Alex Savvides
DIGITAL PORTFOLIO
‘An enormous amount of the energy we humans use is to overcome friction. And nature overcomes friction in far more efficient ways than we do.’ Jay Harman
CONTENTS 4 FORMFINDING 8 DESIGN 14 FACADE 18 MODELLING 20 HOUSING UNIT
Study of the Nautillus shell and how the shape of the shell helps the creature naturally ventilate itself.
FORMFINDING
‘…it’s good to understand how nature tends to operate on a curve, while scientists tend to develop things that work in a straight line…’ Jay Harman
Whilst this form and its effect on wind movement do not play an explicit role in my masterplan, the logarithmic golden spiral shape proved useful in defining proportions of various spaces and seeing whether these proportions were suitable for designing living areas. These proportions were also used when designing the sizes, relationships and thresholds between public and private, green and urban, retail and residential.
The Gherkin Foster and Partners
How shape affects wind speed
DESIGN
Masterplan
10
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Sections 12
WEST ELEVATION The main concept is to leave structural and service areas visually exposed but then cover these partially with green facades, giving a juxtaposition but also merging together of the natural and the man made.
Transparency in facade
FACADE
14
EAST ELEVATION
16
The laser cut model was an exploratory model of how one of the buildings in my scheme could be constructed. The floor plans are supposed to represent steel floor plates which would connect to the steel frame facade (which is also modelled). The steel frame would also enable the balconies to protrude from the main mass of the building and be cantilevered over each other. The vertical slats which fit into the floors create the mass and shape of the flats and gave me an indication as to what parts of the internal flat walls should be load bearing and part of the steel frame.
MODELLING
18
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
First Floor PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Ground Floor
HOUSING UNIT PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
20
Roof Plan