ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO: EARTH S1, 2016 EARTH BOOK_REVELATION THROUGH TIME
JIA SHUN (JOHNNY) XU 762122 SCOTT WOODS / TUTORIAL 12
CONTENTS: 1.0 THREE TECTONIC RELATIONSHIPS 1.1 Point / Line / Plane 1.2 Mass 1.3 Frame & InFIll
2.0 HERRING ISLAND - A PLACE FOR KEEPING SECRETS 2.1 Site analysis 2.2 Conceptacle 2.3 Design Development 2.4 Final Design drawings 2.5 Final Design Model
3.0 REFLECTION
4.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.0 THREE TECTONIC RELATIONSHIPS ABSTRACT THREE PRELIMINARY DESIGN EXERCISES: POINT/ LINE/ PLANE, MASS AND FRAME AND INFILL. EACH RELATING TO A EARTH RELATED SPACE, WHICH AIMED TO STIMULATE IDEAS AND SET A SOLID FOUNDATION, FOR MOVING INTO OUR FINAL DESIGN PROJECT
1.1 POINT / LINE / PLANE SPACE AS IT AFFECTS THE GROUND SURFACE “The tussle between the known and the unknown”
TERRAIN by Lebbeus Woods, 1999 The Terrain design by Lebbeus Woods was design precedence for my Point/ Line/ Plane model, as it represents perfectly that of the revealed and unrevealed, the tussle between chaos and harmony, darkness and light.
DESIGN CONCEPT My design concept is the revealing of the ground surface, through the inspiration of Lebbeus Wood’s Terrain model, his representation of chaos and harmony. Through various forms and materials, point, line and plane are represented as an experience of forceful revelation of the raw materiality below ground, through the forceful pull away of the surface skin and pinned to the surface. Where the the lines become the representation of a surface, all tied to one point on the surface - space itself affects the ground surface.
1.2 MASS Exploring space as an underground condition “Experience the overwhelming feelings of the underground�
HOUSE OF SILENCE by Kouichi Kimura Architects, 2012 The House of Silence in Shiga, Japan demonstrates mass through the solid and the void, the addition and subtraction of elements from the structure leaves the feeling of incompleteness. The use of the material concrete creates this feeling of heaviness and harmony. Thus bringing inspiration to my mass elevation to explore this idea of feelings and emotion
DESIGN CONCEPT As “mass” is the explored tectonic for this exercise, we focused on the underground. My design focuses on creating the mass overflow of emotions one experiences or associates with the underground. When I think of underground I think of chaos, the unknown, the mysterious underworld. Therefore, we associate various emotions and feelings when we visualise the underground experience. By using different colour to represent the emotions one experiences and associates the underground. The under ground or below surface, we associate the terms, “heaviness”, “darkness” and the “mysterious”, thus sprouts the feelings of fear, uncertainty, anger and with light, hope. The elevation drawing portrays that of the irrational, the underworld experience overwhelming with emotions.
1.3 FRAME AND INFILL EXPLORING THE SPACE ABOVE GROUND Lightness and transparency through its implied form
SERPENTINE PAVILION by Sou Fujimoto, 2013
The Serpentine Pavilion by Sou Fujimoto sparks inspiration from its minialistic elemental composition, utilising simple architectural elements to create the form of a “cloud�, yet it is transparent and open. However, the perspective of the pavilion changes, depending on the distance. The pavilion itself thus becomes an implied infill of space and void, but retaining its form of a frame depending on the users perspective.
DESIGN CONCEPT Taking inspiration from Sou Fujimoto’s Serpentine Pavilion design, my design explores the idea of the “implied” cube, a form that is represented by the void, where the void is defined by the frame. The chaotic frame structure is similar to that of a ‘cloud’ - irrational, uncontrolable propagtion. While the inner cube is rational, static and rigid in its infilled form. Making the structure seem to float, with the sense of lightness in weight sitting above ground.
2.0 HERRING ISLAND. A PLACE FOR KEEPING SECRETS “ Your secret is your prisoner; once you reveal it, you become its slave ” --- Solomon Ibn Gabirol
TOPOGRAPHY OF CHOOSEN SITE VEGETATION DENSITY OF THE SITE
2.1 SITE ANALYSIS A geographically fully enclosed island, that is seperated from the busy urban environment - secluded and lost. The island is man made, with native vegetation covering the whole island, which allows vistors to experience nature, dislocating users from the busy city environment, to a another threshold of unbounded free will of exploration and seclusion. The motion diagram and vegetation intensity diagrams were my focus when looking at the conceptacle, to have a better understanding and visualisation moving into development.
MOTION PATH DIAGRAM OF THE ISLAND
2.2 CONCEPTACLE The composition of all tectonic exercisesPoint/ Line/ Plane, Mass and Frame & Infill.
MIRROR CUBE TREEHOUSE HOTEL by Tham & Videgard Architects, 2010
What I like about this design is the simplicity in form, the idea is the exterior is camouflaged by its mirror surfaces which reflects its surroundings. The mirror cube, serves the function of a house, the hidden interior slowly reveals itself as people begin to explore and look into it.
2.2.1 CONCEPTACLE DESIGN CONCEPT The combination of all three tectonic exercises. My conceptacle design is simply the frame within the infill, which is the amalgamation of point/ line and plane to form the exterior. The void within the cube, becomes the infill in which then the frame sits. By utilising similar concept of light from the Mirror Cube Treehouse, the frame is reflected on the surface of the plane, creating a new dynamic composition. Moving into the idea of secrets, the function of light from within the cube creates a new dimension, a new experience, the revelation of a secret, only visible with light.
FOREST OF LIGHT by Sou Fujimoto, 2016
What I like about the Forest of Light by Sou Fujimito is the use of spotlights in repetition within a dark confined space. It blurs the fine line between what’s hidden and what’s revealed. By utilising the mirrors that reflect the light, it creates an infinite plane of spotlights, when in reality it’s not continuous. This reflection creates a new user experience, one that only exists when the lights are on, without the right factors the users experience would be completely different.
ONE MAN BUILDING by Bruna Canepa
“I’m amazed by space and the unimaginable spatial possibility, this is now my favourite research theme right now. I am obsessed with it!” The imagery illustration by Bruna Canepa, focuses on the idea of space within spaces. The painting is minimialistic and simple, yet it represents the imaginary world within a building, the “unimaginable spatial possibility”,
2.3 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT the revelation of a secret through time Two types of secrets, one is a secret that you must seek out and find, only then will the secret slowly reveal its true nature to you as you continue to pry. Another type of secret, is one you can’t reveal even if you pry, its one that stays hidden with time, only time will reveal the hidden. My design for secrets is one where curiosity on Herring Island will lead you to the pavilion hidden away on the island, however, the real secret is one that only reveals itself at a specific time. The time when the island is quiet, isolated and unaccessible by humans - the time of night. With the aid of my conceptacle design, moving into the final design of secret ‘s. The conceptacle design with the use of light as a function to reveal a secret, should aim to create an imaginary world experience within a space, similar to Bruna Canepa’s illustration.
2.4 FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS
SITE PLAN DRAWING HIGHEST ELEVATION ON SITE 12 METRES DRAWING REPRESENTATION OF MOTION ON THE ISLAND. SECTION CUT A:A
SECTION A: A ELEVATION DRAWING OF THE SITE REPRESENTATION OF MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE PAVILION STRUCTURE AND SECRETS.
FLOORPLAN OF UNDERGROUND FLOOR OF STRUCTURE LABELLED WITH SPACES OF FUNCTION SECTION CUT A:A
ABSTRACT ILLUSTRATION OF SECRETS ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURE OF THE SITE, ITS LOCATION AND MATERIALITY FROM THE WIND WALLS, TO THE CUBE WITH FRAME STRUCTURE.
ISOMETRIC REPRESENTATION OF SECRETS CUBE SECTION CUT A:A
2.5 FINAL MODEL
DETAILS OF THE FINAL SITE MODEL MODEL SCALE IS 1:100 SHOWS THE REVELATION OF THE SECRET THROUGH LIGHT, WHERE THE DESIGN OF A LIGHT SWITCH ENABLES THE VIEWER THE ON-OFF EXPERIENCE OF THIS SECRET.
3.0 REFLECTION The experimentation with the three tectonic exercises, point/ line/ plane, mass and frame & infill in the first 6 weeks, definitely set the scene to fully explore and engage with idea and concept development moving into the final project. The tectonic exercises allowed for a broader and deeper theoretical approach when executing the tasks. This definitely was a challenge, to be unrestricted by the typical functions of architecture, I could freely and critically design, pushing my own personal limits and boundaries. Setting up a good fundamental base in critically thinking in architecture. In Studio Earth this semester I learnt that the only way to succeed is if you push yourself, and take risks, don’t limit yourself of potentially breaking away from the brief, and don’t be afraid to be more abstract in
thinking
and
representing
your
work,
rather
than
presenting
perfect
image
renders
of
a
design.
This subject has definitely been the highlight of my semester, I do look forward to continuing my studies in architecture, and studio subjects to further my knowledge and understanding of what it means to design in architecture.
4.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY BRUNA CANEPA, (1988), ONE MAN BUILDING [ONLINE]. Available at: http://colectivofuturo.com/bruna-canepa-is-a-colectivofuturist/ [Accessed 6 June 2016]. KOUICHI KIMURA, (2012), HOUSE OF SILENCE [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.archdaily.com/316582/house-of-silence-formkouichi-kimura-architects [Accessed 6 June 2016]. LEBBEUS WOODS, (1999), TERRAIN [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.widewalls.ch/artist/lebbeus-woods/ [Accessed 6 June 2016]. SOU FUJIMOTO, (2016), FOREST OF LIGHT [ONLINE]. Available at: http://assets.coolhunting.com/coolhunting/2016/04/18/large_ MDW_Sou_Fujimoto_COS_Forest_hero.jpg [Accessed 6 June 2016]. SOU FUJIMOTO, (2013), SERPENTINE GALLERY 2013 [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.domusweb.it/en/ architecture/2013/06/7/sou_fujimoto_serpentinegallery.html [Accessed 6 June 2016]. THAM & VIGEGARD ARCHITECTS, (2010), MIRROR CUBE TREEHOUSE HOTEL [ONLINE]. Available at: http://beyouspirit.com/themirrorcube-tree-house-hotel-sweden/ [Accessed 6 June 2016].