K I N E T I C THRESHOLDS SARA THOMAS
THESIS PORTFOLIO | 2018-2019
SHIFT : REDEFINING THE ORDINARY Tactile interaction is lost among society today because the digital realm has replaced certain daily activities. Can the interior built environment promote an awakening of ordinary objects and spaces and contribute to reclaiming the sensuality of experiences by stimulating a new physiological relationship?
A subversive act shifts one’s perspective towards rethinking the ordinary allowing for a new understanding of the relationship between people and their daily surroundings and activities. The necessary dependency of analog touch is used to develop the connection of the human mind and body with oneself and others, allowing a multi-programmed space to be experienced both momentarily and over the progression of time. Activating kinetic thresholds which change from static to dynamic, allow one’s perception of overlooked spaces to be redefined.
SITE : 15 Union Square West, New York, NY 10003 Condominium with Shared Public Spaces Architect: ODA-Architecture Project Completion: 2008 Building Built: 1900 Number of Stories: 12 Apartment Units: 33
This site was selected because this building represents transition by maintaining the old and adding new, this is similarly to how the hallways go from ordinary to the redefined. HISTORICAL BUILDING - CAST IRON SHELL
ASSEMBLING UNITS
WRAPPING WITH TRANSPARENT SKIN
EXISTING PLAN
EXISTING WITH PRIVATE TO PUBLIC
EXTERIOR FACADE - SOUTH
PANELS OPEN - KINETIC
PANELS CLOSED - STATIC
1 4"
1 41"
3 4"
13"
1 12" 1"
13"
3 8"
11 14"
1 21"
0' - 3 1/4" 3' - 5 1/2" 2' - 6"
DETAIL PLAN
Thresholds are blurred by activating the hallway with an analog, interactive and kinetic panels, which redefines the relationship between users and space. The thresholds are based on the previous users by determining the degree of public / private which affects and changes the space. This allows awareness of other occupancy, neighbors.
PANEL DETAIL
E 15TH ST.
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SECTION B
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SECTION C
1
SECTION A
LOBBY / CAFE 1,735 SF 2
-
UNION SQUARE WEST
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N
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
1 : LOBBY / CAFE
2 : CAFE
Resin Sensitile: Ripple Analog responsive to movement
Ash Wood
Blackened Steel
Stainless Steel Tapped Maple - Raked Stone Source
White Marble Wool Upholstery Camira Fabrics Wool Upholstery Rose Tarlow
Polyester Upholstery Steelcase
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SECTION A ---
SECTION B
MACHINERY ROOM : LAUNDRY / METRO REFILL / LOUNGE / ARCADE 1,715 SF
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SECTION C
OPEN STUDIO 1,033 SF
PRIVATE DWELLING 1
PRIVATE DWELLING 2
3
5
DELIVERY ROOM : BODEGA / MAIL PACKAGE 1,862 SF
4
PRIVATE DWELLING 3
6
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SECTION D
PRIVATE DWELLING 4 FOCUS ROOM : GYM / STUDY 1,831 SF
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
6 : DELIVERY ROOM
SECTION A : LONGITUDINAL
SECTION B : TRANSVERSE
SECTION C : TRANSVERSE
MICRO SCALE : ELEVATOR PANEL Transition 3 : ELEVATORS
The action of spinning is used to express the transition of changing from one state to another. The visual representation is dependent on how one engages with the object. Rethinking the connection between analog and digital is applied to an everyday object, an elevator touchpad. This provokes a tactile interaction activating a screen that allows one to move through the space while conveying information between users. When the next user arrives, the experience is different from the previous and new information is exchanged.
4 : HALLWAY INTO STUDIO
5 : MACHINERY ROOM
CORRESPONDENCE OF OCCUPANCY & CIRCULATION Each layer correlates with one another through a vertical connection. The elevators represent the connection allowing one to access each floor level. The hallways leads to multi-use spaces of both public and private dwelling. The alternating adjacency between private dwelling and appropriated dwelling creates a commonality of thresholds. The transition begins to blur the boundary between outside to inside, public to private, and distant to intimate. People start to occupy the multi-use spaces in a shareable condition that is not traditionally occupied together. This allows a new experience between people and their surroundings in a new space.
SECTION D : CLOSE UP INTO DELIVERY ROOM