Ethan Chiang | Core 1 Portfolio - Yale School of Architecture - Fall 2020

ET HAN CHIANG

Yale School of Architecture Master of Architecture [M.Arch I] Core 1 Studio Portfolio // Fall 2020

Fragments: An Image Object inspired by Construct A+A by Barbara Kasten

VOL 01 12.2020

PREFACE The Art of Decay...

This portfolio contains 3 projects I completed during Core 1 Studio at Yale University.

Looking back,

perhaps what ties these

projects together is an interest I developed in decay - in how things break apart, and come back together to create new relationships. In Project 1A & 1B, this interest manifests itself formally into material qualities of light, color and reflection. Project 2 looks towards the potentials of mud and bamboo construction in the tropics, how these materials can provide a means for collectivity, and withstand the effects of flooding due to climate change.

Thank you Nikole Bouchard and Christina Zhang for your teachings and guidance, I have learnt so much.

CONTENTS CORE 1 STUDIO // FALL 2020

01

FRAGMENTS

Project 1A: Image Object

02

ELUSIVE VOIDS

Project 1B: Image Volume

03

MUDDY WATERS

Project 2: Plan Unplanned

[p. 4]

[p.12]

[p.24]

01

FRAGMENTS PROJECT 1A: IMAGE OBJECT

Yale School of Architecture Core 1 Studio // Fall 2020 Critic: Nikole Bouchard TF: Christina Zhang

Project 1A: Image Object was the first of 3 projects in the MArch I Core I studio. The exploration began by selecting an image from a pool of artists, analysing its visual qualities through drawing, then translating this into a 3D object by model making. I chose Construct A+A by Barbara Kasten (an 8 x 10 polaroid photo of staged objects) for its intruiging qualities of light, color and reflection.

Am I staring into an endless vista? Or is that visa reflecting back at me? It doesn’t make sense. Then again, it’s not supposed to.

Confused? Good. Then my job here is done.

Don’t trust your eyes. One can never really believe what one sees. This lens was crafted just for you, constructed to fit the naive, gullible and untrained eye. This is Barbara Kasten’s world, and you’re just living in it.

01

01. Construct A+A by Barbara Kasten 02. Image analysis [Above] 03. Image object final model [Opposite]: Foam core, reflective mylar, bristol paper 4

5

IMAGE ANALYSIS: READING & MISREADING

6

Project 1A: Image Object

7 Project 1B: Image Volume

Project 2: Plan Unplanned

8

9

10

11

02

ELUSIVE VOIDS PROJECT 1B: IMAGE VOLUME

Yale School of Architecture Core 1 Studio // Fall 2020 Critic: Nikole Bouchard TF: Christina Zhang

Whilst Project 1A focused on the visual aspects of an object’s exterior, 1B looked towards qualities of a volume’s interior.

Barbara Kasten’s Constructs photography series

were

highly

disorientating

and

confusing, but the images were actually constructed from simple, highly-recognizable objects. Playing off this concept, I envisioned a space that would celebrate confusion, color, and light. The exterior would be objectlike, with simple architectural geometries as apertures - acting like a camera lens in which one would see space. Conversely, the interior space would be distorted and complex, with no clear sense of orientation. Model making and photography were the primary means of investigation in this exercize.

02

01. Concept sketches [Above] 02. Interior view of final Image Volume 03. 3D printed study models [Opposite] 12

13

14

A

01. Image volume sectional model [Opposite] 02. Diagram, section, plan & contextual exquisite corpse plan [Above] 15

Project 1A: Image Object

A

Project 1B: Image Volume

Project 2: Plan Unplanned

IMAGE VOLUME: AN EXQUISITE CORPSE

MODEL PHOTOGRAPHY: INTERIOR VIEWS

16

Project 1A: Image Object

17 Project 1B: Image Volume

Project 2: Plan Unplanned

MODEL PHOTOGRAPHY: ELUSIVE VOIDS

01

01. 3D printed sectional study models 02. Image Volume final models [Opposite]: Museum board, 3D prints, rectangular dowels, gold & silver spray paint 18

19

20

Project 1B: Image Volume

Project 2: Plan Unplanned

FRACTURES: A SIMPLE COMPLEX

01. Plaster & liquid paint model [Opposite] 02. Fractured plaster study model 21

Project 1A: Image Object

02

22

23

03

MUDDY WATERS PROJECT 2: PLAN UNPLANNED

Yale School of Architecture Core 1 Studio // Fall 2020 Critic: Nikole Bouchard TF: Christina Zhang

Project 2 began by investigating a painting’s potential to create plans through lines, patterns and figures. The program was a 10,000 sq ft spiritual center and daycare; student’s could site their building anywhere in the world. I chose Homage à Verner Panton

by Zaha Hadid, and situated my center for women and children in Dhaka, Bangladesh - a city that increasingly houses climate refugees.

My project was interested in architecture of impermanence, the potentials of mud and bamboo construction, as well as a building’s relationship with land and fluctuating water levels. The idea was that mud - a material that naturally decays, and thus requires constant labor, could be a means for collectivity and participatory design. The center would be a place to empower women and children with knowledge to a build a sustainable future.

01. Plan oblique concept sketch [Above] 02. Longitudinal sections over time [Opposite] 24

Project 1A: Image Object

25 Project 1B: Image Volume

Project 2: Plan Unplanned

SITE ANALYSIS

Washpur is home to many climate refugees from South Bangladesh (most of whom are CONCEPT COLLAGE Water floods through the canyon-like entrance during monsoon rains 26

women and children). The chosen site engages the waterfront, and lies on the periphery of unplanned and informal settlements.

Project 1A: Image Object

27 Project 1B: Image Volume

Project 2: Plan Unplanned

COLLAGE CHARETTES: PLAN MAKING

28

Project 1A: Image Object

29 Project 1B: Image Volume

Project 2: Plan Unplanned

30

31

32

33

34

Project 2: Plan Unplanned

MATERIAL STUDIES

3 cups of Soil 2 cups of Water 1 cup of Glue

2 cups of Soil 3 cups of Plaster 1 cup of Water Recycled Plastic Recycled Paper

Project 1B: Image Volume

2 cups of Soil 3 cups of Plaster 1 cup of Water 1 cup of Rockite

2 cups of Soil 3 cups of Plaster 1 cup of Water Recycled Mirror

02

2 cups of Soil 3 cups of Plaster 1 cup of Water 1 cup of Wood Stain Bamboo Skewers Butter board

01. Clay/bamboo model & 3D scan collage 02. Mud, plaster, bamboo material studies 35

Project 1A: Image Object

3 cups of Soil 2 cups of Water 1 cup of Glue Bamboo Skewers

36

37

ARCHITECTURE OF IMPERMANENCE

Embracing the Natural Elements: Children read and learn in open-air classrooms

The Water Shall Come: Water becomes a part of everyday life. The community becomes well adept to handling the challenges of flooding

38 36

Lets Get Muddy: The resilient community participates in rebuilding the center every year

Project 2: Plan Unplanned Project 1B: Image Volume 39 37

Project 1A: Image Object

The Show Must Go On: Despite the heavy monsoon rains and flooding, life prevails.

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thank you W: studiochiang.com IG: @studiochiang E: ethan.chiang@yale.edu