SCENIC ARCHI TECTURE
PROJECT : LOCATION : DATE :
Scenic Architecture Faroe Island - Mulafossur Waterfall 2017 - 2018
01 Faroe Island, an Archipelago between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic, halfway point between Norway and Iceland. It get its fair share of hikers on a monthly basis, locally and internationally. This Island contains what many landscape photographers would consider scenic gems. Hiking tours are conducted on a daily basis, as they trench through low temperature days, extreme green fields filled with domestic farm animals, mountain ranges at one end and glistering sea at the other. The encounters these hikers experience are dramatic coastal cliffs and islands beyond the horizon, scenic lakes and up to the top of the cascade. It is no wonder this is a landscape photographer’s pilgrimage to serenity. Faroe island has its small local population of 50,000 and counting, where lots of hikers, fresh from the ferry, arrives on a average count of 50 body’s per day, willing to stay at small towns or roughing it outdoors. This project is to explore architectonic relationship between the practices of landscape photographers and designing in architecture. Taking in interest of what a unique landscape offers, unconventional terrain, and investigate architectural structure and spaces composed against its environment.
Public Terrace Lookout PA G E 2 / 3
CONCEPT DESIGN DESIGN : To explore a relationship between landscape and architecture, investigating architectonic on unconventional terrain and shaping it into a mass that cultivates the photographic and the adventurous culture. . STRATEGY : Translating the practices of landscape photographers and exploring the needs and wants the profession would use to compose and consider a breathtaking composition. COLLECTIVE:
On a daily basis, 50 travellers arrive through ferry and commences their journey, by walking, driving, tours, or cycling. 50% of these are hikers and photographers at all levels. There is a passion for landscape photography and the architecture should cultivate that passion and become a driver to encourage learning.
STRUCTURE:
A careful selection of material based on their structural properties were selected for design. Strong focus was considered into concrete and steel. Concrete for its heavy weighted, high mass properties to weigh down the structure into the cliff edge. Lightweight steel to extend the volume into the scenery.
PHILOSOPHY:
“A Man’s grasp should exceed his reach” Robert Browning.
KEYWORDS: - Landscape and Landscape Photography - Serenity - Composition - Vantage Points - Community and Learning - Hiking and Journey - Public Accessible - Structurally photogenic
ICELAND 47
5k
m
640km
0km 43
UNITED KINGDOM
0m
10m
PA G E 4 / 5
20m
50m
100m
N
NORWAY
0m 20 100
m
EXTRUSION
1a
1b
VERTICAL CLIMB
2a
2b
HORIZONTAL EXPOSURE
3a
3b
ATTACHMENT AND EXTEND
4a
4b
FORM ITERATION
PA G E 6 / 7
Multiple solutions were explored under different conditions, but there was a research for an envelope that can conceptually encourage mobility, vantage points, exposure, and development. However, what was important is a structure that can uphold the column along the cliff’s edge. Access points were considered from the north end of the island and the 30m drop waterfall adjacent to the building’s envelope. To take advantage of the structure, what was researched was a protruding, cantilever structure to uphold the envelope. Taking advantage of the scenic view, granting more access ways and a public terrace platform for more vantage points. There was an exchange of public and private spaces, open terrace and landscape and internal building envelope respectively.
1c
1d
1e
2c
2d
2e
3c
3d
3e
4c
4d
4e
FINAL ITERATION
Communal Space
Kitchen / Living Room / Dining PA G E 8 / 9
PUBLIC SPACES Public spaces were introduced inside the interior, to encourage interaction and learning from one another. Photographers and hikers can use this spaces while staying for the night, inspiring one another of their journeys and memories or take in the serenity of the environment and what the island had to offer. Natural lighting fills from from one side of the facade to liven the structure yet the rear is dark and heavy, weighing down the structure from the rear as the structure protrudes forward, reaching for light.
Stairs to Terrace (Public Accessible)
3000
ROOF PLANTS RESIDENTIAL SPACE
3700
Section AA
8500
LINK BRIDGE
3200
PUBLIC TERRACE
PRIVATE TERRACE
3000
ROOF PLANT
3400
BEDROOM QUATERS
Section BB
3300
ENTRY / GALLERY SPACE
4000
COMMUNIAL SPACE
4500
KITCHEN / DINING SPACE
3200
MEDITATION SPACE
SPA / RECREATION SPACE
3000
ROOF PLANT
3400
BEDROOM QUATERS
3300
ENTRY / GALLERY SPACE
4000
COMMUNIAL SPACE
KITCHEN / DINING SPACE
4500
ROOF LEVEL
3200
MEDIDATION SPACE
3000
Section CC
LEVEL 5
3400
SPA / RECREATIONAL SPACE
3300
LEVEL 4
4000
LEVEL 3
4500
LEVEL2
3200
LEVEL1
30000
GROUND LEVEL
PA G E 1 0 / 1 1
SEA LEVEL
D
C
A
B
D
A
C
B
Section DD
SIXTH FLOOR
0m 5m 10m
20m
1. Lobby 2. Bike Storage 3. Kitchen 4. Living Room / Dining 5. Commercial Space 6. Terrace Space 7. Sleeping Quarters 8. Spa 9. Gym 10. Meditation Space 11. Storage Space 12. Toilet and Utilities 13. Gallery 14. Study / Community Spaces 15. Public Lookout 16. Private Lookout
40m
FIFTH FLOOR
FOURTH FLOOR
THIRD FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
PA G E 1 2 / 1 3
Light-well from Meditation Space
Light-well from Spa Room PA G E 1 4 / 1 5
CONCEPT SPACES VS STRUCTURAL COMPOSITION There was an exploration between conceptual spaces against structural components. Structure itself can be interesting to photographers and at the right angle and seasonal lighting, it can illuminate into an interesting space. Leading lines can help compose a eye please photograph or a focus onto the quality of a texture. A strong composition uses elements that leads the viewer’s eye from one visual element or the corner of the frame, towards a subject. A professional photographer Trent Parke “I am forever chasing light. Light turns the ordinary into the magical”.
Structure has been explored and reiterated to create lightwells. A challenge for such a small floor plate design with multiple level is to bring light from above, down to the lower levels to elevate the space below. Shapes and void spaces were explored to discover photographic potential in the structure. While casting down light to the lower floor space, there was an opportunity for something fresh. A Green Wall was introduced into the design, as light cast down, it follows and grinds against a wall lined with greenery and plantations, bringing life and refresh to the design and space below.
Ariel View
3
6
15
3. Kitchen 6. Terrace 15. Public Lookout
PA G E 1 6 / 1 7
15
6
15
6. Terrace 15. Public Lookout
Mulafossur Waterfalls - Faroe Island PA G E 1 8 / 1 9
ARCHITECTURE MEETS LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY Inspired by many landscape photographers who had hiked along Faroe Island, there was an inspiration that offered challenging design options to be explored through architecture. Landscape photographers seeks out great scenery and rich environment that offers serenity and beauty, same time, offers opportunity and a creative vision. This creative vision offers opportunity to create something out of the ordinary and expose it in its extraordinary state.
Although this is a design project, the main focus is not the building itself. The focal point is the landscape, how it connects and forms architecture, shape structure and mould spaces to cultivate a creative and adventurous culture. Hikers travel along this edge of the cliff and it is a resting space for visual artist, hikers, landscape lovers or just travellers in general, to stay in a communal base environment, learn from each other, revitalise themselves to the freshness of the environment. It is about the journey, not the destination.
01