ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO: EARTH S1, 2015 SUBJECT STUDENT BOOK Rose Ong
(743424) Viet Pham | Group 4
SECRECY TO CURIOSITY HERRING ISLAND
1.0 THREE RELATIONSHIPS 1.1 POINT / LINE / PLANE 1.2 MASS 1.3 FRAME & INFILL 2.0 HERRING ISLAND. SOMETHING LIKE A PAVILION 2.1 SITE ANALYSIS AND CONCEPTACLE 2.2 CONCEPT AND SKETCH DESIGN 2.3 FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS 3.0 REFLECTION 4.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.0 THREE RELATIONSHIPS
All three activities of point, line & frame, mass, frame & infill have been conducted throughout the semester, along with some precedents researched beforehand from the Earth Blog.
PRECEDENTS
1.1 POINT / LINE / PLANE
For this exercise I have focused on creating different angled planes to create slopes from triangles, as I believe that the triangular shaped easily covers all three aspects of point, and then line, followed by planes. The corners of the slopes have to meet at a certain point creating a sharp edge, creating lines that clearly branched out from the points of the triangles. The lines then connect to create the slope, which is the plane of my design. Stairs were also added by overlaying each slope on top of each other, creating obvious lines and points. I have also extracted ideas from the precedent as I found Barnas’ (2013) geometry and form to be rather intriguing, and clearly represents my interpretation of the brief. I have, in a way, exploded the form of his structure to create less volume to form an open space of leisure and resting. The Harbor / Rafal Barnas, 2013
PRECEDENTS
1.2 MASS
I have designed an underground garden where it is displayed as a gallery and performing arts centre. The architectural language I have applied here is mainly towards geometry. I have been inspired by the Massing Concept illustration by Sven Winkler, as I found the geometry and form to be interesting. The charcoal drawing of the exercise illustrates the section of the building design, which emphasizes on the play of light through multiple levels. I have explored light in this concrete structure by having glass ceilings on the ground level. The progression of light is then applied to the lower ground levels, providing sunlight for the plants in the underground garden. Users are able to have a top view of the garden while walking on the wooden bridge
Massing Concept / Sven Winkler, 2016
PRECEDENTS
1.3 FRAME & INFILL
For this design, I wanted to breakaway from the conventional grid system of infill and build a structure where the frame is asymmetrical and has negative spaces beneath to create an interesting form, while infilling the floors and walls at certain parts of the frame. I envisioned a structure with multiple levels that overlooks a view, hence some parts of the frame is more extruded than the others in order to create a cantilever-like space. The reason as to some of the floors having no walls, is to keep the view open while creating a user experience that is cohesive throughout while navigating the space. Perez Art Museum / Herzog & De Meuron, 2013
2.0 HERRING ISLAND. SOMETHING LIKE A PAVILION
2.1 SITE ANALYSIS AND CONCEPTACLE
I’ve chosen the picnic area as the site of the pavilion due to the flat grass area which allows the pavilion to clearly stand out from the site. This allows visitors to utilize the pavilion as a resting area or simply just for other recreational purposes. The site chosen is also central on the island, in which is a space where all visitors who visit the island will pass through inevitably. As it is a recreational space with various amenties, I thought the picnic area would be great for such purpose. At the beginning stage of the project, the conceptacle I have produced was first inspired by the Point, Line & Plane exercise. Then, I added volume by applying Mass, creating different levels, emphasizing on hiding secrets underground.
2.2 CONCEPT AND SKETCH DESIGN
MYSTERY The geometry of the structure is out in the open area, people are welcome to explore but what remains within is a mystery. CURIOSITY The assymmetry of the structure lures the public to be curious as to what is within, hence encouraging them to explore what’s in the pavilion. HIDING SECRETS There are a number of planes angled differently to create slopes while enhancing curiosity within user experience, all to hide and conceal the secret ornament within.
2.3 FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS
As illustrated in the 3D blow-ups, the pavilion consists of three floors that are made out of different angled planes, giving users an experience of enhanced curiosity as opposed to flat-ground surfaces in conventional structures. The secrets room as shown on the left is hidden at the lowest point of the structure, approximately 4sqm, enough for one person to view the secret ornament for five minutes. I believe that the structure satisfies most crowds. both young and old. The amenities provided are appropriate for small families, while children can explore around the different planes and stairs of the structure, bringing families and friends together on Herring Island.
2.4 FINAL DESIGN MODEL
PRECEDENTS Daniel Libeskind, 2001
Toyo Ito, 2002
4.0 REFLECTION Based on the exercises carried out in Design Studio: Earth this semester, I feel that I have further discovered myself as a designer. The learning objectives for this course is evident, pushing my boundaries as a designer to design based on my own creativity while taking the rest of the site into account. The analysis of different concepts - Point, Line & Plane; Frame & Infill; and Mass; have significantly been useful in shaping and improving my final design for the pavilion on Herring Island. I feel that each individual exercise not only allowed me to explore my architectural language or style, but was also fun and refreshing from the other subjects enrolled in my course, as the brief is usually kept quite open, with only a few limitations. At first, I did not understand how each individual exercise would be effective for a pavilion on Herring Island, but as the weeks progressed I started to see how all three exercises have a strong relationship as they co-relate. The impact of all three relationships on my final design is significantly large, and it has taught me various techniques on merging different forms together as one. The point, line & plane exercise made me realize how I am drawn to geometric and asymmetry when designing. However, it was told that my model emphasized too much on plane, and not point and line. Nonetheless, I have learnt to be more accepting of constructive criticisms, and it is also interesting to listen to the opinion of others as everyone has different perspectives, as we are all creatively different. Furthermore, the Mass exercise for me was challenging at first, however after the second submission I felt a lot more comfortable with charcoal and also explored the progression of light through an underground section drawing, which I found to be highly interesting. I also realized that I have the tendency to keep my design a bit too minimalistic, which can often be mistaken for being too simple, and therefore in my future projects I would like to see myself creating something more intriguing. Moreover, the Frame & Infill exercise was an activity which I tried to break off from the brief by going literally “out of the box� to create a structure that was not within a grid frame. I felt that I wanted to further expand my design horizons by doing so, however I realized after that the regulation of the grid was for our infill to stand out even more. I feel that taking risks once in awhile can be beneficial in unexpected ways, as I can learn more from the lessons learnt. Overall, I found Design Studio: Earth to be highly effective in allowing myself to further advance as a designer, as it gave me the opportunity to explore different techniques and architectural languages. Not only have I discovered how I design as a designer, it makes me push myself further out of my comfort zone to try another design style. The subject has also been useful for me in organizing my design though process and the way I manage my time as a designer. Indeed, I have picked up skills where I could definitely apply in my future studios, which would be greatly beneficial.
4.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
ArchDaily 2016, “Perez Art Museum / Herzog & de Meuron”, viewed 8 April 2016, <http://www.archdaily.com/493736/perez-art-museum-herzog-and-demeuron/> Barna, Rafa 2016, A Unique Approach to Architectural Visualization, viewed 15 March 2016, < http://www.ronenbekerman.com/unique-approach-toarchitectural-visualization/>. Winkler, S 2016, Massing Concept, photograph, viewed 1 May 2016, <https:// www.instagram.com/p/9mPorykUpT/>.