Solitude in the Context of Communal Life Thesis Statement This thesis is about creating a place that delivers solitude in the context of communal life where an individual can find peace and contemplation.
Inspirations
A Monastic Cell Is a Small Part of a Larger Community
Monastic Life Parallels Graduate Student Life
Finding Meaning &Value in Living Volunteer Act of Devotion
Monastic Life
Pursuing Ultimate Concern
Postgraduate Student Life
Belonging to a Greater Community
Pursuing Spiritual Enlightenment
Pa r isa Mag h s ou d | M aster o f I nter i o r D esi gn | Thesis Pre se ntation 2016
Pursuing Transformative Journey
Intellectual Enlightenment
Precedent Studies Couvent de La Tourette 1953-1960
| “Creating a silent dwelling for one hundred bodies and one hundred hearts” Public / Private
Semi-Private Spaces Communal Areas Floor 1 & 2 & 3
Private Spaces Monastic Cells Floor 4 & 5
Public Space Church
Lower Level - Refectory
Entrance Level - Communal Areas
Private Zone
Monastic Cells, Guest’s RM
Semi-Private Zone
Library, Corridors, Reception Lecture RM, Common RM, Study, Bathroom
Public Zone
4th & 5th Floors - Individual Cells
Church
6 ft
Looking at South and West Facade
8’- 6”
19’- 4”
Typical Individual Cell’s Floor Plan and Section Individual Cell
NTS
An indoor/outdoor relationship in each cell
• Balance between communal and private life • Rhythmic play of light and shadow in the passage • Indoor/outdoor relationship with the loggia
Roofed Passage - Transitional Space
Communal Space - Dinning Room
Student Residence In Paris | “Creating a calm atmosphere conducive to concentration and study in the context of urban fabric”
Ground Floor
65 Rue Philippe de Girard, 75018 Paris
Private student room
Typical Student Room Elevation & Floor Plan
NTS
• Balance between communal and private life • Access to natural light and view for each room • Creating a calming interior courtyard
First floor
Bike Parking
Communal Space - Courtyard
Private Zone Semi-Private Zone
Site Analysis The West Heating Plant 1946 1051 29th Street NW Washington DC
Immediate Surroundings
M St NW
Pe n
nsy
lva
nia
Ave
NW
Chesapeak
e & Ohio C anal
102’-10”
212’-11”
Rock C reek a nd P otom ac P kwy NW
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
East Facade of WHP from Rock Creek Pkwy
30t h St N W
29t h St N W
1.8 acres
Whitehurst Fwy Bridge, View form WHP Rooftop
K St NW
Ro
ck
Cr
ee
k
W h i te h u rs t Fw y
Potomac River and Georgetown Skyline from WHP Rooftop 0 25’ 50’
100’
200’
The Accessibility Diagram
Sun Exposure
AM
PM
Capital Bikeshare
Program Graduate Student Housing
Sleeping Relaxing
Study
Bath Shower
Live
Roof
Garden Communal Kitchen/Dinning
Communal Study RM Library
Multi-Purpose RM Community Gathering
Kitchenette
Private ROOM
Fitness RM Spa & Gym
Laundry Housekeeping
Semi-Public Communal Zones
Communal Bathroom
Storage Reception
Mail RM
Security Bike Parking
Public Zone
Existing Building
North and East Facade
South Facade
West Side - Main Entrance Bay
Main Entrance Bay, Looking south
Main Entrance
The vertical mass of the building is articulated by tall, vertical bands of industrial windows. The recessed vertical entrance is character- defining feature of this building.
Design Development Public / Private
Solid / Void
Solid / Void
The courtyard provide natural light and ventilation. Also enhance the sense of community among residences.
Communal spaces along the two vertical windows lets more natural light penetrates to the interior courtyard.
Communal Spaces
Private Dwellings
Communal Spaces Public Spaces
Main Entrance
Distinct zones of private dwellings and communal spaces. These zones are brought together around a top lit courtyard.
Sacred Individual Dwellings Individual dwellings and the ways they could be stacked and linked were examined. Also their relationship to the communal spaces and the sequence of public, semi-public, and private spaces are very important in order to make sure solitude and communal life are balanced properly. Approaches, paths and thresholds
Natural Light and View
Indoor/Outdoor connection
Silence - Control
Scheme 1 - Inward Looking
Scheme 2 - Outward Looking
Scheme 3 - Inward/Outward Looking
Arranging all the units adjacent to the courtyard, conveys the ideas of unity and equality among the students. also will keep the character of the exterior of the building intact.
Arranging all the units adjacent to the exterior wall will provide different and more interesting views for individual units. But punching too many windows will ruin the character of the building.
Arranging the units adjacent to the courtyard or along the exterior wall depending on the location of openings on the facade, creates an interesting variety and will barely alter the character of the building.
Private Individual rooms Communal Spaces/ Lounge Circulation/Corridor Circulation/Stairs/Elevator Void/Courtyard
Individual Dwellings Two-Storey Individual Dwellings - Extrude
+ Type A
r o d i Co r r
Type B
B
B
A
Typical Units Floor Plans Access Level 0’ 1’
4’
A
Typical Units Floor Plans Second Level
10’
C i t y
Unit Type B Section
C O U R T Y A R D
Type A
Type B
Unit Type A Section 0’ 1’
4’
10’
White Oak Wood Flooring
Porcelain Tile
Back Painted Glass
Communal Life Cross Section Looking East A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
Open Above & Below
C
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
Typical Floor Plan Loft Level
A
B
A
Main Courtyard
ADA
0’
8’
16’
32’
A
B
A
B
A
B
A
B
Typical Floor Plan Access Level-Courtyard Level
64’
Bike Parking Mail
Reception
Mech.
Entrance
Longitudinal Section Perspective
General Service & Maintenance
General Service & Maintenance
Main Entrance Plan 0’ 8’
Communal Lounge and Kitchen Individual Dwellings
Main Courtyard at Second Floor
Reception Main Entrance
16’
32’
64’
Study Rooms Study Room Type A
Study Room Type B
Materiality
Concrete Floor
Leather
Communal Life View of the Interior Courtyard
Materiality
View of the Upper Floor Corridor