building
AleĹĄ Moravec cittĂ ideale
Introduction The assignment for this term was to design/ propose a masterplan for ideal city, pick a plot in the masterplan and develop a building, which contributes to the whole in terms of program and design. At the beginning one urban fabric and one urban building was analysed in order to discover the principles of urban development. I analysed old city of Kyoto and Chilehouse in Hamburg. In case of Kyoto I discovered a few interesting facts about Kyoto’s development especially about the hierarchy and diversity in urban fabric. Kyoto doesn’t consist of one centre with all the important functions, moreover they were distributed all over the city and the city itself was divided in several districts, which were completely self-sufficient.
Masterplan Propose an ideal city, but what is ideal? Therefore the first task for me was to define an ideal in order to have a theoretical foundation for the design. One of many possible definitions of art states that art seeks for beauty/ ideal, therefore I started seeking for texts and authors who merge architecture and art. One of them is Camillo Sitte who wrote a book called City Planning According to Artistic Principles. The book was written 150 years ago dealing with a different context and problems, however Sitte made some rally valuable points which should be still valid. For example clear definition of public space is crucial for functional city. Streets should be streets and squares should be squares, a good public space is defined by buildings not by roads, therefore a square shouldn’t be just a junction of roads… “City will never know happiness unless its draughtsman are artists who have divine as their pattern.” Plato In order to have more contemporary overview of urbanity I explored Leon Krier’s, Drawings for Architecture, which describes a difference between city and “anti-city” - urban and rural. The most important aspect about city is density, urban space and people, therefore I set a few rules with respect to these aspects. I. Public space must be clearly defined by buildings. Square surrounded by roads in not a square. II.
Vivid city is mixture of functions without any zoning.
III. Decent density is important. In order to have vivid city the density should be around 250 inhabitants/hectare. IV. Ideal city is poly-centric not mono-centric. Same as in Kyoto, In ideal city, there should be several self-sufficient districts. V. Small scale So having the knowledge from Krier and Sitte we designed a master with clearly defined public space, one ideal square, one park and two main streets. Masterplan offers variety of places with different character, which is the most important aspect in order to create vivid city, moreover I believe that the character of a place in city should be defined by masterplan not by architecture itself. Architect should be able to recognise the character, identify the qualities and contribute with his proposal in order to create coherent and ideal city. “City is more than a sum of its individual buildings. It is also more than largescale architecture. In its neighbourhoods and quarters - the arenas of our day to day lives - it is made up of built structural objects and that of large units such as neighbourhoods or even entire urban districts.” Michael Peterk and Thorsten Büklin
Concept I have chosen a plot which is located on the main street, connecting the square and a site, which is dedicated for important public function, which will be designed by another student. The plot I have chosen, reaches both sides of the block which makes it unique because usually the gap is on one or other side. “Length of the facade is not a problem but the length of street is.” Aldo Rossi Concept is based on an advantage that the building can reach two completely different streets with completely different character and the fact that the block is 400 meters long so according to Aldo Rossi it’s desirable to shorten the length of the street. Another Important aspect which influenced the concept is Leon Krier and the way he distributes functions around city. He says that city should be created by several smaller centres. The proposed residential complex combines both ides, it connects two streets which have two diametrically different characters, creating space for small communal library and local office building. Ground floors next to the streets are designated for commercial use (café, bakery, butcher and etc..), therefore the entrances to residential buildings have moved to the courtyard where the entrance to the library and office is. This creates more quiet and calm courtyard, which is separated from the busy streets, however still having lively character. There are two types of residential building layouts. One is classical staircase and the other one gallery building layout. Gallery layout is spaciously very efficient, however doesn’t offer any representative space. While on the other hand the staircase layout can offer representative space however it’s not spaciously efficient. Every apartment is oriented towards one of the streets and into the courtyard in order to get qualities of both of them, in terms of privacy, light, ventilation and noise.
Facade Contemporary urban facade.. At the beginning several historical façades were analysed in order to identify the principles how classical historical façades were composed. Moreover the components, which create dignity in a facade were looked up. As a result of the research there are four elements that are important in order to create dignified urban facade. I. Proportions Proportions because urban environment is mainly for humans therefore the proportions in facade should be derived from human proportions, something like classical Greek orders. II. Tectonics According to Kenneth Frampton “tectonics is poetic of construction” so how ideal city can be ideal without being poetic. III. Detail As we approach the building it should reveal more details. Same as when approaching a human. First only an outline of figure is visible and as getting closer more details are popping up. IV. Honesty Window should look like window, wall like a wall and so on.
HOLY FOURSOME
I. PROPORTIONS
III. DETAILS
II. TECTONICS
IV. HONESTY
Details As Alvar Alto I also believe that everything that is being touched in the building, therefore it has direct contact with humans should be designed in a way that it has pleasant impact on our senses. Alvar Alto paid spacial attention to door handles and handlebars because he believed that when you touch door handle it’s something similar as when you shake hands with other person, it’s “moment of cognition”. A special attention was paid to door and window handles, banister, door bell, however other things like light and post box were designed as well because ideal city should consist of ideal and coherent buildings. Coherency is achieved by conscious design - Gesamtkunstwerk.
2D drawings
Basement 0 1 2
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Ground floor 0 1 2
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1st floor 0 1 2
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Common floor10m 5
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Section
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Elevation - street
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Elevation - courtyard 0 1 2
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Elevation - street
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Elevation - courtyard
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Elevation - courtyard
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3D drawings
ng
i ild bu ial d
t r en nda sid r snta e R he hig
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e fic Of
T-building
Lib
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in ild bu ial rd
t a en and sid snt Re gular re
Subway
Entrance
Entrance hall
Details
Lights
Postbox
Window-handel
Door-handle
Banister