BRIAN CHAN
Spring Quarter Portfolio. Arch 133. Studio Humberto Norman. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo.
CONTENT
DESIGN VILLAGE Page 5. First project
INTERNATIONAL DWELLING Page 19. Second Project
MOTION STUDIO Page 35. Third Project
BRIAN CHAN. Born in Hong Kong, and moved to America at the age of 3 months, Brian has had a cultured background in both Chinese and Western societies. After three quarters in Cal Poly, he has developed an interest in urbanism and hopes to one day go back to Hong Kong, or Japan to work in the crowded, dense cities of Asia. He see’s oppurtunity to change people’s lives in a cramped environment. With this drive in his back pocket he works extremely hard day in and day out. His passion for architecture is real and burning. At this moment of time he feels like the sky is the limit for him. He looks forward to 2nd year and every year after that. The architecture college has given him the perfect work environment where he thinks he can strive and become the best.
DESIGN VILLAGE
DWELLING. The first project of spring quarter, my group was tasked to create a habitable space that we sleep in over night in the CAED’s outdoor experimental construction laboratory in Poly Canyon.
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STUDY MODELS. We began our design by building study models that addressed the slope of the hill. Given the steep angle of the hill, we developed a structure that can stay level, adapt to the site conditions.
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FRAME, EMT frame connection between vertical and horizontal pieces.
FOOTING, Connection between pedal and legging.
COT, Connection between sleeping cot and the EMT frame.
LEG, Adjustable leg height allows for the correct height on site.
VELCRO, Connection for the white fabric protection on the velcro on EMT frame.
Connections
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INSIDE. An open canopy that exposes the tenants to the sky and natural air circulaton..
OUTSIDE. Enclosed space that allows for privacy and protection from the weather.
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REFLECTION. Design Village, even though I was late to the party, was the single most fun night of first year Architecture. The brotherhood and family that was formed over the past two quarters really showed during this project and the night of. We’ve grown so much this past year that everyone has really became friends. Everyone knows everyone and thats what I love about this college. I like how everyone is friends with everyone. This makes for a very great working atmosphere that is also competitive as well. Design Village was a challenging project that also brought a lot of people together. Hands down most fun project of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed working on it.
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INTERNATIONAL DWELLING
RESEARCH. This project required each individual to pick and choose an architect and a dwelling to study, recreate, document, and present. The only requirement is that the houes you choose had to have significance to you. For my architect and house, I chose Japanese Pritzker Prize winner Tadao Ando, and his 4x4 house in Kobe, Japan.
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ARCHITECT. Tadao Ando, a Japanese self-taught architect, is most known for his use of concrete as his primary construction material. Proclaimed to be “smooth as silk�, Tadao separated himself from other architects because of his belief in nature, light, and walls as essential elements to his design.
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4th
4 meters x 4 meters = 172 square feet
3rd
2nd
Ground
4x4 HOUSE Street Railway
Akashi Strait
Buildings
basement
SITE. Situated in Kobe, Japan, Tadao Ando chose the site due to it’s small area. Due to the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, Ando had a pedigree towards the area as well.
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ANALYSIS. The building itself is true to Ando’s style, minimal and functional. Given only a total space of 172 sq. feet to build around, Ando cleverly designed a home that was able to house a family of four by extending upwards, maximizing space.
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DOCUMENTS. Recreated plans through recorded measurements from books.
VIEWS. 4x4 House allows for optimal view towards the sea and privacy from street.
CIRCULATION. Simple, and linear, circulation is on the y and x-axis.
DIVISION. Form is divided into two spaces, usable space and stairs.
SPACE. Separated by five levels, each space serves a vital function for a small house.
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B
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Diagrams
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AXONOMETRIC. The primary form of the building is modular and balanced.
ABSTRACT DIAGRAMS. Analyzed the building abstract ideation.
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REFLECTION. International Dwelling was the single most insightful project we probably did this whole year. This project brought us up close to an architect that knows what’s good. Knowing what’s good and bad is one of the most important things anyone can know. By studying what my architect does, I was able to understand what truly makes an architect a great architect. I studied Tadao Ando and he showed me that simplicity of form and material is nothing to be laughed at. If anything, I learned that simplicity is much more complicated than any other style or shape there is out there. Tadao Ando showed me that with everything he does there is a purpose. Although, his forms are stark and clean, he is able to achieve complicated “experiences”. Using light, nature and walls, Tadao is able to achieve a heightened experience not through form but by walking through the space. He believed that architecture shouldn’t speak too loudly, and that nature and light should do most of the talking. Taking this I have tried to emulate it in my own project, specifically the last project; Motion Studio.
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MOTION STUDIO
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY. The last project of Arch 133 is about motion, specifically dancing. Each studio is given a college on campus and it is each person’s task to design a space that has two spaces, 2000 and 1000 sq. ft.. Relating to motion and to site this project is to test the students on what they’ve learned and to show the professors their skill.
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LIGHT. Done using a rope with lights and long exposure, I was able to capture motion depicted through light.
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SWINGING. A motion like this encompasses many directions and tracing it I started to understand my reach, range, and movement.
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DANCE. Analysis of Monica’s dance.
RANGE. Analysis of my range of motion.
Diagrams
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FAST MODELS. After the diagrammatic analysis of our motion studies, my task was to create as many models to get my ideas onto the table. Using cardboard and applicator sticks, I created 13 quick models that I was drawing from my diagrams. Incredibly interested in my swinging motion diagram I focused most of my energy into creating form from that one motion.
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FIRST STUDY MODEL. My first study model, it was largely successfull in telling me what I was doing wrong. From this model I moved away from surface applications that imply motion to the actual structure in motion. This first study model gave me valuable insight on what is important in realizing what is motion, and how to convey it.
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MONOCHROMATIC. This model is one of the very first models I created and gave me the overall “massing� form. This is also supposed to serve as a site model on the big site.
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AXIS MUNDI. The first drawing set we had to do for this assignment. It thoroughly helped my design, as I was drawing and making my models at the exact time. Putting my ideas onto paper made me understand my spaces better and influenced the way I layed out my design.
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COMPOSITE. The final drawing set that would be displayed during the show, the composite drawings is to show our final design in the form of drawing. Elevations, sections, floor and little moody were all incorporated onto a 18x24 bristol paper.
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REFINED STUDY MODEL. The first models created gave the idea for this model. The previous experiences influenced the three-motion boxes that creates the general form of this building. As well as exterior circulation, this model embodies all the ideas I wanted to push through to my final model.
1/8th FINAL MODEL. Done using the highest level of craft and purpose.
1/8th FIRST FLOOR FACADE. A three-wall corner window, and a open entrance.
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1/4th SECTION MODEL. Large scale detailed, section model of the space.
1/4th SECTION MODEL. Main materials were: clay, basswood, cardboard and acetate.
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REFLECTION. This was the last project of first year and it is only correct if it was a cumulation of all the skills we’ve learned this year. It was designed to show the professors what we have learned and what we could do. I took that chance to show the class what I am capable of. I wanted to prove to people that I had some skill. In simple, I wanted to be recognized. Drawing from everything we’ve learned this year, I strove to create the best project that I could. I wanted a project that had purpose, reason, and also a hint of reality in it. I didn’t want to create anythign that would be sculptural. I want to be able to look at it and say, one day that could be built. Motion studio was a great last project and I’m happy with my result.
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