The University of Hong Kong Faculty of Architecture BA Architectural Studies
Fong Sam Zung
ARCH1079 Design1 SEMESTER 1, 2020-21 ACADEMIC PORTFOLIO
Making a room in the city Step one: Scale
Neighbourhood Drawings
Neighbourhood urban and rural
My neighbourhood is Kowloon city where several tall buildings blend into surrounding old tenements. The communication between the ancient chinese architecture in Kowloon walled city park and surrounding buildings also marked the history of my neighbourhood. The chosen object is bike because it represents the interaction and linkage between different spaces. Cycling in the Carpenter Road Park was also one of my childhood memories.
Building Drawings
Building private and public Standing among short old tenements, the building I live in is tall and eye catching, which represents the fast development of Kowloon city. The chosen object is a shoe rack as it is a private facility in public space. It presents the interaction between private and public areas, just like how urban and rural areas blend together in Kowloon city.
Room Drawings
Detail inside and outside The details of the window is investigated because window is the media between interior and exterior. By observing the details, we can discover how it works and the mechanism behind. This window is located beside the windowsill in my room where I always read books and enjoy the view from the window. The chosen object is the window handle as it changes with the opening of window.
Detail Drawings
Making a room in the city Step two: Methods
Diagram site model I decided to create a negative space model (solid and void) to show the open space in my chosen site. It is to investigate pedestrian experience within these spaces – wide vs narrow, short vs tall. The diagrammatic model turns out to look like tunnels where people pass through them to different places. While the site model only shows realistic depiction, the diagrammatic model and drawings presents the concept of what people see and feel when they walk through the streets.
Diagram Analysis Perspective
Diagram Analysis Plan
Diagram Analysis Section
Iterations
In my chosen site, there is a small open space surrounded by a supermarket, and a dessert shop. To my observation, there is always Filipinos and Thai gather there. Therefore, I decide to design a small sitting place around the tree to let people meet, rest and eat dessert there. I tried to continue my previous concept of contrast and negative spaces in my three designs.
Programme There are bedroom, pantry, balcony, study area, storage area and bathroom in this tiny 3m x 3m x 4m house. Viewing it from outside, it is a cube-like structure. However, when you enter the house, you will explore different tall and short, narrow and wider spaces. It is like an adventure walking around the house.
NL Architects dreamed up this cubic design with a hollow center, providing for a terraced internal structure and a 1,500 seat grand theater.
Inspirations Kazuyo Sejima+Ryue Nishizawa , SANAA
Zollverein School of Management & Design The seemingly coincidental organization of the openings, windows in three different sizes, create an unusual interaction with the surroundings and the interior.
Exploration
Trial 1 I tried to use thick white cardboard in my first attempt. However, I came up with the idea of private vs public space where my house allow people to interact with. Pedestrians can rest on my house so that it is not just a private room i own but also a public facility that poeple can share.
Trial 2 After the first trial, I used white foam to increase thickness this time. I also changed the arrangements of walls to allow people walk, sit and interact with my house. However, I redo the model again because I had a new concept for the placement of windows.
Experience of heights – exploration of spaces inside the house. Public and Private – People can sit, walk and climb around the house and interact with it. It is not only a house for living, but also a public facility. Dormers- There are only dormers in this house but no side windows because the house is located at the centre of a crowded street with many people walking around. Dormers allow natural sun light to get into every area of the house while the design of no side windows ensured the privacy.
5m above the ground
20m above the ground
25m above the ground
"Cube" 30cm*30cm*40cm White cardboard and foam
Fong Sam Zung