ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO: EARTH S1, 2017
STUDENT BOOK JIAYANG CHEN (828770) STUDIO17: ISHITA CHATTERJEE
CONTENTS
1.0 THREE RELATIONSHIPS 1.1 - POINT / LINE / PLANE 1.2 - MASS 1.3 - FRAME & INFILL 2.0 HERRING ISLAND. SOMETHING LIKE A PAVILION 2.1 - SITE ANALYSIS 2.2 - CONCEPTACLE 2.3 - FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS 2.4 - FINAL DESIGN MODEL 3.0 – REFLECTION
1.0 THREE RELATIONSHIPS
1.1 - POINT / LINE / PLANE 1.2 - MASS 1.3 - FRAME & INFILL
1.1 - POINT / LINE / PLANE
My experiment at class was making three models separately, I was trying to explore the relationships among point, line and plane and how do they interact with each other. First model includes lines that intersect at the intersection points. Second model includes triangular planes that intersect on the intersection lines. Third model includes point that spread out to form a plane. When I put them together I found that the third model is a bit inharmonic with the first two since the forms were quite different. So, I started to consider if I could make it less points which can be seen as a line that can be the first step of the development from point to plane.
Model
Plan
2
Section
My model is straightforward as it is showing the development from a point to planes. Single separate point start from the beginning and interacts with other points and gets longer to form the line, and lines interact with each other in different directions and become wider and eventually form the plane.
1.2 - MASS
The drawing expresses a series of spaces of experience under the earth. Inspired by the concepts of mass and gravity in bunker structures. The drawing is a transition of experience from lightness and openness to increasing darkness and heaviness. To emphasize the mass and scale, several figures are placed on the structure to experience the space and connect the inside and outside. Light is applied to this structure in order to enrich the interaction between mass and light.
To better illustrate the idea of layers of staircases, I created a SketchUp model to express the spatial relationships of them.
1.3 - FRAME & INFILL Model
Frame & Infill Isometric drawing
The frame is built upon a hexagonal base and as it goes up, the hexagon starts to rotate, when it reaches the height to compose equilateral triangles, the rotation angle is 30 degrees. The hexagon continues to rotate and repeat the process; thus, the hexagon is rotated 60 degrees from the original base which matches the shape again. By connecting the vertices of three hexagons, 24 equilateral triangles are created. This is the formation of the frame. Considering the transparency, I choose the infill to fill every other triangle which creates a beautiful shadow pattern.
2.0 HERRING ISLAND. SOMETHING LIKE A PAVILION
2.1 - SITE ANALYSIS 2.2 - CONCEPTACLE 2.3 - FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS 2.4 - FINAL DESIGN MODEL
2.1 - SITE ANALYSIS SITE SELECTION
Herring island is a small man-made island located on the Yarra. The plants on the island are almost exclusively native. For most of the year the island can only be accessed by private boat, but during the summer months it can be visited by means of punt. Around the island several sculptural artworks by local artists can be found hidden amongst the trees, and a small art gallery operates for the summer season.
My goal was to design a pavilion which exists in harmony with the existing aesthetic of the island.
2.1 - SITE ANALYSIS
1. Circulation
2. Art pieces
3. Acoustic disturbance
4. Sunpath
5. Existing buildings
6. Topography
7. Plant
8. Wind
2.2 - CONCEPTACLE Model
2.2 - CONCEPTACLE The conceptacle model combines elements from my work in the three relationships to form a new composition. From point, line and plane, I draw the principle that is the development from point to line and eventually to plane. Not only shown in the plan, but also seen in the elevation. The idea of mass is also taken in the conceptacle as its underground structure, the multiple layers of staircases. Finally, the pavilion in conceptacle is the element from Frame and Infill, the incorporation of transparency by the application of skylight and it also connects to the development from plane to geometry.
Plan
APLACE FOR KEEPING SECRET
2.3 - FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS SITE PLAN 1:1000
A
SECTION A-A 1:500
A
The site chosen is at the west corner of Herring Island, there is a slope which could be used in my design. In this design, I make geometries more functional, I make points to be seats, lines to be rails and planes to be shelters. The secret of the design is expressed through a metaphor. The experience of the development of point to line, line to plane and eventually to geometry (pavilion). This design symbolizes the goal of our lives into simply geometry, the seat (point) at the beginning symbolizes the start of our journey on pursuing the goal, the pavilion at the top of the hill symbolizes the goal of ours. The steps and rails indicate the journey of our lives. However, there are also staircases symbolizing the lures in our lives, they seem like shortcuts straight from the beginning to the pavilion (goal), but in fact they are easy when you go downstairs, it is very difficult when you want to go upstairs to reach the pavilion. The stairs and rails are at the beginning for visitors to choose, it is the first choice, there is another staircase on half of the journey, it is for those who attempt the ‘shortcut’ and figure out they might miss some beautiful views in their lives if they do not try to climb the hill, however, the staircase on half way could also be a lure for those attempt the hill at the beginning. The secret hidden in the design informs us a truth that we should work step by step to achieve our goal, there is no such ‘shortcut’ in real lives, every single step we take makes us improved and developed further. Also pay attention to the beautiful views in the journey, there is no need to focus too much on the goal itself, the process is better than the result.
2.3 - FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS
PLAN OF PAVILION 1: 200
SECTION OF PAVILION 1: 200
PLAN OF TOILETS 1: 100
SECTION OF TOILETS 1: 100
2.4 - FINAL DESIGN MODEL Model
2.4 - FINAL DESIGN MODEL Model
3.0 REFLECTION By viewing back to what I have learnt and what I have done in the past 12 weeks in Studio Earth, I found it has been a truly engaging design experience. I initially did not understand the reason for us to leave the final design to the late of the semester, after these three exercises I realised that they allowed us to expand our understanding of the concepts and explore design elements in different perspectives. In the whole semester, we not only focus on design project, but also explored many media such as hand drawing, model making and digital modelling. It is also critical for us to choose appropriate representational form to use in our design. The most challenging part is the coordination of three ideas from previous work to form a conceptacle, I need to think carefully how they contribute to the design idea. Feedbacks from peers and tutor are helpful as providing me a good opportunity to realise the weakness of myself and often creating more possibilities of my design. Overall, it has been a wonderful experience in the first studio subject in the Architecture major, it is interesting to learn these approaches of the design process, I am looking forward to future studios during my course.