01 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

Multi-Residential

THE ART OF (CO-)LIVING

Conceptual Design

Location: Northcote, Melbourne, Australia Project: Individual, Academic Level of Study: Third Year, Second Semester Date: July - November 2020 Supervisor: Dr Djordje Stojanovic (d.s@unimelb.edu.au)

This was the capstone subject for the Architecture major in the Bachelor of Design at the University of Melbourne, integrating previous coursework in the major. The focus of this subject was architecture that deals with design issues at the urban scale. The site and accompanying projects deal with a development of up to 100,000m2, or a combination of sites at this scale.

The project examined the design within the context of an urban morphology and studied and explored the consequences of individual projects to their surrounding context. The project engaged with historical, theoretical, structural, and environmental ideas relevant to the specific project through the lectures and various design exercises. This particular project is designed for artists.

In order to create suspense in the project, I exercised the notion of designing for a community as well as for its residents and their needs. Consequently, all students had to take on the role of a resident in addition to the one of an architect. As a resident, I was expected to create a fictional character, and answer questions on this character’s behalf.

In this capstone subject a high degree of design resolution and comprehensive presentation of the project was expected. The completed project forms the centrepiece of my undergraduate portfolio.

ALANYA VERTICAL VILLA

Architect: Mado Architects Location: Alanya, Antalya, Turkey Project Year: 2017 Category: Private Houses

The vertical villa is a residential complex in one of the most exquisite spots of Alanya, and its site is of great scenery surrounded by a green mountain range. The pattern language of Alanya was considered during the design process, and as a result, sloping roof became a substantial item to the project. A coherent form was generated, with shapes created alongside the slopes of the site, turning toward various views around the site. It is a combination of cubic floors and sloping roofs, which allows every unit to have a sense of owning a unique individual roof.

VÅLER CHURCH

Architect: Espen Surnvik AS Location: Våler, Norway Project Year: 2015 Category: Church

The main inspiration for the Art of (Co-)Living proving, is Våler Church located in Våler, Norway. Its main challenge was to make something meaningful for the community as their old church burned. As a result, the project’s theme became resurrection symbolising a new beginning. The vast skylights make up the most important elements in the project, which let daylight come into the church from different openings. This serves a symbol of hope, and that “light defies, darkness”.

PRECEDENT ANALYSIS

DESIGN INTENT

Apartment and House

By stacking units of various sizes on sloped shards, the most scenic and inspiring views of the surrounding landscape are enhanced, allowing studios, apartments and town houses to all have the same quality views and level of transparency, ultimately engaging the artists at any point of the day.

Adaptability and Intelligence

By creating an intelligent design and layout leading to the building being a sculpture in itself, the community shall give inspiration to the residents by offering them the possibility to venture between unique individual and public spaces, resulting in spontaneous occupation.

Collaborative Housing

Due to the increasing numbers of artists living alone, as well as the growing shortage of housing and studio space, the change towards collaborative housing for artists is critical in order to foster creativity and a generous, communal spirit.

Inside and Outside

Applying visually permeable views through consistent material selection and thorough placement unifies the inside and the outside, which creates an open and intriguing community for both residents and visitors.

Individual and Collective

While to some, the house represents a space for private relaxation, the goal is for the community to offer both individual and communal spaces for interaction, learning and tranquillity.

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A

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HIGH STREET

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

GROUND FLOOR / SITE PLAN SIXTH FLOOR PLAN

LOWER LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

CONCEPT

Forms were generated in the shape of steep shards as a response to the sloping topography of the site. The concept plays upon the amalgamation of traditional habitable space; the box, and untraditioanl inhabitable space; the triangle. By mixing the opposite geometries, original shapes with distinct corners are created whose intents are to capture the inspiring views of the site. Additionally, by stacking boxes and rotating them thoroughly, the most distinct views of the site are captured at every part of the journey in the building. The shards are cut and angled towards the Australian sun, in order to capture daylight through the seven distinct skylights.

The key goal is to allow the artists to be inspired throughout the day, creating spontaneous occupation and fostering creativity.

Not only has this subject taught me how to communicate with other architecture students, functioning as colleagues, and hypothetical residents, it has taught me to always question my every move and ensure every design decision has a meaning and a reason behind it. It has taught me the value of precedents and the inspiration and guidance they give, as well as the importance of conducting questionnaires in order to communicate with the actual people who will be living their lives in the proposed design.

REFLECTION

Last but not least, it has opened my eyes to what architecture is supposed to do. Not only be a building that is aesthetically pleasing, but a building that relates to its context, to the site and the landscape, that accommodates its residents’ needs for adaptability and functionality, and sometimes for inspiration and interaction. Additionally, it has taught me the value of creating drawings that set a scene and tell a story. Drawings that make the viewer picture themselves in the space the architect has created specifically for them.