schematic design

The team created several study models using simple materials to further explore how ‘community’ might be represented as an inhabitable structure. These models considered early discussion with the students, as well as team members’ own ideas of community.

From the initial study models, the team chose to focus on three ideals of community interaction: gathering, sharing, and connecting. Two prototype study models were designed to incorporate these ideals, one with a socio-fugal approach (seating facing outward) and one with a socio-petal approach (seating facing inward).

The study model with the sociopetal approach offered a way for users to interact with one another while interacting with the structure itself. The early prototype included options for seating as well as a partition of stiff, kraft paper tubes.

The tubes would display the students’ responses to the goal setting/community activity.

In the final prototype, the layout of fixed elements is refined, and mobile cube stools are introduced as an additional means of flexibility within the structure. The pvc pipe integration has been simplified, offering a visual representation of the connection between diverse elements in a community.