Program Statement:
This semester the studio will be challenged to design three “CUbe Galleries” for the UCD Campus. The Galleries will house work from visiting and local artists, design professionals, University projects as well as faculty and student work. The students will develop a thematic architectural language while developing the typology of the cube. Through various means of representation, each design strategy will further explore light, materiality, structure and site integration.
Architectural Statement:
It became very early on that this architectural investigation was going to be about challenging and questioning the traditional idea of the cube. This gave way to a rigorous investigation into the creation of space and drew upon concepts from environmental psychology, perception and awareness, phenomenology, and philosophy. Instead of the construction of three separate galleries the focus was turned to the trials and tribulations of transforming a concept into architectural space. The final result in “synthesis” was found to be the most appropriate translation into formal architecture. This process was about the investigation into the beginning stages of architectural creation, rather than the production of structure. -Brandon B Sweeney
CUbe GALL ERIE S
Brandon B. Sweeney ARCH 5130/31 . Fall 2014 . Barbara Ambach College of Architecture and Planning . UCD
STUDIO III
Location Map
Image Courtesy: Ambach, UCD, 2014
Phase 1: Mapping
UCD
Phase 1: Mapping
LSC
Phase 1: Mapping Promenade
Uses and Users
Sweeney QFSTPOBM
Phase 1
12pm
SJEF TIBSF
little activity
Infographics
12pm
35+
very active
18-35
static
Volume of Use Areas of Rest
Faculty and Teachers Students
Walking Paths Promenade Boundary
movement
Phase 2: Variations. UCD-Light
Phase 2: Variations. UCD-Material
Phase 2: Variations. UCD-Structure
Phase 2: Variations. LSC-Light
Phase 2: Variations. LSC-Material
Office dA
Phase 2: Variations. LSC-Structure
Phase 2: Variations. Prom-Light
This language ultimately influenced the direction of the project because of its unique ability to implicate the cube without formal constraints.
Phase 2: Variations. Prom-Material
Office dA
Seir+Seir
Sweeney
Phase 2: Variations. Prom-Structure
Phase 3: Typologies
This begins the rigorous investigation of the cube typology in chronological order
Phase 3: Typologies-Promenade-Circulation
Phase 3: Typologies-Promenade-Microclimates
Phase 3: Typologies-Promenade-Vegetation and Sun Path
Phase 3: Typologies-Promenade Public/Private Site Existing Site Arrangement
This variation was ultimately chosen for further investigation
Phase 3: Typologies-Promenade-Rule Establishemnt This portion deals with creating and establishing a series of rules to then use to begin to partition space
Number assignment for heirarchy
Space creation using concave and convex language.
Discovery of Aldo van Eyck and Socio-Pedal/Social-Fugal Spaces
Phase 3: Typologies-Promenade-Spacial Creation
Creation of spaces based of original public/private site diagram, rule establishment, and program necessity. Multiple level creation is used to fulfill the vertical requirements of the cubes nature.
Elevation showing rule implication in structure and materiality
Gallery Moment
Phase 3: Typologies-LSC
The initial idea the LSC was taken from a diagram created during site investigation. Its radial nature was then taken as a way to partition and divide space, rather than extruding “hard� form as was done in the Promenade.
static
movement
Overlaying the diagram on the site plan, using the corner of the space as a hinge to inform movement through the area. This is then used as a ceiling plan, with the lines becoming wood slats.
Phase 3: Typologies-LSC-Implications An element from Gestalt psychology known as Implied Closure was used to investigate how much of the cubic language was needed to subconsciously inform the user of a complete form.
Cubic parameters placed on the diagramtic overlay.
Building section with visible and implied cubic language. Exterior elements fulfill cubic parameters while creating shading device. Interior language flows with program necessity.
no program
program
Floor plan and reflected ceiling plan showing creation of space for security desk, movement pathways, and gallery wall.
Threshold creation
Exterior fulfillment of cube as sunshade device.
Gallery Moment
Phase 3: Typologies-UCD- A Step Back By this point in the investigation it was clear that the transferal of concepts into formalized space was lacking a sense of resolution. In the portion concerning the UC Denver site, the diagram was used to express as many variations on architectural language as possible. This resulted in its use as sections, elevations, floor plans, perspectives, and structure. The diagram below tracking angular circulation pathways based on proposed site remodel.
0’
8’ 16’
32’
64’
Diagram with the two dimensional cubic parameters enforced.
CIRCULATION SY ST E M S
As program arrangement
As elevation abstract
As perspective elevation
As section
In perspective and reflected for creation of planar space.
Tesselated as floor plan. Intersections of lines experimented with as architectural language.
Gallery Moment
Phase 4: Synthesis P.1 With Phase 3 complete, the investigation continued to lack a resolution in theory and form. Before the push to create a formal piece of architecture began, a return to the conceptual diagrams, this time using them to create a series of models reflecting light, material, and structure.
Phase 4: Model- UCD Light
Phase 4: Model- UCD Material
Phase 4: Model- UCD Structure
Phase 4: Model- LSC Light
Phase 4: Model- LSC Material
Phase 4: Model- LSC Structure
Phase 4: Model- Promenade Light
Phase 4: Model- Promenade Material
Phase 4: Model- Promenade Structure
Phase 4: Synthesis P.2 During construction of the models it became clear that the set created from the LSC diagram were the most compelling, this was determined by peoples inherent attraction to the set more so than the others. Using this general curiosity and intuition of compelling form, a single site was chosen based off of opportunity, familiarity, and program requirements. The CU Denver site was selected and moving forward using the lessons learned from the LSC models, the final synthesis began.
The CU Denver site was chosen because of its proximity to Larimer Street and the historic district of Denver. Its edge condition also serves as a prominent opportunity for the university to encourage public interaction.
The contextual richness of Larimer Street serves as the point from which the diagram is derived. Rules were then assigned to the radial lines to become structure that fulfills the cubic requirements and houses the program.
The program arrangement was manipulated to allow a line of site into the heart of the newly constructed courtyard.
Larimer AA
Quiet study
Dark Gallery
1/4 14th St.
Lobby
DN
BB
DN
Skylights and Shading
Section: BB
Section: AA
Visual Community Connection
14th St. Elevation
Larimer St. Elevation
1/8
Closing statements This investigation into the creation of space was rigorous and exhausting, but without these elements most of what was discovered would have never come to light. It is a process, a non-linear progression looping between exhaustion and the brilliance of new ideas. It has challenged my ideas of what it means to create architecture and changed how I approach the discussion of space. In ‘Synthesis’ we see the creation of a building using the concepts found in the investigation, however I believe it is not the most correct translation of these ideas into physical space. The correct form may never establish itself, but only through an arduous investigative process will we see a better resolution of ideas into form.
Thank you
CUbe GALL ERIE S
Brandon B. Sweeney ARCH 5130/31 . Fall 2014 . Barbara Ambach College of Architecture and Planning . UCD
STUDIO III
A project by Brandon B. Sweeney Arch 5130/31 Instructors: Barbara Ambach Tyler Michieli University of Colorado, Denver Fall, 2014 425-275-7573 Brandon.Sweeney@UCDenver.edu