HILLSIDE R E T R E AT DESIGNED FOR
LOUIS LITT
ANDREW HOCKEY 300337821
PROJECT S TAT E M E N T
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
LOUIS’ RETREAT
TO BEGIN WITH...
THIS ARCHITECTURE PROJECT SEEKS TO CREATE A SAFE, PEACEFUL, ISOLATED PLACE FOR LOUIS LITT TO RETREAT TO.
FOR ME, GOOD DESIGN STARTS WITH A DECENT COLOUR SCHEME. THE MAJORITY OF THIS PROJECT IS PRESENTED IN CRISP WHITE, ACCENTED WITH DUSTY CHAMPAGNE PINK AND SOFT GREY. THE DESIGN IS CALM AND CLEAN, REPRESENTING THE IDEAL STATE OF MIND LOUIS WOULD EXPERIENCE BY WITHDRAWING TO THIS HILLSIDE RETREAT.
BEING A LAWYER IN ONE OF NEW YORK’S BIGGEST LAW FIRMS TAKES ITS TOLL, AND LOUIS NEEDS A PLACE TO ESCAPE FROM THE STRESS AND PRESSURE OF HIS JOB. THE SITE I’M DESIGNING ON IS A STEEP HILL IN LOWER KELBURN, LOCATED HIGH ABOVE WELLINGTON CITY, OVERLOOKING THE URBAN SETTING, THE HARBOUR, AND BEYOND - IT’S THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR A HIDEAWAY - A SMALL CAVE, SOMEHOW SUSPENDED IN THE AIR, FAR FROM THE REACHES OF THE INNER-CITY BUSTLE, BUT NOT ENTIRELY DISCONNECTED. THE INTENTION IS FOR THE RETREAT TO BE A CALMING SPACE, A LITTLE CABIN, FREE OF STRESS, WORRY AND TENSION, AND A PLACE TO RELAX AND CONTEMPLATE IN SILENCE AND ISOLATION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE IS TO BE A PLACE OF WITHDRAWAL, EMBEDDED IN THE HILLSIDE BUT SUSPENDED OVER THE CITY, HUNG DELICATELY AGAINST THE UTOPIAN WELLINGTON LANDSCAPE
THE SETTING THE IDEA FOR THIS ARCHITECTURE PROJECT IS TO CREATE A RETREAT AWAY FROM THE CITY. THE KELBURN HILLSIDE OFFERS THIS ISOLATION WITHOUT BEING TOO FAR FROM CIVILISATION. THE SHEER ALTITUDE OF THE SITE GIVES THE ARCHITECTURE A LIGHTNESS AND FRAGILITY THAT ONLY HEIGHT AND SUSPENSION CAN ACHIEVE, AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE ARCHITECTURE INTO THE HILL EARTHS THE DESIGN, KEEPING IT GROUNDED.
THE CONTEXT THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO SYMBIOTICALLY BLEND WITH THE LANDSCAPE AND EXISTING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. THE RETREAT LIVES ON THE UNDERSIDE OF A PRE-EXISTING LOOKOUT PLATFORM ON A PATH THROUGH THE FOREST. THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO KEEP THE ENTIRE LANDSCAPE SIMPLE, AND NOT CLUTTER IT WITH A NEW STRUCTURE.
THERE IS ALSO A CERTAIN IRONY AND RELEASE THAT COMES WITH PLACING THE ARCHITECTURE BENEATH THE LOOKOUT DECK - ANYONE CAN ADMIRE THE VIEW, BUT NO-ONE WILL THINK TO EXPLORE BELOW THE PLATFORM THEY’RE STANDING ON.
THE DESIGN THE RETREAT IS A SIMPLE SIX-SIDED BOX, RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE, AND SITS IN AN EXCAVATED PORTION OF THE STEEP HILLSIDE. THE ROOF ABOVE IS USED AS A LOOKOUT PLATFORM, THE ARCHITECTURE SITS BELOW IT, UNBEKNOWNST TO THOSE TRAVELLING PAST. THE RETREAT IS A SINGLE UNFURNISHED ROOM, THE ONLY FEATURE BEING THE MAGNIFICENT VIEW OUT OVER WELLINGTON AS SEEN THROUGH ONE GIANT, FLOOR-TOCEILING WINDOW. IT IS CONSTRUCTED FROM BASIC TIMBER, WITH AN EXPOSED STRUCTURAL STEEL ELEMENT. THE GLASS WALL IS GEOMETRICALLY ANGLED IN A COMPLEX PATTERN - THE ONLY VAGUELY COMPLEX PART OF THE DESIGN.
STYLE AND PROCESS I BEGAN DESIGNING BY TAKING ASPECTS OF LOUIS LITT’S CHARACTER AND MODELLING THESE OUT OF SIMPLE PAPER NETS, ALL MADE FROM 50x250mm SHEETS OF CARD. I CHOSE TO PRESENT AND FURTHER EXPLORE EIGHT OF THESE, THEIR POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES. HAVING CHOSEN A SINGLE NET AS INSPIRATION, I DEVELOPED IT INTO LARGER SKETCH MODEL, USING PERSPEX AND PLASTIC TO REALISE THE DESIGN. ONCE I HAD REACHED A COMFORTABLE STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, I WORKED TO INCORPORATE THE DESIGN INTO THE PREEXISTING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE INTERVENTION - A LOOKOUT POINT. THIS COMPLETED THE DESIGN PROCESS, AND A FINAL 1:25 MODEL WAS CONSTRUCTED FROM BALSA WOOD, CARD AND PERSPEX, AND DIGITALLY PLACED INTO THE LANDSCAPE.
INTRODUCING
LO U I S MARLOWE L I T T INTRODUCING
MR.
MARLOWE LITT, FINANCIAL
LOUIS
SUCCESSFUL
LAWYER
AND
NAMED PARTNER AT ONE OF NEW YORK CITY’S BEST FIRMS:
PEARSON
SPECTER
LITT
LOUIS IS A STRONG CHARACTER, A
DEDICATED
WORKER
WITH
UNPARALLELED BILLABLES, AND A TRULY FIERCE PERSONALITY
LOUIS LITT IS A MAIN CHARACTER IN THE HIT LEGAL DRAMA SUITS. LOUIS IS A NAMED PARTNER AT PEARSON SPECTER LITT, ONE OF NEW YORK’S TOP LAW FIRMS, AND HE TAKES HIS JOB VERY SERIOUSLY. HIS PERSONALITY IS VERY COMPLEX AND MULTIFACETED - HE CAN BE HARSH AND VINDICTIVE AT TIMES, BUT THIS SERVES HIM WELL IN THE WORLD OF CORPORATE LAW. AT THE CORE OF HIS BEING, LOUIS IS A VERY SENSITIVE
PERSON WHO GETS EASILY THREATENED. THE DISRESPECT HIS COLLEAGUES SHOW HIM OFTEN DRIVES HIM TO BE VENGEFUL - WHAT LOUIS TRULY NEEDS IS SPACE BY HIMSELF TO RELAX AND BE AT PEACE. A RETREAT OF SORTS WOULD BENEFIT HIM IMMENSELY. SUCH A PLACE WOULD NEED TO BE - SEPARATED FROM THE BUSY CITY - LARGE ENOUGH FOR JUST ONE PERSON - BE QUIET AND COMFORTABLE
PERSONALITY SENSITIVE AND ANXIOUS STRONG-WILLED AND OPINIONATED VINDICTIVE, HOSTILE AND MANIPULATIVE SOMEWHAT EFFEMINATE AND SELF-CENTRED
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3
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W H AT LO U I S VA L U E S CONTROL - CONSTANTLY RECORDING CONVERSATIONS A SENSE OF PERSONA - “YOU JUST GOT LITT UP!” ALL HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND SUCCESSES
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THE HIGH LIFE - LOTS OF EXPENSIVE CLOTHING
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THROUGH THE SEASONS...
1 INITIALLY MANIPULATES YOUNG ASSOCIATES, JEALOUS OF SENIOR AND NAMED PARTNERS, AND IS HOSTILE TO MOST PEOPLE
2 CONSPIRES AGAINST HIS FIRM FOR PERSONAL GAIN. PEOPLE LOSE A LOT OF TRUST FOR LOUIS BECAUSE OF HIS DISLOYALTY
LOUIS’ JOURNEY 3
FALLS IN LOVE WITH SHEILA SAZS AND PROPOSES TO HER. LOUIS BECOMES MORE VULNERABLE AND TOLERABLE
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RESIGNS FROM HIS FIRM, BUT BLACKMAILS PARTNERS TO EARN A NAMED PARTNERSHIP. BECOMES VERY VINDICTIVE AND BITTER
5 MAKES BETTER FRIENDS WITH EVERYONE AT THE FIRM AND BEGINS TO SHOW SOME LOYALTY WHEN THE FIRM IS THREATENED.
PRECEDENTS L E N LY E C E N T R E PAT T E R S O N A S S O C I A T E S
PUMP HOUSE BRANCH STUDIO ARCHITECTS
RECENTLY OPENED ART GALLERY IN NEW PLYMOUTH, DEDICATED TO THE WORKS OF ARTIST LEN LYE BEAUTIFUL, SCULPTURAL FORM, 100% REFLECTIVE STAINLESS STEEL PERFORMS WELL IN ALL CONDITIONS AND RETAINS ITS CHARACTER
SMALL SHED-HOUSE OUTSIDE MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA LITTLE PHYSICAL IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT, TAKES ADVANTAGE OF SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE
SOLID VERTICAL INFLUENCE - LIGHT YET STRONG
SERIOUSLY SIMPLE FORM - ENCLOSED BOX WITH ONE GLAZED WALL
TO INFORM AESTHETIC OF LOUIS LITT’S RETREAT
TO INFORM SCALE AND FUNCTIONALITY OF LOUIS LITT’S RETREAT
SITE L O C AT I O N O F S I T E W I T H I N WELLINGTON CITY
AI T H EA AL T L A
VE
W
DRI RD CUL
LIFO
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY KELBURN CAMPUS
NORTH
CENTRAL SERVICES BUILDING
X
TE
RR
AC
E
SITE
BOYD WILSON FIELD
TH
E
TE PUNI VILLAGE
CONCEPTS E X P LO R I N G T H E C H A R AC T E R O F LO U I S L I T T T H R O U G H F O R M
CONCEPTUAL NETS AND MODELS
O N E : WA L L SIMPLE NET, SCORED AND FOLDED BACK AND FORTH, BEND INTO ABSTRACT CURVED FORM REPRESENTS CONFUSED BUT DETERMINED PERSONALITY OF LOUIS
SIMPLE NET, SCORED AND FOLDED BACK AND FORTH, FOLDED OVER INTO ARCHING FORM REPRESENTS LOUIS’ NEED FOR SHELTER, SAFETY AND CLOSURE
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SIMPLE GEOMETRY SHELTERING FORM
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LACK OF POTENTIAL NOT ENCLOSED SPACE POSSIBLY NOT COMPLEX ENOUGH
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T W O : S H E LT E R
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MULTI-FACETED SURFACE STRONG VERTICAL INFLUENCE SENSE OF HEIGHT AND SCALE POTENTIAL TO BE VERSATILE
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ONE SINGLE SURFACE LACK OF DEPTH
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THREE: FORTRESS SIMPLE NET, SCORED AND FOLDED BACK AND FORTH, BEND INTO A SUBTLE CURVE REPRESENTS THE STRUGGLE LOUIS HAS TO KEEP HIS GUARD UP
SIMPLE NET, SCORED AND FOLDED BACK FOLDED OVER INTO ARCHING FORM REPRESENTS LOUIS’ TENDENCY TO BE PUSHED OVER AND TOPPLED BY INSENSITIVE PEOPLE
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SIMPLE GEOMETRY BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURAL FORM SITS LIGHTLY ON SITE
+
LACK OF POTENTIAL POSSIBLY NOT COMPLEX ENOUGH
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FOUR: SHEAR
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CONTRAST BETWEEN LONG / SHORT SURFACES STRONG VERTICAL INFLUENCE SENSE OF HEIGHT AND SCALE POTENTIAL TO BE VERSATILE
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ONE SINGLE SURFACE LACK OF DEPTH
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F I V E : C R E AT U R E COMPLEX NET, SCORED AND FOLDED ON THREE AXES BEND INTO AN ABSTRACT, ANTHROPOMORPHIC CURVE REPRESENTS LOUIS’ MEDDLING NATURE, AND TENDENCY TO GET INVOLVED WITH THINGS HE SHOULDN’T + -
COMPLEX NET, SCORED AND TIGHTLY FOLDED INTO A FITTED FORM REPRESENTS LOUIS’ COMPLEX YET DELICATE NATURE
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SIMPLE GEOMETRY SCULPTURAL FORM SEEMS TO ATTACH TO SITE
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DIFFICULT FORM TO MANIPULATE AND WORK WITH
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S I X : P E TA L
TOTALLY ABSTRACT, UNPREDICTABLE FORM REMINISCENT OF A LIVING CREATURE ONE SINGLE SURFACE LACK OF DEPTH DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH
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S E V E N : WAV E COMPLEX NET, SCORED AND FOLDED ON THREE AXES BEND INTO AN ABSTRACT, ANTHROPOMORPHIC CURVE REPRESENTS LOUIS’ MEDDLING NATURE, AND TENDENCY TO GET INVOLVED WITH THINGS HE SHOULDN’T + -
SIMPLE NET, SCORED AND FOLDED INTO A STEPPED FORM REPRESENTS THE LEVELS WITHIN LOUIS’ PERSONALITY
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SIMPLE GEOMETRY SCULPTURAL FORM PARASITIC ENGAGEMENT WITH SITE
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ALMOST TOO SIMPLE DIFFICULT TO TURN INTO “ARCHITECTURE”
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E I G H T: S T E P S
TOTALLY ABSTRACT, UNPREDICTABLE FORM REMINISCENT OF A LIVING CREATURE ONE SINGLE SURFACE LACK OF DEPTH DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH
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DEVELOPMENT DESIGNING FOR THE C H A R AC T E R O F LO U I S L I T T
D E V E L O P M E N TA L M O D E L S A N D N E T S
CHOSEN CONCEPT
S I M P L I F I C AT I O N FROM HERE, THE CHOSEN CONCEPT IS BEING ENVISIONED AS A LARGE GLASS WALL, CLOSING A SIMPLE RECTANGULAR BOX. REFINEMENT OF FORM FOLLOWS THROUGH ANALYSIS...
NET ONE
SCORES SIMPLY FOLDED BACK AND FORTH, THEN MANIPULATED INTO A CURVE
NET TWO
LOUIS’ RETREAT
ADDITION OF DIAGONAL ELEMENTS, TO GIVE THE FORM A QUALITY OF SHARPNESS
THE FORM OF THIS CONCEPT CAN BE USED TO REPRESENT THE MULTI-FACETED PERSONALITY OF LOUIS LITT. THE MANY PLANES, ALL FACING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, SYMBOLISE THE PEOPLE, CREATURES AND COMPANIES LOUIS INVESTS HIS TIME AND THOUGHT INTO. THEY CAN ALSO REPRESENT THE CONFUSION HE FACES DAILY IN HIS MISFORTUNES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS.
NET THREE
THE STRONG VERTICAL ELEMENTS SIGNIFY LOUIS’ UNBREAKABLE COMMITMENT TO HIMSELF AND HIS WORK, SIMPLIFICATION OF PATTERN, MORE SPACE BETWEEN BENDS TO SOFTEN THE FORM
REFINEMENT
EXISTING ARCHITECTURE THE EXISTING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FEATURES THREE INTERVENTIONS: THE SECOND INTERVENTION IS A LOOKOUT POINT OVER WELLINGTON CITY, AND WILL BE COMBINED WITH THE NEW ARCHITECTURE.
ONE SIMPLE BOXED FORM, WITH ONE FULLSIZE GLAZED WALL, WINDOW SHAPE ACCORDING TO DEVELOPMENT NET THREE
I INTEND FOR LOUIS’ RETREAT TO SIT BELOW THE LOOKOUT DECK, SECRETLY, HIDDEN FROM PEDESTRIANS ABOVE, IN A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DECK AND HILLSIDE.
TWO BOX IS SPLIT DIAGONALLY, LOWER HALF IN DARKNESS, UPPER HALF IN LIGHT. DIAGONAL LINE REPRESENTS THE GRADIENT OF THE HILL THAT THE RETREAT SITS IN
EXISTING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
INTEGRATED WITH NEW ARCHITECTURE
STRUC
TURE SITS H ALF INSIDE THE H ILL
WALKWAY LOOKOUT POINT
THREE STRUCTURAL STEEL BEAMS ADDED ON VISIBLE PORTION OF EXTERIOR WALLS. SOLID ROOF CAN POTENTIALLY DOUBLE AS AN UPPER-LEVEL DECK
VIEW OVER WELLINGTON FINAL DESIGN ROOF DOUBLES AS VIEWING PLATFORM, OUTLINE INFORMED BY SHAPE OF GLASS FRONT, SITS INTO THE HILLSIDE
HILLSIDE R E T R E AT DESIGNED FOR
LOUIS LITT
HILLSIDE R E T R E AT DESIGNED FOR
LOUIS LITT