DESIGN THESIS EXPLORING TECTONICS IN ARCHITECTURE THROUGH THE USE OF STRUCTURE
(An inquiry through design as a correlation between inside)
The fourth semester was to have thesis which had a research base and the scope of area was selected with my interests to study Tectonics in Architecture to demonstrate it into the design.
Abstract “. . . structure is columnar, planar, or a combination of these which a designer can intentionally use to reinforce or realize ideas. In this context, columns, walls and beams can be thought of in terms of concepts of frequency, pattern, simplicity, regularity, randomness and complexity. As such, structure can be used to define space, create units, articulate circulation, suggest movement, or develop composition and modulations. In this way, it becomes inextricably linked to the very elements which create architecture, its quality and excitement.” (Charleson Andrew, 2005, pg no.1) Even being one of the primary concerns to design a building; the notion of using structure consciously or unconsciously brings to us the final built environment as a three dimensional entity – space- enclosed by a form. Exploring further the research revolves around different types of structural elements through certain examples with respect to their prominence with the time period they belong and the experimentation to achieve desired results in the field of engineering and building technology. Analysing more on the relation between structure and space - the expression it gives to space - the tectonic character and the tactile nature of the spaceare being investigated and few assumptions to design a built mass has been proposed to examine and to see how differently or similarly one can translate those guidelines through a design language. DESIGN THESIS Majorly, as the title suggests - An inquiry through design as a correlation between inside andoutside, the idea was to have a simple program – an institution where the relation between the built and un-built can be explored effectively. So A Naturopathy Centerhas been selected as one can relate the functions of a building through the nature directly. And also the concept of surface tectonics is being experimented and defined consciously to try to come up with an own vocabulary. The site has been finalized in Navi Mumbai – Sanpada as a chance to experiment to a neighborhood to the city of Bombay and having different environments with different characters of infrastructure surrounded to deal with the context to it rather than having an obvious site for the same.
As we can see through the analysis and the various examples further, structure is a very fundamental and essential part of a building and one expresses this notion of it potentially through different factors to design it. These factors can be categorised as the physical parameters to judge a building visually such as; aesthetics, proportions, material and the technique to build etc. Thus, “tectonics are the various ways of designing a building with the help of structure and even consciously putting the same thought while designing its structural elements and its application, as a pure designer.�
Hence, on the basis of my understanding of it and my personal opinion few assumptions have been made to come up with a design solution, keeping the same notion of tectonics through a built form. For that all experimentations till the date have been considered as an improvement in technology and other factors simultaneously such as new materials and their way of application in design to achieve a desirable three dimensional space to feel it, to express it and to demonstrate it functionally too. So having all this as a database, I don’t intend to show or judge how innovative the structure is or its application rather than my focus would be on the use of structure and its expression contributing towards the space making and segregating from one to another through it, without any articulation.