Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/765720
46 P E R S P E C T I V E | J A N UA RY / F E B R UA RY 2 0 1 7 THE FORWARD OBSERVATION DECK by Luke Freeborn, Art Director The Forward Observation Deck is a place of meditation. The karesansui dry landscape, or Japanese rock garden, offered a fitting motif for this set. Zen monks designed them centuries ago to consider life and what it means. Like the rock garden, the set's walls are perfect ripples concentrically radiating from an astroid showcase. Also, an actual Zen rock garden is placed just in front of the large viewing window. The characters use this space at various moments in the story to contemplate their own lives, while looking forward toward a destination that they will never reach. The design carefully maintained the implied message of the set. Right: The forward observation deck was an interesting challenge. The script described only a viewing room out to space. The ultimate design was inspired by Greek amphitheaters and had the heart of a Japanese rock garden. Below: The large swooping ribs were all individually constructed in box section and raised into a platform. At times, standing in this set felt like being inside the front grill of a 1930s race car. Bottom, left: Josh Nizzi's digital illustration of the space. This early rendition had not yet fully developed into the elliptical room, and the Zen garden covered the entire lower viewing area. Right: The elliptical shapes were inspired by orbiting planets.