WORKING THESIS BOOK Andrew Economou
WALLS Week 1
A rampart of earth, stone, or other material constructed for defensive purposes An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones, or similar materials laid in courses The containing sides of a vessel Something which is a barrier or impediment to intellectual, moral, spiritual, or social union or intercourse
existing / new concrete / wood solid / transparent
new / new wood / wood transparent / translucent
new wood translucent
work desk
QUESTIONS how does a wall touch the ground? how do the walls physically interact with each other?
ELEMENTS Week 2
A wall is not autonomous, but must interact with other architectural elements. floor, column, wall, ceiling, roof
walls, floor, roof
roof meets wall
roof
columns meet floor and touch ground
roof meets columns
QUESTIONS what happens when wall becomes floor? when roof becomes wall? how does a building root into the ground? how does it touch the sky? exactly how does light interact with the room?
SPATIAL OBJECTS Week 3
Creating models using found objects instead of architectural elements as an alternative means of discovering dynamic spatial relationships.
overlaying a system on an existing condition
wood, screws, thread
using a pre-existing order to organize new elements
wood, cardboard, screws, paper, wire
using a rigid system to create complexity
wood, screws, steel
making an object that has no set orientation
spatial complexity is not limited by constraints of direction
the cube was rotated as each plane was added so the orientation was not defined
multiple variants of wood
density of supports changes over length of surface, affecting the overall pattern
mdf, screws, thread
using contrasting materials to create spatial diversity in multiple orientations
wood, anchor bolts, wax, cardboard, chipboard
view
QUESTIONS how is this translated back into architectural specifics? what makes an object and what makes a space? can ambiguity of orientation be maintained? are building details a kind of object? what materials do these elements become?
SPATIAL AMBIGUITY Week 4
Translation of the spatial objects into architecturally specific models of spaces that are ambiguous in their orientation. Ambiguity allows for multiple readings of architectural space and opens more possibilities for discoveries.
columns become light wells
hallway defined by stepped path
hallway defined by light columns
light detail
path across water
the architectural space was based on the space created by the object
walkway over water
path defined by variable walls
different ceiling levels differentiates floor spaces
walls define view or horizon
QUESTIONS how do the spaces orient to themselves to sunlight? do material details affect orientation? how would mutiple spaces interact with each other? can a drawing convey the same spatial qualities?
SPATIAL ORGANIZATION Week 5
Oblique projections are used to create a variety of spatial conditions. A study of how building elements can facilitate transitions between spaces.
tectonic elements define multiple orientations of spaces
spatial combination
transition from nature into architectural space
natural color palette
vertical elements condense
horizontal elements meet vertical
QUESTIONS what is the spatial sequence? is there a destination? how can the natural and the constructed be blended further? where does the architecture begin? where is someone coming from and what are they going to? what other factors can begin to deepen material questions?
NATURAL REFUGE Week 6
After asking questions on where architecture begins in the landscape and how unexpected material choices affects the atmosphere of spaces, an architecture of material and at one with nature led to the development of a refuge for hikers.
overall network leading to the refuge
defined path denotes something is ahead
columns begin to establish more defined space
an impluvium provides filtered water for hikers passing through and those wishing to stay for longer
using wooden elements to suspend a textured concrete ceiling plane
QUESTIONS are other spaces necessary for the refuge? how does it expand into the forest? where does the project begin? how do more specific material questions come into play?
IMPLUVIUM Week 7
The focus was on the development of the impluvium, and the ways that water affects the organization of the architectural elements. Transitioning between an exterior condition and defined interior space became a material and organizational question as well.
different ways for water and people to enter the space
water is collected multiple ways and is filtered into a cistern
hallway between outside and inside
over time, water will stain the concrete wall
play between telluric and tectonic materials define path
QUESTIONS is pushing a program too much right now? how do environmental phenomena modify space? what will further the architecture?
DESERTED TOWER Week 8
After exploring the forest, a different location was selected to see how a structure would respond to similar phenomena but in another place. The earth of the desert is continually changing from wind, and served as an excellent place to explore how a structure can respond to these phenomena.
apertures allow for multiple entrances into the space and for a constantly changing interior space
a double shell protects water in the core as the sand shifts around the structure
sand filters into the space down small metal rods and the noise gives physical presence to wind
QUESTIONS how do the previous studies integrate into the tower? what other environments can inform the thesis? do other phenomena remain important? how does material begin to change the structure?
SOME THOUGHTS Week 9
A study of how architectural elements can respond to discrete environmental phenomena. How does architecture nurture wind, water, light, earth, rain, ground, etc.? Material and object studies inform spatial and textural considerations for the projects.
current exploration in the desert explores the relationship between ground, wind, and water
potential future sites for consideration
How do distinctive places begin to highlight different aspects of nature?
QUESTIONS how does one move up and down the tower? what drawings can be used to convey the spaces? what other sites could be as potent as the desert? is it important to explore the thesis in other places? how do specific details reveal these phenomena? remember what you’ve already done.
VIEWS OF A TOWER Week 10
Further exploration of the desert tower. Certain details bring about a greater awareness of the place. What is the sequence moving up the tower? And what is the sequence moving down towards the water? Using multiple means of representation within one drawing allow a greater understanding of the space and the relationships between parts of the structure.
the movement of sand and procession through the structure determines how the openings of the tower are defined
section perspective
section perspective
oblique
metal rods within the concrete bring an auditory presence to sand as it enters the space
QUESTIONS what is informing design decisions? why is one option better than another? what is the story of the visitor? how do people use the tower? would a bridge be a potential foil?
POTENTIAL SITES Week 11
Research to discover what arid place could be best to explore the tower. How people will generally use the structure is based on the culture and lifestyle of that place. Wind direction, sunlight, and groundwater influence the organization. The tower should be situated between two specific locations, along a fairly well traveled path.
Tataouine
Tripoli
Hassi Messaoud
Gadamis
The Sahara Desert Tunisia
Bahawalpur
Bikaner
Buili
Jaipur
Rajasthan India
Kayenta
Glen Canyon Utah / Arizona
QUESTIONS what specific arid conditions suit the project? which culture could fit the use? and how would the use change? who will visit the building? who will maintain it? how does it evolve?
EPHEMERALITY & PRACTICALITY Week 12
Quick concept sketches lay out how the structure plans to deal with both practical site conditions of ground, sand, and water, as well as the temporal aspects of sand shifting and changing the static aspects of the architecture. Light and water are also dynamic natural conditions that should be detailed further in the future.
tower is constructed at rock level, then dunes encompass structure
over time the sand will slowly envelop the tower, eventually swallowing it entirely
plan organization to limit amount of sand entering the rooms how does the tower meet the sky?
the elevations respond to wind conditions
staircases become the defining feature of the solid eastern and western elevations
maintaining an entrance for changing ground levels, while limiting access to subsequent levels
exterior staircases expand the potential for interior rooms
QUESTIONS does anyone have time to do all of this? does it matter if the structure is consumed? how is the water brought up to the tower and contained? how is sand taken into and denied by the building? can any of this actually work?
CONVENTIONS Week 13
Working within standard architectural conventions of plan, section, and detail to further elaborate on the tower. Staircases begin to define specific interior rooms. A door allows people to enter but eventually is used to deny sand entrance into the tower.
walls defining the shells form smaller rooms within the interior volume
apertures allow for multiple entrances into the space and the stairs define smaller interior volumes
QUESTIONS how can the sand enter the structure? is the metal rod detail still important? should the sand intentionally enter the tower? can a drawing show most of what is known so far? how do the interior and exterior stair interact? and how are they different? what material changes and textures are important?
OBLIQUES & DETAILS Week 14
The sectional oblique allows for a nearly complete undestanding of the larger scale relationship between the structure, sand, water, and ground. Building details seek an understanding at a smaller scale of the way specific materials come together and interact with sand and water.
the exterior concrete staircase defines interior volumes, and the interior wooden staircase gives a warmth necessary for the occupiable rooms
as the sand levels rise, concrete doors slide closed and prevent sand from entering the interior rooms, protecting the water in the central space
section detail sand both enters and is denied entry by the building
section detail water enters and is stored by the building
the building caretaker frequently visits the structure, and monitors the changing sand and water levels, deciding when the doorways must be closed
QUESTIONS how to specifically address light? is light significantly considered? what are the necessary rooms for the interior? can I get anything done after the lobby pinup? how does the metal rod and door detail work? what materials does the human’s body interact with?
LOBBY Week 15
Architecture, Environment, and Time How can architecture mediate man’s relationship with the environment? What is the lifetime of a building? How does nature show the progression of time through architecture? A study of how architectural elements can respond to discrete environmental phenomena, and their effect on building and detail over time. How does architecture nurture wind, water, light, earth, rain, ground, etc.? The thesis is exploring an architectural oasis in the desert. Located along a fairly well-traveled trade route between two places, the tower contains water for visitors and is meant as a temporary place for rest and replenishment. There are small rooms within the structure for those who wish to spend a night before continuing their journey. A caretaker who frequently travels past the tower maintains the building and has an individual space for sleeping. Over time, wind will shift the sand dunes and begin to build up around the structure. When the sand reaches a certain level, a concrete door is slid shut over the entrance, allowing the sand to rise further up the tower, while protecting the central space holding the water. The exterior staircase maintains accessible entrances into the interior spaces as sand continues to rise up the walls and doors continue to close. Building details consider the way sand, wind, water, and light will interact with the tower. Water is brought up from the water table and filters into the pool, where it is stored for use and consumption. Sand will inevitably find its way into the spaces, so metal rods celebrate the sound of the sand entering the rooms, and small reservoirs provide a place where this sand can be gathered.
material and spatial studies of ambiguous spaces and the interaction between basic architectural elements
studies began to focus more on the influence of natural phenomena (light, wind, water) on architecture
a desert environment has a strong presence of wind, shifting ground, and light, so the architecture must respond to these conditions as it provides water for visitors
GOALS define habitable interior spaces. determine how dynamic water channels into pool. detail methods and techniques of construction. use nature to activate the interior spaces. the space belongs to human beings. wind affects the shape of the exterior form. detail water and sand’s interaction with walls. light has to be brought to the interior.