ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ASSEMBLY 2021 University of Edinburgh ARCH08004 Final Portfolio Jiayi Liu B177824 Course Title: AD: Assembly 2021 Course Code: ARCH08004 Submission: Final Portfolio Name: Jiayi Liu Student Number: B177824
CONTENT · Does Architecture Care? NO · Stair & Punishment · Final Desgin
· Close In
OCT. 10TH, 2074
Rainy, Today is the 73rd birthday. I was sent to my "new home," the old Crookhey Hall, which my children called "a warm family for the elderly." I love the environment around the house, the seashore next to my window, and the birds singing in the trees. I can't remember very well, but those endless stairs were indelibly printed on my brain……
NO Oct. 11th, 2074 Sunny The axonometric drawing shows my daily routine in the house. I felt like I am trapped in a maze with a horrible monster called "Stair." I am too weak to beat him, so I have to stand this. He is quiet during the day, but I know he will raise his unmoved, spooky face only to me during the night.
Identify Threshhold
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
03
"I have absolutely no choice except being what you call reasonable, you need not worry." The Hearing Trumpet
"If I lost my memory, at least I will hope that I can stay at where I once acquired them." said Mom
"I hate that I cannot walk as fast as usual. Admittedly, I hate stairs!" said Grandma
"I am never lonely, Galahad. Or rather I never suffer from loneliness." The Hearing Trumpet
Visual Diary
Oct. 13th, 2074 Sunny, I get the collection of old photos today, with some words I collected during young ages. The words are so true. I can understand their feeling cause I miss my children and old fellows in my hometown nowadays.
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
04
Secondary Bedroom
0101
Toilet
Main Bedroom
0102
Toilet
0103
Spiral Stairs
0004
Medical Consultation Suit
0201
0003
Kitchen
Oct. 14th, 2074 Windy, The building has many functions, which satisfied everything I need, but who cares
0002
Communal Space
about what I want. A lot of visitors come here to appreciate the body of "Stair" every weekend.
0001
-0101
Reception Storage
They take beautiful pictures of him that I could never imagine how beautiful the monster is. Those young people always actively express their worries about me, but the only thing I care about is reading.
0301
0202
Exploded Projection
Reading Room
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
05
Final Model
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
06
Stairs & Punishment
Oct. 16th, 2074 Rainy, My knees hurt badly today, but I still have to battle with the monster "Stair." Yesterday, I complained about the daily activity, like fighting desperately with the unbeatable monster, to a young nurse. But all this was in vain. She is and will continue to be the most enthusiastic person who pushed me to fight. She always said: "Oh dear, it's good for you!"
Oct. 17th, 2074 Sunny, Many people told me that becoming forgettable is a natural gift, and I have to say that it's a lie! When you stay in a cage with a monster and gradually forget about the happiest things that happened, you will go crazy! The crucial problem is not living with a beast but living in a cage with strangers and unfamiliar objects. Mama is always right: "If I lost my memory, at least I will hope that I can stay at where I once acquired them."
Form Analysis
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
09
Parti of the Design
Escher, Relativity, 1953 "Impossible Construction" series "I can't keep from folling around with irrefutable creatinties" http://www.johncoulthart.com/ feuilleton/2015/10/07/relativity/
Oct. 19th, 2074 Windy,
Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Carceri VII, 1760,
It's depressive to see Piranesi's Carceri in the house today cause I think I am currently live in the drawing. I ask why they
Etching
hanged that on the wall. They said the architect of the house appreciated the beauty of those complex forms. All right,
https://www.wikiart.org/en/giovanni-battista-
I enjoyed the beauty of those geometric form either, but why did you realise them to punish me.
Concept & Precedents
piranesi/carceri-vii-1760
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
10
Stair Model & Section
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
11
Oct. 22nd, 2074 Sunny, My children and grandchildren come here to visit me today! Although they sent me here, I never blamed them. They thought I would be well-groomed in a "Care Home," but that's not what I care about. My little children were not able to put themselves in my shoes, I understand them, and I still love them so much. My little granddaughter is cute and funny, who makes me laugh. I think she made a good friend with the monster "Stair," they played hide and seek all day. I see, the beast is a wonderful naughty playmate from a child's perspective, but not for me.
Framework Model
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
12
Oct. 24th, 2074 Sunny, I go to the seashore today. It's fantastic to leave the house and take a rest from the endless fighting. Honestly, when I look at the monster "Stair" far away, I can appreciate his appearance either, but it's just unpleasant to fight fierce battles.
Formwork Model
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
13
Oct. 25th, 2074 Cloudy, I enjoy my own time in the top attic, which is a reading room! Nobody wants to climb there to disturb me, although I had to tangle with the monster for an hour.
Formwork Model
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
14
Oct. 27th, 2074 Cloudy, I heard that my old friend died yesterday evening. I locked myself in the room for a whole day. She was always my best friend for the past sixty years, and I couldn't see her for the last time. Maybe the god thinks she is skilful enough to climb the ladder to heaven, and apparently, I am a non-qualified climber, constantly practising in the house. She is always ahead of me.
Formwork Model
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
15
Oct. 28th, 2074 Windy, The pronunciation of "74" means "angry to die" in Chinese. I am not angry but hopeless because my life and my body are not under control. Tell you a secrete: I hate the "Stair" because I am jealous of his possession of an immortal body. Still, we have some similarity: we both fear the power of nature.
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
16
Oct. 30th, 2074 Windy, I once joined in diabolo hobby group in the park with my husband. Every time I climbed the tower, the spiral stair always reminds me of the shape of the old diabolo. I missed my mobility during the time. Is it an illusion that I think sometimes I can see my husband when I look out from the skylight? I know he is always waiting for me, primping myself to go downstairs.
Totemic Object
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
17
In the first part of the presentation, I look at Crookhey Hall from a 73-year-old lady's perspective, criticising the information asymmetries between residents and architects. Responding to the question "does architecture care," my answer is "no." However, thinking about the question "does architecture care" in a broader context, most designers have to deal with the question during every design. Some professional architects may design perfect aesthetic buildings, but they may fail to understand customers' real needs. It doesn't mean that designers should always take human needs as a priority, but the perfect equilibrium point between aesthetics and functions is worth finding. The diary also metaphorically reveal the various meaning of "Stair." 1. An element in architecture, connected space vertically 2. A physical barrier that an elderly can't comeover—— "the monster 'stair'." 3. A path to the death ——"ladder to heaven". 4. Immortal artificial element——"his possession of an immortal body". 5. Part of the memory——"the spiral stair always reminds me of the old diabolo." 6. Assessment of the mobility of a person——"the beast is a wonderful naughty playmate from a child's perspective, but not for me".
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
18
Final Design
The following section will show some design details from plan to section and exploded axonometric drawing. All the intervention to Crookhey Hall is made to emphasise the punishment of climbing stairs in any building for older people. From my perspective, one can never fully stand in other's shoes to design, and thus architecture cannot care.
Site Plan
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
20
Site Collage
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
21
Reading Room
Medical Consultation Suit Reading Room
Toilet Main Bedroom Secondary Bedroom
Kitchen
Communal Space
Receotion Toilet
Storage
Intervention Plan - Basement
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
22
Reading Room
Medical Consultation Suit Reading Room
Toilet Main Bedroom Secondary Bedroom
Kitchen
Communal Space
Receotion Toilet
Storage
Intervention Plan - Ground Floor
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
23
Reading Room
Medical Consultation Suit Reading Room
Toilet Main Bedroom Secondary Bedroom
Kitchen
Communal Space
Receotion Toilet
Storage
Intervention Plan - First Floor
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
24
Reading Room
Medical Consultation Suit Reading Room
Toilet Main Bedroom Secondary Bedroom
Kitchen
Communal Space
Receotion Toilet
Storage
Intervention Plan - Second Floor
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
25
Reading Room
Medical Consultation Suit Reading Room
Toilet Main Bedroom Secondary Bedroom
Kitchen
Communal Space
Receotion Toilet
Storage
Intervention Plan - Third Floor
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
26
Reading Room
0301
Medical Consultation Suit
0201
Reading Room
0202
Toilet
0103
-0101
Main Bedroom
0102 0101
Secondary Bedroom
Kitchen
0003
Communal Space
0002
Reception
0004 0001
Toilet
Storage
-0101
Resolved Plan - Basement
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
27
Reading Room
0301
Medical Consultation Suit
0201
0003
Reading Room
0202
0002 Toilet
0103
Main Bedroom
0102 0101
0004
0001
Secondary Bedroom
Kitchen
0003
Communal Space
0002
Reception
0004 0001
Toilet
Storage
-0101
Resolved Plan - Ground Floor
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
28
Reading Room
0301
Medical Consultation Suit
0201
Reading Room
0202
0103
0102
Toilet
0103
0101
Main Bedroom
0102 0101
Secondary Bedroom
Kitchen
0003
Communal Space
0002
Reception
0004 0001
Toilet
Storage
-0101
Resolved Plan - Second Floor
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
29
Reading Room
0301
Medical Consultation Suit
0201
Reading Room
0202
0201 Toilet
0103
Main Bedroom
0102 0101
Secondary Bedroom
0202
Kitchen
0003
Communal Space
0002
Reception
0004 0001
Toilet
Storage
-0101
Resolved Plan - Second Floor
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
30
Reading Room
0301
Medical Consultation Suit
0201
Reading Room
0202
Toilet
0103
Main Bedroom
0102 0101
Secondary Bedroom
0301
Kitchen
0003
Communal Space
0002
Reception
0004 0001
Toilet
Storage
-0101
Resolved Plan - Third Floor
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
31
Technical Section Drawing
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
32
Illustrative Section
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
33
The little sketches above show the investigation of stairs. The little practice helps me imagining the form of stairs in Crookhey Hall and expressing them in the final axonometric drawing.
Technical Cut Away Projection
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
34
I used Procreate to collage cutaway projection with other parts of the Crookhey Hall. From the projection, the complexity of stairs and the height of them is demonstrated. There is no proper renovation that can make the building a good place for older people to live.
Cut Away Projection
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
35
Exploded Drawing
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
36
Secondary Bedroom
0101
Toilet
Main Bedroom
0102
Toilet
0103
Spiral Stairs
The exploded drawings depict the functions of the "Care Home." I split all function rooms
0004
Medical Consultation Suit
0201
to the end of each staircase to maximise the
0003
theme of my project —the punishment of stairs.
0002
Kitchen
Communal Space
Reflection: The building structure and building envelope
Reception
0001
are not adequately expressed in the exploded
Storage
-0101
drawing. I think another exploded drawing should be done and layering up with the current one. However, the project's emphasis is not the envelope, but the stairs, so my picture
0301
Reading Room
0202
is still successfully present the thesis.
Illustrative Exploded Drawing
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
37
Close In
As I already expressed in the diary, Crookhey Hall is beautiful and attractive, both inside and outside. Therefore, when I imagined Crookhey Hall in 2074, I wonder about the merging between modern technology and the environment. Then I drew the intervention drawing on the left to show that the heating system will be renovated and more plantation will be added to build a garden.
Intervention Drawing
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
39
Looking closer into the Main Hall, which is the common area of my group, I drew the plan and section to demonstrate its original form. In my final design, I retain this hall as a communal space for older people.
Plan, Cross Section, and Elevation
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
40
The framework model demonstrates the route from the ground floor to the first floor. From my perspective, the storey height is not friendly enough for the elderly to live. Refelction: However, I think I did not correctly demonstrate the vaulted roof, improving my cutting wood board in the rib shape and bonding them together.
Framework Model and Routes
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
41
The plan illustrate the route from Room 0011 to the entrance of the main stair.
The drawing shows the surface drawing of room 0011 in 2021, when Crookhey Hall is a school.
Developed Surface Drawing: Room 0011
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
42
The plan with shadow demonstrate how to climb up to the first floor from the ground floor.
The technical drawing show the geometric shape of the walls and ground in the ratio of 1:25. The Room 0103 in the year 2021 is a science lab.
Developed Surface Drawing: Room 0103
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
43
Sketch Formwork Model
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
44
My original intervention to the main hall ambitiously intended to make the stairs some functional space for the elderly to use. However, I found my personal understanding of "stairs", and "functional" is not what old people are thinking. Therefore, I shift my concept into something criticising about care home design.
Sketch Formwork Model Collage
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
45
Reading Room Plan
Floor Plan
Roof Plan
Section Drawing
Sketch of Model
I mentioned the reading room in the dairy, where the old lady liked the most in the house. I also designed the skylight where she got her illusion. The thick wall creates a sense of security, and the interaction between the texture of the wall and the light is beautiful. I hope she will enjoy her peaceful reading time here.
Close In Competition: Reading Room
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
46
Reflection: The whole project is about a question, "Does architecture care." My response to the question is "No." Therefore, I use all the intervention to Crookhey Hall to stress the absurdity of care home design and criticise people's conventional understanding of "taking care." As nobody can stand in others' shoes, architects can achieve no excellent care home design. Otherwise, I believe architecture can satisfy people's physical needs, but the spiritual requirements vary from person to person and can never be satisfied by a single design. It seemed an eternal journey for every designer, but any efforts we made will help us approach perfection.
Close In Competition: Reading Room
Architectural Design: Assembly Portfolio
Jiayi Liu B177824
47
2021 Architectural Design Jiayi Liu
Jiayi Liu University of Edinburgh 2021 Architectural Design B177824 s2038689@ed.ac.uk