EARTH BOOK by stephanieccy

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO: EARTH S1, 2015 SUBJECT STUDENT BOOK

Cheng Chi Yau Stephanie

723265 Tutor Name + Group Number

CONTENTS 1.0 THREE RELATIONSHIPS 1.1 Point/Line/Plane 1.2 Mass 1.3 Frame and Infill 2.0 HERRING ISLAND. SOMETHING LIKE A PAVILION 2.1 Conceptacle 2.2 Site Analysis 2.3 Concept and Sketch design 2.4 Design Development 2.5 Final Design drawings 2.6 Final Design Model 3.0 Reflection 4.0 Bibliography

1.0 THREE RELATIONSHIPS In this module, it will talk about the relationships between three tectonic, i.e. point, line and plane; mass; frame and infill. They are interpreted as below ground, on ground sureface and above ground. All three tectonic can be observed in different areas like arts, architectures, natures and even daily things that are surrounding us. In the following content, I will be focusing on what the different tectonics mean to me and the ways on exploring them.

1.1 POINT / LINE / PLANE

SHIFTING PERSPECTIVE The main concept of this model is shifting perspective, where from the side view, it is plane with subtractions; while in the front view, lines and intersection points can be observed. Different perspective and point of views will create different experiences. This model is inspired by the fortune cookie sculpture designed by Freeman Lau. It is knitted by different thickness of rattan (lines) as the main frames and skin, then formed the shape of the sculpture (curve planes). By inverting the concept of using points and lines to form planes, I used planes to form points and lines. One folding plane are cut out in different positions and extrude in perpendicular direction to intersect with the opposite planes. The extrusions intersect in different positions so that regular grids can be formed.

Artwork by Freeman Lau, 2016

1.2 MASS

HIDDEN The main concept of this topic is hidden. The secret is hidden inside the massive structure. The structure is formed by overlaying irregular sizes of rocks and formed a circular structure like a theater. Is it inspired by the Inca architecture where stones are used as the materials and built a monolithic mass construction. When people look from outside, it give a feeling of enclosed and massive where the secret is hidden inside. But when they go through the tunnel, the will experience from dark to light and reveal the open space in the middle of the structure. The open space are the secret are where people may not discover from outside.

Inca Wall at the site of Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, Peru

1.3 FRAME & INFILL

CONTRAST The main concept of this model is contrast. The infill is dynamic and fluid while the frame is regular and rigid. The form of repeating regular cubes as the frame is inspired by Nest We Go in Hokkaido, Japan. It used simple geometry, squares, to form the timber frames in grids. The sliding panels in the facade and roof are semi-transparent and create sense of harmony with the timber. The infill of the model is the semi-transparent tracing paper which allows light to penetrate; the placement of curvy infill also create movement within the rigid and regular frames. The two models below future develop the concept of using simple geometry to form the frames; the geometries are rearranged in different positions to create a sense of dynamic.

Nest We Grow, College of Environmental Design UC Berkeley, 2014, Japan

2.0 HERRING ISLAND. SOMETHING LIKE A PAVILION Herring Island is an island full of natural views and different beautiful art pieces made by natural materials. People may not be aware of the natural beauty of this island; these are all like the secrets of the island. The secrets are always there, people just need to shift their perspective in order to discover them. The pavilion aims to provide a quiet and private place for people to rest; they will need to explore the pavilion themselves to reveal the secrets, which are the patterns of the architecture and the recording played for one family.

2.1 CONCEPTACLE

SHIFT Painted geometry illusion, Felice Varini

I combine all the three concepts to shift. It was inspired by the hidden beach in Mexico and the geometry illusion paintings. When people look from different perspectives, they may not reveal the hidden beach and the geometry patterns. There are different experiences when looking at the conceptacle in different directions. From perspective view, it is an irregular form of folding planes; from front view, it is regular grids with open feeling; and from side view, it is massive and enclosed which create a strong contrast with the front view. Secret is not necessary to be hidden in a fully closed-enclosure, it can be hidden in specific perspectives. Regular grids represent the secret, it is always here, we just need to shift our perspective to the right position in order to reveal the secret.

Hidden Beach in Marieta Islands, Mexico

2.2SITE SITEANALYSIS ANALYSIS

Noise Distribution

Vegetation Distribution Population Density and Circulation Keys: Population density: Highest

: human noise : sculptures Lowest

: circulation

: preferred site

: natural noise : vegetation

As the pavilion is mainly for resting and sheltering the secret, I have chosen a site which is far away from main circulation and has lower population density to give a sense of mysterious for hiding secret. The site is mainly flat land to provide a comfortable place for sheltering. For the secret inside the pavilion, it is the recording which can only be listened by one family, thus, a site which is far away from human noise would be most suitable. It can provide a quiet place for people to listen the recording. Lastly, since the island is has valuable natural resources, the site has less vegetation to limit the damage to natural ecosystem.

2.3 CONCEPT AND SKETCH DESIGN

This bubble diagram shows the spatial distribution of the site. Since the pavilion aims to provide place for sheltering and hiding recording secret, the shelter and secret areas are located in the middle of the site with largest areas. Secondary functions areas like technical room and store rooms are placed on the two sides of the main functions so that people will experience the important functions first.

As the pavilion is next to the pathway, to ensure the privacy of shelter areas, the wall facing the pathway will be enclosed. While the entrance and wall that opposite to the pathway will be more open for people to enjoy the natural views.

The pavilion entrances are parallel to the pathway, only when people need to rest they will go inside the pavilion. It is not necessary to attract people to go in the pavilion as it contains secret that people need to explore and discover themselves.

People will experience from open and light space in the shelter spaces; than when they go further inside the pavilion in the middle part, it will be more enclosed, congested and dark as it is where the secret located; and when they go out again, they will experience open and light again. People will need to explore themselves and go through the darkness if they want to reveal the secret.

2.4 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

PERSPECTIVES

SIDE VIEWS

FRONT VIEW

DESIGN 1

DESIGN 2

DESIGN 3

DESIGN 4

The geometry patterns that can be observed in the front view are the secret of the architecture. I have explored different patterns and arrangements of the grids to come up with a more revealing pattern that people can discover from a certain height and distance. The heights and sizes of each components are altered to fit different functions.

2.5 FINAL DESIGN DRAWINGS

3 6 2 8

Top view

Perspective view

1 3

Side view

Front view

These drawings includes plan, sections, perspective and front views which showcase the whole form of the pavilion as well as the spatial distribution of the final design.

The drawings of elevations of each segment show the different sizes and heights each segment. The numbers indicate the arrangement of each of them.

Elevations of each segment Elevation of each component

2.6 FINAL DESIGN MODEL

The pavilion is located on a flat land beside the pathway. It formed by different sizes of folding planes supported by columns, which create shelter spaces for recreational use. The different rooms are located on ground level as mass to provide space for people to stay. The roof is made by timber frames with semi-transparent glass as infill to block direct light and allow soft light to penetrate. When people stand from a distance with certain height of land, they will reveal the secret of this architecture patterns of regular girds in front view. When they come closer, they will have a different experience with the lights and shadows created by the semitransparent roof. The secret area of playing recording in the middle would be the darkest and enclosed area to give a sense of mysterious.

3.0 REFLECTION

Throughout the whole semester, I have a deeper understanding about the three basic tectonics and their relationships with daily life. They can be observed in not only architectures but also in different fields like literatures, art works and even in nature. I become a more observative analyst to record any interesting and inspiring ideas in daily life. In the design process, I have developed skills to combine ideas into one key concept. It is hard to figure out what am I exploring in each of the topic and combine them into one strong idea that can be explored in the final project. After I got the main concept, I would need to consider different factors like site limitations, brief requirements, sizes and form of the pavilion etc, Critical thinking is needed as all these factors should not be neglected. I tried to strike a balance between all these considerations so as to come up with a more comprehensive design. In the future, I may focus more on architectural drawings like plan and sections. I will practice and research on different drawings so that they can present all the main message I want to convey. Practice on using different programs like Rhino, Photoshop and InDesign can also improve my skills of visualizing my ideas.

4.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY Hidden Beach in Marieta Islands, Mexico, 2013, viewed 5 June 2016, < http://whenonearth.net/hidden-beach-puerto-vallarta/> Nest We Grow, College of Environmental Design UC Berkeley, 2014, Japan, viewed 5 June 2016, < http://www.archdaily.com/592660/nest-wegrow-college-of-environmental-design-uc-berkeley-kengo-kuma-and-associates> Painted geometry illusion, Felice Varini, 1999, viewed 5 June 2016, < http://www.lemayonline.com/en/wow/trippy-felice-varini-covers-buildingsand-entire-villages-with-his-optical-illusion-paintings>