development book david boyd
The building is intended to act as both a research institute and sanatarium. The large constructed form would act as a newly formed landscape in which up to four residents could live. The intention of the building is to act as a desolate resort, to which residents would come to separate themselves from society, acting similarly to an artist or writers residency. The form of the building was arrived at through a series of tests and processes that explored aspects of scale, site context and spatial quality. Situated on the old Steetly Magnesite Works in Hartlepool, the architecture is intended to reflect such processes whilst also creating a new reference point upon a featureless post-industrial landscape. The building provides spaces that are non-defined, allowing the residents to inhabit large spaces in the way they choose. Provisions are provided in two forms; private and communal, allowing the residents to choose either how social or secluded their actions are. Their behavioural patterns would be monitored by on-site staff who would assess and research the psychological effects that living in seclusion has on the inhabitants.
contents
1-2
-
designing an apparatus
3-4
-
testing the apparatus
6 - 15
-
application to site
16 - 19
-
three dimensional translation
20 - 21
-
placement of form
22 - 29
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final design / program description
drawing restraint 2 - matthew barney
drawing restraint 2 - matthew barney
pulling strings - ben dunham
designing an apparatus
situationist drawing device - ji soo han
initial development sketches
The initial concept for an apparatus was to attempt to map the movements inherent in the process of drawing. I aimed to achieve this by creating an augmented drawing board which transfers the user’s movements into a secondary drawing. The concept derived from an interest in the artist Matthew Barney, with particular reference to his Drawing Restraint series.
apparatus development drawings
The finished apparatus was a mechanism which mapped the movement of both the horizontal and vertical drawing implements (ruler and set square). By doing this it is controlled by the user’s hand movements which, in turn, outputs a secondary image of the drawing process.
drawing board construction
calibration of drawing board
elevational study
elevational study
testing the apparatus
1:20 plan study
1:50 plan study
1:100 plan study
Initial testing of the apparatus involved a series of calibration drawings. The calibration exercises took the form of a series of architectural drawings (elevations, plans, sections) of the university campus. Scale, detail and repetition were used to explore what different effects were outputted by the apparatus.
1:200 plan study
1:500 plan study
1:2500 plan study
1:500 plan study
1:1250 plan study
1:10000 plan study
application to site
site readings diagram
The apparatus was used to process the chosen site, the old site of Steetly Magnesite Works in Hartlepool. As the site had been recently cleared, it is entirely featureless, providing no reference points. Due to this, a series of site readings were produced, each taken from the central points of the sites 8 preexisting settler tanks. The site readings were in the form of a series of 360째 scans of the surrounding horizon, each scan being broken into 12 drawings. A drawing was only made when a deviation was read on the horizon. The secondary drawings, which were produced as a result of the site readings, were then stitched together to form a series of 8 separate datum lines.
silo one readings
silo two readings
silo three readings
silo four readings
silo five readings
silo six readings
silo seven readings
silo eight readings
stitched datum lines
1
2
4
5
5
3
2
1
4
3
4
1 13 12
9 11 16
10
8
16
3
2
4
14 15
1
5
6
7
7 4
6
5
7
3
2
three dimensioanl translation
2 3
1
5
10 11 20 30 7 27 9 19 28
14
15
13
21
30
29
4 6 8 16 23 24 26 22 17 18 25
12
extrusion build up study (elevation)
extrusion diagram (plan)
To translate the datum lines into three-dimensional forms, each datum drawing was read as a series of overlapping intersections, building up on top of one another to create a range of complex folds and shapes. For this process, each enclosed shape represents one level of extrusion, each projecting perpendicular from the surface of the paper. The maximum extrusion distance for each drawing was 43m (average radius of the settler tanks). By using this constraint, a drawing constructed of 16 enclosed shapes, the extrusion distance would be 2.68m, each building up from the one before.
initial extrusion model
The extrusion system was explored via both physical and computer modelling. The forms created ranged from extremely basic to complex, depending upon the nature of the drawing from which it derived.
further extrusion models
digital extrusion models
development models
Plan 1:500
initial form axonometric
initial plan study
Once the three dimensional forms were determined, one was selected based on the amount of inhabitable space inherent in its form. Drawings were produced to explore the scale and placement of the building form.
placement studies
Site Plan - 1:1250
development axonometric
development sketches
placement and form
building profile
The placement of the building was decided to be parallel to the train tracks that run between the site and Hartlepool. As such, the building can be read as a strong gesture towards the existing landscape by blocking and framing the horizon, attempting to complicate the primordial reference point of man and the earth. To express this, spaces within the form were filled in in elevation to create both inhabitable form and a monolithic presence against the horizon, referencing the abstraction process that generated its form.
axonometric details
north facade
site axonometric
south facade
final design institute of solitude
The building is intended to act as both a research institute and sanatarium. The large constructed form would act as a newly formed landscape in which up to four residents could live. The intention of the building is to act as a desolate resort to which residents would come to separate themselves from normal society, acting similarly to an artist or writers residency. Each resident is provided with a large private living area which they can inhabit as they choose. Extra provisions are also provided, such as a gym, library and swimming pool. Each of these provisions exist in two separate states; private and communal. As a resident, one could choose to use all private functions, separating themselves from other residents. Another may choose to use communal provisions, integrating themselves with others. The decisions made by the residents (communal vs private) are monitored and assessed as to the psychological effects such an environment has on individuals. The staff are located within a separate section of the building, which prevents any outside contact to the participating test subjects.
selected datum line
final site axonometric
The building is intended to be seen as a monolithic structure that complicates and obscures the horizon, creating a newly abstracted reference point against the sky.
axonometric of final form
final model
The facades and three dimensional forms were designed to create elongated spaces, extending out towards the horizon, whilst also creating a strong profile against the horizon for people viewing it externally.
final model
C-C
B-B
A-A
A-A
+2
II
+2
communal library
room four
room two
room one
communal gym
individual gyms
III
IV
A-A
A-A
+1
I
+1
canteen
lecture theatre
library reception A-A
VI
A-A
0 0
individual swimming pools
meeting room
individual libraries
office
monitoring room
communal area
A-A
A-A
V
IIX
-1 -1
communal swimming pool
room three
staff accomodation
VII
A-A
A-A
-2
C-C
B-B
-2
swimming pool
test / residents buildings Provisions are split into private and communal, forcing the residents to choose whether or not to interact. The individual spaces are separated by thick walls, further accentuating the feeling of separation within the building. Due to the large personal spaces provided, a resident may inhabit this space for their entire stay if they choose.
staff gym
guest rooms
staff building
plans
The building for the staff houses all necessary provisions such as a swimming pool, gym library and canteen. The staff building is separated to the test building by a two hundred meter long external walkway, creating a disconnection between the two elements of the building.
1:500
section
1:500
section a-a
1:500
section b-b
150mm sandwhich insulation corrugated paper board caulker isolation layer
triple glazing window frame flashing
steel reinforced
The material of the building is largely concrete, allowing the building fabric to create sculpted spaces. The cantilevered nature of the building is also a reason such a construction technique was chosen.
structural wall tie
backer rod and caulk dpm + floor covering welded wire fabric 300mm reinforced concrete
1:20
section c-c
gym corridor
room one
communal library
room two
The intention is for the building to be a large and desolate form, encouraging the residents to inhabit the space in the way they desire. The intention is for the spaces to also enhance the feeling of separation by directing all views outwards to the horizon. The aim is to allow residents to be able to reside for a long period of time whilst having as little human contact as they wish. The buildings relationship with the horizon is highlighted by horizontal slits that sit at eye level, framing the view towards the horizon.
outdoor area
main corridor
room three
individual swimming pool