The Canopied Terrace Housing

TA N , R egina Tania TH E UNI V E R S I T Y O F H O N G KONG DEPA RTME N T O F A R C H I T E CT URE

AR C H 4074 D ES IGN 6 OTTE VAE R E , Ol i vi er SE MES TE R 1, 2020-21

/contents

01 UNDRESSING - The Colonnade Condominiums

/Project Details /Drawings

/Physical Model 02 ADDRESSING - Slab Erasure /Massing /Diagram /Exploration 03 REDRESSING - Undo/Redo

/Unit and Typical Floor Plan /Section

/Physical Model

01 UNDRESSING The Colonnade Condominiums in collaboration with CHAN Ming Chun Edward (3035485819)

Project Details

Project name : Architect : Location : Year : Tenure : Height & floor : No. of Units :

The Colonnade Condominiums Paul Rudolph 82 Grange Road, District 10, Singapore 1980-1986 Freehold condominium (wholly owned by Pontiac Land) 112 m, 28 floors 90

The Colonnade Condominiums marks the start of Paul Rudolph’s career in Southeast Asia, where his commissions later on would be important symbols of growth and progress, in the rapidly developing skyline of post-colonial Southeast Asia. The region’s search to redefine its identity after independence made it quick for wealthy clients to embrace Rudolph’s brutalist postmodern style that echoed the monumental classicism, while his famous interplay of volumes and light responds aptly to the tropical climate.

Precedented with Rudolph’s unbuilt vision in Manhattan’s Graphic Arts Centre, interaction of modules gave life to “a city within a city” narrative, carrying Rudolph’s relentless vision that modular units could transform the way cities are built. Though not so much a megastructure with complex functions, the large expanse of each condominium unit are compartmentalized to smaller modules acting as rooms as an attempt to humanize the condominiums through spatial re-scaling strategies.

Characterized by what Rudolph dubbed as the “brick of the twentieth century,” the modular imagery of The Colonnade is actually achieved through conventional cast-in-situ concrete construction, due to the technological and financial constraints for pre-fabrication at that time. Yet, this serves to embellish Rudolph’s attitude on modularity which experiments with the formal, spatial, and aesthetic of pre-fabricated modular units - emphasizing more in how they connect more than their economical potential. In short, the variety of modular expression is achieved through combination of necessary standardized parts. It could be argued that the plug-in method commonly associated with modular units - such as seen in Nakagin Capsule Tower - would be too inconvenient to be carried out in reality and its isolated subdivisions becomes a sacrifice of well-being for economical flexibility.

Against discontinuity of the modules, Rudolph avoided typical large horizontal planes of constant elevation, instead opting to break down the mass into identical quadrants and introducing variations through mirroring and staggered floorplates. The repetition of alternate stacking between simplex units and the double-height space of the duplexes formed a strong language of solid and void characterizing its elevation. Within the building, it is important to note the 3-Bedroom Duplex has its main entrance on the lower floor while 2-Bedroom Duplex has it in the upper floor. Performatively, the shifting floorplates and alternating entrances create variants of thresholds, establishing privacy within this seemingly interconnected spaces. These gestures echo the spirit of Le Corbusier’s Pavilion de l’Esprit Nouveau with its double-height apartment planning, in which the stagger in both plan and section creates stunning oblique views that visually connects opposing balconies, modules, and other spaces in diagonal axis.

Corbusian influence could also be seen from the pure form of mass standardization that would dictate the possible programme functions, to be shown as we delve into the careful correlation between the spatial configuration strengthened by formal strategies to highlight spatial experiences. Horizontal and vertical continuity are further curated through the careful interplay of three different systems of column, partition, and modules, thereby not focusing on the taxonomy of just a single system. Formally, this creates a continuous language of curvilinear walls and extending notation of interior and exterior. As one first enters the building, the grand entrance is between two rows of condensed 1.2 m large pilotis. All entrances leading to the unit, as well as vertical movement through elevator and stairs, are encased with a continuous smooth curved walls. Within the unit, curvilinear walls are formed through the meeting of rectilinear walls and columns. The varying placement of partitions that are either in centerline, edge as centerline, or tangent to the columns denote the formal presence of exterior and interior - of a room, in the unit - as a buffer to the vivid form of the deep facade, thus allowing continuity. The sheer amount of partitions would compartmentalize the different functional spaces, often separating service and main area, with enclosed boundaries creating modules which denotes a more private space. Spatially, especially in the double-height of the duplex units, these systems engage communication between modules as well as the negative space.

These unique interplay of architectural systems is enabled by The Colonnade robust column system that hold the promise of free-plan.

Large pilotis liberating the ground floor focus on emphasizing entrance and the need to open for driveway, having deep beam and slab as transfer structure to the different residential column arrangement above it. The oversized 0.7 m diameter columns act together with one shear wall in each quadrant and the core as primary vertical structure, while slab and beams forms the primary horizontal structure. Flexibly-placed partitions and oversized handrails may play a miniscule role in stiffening the primary structures against torsion, yet, mostly incorporated for their spatial, formal, and aesthetic qualities.

The solid and void interaction within the Colonnade is perhaps can be seen strongest in the terraces. Deep shading preventing the harsh tropical sunlight are causatively formed through protrusions, effectively enabling incorporation of ceiling height glass that would allow constant examination of relationships between modules - either inside, outside, or even both, while having airy and well-lit interiors.

There might be no direct ventilation strategies, but terraces would form 90 degree angle within a unit to allow some air circulation.

The abundant boundaries both interior and between terraces of other units might not have been as successful in achieving direct visual continuity. However, one could develop it to a more poetic spatial progression, or spatial connections, through redefining shared functions within this highly privatized residential living. Yet, one’s constant encounter with the resulting volumes and niches made the Colonnade highly successful as a spatially operational space.

Building Massing Development Variation/Rationalization

Short Section Placement/Interaction/Continuity

112.00 m WATER TANK & SERVICES

27/F

26/F

DIVIDE

4 quadrants Core / Unit

D IVID E 4 q u a d ra n t C o re /U n it

23/F

REGULAR UNIT CLUSTER

LIFT UP + DIVIDE 28 floors Ground / Storey

LIFT U P + D IVID E 2 8 flo o rs Gro u n d / Sto re y

2 Bedroom Duplex R E P E AT

3 unit type H o r i z o n t a l / Ve r t i c a l

R EPEAT 3 u n it ty p e H o riz o n ta l /3Ve rtic a l Bedroom

Duplex

3 Bedroom Simplex

9/F 8/F

7/F

6/F 5/F

S TA G G E R

Shift by 1 floor Up / Down

STA GGER Sh ift b y 1 flo o r Up / Down

A’

4/F

16.00 m

3/F

12.00 m

2 Bedroom Duplex LOBBY & FACILITIES

3 Bedroom Duplex 3 Bedroom Simplex

A

G/F 1:100 0

1m

2m

4m

Building Elevation Sunlight/Module/Outdoor Living

N

N

6/21 7AM 6/21 7AM

E

E

6/21 10AM6/21 10AM

S

S

6/21 1PM 6/21 1PM

Building Building Elevation Elevation Sunlight Sunlight / Module / Module / Outdoor / Outdoor LivingLiving

W

W

6/21 4PM 6/21 4PM

Typical Plan Circulation/Arrangement/Privacy

Typical Floor Plan 1 1:200 7/F, 10/F, 13/F, 16/F, 19/F, 22/F

Typical Floor Plan 1 1:200 7/F, 10/F, 13/F, 16/F, 19/F, 22/F

Typical Floor Plan 2 1:200 8/F, 11/F, 14/F, 17/F, 20/F, 23/F

Typical Floor Plan 2 1:200 8/F, 11/F, 14/F, 17/F, 20/F, 23/F

Typical Floor Plan 3 1:200 9/F, 12/F, 15/F, 18/F, 21/F, 24/F

Typical Floor Plan 3 1:200

Site Plan Circulation/Continuity/Threshold

9/F, 12/F, 15/F, 18/F, 21/F, 24/F

1:500 0

Ground Site Plan 1:500

5m

10m

20m

patial patial Continuity Continuity Spatial Continuity

ntinuity / /Structure Spatial Continuity ntinuity/ /Modularity Modularity Continuity Structure / Modularity / Structure Continuity/Modularity/Structure

Building Building

Building

Unit Unit

Unit

Room Room

Room

Systems Interaction Axonometric 1:100 Column x Module x Partition

System Axonometric SystemInteractions InteractionsSystem Axonometric Interactions Axonometric 1:100 1:100 Column ColumnxxModule Module 1:100xxPartition Partition Column x Module x Partition

divide divide

divide

subtract subtract Module Module++Partition Partition

subtract multiply multiply Module + Partition

release release

release

compress compress Module Module++Column Column

connect compress connect Module + Column

solid solid

solid

transition transition Column Column++Partition Partition

void transition void Column + Partition

multiply

connect

void

Unit Plan and Analysis Sequence/Hierarchy/Programme

1

Columns 1:100 / Grid

2

Cores 1:100 / Function

Simplex Structural Plan 1:50

3A

Modules 1:100 / Solid-Void / Privacy

3B

Partition 1:100 / Transitions / Continuity

4A

Modules 1:100 / Solid-Void / Privacy

Simplex Plan 1:50

3 Bedroom Duplex

2 Bedroom Duplex

Simplex Plan 1:50

3 Bedroom Duplex

2 Bedroom Duplex 4A

Modules 1:100 / Solid-Void / Privacy

4B

Partition 1:100 / Transitions / Continuity

5A

Modules 1:100 / Solid-Void / Privacy

5B

Partition 1:100 / Transitions / Continuity

Duplex Upper Level Plan 1:50

Duplex Lower Level Plan 1:50

1:50 0

0.5m

1m

2m

Unit Axonometric Space/Relationship/Structure

Bedroom Module / Upper floor Bedroom Module / Lower floor Service Module

3 Bedroom Duplex 362 sqm 2 x Bedrooms 1 x Terrace 1 x Living Room

2 Bedroom Duplex 260 sqm 1 x Bedroom 1 x Living Room

3 Bedroom Simplex massing 1:500 3 Bedroom Simplex 334 sqm 3 x Bedrooms 1 x Terrace 1 x Living Room 1 x Laundry Room

3 Bedroom Duplex massing 1:500

2 Bedroom Duplex massing 1:500

3 Bedroom Simplex massing 1:500

Lower floor: 1 x Bedrooms 1 x Terrace 1 x Living Room 1 x Laundry Room

Bedroom Module / Upper floor Bedroom Module / Lower floor Service Module

Lower floor: 1 x Bedrooms 1 x Terrace 1 x Living Room 1 x Laundry Room

June 21

June 21

5:00 pm

4:00 pm

3:00 pm

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

3:00 pm

Service Entrance Private floor

3-bedroom Duplex

Main Entrance Public floor

3-bedroom Simplex

Main Entrance Public floor

June 21

3 Bedroom Duplex + Simplex Unit Section 1:100 Climate / Privacy / Thresholds

Light implies publicness.

By having double floorheight terrace and bedroom unit protrusion, we have a sunlit communal floor and a deeply shaded private floor.

Main Entrance Public floor

2-bedroom Duplex

Service Entrance Private floor

3-bedroom Simplex

Main Entrance Public floor

2 Bedroom Duplex + Simplex Unit Section 1:50 Climate / Privacy / Thresholds Light implies privacy.

By swapping entrances and rotating bedroom unit, we have a shaded communal floor and sunlit private spaces.

3:00 pm

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

Close-up of Transfer Structure from 1:100 Model Load transfer/Relation to ground/Free-plan

Close-up of Units from 1:100 Model Detail/Volumes/Experience

1:100 Decompositional Model Structural elements/Hierarchy/Tectonics

02 ADDRESSING Slab Erasure Column-beam-slab system Vertical expansion Diagonal carving Tropical environment Terrace/Canopy

MASSING EXPLORATION

Vertical expansion through slab variations Cluster/Transformation/Modular Lateral Stepped Terraces Creating void // Offset / Push-pull

Massing Variations

OFFSET Gradual Shading Solid/Void

FLIP Approximate East/West

OFFSET Protrude Emerge/Flat

PLUG Dialogue Old/New

Garden Activating space // Inside/Outside

1:400 Massing

Solid/Void Massing Variations of solid/void spaces within each cluster

ITERATION 1

Diagonal Language: Slab Rotation Potential from exploration

1:400 Massing Model

3:2

Courtyard Occupying void // Diagonal / Rotate / Stagger 30°

Would there be limitations towards grid-based modules?

This scheme is an attempt to push the limitations of non-perpedicular slabs. The Colonnade boast modularity design possibilities through conventional construction. Complexity is added by varying rotations of the units, creating residual spaces as terraces, and conjoined spaces as communals. Partitions on sharp corners may be altered - resulting in more curvilinear interior.

FORM FINDING Rotating the slab Geometrical/Visualization

R O TAT E 30 degrees Te r r a c e / C o u r t y a r d

MOVE UP S h i f t b y 1 fl o o r Ladder/Continuity

R O TAT E 60 degrees Te r r a c e / D i v i s i o n

R O TAT E -30 degrees Residual/Variety

S O U T H FA C A D E

W E S T FA C A D E

N O R T H FA C A D E

E A S T FA C A D E

activated in winter months

low sun angle, less exposure wanted

activated in summer months

Long side face

Short&sharp corners Less openings on lower additions

Long side face

low sun angle, moderate exposure in morning Short&sharp corners Distributed openings

EXTRUDE Across quadrants Access gallery/ Communal

COPY+FLIP Of the access gallery Intersection/ Communal cluster

RING - ENLARGED F r o m fi r s t v a r i a t i o n (rotate 30) Connect/Hanging/Shade

Unit graduation strategy Shade/diagonal Conforming current unit geometry

ITERATION 2

Reparametrizing Diagonal: Slab Erasure Orthogonal boundary // Optimizing slab erasure

Carved corner column & slab interface

Release

Compress

2.1 Erasure Visualization Volumetric to Horizontal Reading

2.2 Establishing Horizontality Column/Slab/Balustrade Interface

2.3 From the Existing: Slab Carving Language Establishing Boundaries/Double-height/Interior-Exterior

Stepped Terrace Double-height/Communal space/Gradation Enunciating the carved corner condition found in the original slab - where column shoots up in double-height exterior spaces, the iteration of stepped terraces lifted the heavy bearing of the thick columns. The residual spaces formed gardens or communal spaces, establishing oblique links between units across floor, thus bringing back the gardens and open space from the ground to the vertical expansion. However, due to Singapore’s tropical climate, uncovered terrace spaces are unfavourable due to the heat, rendering the terraces unusable.

North-East

North Elevation

West Elevation

South-East

South Elevation

East Elevation

ITERATION 3

Optimizing Slab Erasure: Terrace & Canopy Tropical Environment/Shade/Gradation

Diagonal Break from orthogonal/ Void space

Intermediary Terrace Shared Terrace/Clustering/ Unit to Unit Interaction

Maximizing Terrace Double-aspect Terrace/ Shaded Interior

Maximizing Shade Carving Void/ Deep Shade

Terrace Activating garden

Continuous oblique views // Breaking out private

Canopy Climatic appropriation Coverage // Reintroducing private

Exploration Shade/Canopy // East/West // Void

3

4

5

North

5

4

3

South

Finding Rhythm within the communal void space

Finding Connection across quadrants

4

3

3

4

39/F

5 transition

6 transition 3

4 transition

5 transition

35/F 3

3

4

4

31/F

3

North

South

South

North

Balancing Rhythm and Connection transitional voids

Intermediate Terrace

Cluster C

Cluster D

From private loggia to shared terrace Meeting point of units // Exploiting the external - Humanizing the internal

Cluster A

Cluster B

Horizontal Rhythm Clustering // Unit to unit interface / Causative interaction

Cluster A Cluster A Cluster C

Cluster A

Vertical Rhythm Staggering slab // SIze of voids 1. Global Cluster to cluster interface / Degrees of activation Quiet - Noise

2: Cluster Unit to unit interface / Causative interaction In and out of columns

North Elevation

Cluster Type: Unit to Unit Sheltered Shared/Private Terrace // Indoor/Outdoor // Double-height

East Elevation

South Elevation

West Elevation

Previous Cluster Connection Duplex Small Duplex Large Simplex

Open

Enclosed

Duplex A (3-1)

Simplex B (1)

Simplex B (2)

Simplex A (4)

Duplex B (2-3)

Duplex C (4-3)

Duplex B (2-3)

Duplex B (2-3)

Simplex A (4)

Cluster A

Cluster B

Cluster C

Cluster D

Maximizing Terrace Double Aspect Terrace/Shaded Interior West Quadrant Massing Strategy

Terrace and canopy language are further integrated by having a slab that performs both functions. By carving from both the east and west directions, slabs that performs as a canopy can also have multi-height terrace. This maximizes the intrusion of external environment from both sides, allowing both air movement and variation of daylight.

However, looking at the figure below, creating a deep shade on one direction would minimize the unfavoured direct sunlight from the west, while still having similar floor area. Thus, the next iteration focuses on capitalizing the void space instead of just the terraces.

west wall/west terrace terrace less protected

west wall/east terrace no view

North

east wall/west terrace heated west wall

Maximize Terrace

west terrace/east wall all terrace; varying shade

East Quadrant Massing Strategy

east wall/east terrace morning sun

South

Maximize Shade

Overall Isometric Terrace/Canopy/Void

South-West Isometric

North-East Isometric

03 REDRESSING Undo-Redo Terrace/Canopy Unobstructed oblique visual connection Gradation of unit sizes Void variations

Overall Elevation Rhythm/Variation

South

East

North

West

Void Strategy Terrace/Canopy/Void

Beam for lateral stability of columns

1:100 Semi-Decompositional Sectional Model Structural/Hierarchy/Tectonics

1:100 Semi-Decompositional Sectional Model Spatial/Connection/Evolution

Close-up - Terrace Interior/Beam/Atmosphere

Overall Section Outdoor/Indoor/Entrance Spatial quality of thresholds

Typical Plan Circulation/Arrangement/Privacy

Terrace condition, 33/F

Canopy condition, 37/F

1:200 0 1m 2m

4m

6m

10m

Typical Plan Diagram Gradation of Erasure

+1/F

All Original

24/F

28/F

32/F

36/F

All Original

25/F

29/F

33/F

37/F

30/F

34/F

38/F

31/F

35/F

39/F

+1/F

26/F

+1/F

+1/F

27/F

Designated terrace (uncovered space)

Unit Plan Gradation/Terrace/Enclosure/Organize Covered

Terrace

Covered

Living room access 1 bedroom access, 2 rooms view No terrace

1 bedroom access

1BR

56m2

2

M

Terrace

Usable 100%

Unit Type A Slab Type (-3)

2BR

147m2

3

M+

Terrace

Covered

Living room access

Living room access

Bedroom access, Living room view

2 bedroom access

Bedroom access

1 bedroom access

1BR

95m2

2

M+

Usable 60%

Unit Type B Slab Type (-2)

Usable 65%

Unit Type C Slab Type (-1)

Covered

2BR

221m2

3-4

L+

Usable 67%

Unit Type D Slab Type (1)

Oblique partition walls and continuous glass panels on the opposite side dictates the organization of rooms in terms of enclosure. Continuous balustrade connects the columns thus reinforcing the horizontality of the slab.

Terrace

Covered

Terrace

Living room access

Living room access

2 bedroom access

2 bedroom access

1 bedroom access

1 bedroom access

3BR

271m2

4

L+

Terrace

Usable 82%

Unit Type E Slab Type (2)

Covered

3BR

360m2

5-6

XL+

Covered

Usable 87%

Unit Type G Slab Type (4)

Covered

Living room access 2 bedroom access

Living room access

1 bedroom access, 2 rooms view

2 bedroom access; shared private terrace

3BR

323m2

5

L+

Usable 84%

Unit Type F

Slab Type (3)

3BR

375m2

5-6

XL+

Usable 83%

Unit Type H

Slab Type (5)

Unit Plan; further variations Canopy/Centered organization/Communal terrace

4BR

221m2

7

M

Usable 95% Canopy (No Terrace)

Unit Type I Slab Type (1)

Centered Organization By pushing bedroom to the rear - with clerestory instead of full height windows, one could get more bedroom per unit, and the living room/dining room/kitchen become the central space of the unit, thus creating a more intimate and connected living condition.

2BR

217m2

Usable 77%

3

L+

Communal Terrace

Unit Type J Slab Type (4)

Communal Terrace Borrowing the original strategy of dividing the quadrant by utilizing the shear wall, units could be iterated on either side, while concentrating the terrace spaces into one big communal area. A possiblity of access to other floors or duplex could further be explored.

Reflection Future possibility/New ways of access/Communal spaces

Further exploration on this project promises the possibility of communal spaces, in form of vertical garden by reallocating the terrace spaces into a communal circulation. Though not present in the final iteration of this project, the possibilities are apparent within the massing development, especially the “Intermediary Terrace” and “Maximizing Terrace” iteration.

A vertical expansion that is far from the ground, a shared garden could mimic the public space present in the ground condition. Thus, serving as a meeting points between the residents of the higher floors, bringing up the faraway ground.