, the town hall, and a church and its churchyard.

Perspective study. We can see the church, the churchyard/graveyard, the town hall and the hospital.

Illustration studies for other kind of buildings: housing and a typical corn drying shed [espigueiro].

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The Church of the village

As this catholic church is the most important building in this town, it seemed the right choice to animate.

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2D Animation

By this stage, I felt the need to turn the church into something less earthy, hence the blue filter. (I'll try to tune to mood for the scene more precisely in the next phase — see below).

The free lines drawn on the ground set the narrative for the animation.

software: Adobe After Effects

sound: soundtrack from Wim Wender's Wings of Desire [der Himmel über Berlin] trailer | freesound.org

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3D Modelling and Animation — Study

Rough draft on the animation sequence.

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3D Modelling and Animation — Final Version

Since I was interested in the ethereal ambience one can associate with a sacred place as a church can be, and I was not yet satisfied with the previous results, I've decided to make some changes to the design in this stage of the process — such as: the colour palette, and the sound design, choosing "lighter" options in either case. I had also originally modelled a set of benches which were to be inside the church, but they seemed to me to make the whole scene "too heavy" and that is why I've chosen not to keep them (at least, for now). Subtle games in light and shadow are also key in conveying this sensation of "unbearable lightness".

software: MAXON Cinema 4D

sound (source): bensound.com | freesound.org