Arch 101 Final Portfolio Fall 2012

Arch 101 . Fall 2012

Portfolio

On Kei Kwok

D e s c r i p t i o n

The major purpose of the final project is to build temporary environmental installations in the courtyard by using creativity, knowledge, and skills developed over the course of the semester. The theme of the project is based on Bart Prince’s quote, “Architecture is a Sculptural Biography.� .

The installation has to respond to the site specifics, has to reflect a human narrative through the unique spatial experience interact with the environment.

In addition, the installed work should raise the attention and appreciation for others to aware of environment and things that they ignored or taken for granted in their daily lives.

F i e l d

Every building and environment

S t u d y

around us has its value and impact in our daily lives. The field study gives opportunity to experience the natural and built environment around us.

Having a closer look to each environment itself to notice their design sensitivities and constructs that provide an unique spatial experience for individual place . In the field study, my teammates and I were having a wonderful journey in the Golden Gate Park , and de Young Museum . The natural beauty of Golden Gate Park and the special design concept of the museum inspired our general concept on the project design.

The major concept of the project is to give a special spatial experience by altering lights, shadows, and reflections. Dealing with the changes of dappled light projected from the outside in. Specifically emphasizing on the site : the sun’s light path, panels of faces, curvilinear of the wall and courtyard.

Major Concept & Site Responses

I n d i v i d u a l

Design

Base on the major concept, my initial design emphasizes on the changes of lights and shadows of the courtyard in different timing. As you can see, my design has a dome shape with a oval form base that corresponds to the curves of the wall and the courtyard. The overall frame of the design made with flexible materials that would be easy to bend and create curvilinear form. There are two set of linear materials follow different stretching methods.

One would be stretching from the central point on the upper right hand corner and connect to the base.

The other set would be stretching from the right side and go around the structure in a diagonal orbital. On the surface of the frame, it would be cover with pieces of U-shape frame that cut out from plywood.

All of the pieces would have different sizes; the smallest would be place on the top and the sizes would gradually increase until they reach the base.

The U-shape frames allow sun lights penetrate and create unique shadows pattern on the wall.

C h a r e t t e

D e s i g n

C o n c e p t “

A

S t a r r y

•Floor plan curves with the shape of the wall •Constellations in the starry day sky • A large communal space with circular bench that facing directly with the faces on the panels • A transitional lighting corridor leading to one of the two personal nodes.

D a y ”

•Element: PVC pipes’ framework, skin/faces, contrast on light and dark, plywood base, trusses/connector. •Design language: 1. Attaching the PVC frame to the bench and base with C brackets 2. Seaming the skin around the PVC frame, and stretching the skin over the whole structure.

3. Using fabric and PVC to create walls that separate different spaces 4. Have stretched fabric overhang to indicate an entrance

• Gathering pallets from industrial warehouse and Home Depot • Cut out various shapes for the pallets and specify the levels in floor plan

• Arrange the different forms of the pallets and create the basic floor plan

Construction

Process W

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4

• Using the 2x4 plywood as the basic material for

the pallet base. •Apply first layer of the design, complete the

surface of the pallet base using wood screws and power drill.

• Tracing plywood skin and cut in order to create a better look for the pallet base.

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• Cut of wood stripes with right dimension.

• Connect all stripes with wood screws and nails.

• Adding diagonal stripes to support the entire bench structure.

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• Purchase PVC pipes, metal Cbrackets, 45 and 90 degrees elbows to

construct the framework. • Using power drill to stabilize the C-

brackets and PVC pipes; connect them with the pallet base.

6

• Stretching and bending the PVC pipes to create curvilinear aspects. • Using 45 and 90 degrees elbow connectors to make the large dome and two personal nodes.

7

• Select black fabric that is

K

efficient for light absorption to cover the structure.

E

• Using seaming technique to put

on the fabric and cover the entire PVC frame.

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• Make small holes on fabric to create starry feeling.

Experience Spatial

Narrative: “The Dark tent-like structure undulating around the 6 concrete squares fastened to the retaining wall. At first it appears to just be one large black mass of fabric, as you look closer you notice the form is comprised of several dome-like tensile structures stretched with black lycra. The entry way is marked by the close proximity of the two smaller domes and the triangular awning stretched between the two. As you step up the platform into the largest of the domes you are forced to duck your head under the overhang. Once you have entered the structure, you find that the day has suddenly turned to night. As you careen along the dark passageway you find yourself inside a planetarium like space, dotted with stars. You were the first to enter but you soon notice you are not the only one to inhabit the space. Along the wall are three panels of faces cast in concrete, faces of past students, teachers, maybe even the workers who built Batmale hall.�

“You notice there is another passageway on the other side of the corridor in which you entered.

You decide to pursue it. Walking through the narrow corridor you are squeezed up close face to face with the two remaining panels of faces until the faces break and you find yourself in a completely different environment in which you came from. You are no longer under a starry sky amidst an audience of concrete faces. You are alone in a smaller node filled with dappled light. The light appears to be coming through pairs of horizontal slits cut in the skin. You notice these slits closely resemble a pair of eyeholes, so you decide to look through one, then another, and another. Each set of holes frames a different view, some the same, but at a different height or angle.�

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Time flies in the past semester, when I look back to the days and nights I spent for Arch 101 class, I realize that I have gained a lot of valuable experience, knowledge and skills that will be very helpful for me to prepare for Arch 102 and my future career. In the final project, I have learned how to use the power tools to increase the efficiency of construction. Meanwhile, I have learned to think critically regarding to the problems and challenges our team had during construction; how to distribute times and energy on each task in order to gain the biggest amount of reward. Although the outcome of our installation is not perfect, due to the insufficient time we have to give up our third layer of the model, I consider this as a learning process and the deficiency provides chances for improvement.