a bridge between centuries
santiago rivero
This thesis documentation is submitted to
The School of Architecture + Design of Virginia Tech
In partial fulfillment of a Bachelor of Architecture Santiago Rivero Thesis Honors Awards: Semi-Finalist Primary Advisor: Patrick Doan Fall 2020 - Spring 2021
table of contents
abstract
1
1. place
3
2. catalog
9
3. a strategic intervention
37
4. search
89
5. precedents
107
acknowledgments
121
abstract: a bridge between centuries
At a high level, this thesis explores the relationship between old and new, and how modern architecture can exist within a historical context as a mechanism for bridging the gap between centuries. The project explores different ways in which the old and new can exist within the same boundaries by utilizing a design approach that modernizes the vernacular of the historical architecture. This approach allows the old and new to exist simultaneously and equally. The relationship between new and old has forever been integrated into the architectural design process. The decision to entirely replace an existing context as opposed to strategically re-purposing it lies at the core of any new project. Often times historical relevance forces the architect to work around existing structures. In this case, the site cannot be thought of as a clean slate but rather the historical context itself becomes the building plane. The historical context chosen for this proposal is Nyboder, a small neighborhood carved into the urban fabric of central Copenhagen. Originally constructed in 1631 by Christian IV , Nyboder served as barracks for the rapidly growing Royal Danish Navy. The urgency for housing resulted in rowhouses that could efficiently house multiple families within relatively narrow site constraints. The project was so successful that it became the standard for the Scandinavian rowhouse typology, and eventually influenced the rest of the world. This is reflected in the vernacular of the neighborhood. Symmetrical homes with steep pitched roofs populate the streets of Nyboder, and a repetitive rhythm of windows line their facades. The proposal aims to modernize the existing vernacular of Nyboder. Through an in-depth site analysis, the design language of the historical context is deciphered and later modernized through a series of iterative studies. The program for the project is split up into a public microbrewery on the ground level, and two private apartments above. Every aspect of the proposed design is meant to reflect the existing architectural conditions of the neighborhood, effectively creating a Nyboder rowhouse of the 21st century.
abstract 1
place
nyboder: the historical context
Nyboder, a small neighborhood in Copenhagen, saw a lot of ruin and refurbishment throughout the phases of its construction. As a result, Nyboder’s narrative unfolds as one walks through the streets. The single-story rowhouse represents Christian IV’s first phase of construction in the early 17th century. The 18th century is represented by the two-story rowhouses. The intrigue for selecting this site came from the opportunity to design a rowhouse of the 21st century that could not only serve as a representation of the modern era, but also bridge the gap between the centuries and continue the narrative of Nyboder.
place 5
17th century rowhouse 1631
18th century rowhouse 1756
21st century rowhouse (proposal) 2021
place 7
catalog
city
rhythm
site
courtyard
interaction
floor plan
facade
pitched roof
program
chimney
window
building
roof
construction
shutters
stairs
room
details
volume
vernacular analysis: deciphering the design language
The following breaks down the approach through which the vernacular of Nyboder is dissected. A series of drawings were produced as a method of analysis. Each drawing serves a specific function with the intention of answering unknown questions about the site. It is broken into four main categories. The first is an overall site analysis. This drawing informs questions about the neighborhood as a whole and draws out general design cues that are most prominent in the vernacular of the historical context. The second looks more closely at the construction of the rowhouse. Questions about materiality, construction techniques, and tectonics are addressed in this analysis. The third analyzes the rowhouse block. In this drawing the rowhouse is treated as a single entity in order to further understand the architectural elements they are comprised of. Additionally, this analysis looks at different scales and looks more closely at the intricacies of the rowhouse. The fourth and final drawing analyzes the facades and openings. It looks more deeply at the design irregularities in the otherwise ordered vernacular. The icons on the left categorize the different elements that are referenced from Nyboder. They are broken down into different scales including, city, site, building, room, and details. This not only allows for a comprehensive analysis of the site, but also provides a visual aid for understanding which specific elements are being referenced. Together, this series of analysis drawings serve as the foundation for the project.
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site analysis
objectives Given that Nyboder dates back to 1631 and the rowhouses are not well documented, the primary objective of this drawing is to gain a general understanding for the distribution of spaces both in plan and elevation.
The dot indicates where the proposed site is located within the neighborhood. Currently an empty plaza, the space sits in a very central location which offers a great opportunity to be fully immersed within the historical context.
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The floor plan is developed from references including photographs of the existing rowhouses as well as texts about Copenhagen. It is an estimation. The original plan is organized into a services segment, which hosts the kitchen and bathroom, as well as the main living space which is divided in two. The bedrooms are located on the second floor. In the original rowhouses from 1631, they are accessed via a ladder.
The elevations are very distinct. The rowhouses have very sloped roofs and small window openings which respond to Denmark’s cold climate. The windows are located at eye-level and are each equipped with a set of shutters which allow for a dynamic facade.
Through the development of the elevations, a clear hierarchy emerged in the various facade elements. Within the heavy yellow ochre walls, sit doors and windows painted green. This indicates where the openings lie on the facade. Wooden shutters painted red indicate secondary facade elements.
Perhaps the most intriguing element of the Nyboder rowhouse vernacular is the dominance of the roof. As previously mentioned, the roofs are sloped for snowfall purposes but they also provide an aesthetic quality in which the facade becomes secondary to the roof.
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construction analysis
objectives The heavy tectonic qualities present in the Nyboder rowhouses prompt many questions about their construction. This drawing aims to identify the structural elements of the original rowhouses and begin to understand how they impact the interior spaces.
The construction of the rowhouse, once again, is not well documented and the analysis is an estimation based on similar references. Based on interior images the rowhouses seem to be supported by a combination of a timber structure and masonry walls. The highlighted detail depicts a corner condition where the wooden column meets the masonry exterior walls. On the exterior face, the brick is covered with plaster and given its distinctive yellow tint.
catalog 21
The decision to draw an axonometric section allowed for a glimpse into the interior spaces of the rowhouse.
The interior quality of the bedrooms became a point of interest in the analysis. The pitched roofs and the angled walls they create are a prominent design cue that result in a very intriguing interior space.
The relevance of the rectangle and triangle in the rowhouse vernacular becomes clear in this drawing. The rectangle is representative of the lower level where the living spaces are located. The triangle represents the bedrooms with their pitched roofs.
catalog 23
rowhouse analysis
objectives The primary objective of this drawing is to more deeply understand the Nyboder rowhouse. Analysis is done at different scales in order to not only understand the rowhouse block as a whole, but also its smaller architectural elements.
Analyzing the full elevation of the rowhouse uncovered the prominence of rhythm and repetition in the vernacular. Window openings and chimneys are placed equidistant from each other creating a very ordered facade pattern.
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The rowhouse chimneys are one of the most interesting architectural elements of the Nyboder vernacular. Their double-peaked design mimics the pitched roofs of the rowhouses themselves.
The sketches in this drawing begin to visualize the approach through which the vernacular is modernized. This analysis brought up the questions of how and through what means the modernization can be achieved.
catalog 29
openings analysis
objectives Within such an ordered and regulated vernacular, it is important to analyze the inconstancies and determine which rules are meant to be broken. This drawing analyzes that question and aims to understand how and why irregularities occur.
There are a surprising amount of seemingly random facade variations in Nyboder. While most of the rowhouses are symmetrical in their tectonic qualities, there are irregularities in opening patterns on the facades. In fact, there are very few rowhouses in Nyboder with identical facades. This is likely indicative of the various phases of construction as well as an ad hoc design approach.
catalog 33
An additional irregularity observed is the shape of the rowhouse block. Given that Nyboder is set within triangular urban boundaries, some of the rowhouses must adapt to their site constraints.
This is yet another example of how the rowhouse block adapts to its site constraints. In plan, it is evident that a street is cutting diagonally through the lot, forcing the courtyard of the building to conform to an irregular shape.
catalog 35
a strategic intervention
design development: deciphering the analysis
With a comprehensive understanding of the architectural characteristics of Nyboder, the next step is to apply the historical vernacular to a modernized design. This section looks into the iterative process from early, volumetric stages, to more refined elements. Cues from the vernacular analysis are utilized throughout design development process. Every aspect of the building is designed with the existing vernacular in mind. The process begins with a series of volumetric studies, all of which are meant to mimic the volumetric qualities of the Nyboder rowhouses. Programmatic questions are then applied to the final iteration through a series of drawings. These drawings tackle more rational components of the design, including floor plans, sections, and elevations.
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iterations
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selected form studies
objectives The primary objective of this drawing is to identify the iterations that most effectively reflect the formal qualities of the site and identify their characteristics.
selected form
The facade has a triangular shape which is referenced from the pitched roofs of the rowhouses.
In plan, the angled shape of the building allows for an extension of the existing rowhouse courtyard.
The volume has a very prominent roof design which is reflective of the highly angled roofs of Nyboder.
The proposed volume follows the shape of the existing rowhouse, not only acting as an extension, but also continuing the strong repetitive rhythm of the openings.
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section development
objectives This drawing’s primary objective is to begin to rationalize the iterative volume by understanding its interior spaces. It is the first drawing that references the human scale.
This drawing indicates initial studies regarding interior qualities. In the vernacular analysis there were an abundance of interesting sloped roof spaces that were important to carry through into the modern design.
The program is hinted at in this drawing. With two housing units above, it was important to house a public program on the ground level as an offering to the neighborhood of Nyboder. Initially, this was thought of as a coffee shop or eatery. Eventually it developed into a microbrewery.
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The human scale is introduced as a method of rationalizing the conceptual volume. Additionally, this aids in the understanding of the interior qualities.
Here, one starts to understand the relationship between the new and the old. This is a necessary step as it begins to inform questions about the openings, materiality, and their relationship to the existing structures.
These sketches are early iterations of the openings and the process through which the elevations begin to develop.
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floor plan development
objectives This drawing references the existing rowhouses and their distribution of spaces as a tool for developing floor plans for the proposed building.
A brief analysis of the distribution of spaces of the rowhouses was conducted and then applied to the modern interpretation. In the apartment plans, all of the private spaces (bedrooms, bathrooms) are placed at the far end, furthest away from the main entrance. Public spaces (living room, kitchen) are places closer to the entrance where there are higher ceilings. Vertical circulation occurs along the southern spine of the building.
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As previously mentioned, the bedrooms are placed at the far end of each apartment where the roof is sloped. This is done in order to mimic the pitched roof spaces in the original rowhouses of Nyboder. Additionally, the arrows indicate early thoughts of where to place window openings as a means of providing natural light for the inhabitants.
The decision to introduce a spiral staircase came from the use of the ladder as a means of vertical circulation in the original rowhouses. The spiral staircase closely resembles the ladder in the sense that one moves directly upwards rather than gradually upwards like one would with traditional stairs.
This drawing begins to hint at how structure is incorporated into the design. Floor-to-ceiling heights are reduced in order to accommodate practical elements including structure, mechanical systems, and lighting.
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facade iterations
objectives With the floor plan and section development underway, the elevations were the final component needed to round out the design. The openings analysis is utilized as a reference for this iterative study.
The concept of opening hierarchy emerged from the production of this drawing. In the original rowhouse openings there is a clear distinction between window types. Larger openings indicate where the public spaces lie, and smaller openings indicate private spaces. It is important to carry that concept into the design of the proposed building as a means of connecting it to the vernacular of Nyboder.
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The proposal is located along the main street of Nyboder, Kronprinsessegade. It’s central location within the neighborhood allows one to fully understand the translation of the vernacular into a modern design.
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east elevation
ft 60
north elevation
ft 60
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south elevation
ft 60
west elevation
ft 60
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restroom
seating area
fermenting area cold room
bar
brewing area
mech.
ground floor - microbrewery
ft 20
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bathroom
bedroom
kitchen living area
bedroom storage
second floor - apartment
ft 20
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bathroom
kitchen living area bedroom
storage
third floor - apartment
ft 20
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bathroom
loft bedroom
storage
fourth floor - loft
ft 20
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search
beginnings
The thesis began with a very exploratory diagrammatic approach. This section looks into the early processes through which the project was developed. Initially, studies were conducted as a method for discovering new relationships between old and new. This was done through sketching and mass modeling. Following the initial studies, the diagrammatic approach is carried through to the actual historical context (Nyboder) in order to begin to develop a proposal.
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inventory of strategies
joint
new interior
parasite
The early diagrammatic approach led to the development of an inventory of intervention strategies. The purpose of these diagrams is to define different types of approaches for intervening into a historical context. Additionally, the inventory is meant to serve as a tool for projects involving new and old architecture. The strategies can be applied at many different scales and are essentially universal.
transition
roof
skin
umbrella
wall
underground
alignment
boundary
bridge
disalignment
division
feature
gate
glue
hat
corner
filter
infill
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search 97
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An early approach to the project involved the use of the “umbrella” strategy. The proposal involved four sites within Nyboder which each hosted a large superimposed structure which hovered above the neighborhood. Conceptually, it was seen as two separate building planes layered over each other essentially creating a “city over a city”.
search 103
search 105
precedents
precedents: new and old
Many precedents were analyzed as part of the early studies. It was important to understand how other architects tackle the questions of old and new that were so vital to the thesis. Many of the precedents that were studied are at the building scale. They mostly involve adaptive reuse strategies which are analyzed through diagrams and then applied to the project scale of the neighborhood.
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(left to right) acbs conversion housing lotrinksi hotel residences at prince de tjolomadoe
(left to right) exmo hotel egg shed heritage center cais do sertao museum
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elbphilharmonie herzog + de meuron The purpose of the following diagram(s) is to break down each of the precedents in order to understand the architectural methods utilized to merge the old and new. Located in Hamburg, Germany, the Elbphilharmonie is a prime example of a modern intervention. Herzog and de Meuron utilize an approach where the modern is superimposed onto the existing. The modern addition follows the boundaries of the existing structure which unifies the old and new.
precedents 113
bundeswehr museum daniel libeskind Daniel Libeskind has perhaps the most brazen approach of any of the precedent architects. His modern addition to the Bundeswehr Museum in Germany entirely contrasts the historical architecture. The rectilinear, ordered vernacular of the original structure is met with an aweinspiring, jagged intervention.
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james simon gallery david chipperfield The James Simon Gallery in Berlin is referenced the most throughout the project. It is one of the best examples of a modern intervention that pulls design elements directly from the existing vernacular. For instance, Chipperfield’s thin repetitive pillars mimic the large Doric columns on the historical facade. It is a beautiful example of how architecture can be extended through time.
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acknowledgments
A special thank you to...
My parents, Alejandro and Elisa Rivero for their endless sacrifices and support and for giving me the opportunity to attend architecture school. My first and second year professors Marie Paget and Mario Cortes for their guidance throughout my foundation years. Markus Breitschmid for his patience and leadership during my semester abroad, and for providing me the opportunity to experience some of the world’s greatest architecture. Kevin Jones for his unwavering support throughout my fourth and fifth years and for always taking the time to critique my work despite his busy schedule. My amazing friends and colleagues who made the long nights in studio a little less painful. Finally, my advisor Patrick Doan for his constant support, patience, and belief in my work.
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