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Dear Reader, This portfolio contains selected works from my years as an architecture student. The designs are ordered in a reverse chronological manner. The first shown design is the most recent. This way the latest and more advanced designs are displayed first. As often is the case in teamwork, one works with fellow students to develop plans or renderings. Therefore, if there are team members, they are always mentioned on the first page of the design presentation to avoid misunderstandings. Willem Bossier
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01 Thesis 02 Heart 03 Fablab 04 Maggie’s Centre 05 Mill Moulart 06 Ukkel Density 07 Gymnasium Rijschoolstraat 08 15x15x15 09 Sarasvati 10 Zinneke 2008 3
01 Thesis
university assignment Autumn 2013 4
The first project in this portfolio is one that’s different form the following documented works. While the rest of this portfolio contains designs, the last project of my years as a student is a case study in media architecture in the form of a dissertation. This thesis illustrates the situation concerning media in architecture in the present and in the future Gent-Sint-Pieters train station. How are physical communicative elements developed and integrated in a design? The rapid development and implementation of digital screens in the built environment, of which this project is no exception, is the cause for this research question. Train stations are urban environments that continuously try to convey numerous messages of all kinds to the traveler, visitor or passer-by creating a plethora of signals. A literature study concluded that a lot of research into new technologies has already been conducted, mostly using a method called ‘research through design’. This thesis, however, conducts a research of all communicative elements in this particular urban environment in order to ensure a holistic approach.
page on the left: seven copies
abstract
systems provide in-creasing opportunities such
of the thesis for all members of the jury
Train stations are becoming increasingly
below: panoramic image of
important places due to the popularity of public
the train station as projected
transport. Networked, urban environments like
in 2022
erating partners. However, the evolution of these as the interactive use of screens in this particular urban environment. To demonstrate the scope of the problems, a
train stations, equipped with information and
comprehensive case study is set up during the de-
next page: web diagram of
communication systems that guide travelers to
velopment of Ghent’s largest station. This station
relations concerning the differ-
their destinations and offer crucial information,
has been under construction since 2006 and will
have to tolerate a large flux of people. Infor-
not be finished until 2022. The construction of
mation and communication systems are closely
the station provides the opportunity to interview
related to the research objects in the fields of
various people and to gather their individual
ubiquitous computing and media architecture.
concepts on the development of these systems.
Because the literature in these fields is general-
Based on these interviews and an analysis
ly focused on new systems, technologies and
from the perspective of ubiquitous computing and
concepts, the problems associated with the
media architecture, I conclude that this complex
development of projects with traditional systems
urban environment would benefit from a special-
are mostly ignored. The combination of industrial
ized design team. This team would take on a
screens and the architect’s vision is not always so
role to unifying the concepts through concrete,
naturally achieved. And although there is a lot of
pragmatic agreements between all parties. This
literature concerning interactive systems, it is un-
case study can be used as a basis for further de-
clear what the advantages thereof are in various
velopment of the information and communication
specific places. The origin of the complications
systems in the new Gent-Sint-Pieters station and
in these urban conditions lies in the diversity of
other future multi-faceted projects.
ent media in the train station
concepts and the closed management of co-op-
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conclusion
partners or could go as far as to take on a coordinating role in these projects. Some members of
The documented issue of the project is current-
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this team would have a permanent position such
ly dealt with in a very differentiated manner due
as architects, sociologists and human computer
to a lack of communication, concerning concepts
interaction experts. Other members coming from
and goals, between the various partners. This
different research areas or from the cooperating
increasingly complex design domain could there-
project partners may be added depending on
fore benefit from a new organizational structure.
specific situations and different design problems.
To manage the issue in this particular project
Through a flexible approach, the team will be
and in other projects with similar design prob-
able to generate adequate solutions for this
lems, I propose to establish a media architecture
dynamic and rapidly evolving design field. In this
consultancy. The team of this consultancy could
way, a seamless integration of technology in cur-
provide meaningful advise to the various project
rent projects and in our future society is ensured.
page on the left, above: structure in the entrance hall with different types of media. this image illustrates the issue this page: diagram of the proposed organizational structure. media architecture consultancy is responsible for the coordination of all media in the project.
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02 Heart independent Autumn 2012
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This design follows a desire to work with additive manufacturing. This jewel is made out of gold plated polished brass. The intention was to manufacture a heart shaped volume defined by random wires and hang it without using extra suspension rings. The chain of the necklace would pass through and ensure the placement. The centre of gravity had therefore to be lower than the point of the suspension. To ensure that the heart could be worn symmetrically, some wires were unnoticeably mirrored. The parametric model was conceived with Rhinoceros 3d and grasshopper-plug-in software. The jewel was manufactured by i.materialise.
above: close up of the jewel page on the left: suspension example with a chain below: grasshopper script
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03 Fablab
university assignment Autumn 2012 12
A fablab is a fabrication laboratory. It can house different kind of machines: from laser cutters to CNC milling machines and 3d printers. The task was to design a new interior for the lab with parametric tools and test some possibilities of digital manufacturing. The concept of this design was to create two spaces. A ‘positive’ working space (a central box), where one can work on models or modify designs on computers or notebooks and a ‘negative’ space (or remaining space), where one can upload a digital file into a machine. This idea is derived form the way we work with materials. We often cut out a shape from a planar material (the positive shape) and throw away (or sometimes reuse) the remaining pieces. The choice of material has its origin in a second phenomenon of model fabrication: the scaling of objects. Prototyping is often accompanied by the reduction of scale due to pragmatic reasons. A decision was made to scale in the other way, by enlarging a texture onto a flat plane of the box, using image sampling with Rhinoceros 3d and grasshopper-plug-in software. In reality the texture would be fabricated using CNC milling in plywood and serve as a cast for the concrete walls.
page on the left: conceptual diagram above: physical model of the texture (laser cutting) below: grasshopper script
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page on the left, above: floor plan laboratory page on the left, below: outdoor view, looking in above: entrance middle: workspace below: laser cutters and their respective line of computers
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"The diagnosis had been as hard on my family as it was for me... Seeing the suffering of my husband, mother and teenage children affected me physically." Maggie Keswick Jencks
04 Maggie’s Centre
university assignment Autumn 2012
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The assignment was to create a healing environment for people affected by cancer. The extra aspect of this design was the contact with three persons who had just survived cancer. The goal was to set up a dialogue which would be very beneficial for the design. People who are not rushing have time to appreciate architecture to the fullest. The architectural experience of the visitor had therefore a paramount importance. The concept for this design was to use various enclosures with each a different material and function. The first enclosure is a steel wall with a thickness of twenty millimeter. This serves as a perimeter: a physical separation of the world which allows one to escape reality for a moment. The second is a thick brick wall which serves as a series of functional niches for the inside space. The niches facing outwards are comfortable terraces. The third and final enclosure defines a peaceful sanctuary. This room is entirely made of wood and carved out in round shapes. Views to the forest and the city are defined by openings through these three boundaries. In short collaboration with Kristoff De Wilde.
above: top of the hill below: aerial view of Gasthuisberg, Leuven
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page on the left, above: communication with cancer patients during the design page on the left, below: concept steps above: view of the hill and the centre below: view from inside the pool next page: section with four indication views last project page: plan upper floor
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05 Mill Moulart
university assignment Spring 2012 24
The former mill Moulart is one of the three mills of Brussels where the material residues still remain. The complex is located in the district Cureghem (Anderlecht), along the canal Brussels-Charleroi. A subordinate position is taken compared to the two original buildings. The intervention is limited to an addition of one plinth on the ground floor and one crown on the roof of the street-side building. This new building is developed as modest as possible. The existing inclination on the site was used to overcome the level height. A piece of the new building is half-buried. By doing this, the focus of this design lies on the revived character of the two original buildings that still dominate the site. The program consists of offices, a cultural centre and a cafeteria. The first part is scattered around in the building, the second is placed on top of the street-side building to create extended view over the area and the third part is placed next to the outside terrace on the plinth. In collaboration with Pauline Hermant and Joran Marijsse.
page on the left, above: faรงade pattern above: view of the mill in the year 2012 below: future view of the mill
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page on the left, above: street-side faรงade page on the left, below: faรงade of the courtyard side above: concept steps below: view, entering the building
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page on the left, above: floor plan 0 page on the left, below: floor plan +5 above: view of the entrance from the inside middle: view of the entrance from the outside below: grasshopper script, generating the faรงade pattern
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page on the left, above: ramp for people with disabilities on the back-side of the building page on the left, middle: view of the large office space on the ground floor page on the left, below: view showing reflecting water around the old part of the building above, left: view of the first staircase in the long part of the building above, right: view of the second staircase in the smaller tower of the building below: detailed plan showing the construction of the terrace floor
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06 Ukkel Density
university assignment Spring 2011 32
The task was to create a high density living area of one hundred dwellings in suburban Ukkel. The housing should be useful for people of all ages and flexible in order to follow the fluctuating demands. As an answer to this question, the complex was given various, different kind of dwellings: from flexible apartments to duplex housing. The project consists of three design phases: urban analysis, architectural design and technical detailing. The assignment demanded that a small part be left out in the development of two following design phases: the architectural design and the technical detailing. In collaboration with Pauline Hermant, Pieter-Jan Coppejans and Joran Marijsse for urban analysis. In collaboration with Pieter-Jan Coppejans for architectural design and technical detailing.
page on the left: conceptual sketch for masterplan this page: aerial view of suburban Ukkel and position of the site
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Schakeling page on the left, above: master plan of the area page on the left, below: floor
hoektype
plan, level 1
studio typ
above: different kinds of
duplex
dwellings and their position in the building block below: floor plan, level 3
tweezijdig
doorzonty toren cluster
circulatie
winkelrui
werkzon
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snede 1/100 page on the left, above: view from the street page on the left, below: view showing the public park behind the building above: section showing street-side part of the building with the extra high shops and parking level below: physical model of phase two
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page on the left, above: type ‘cluster’ dwelling (dark blue) -- expandable for more bedrooms or a working space. Here the expansion is shown as a working space accessible via circulation on the left. page on the left, below: typical apartment (orange) with three bedrooms, unexpandable this page: commercial impressions of the living room in the types displayed on the left page
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07 Gymnasium Rijschoolstraat university assignment Spring 2011 40
The project is located in the Rijschoolstraat in the city of Leuven. It appears that the building needs to be renovated or replaced. The front facade and the sides are remnants of the old military equestrian school. In the 70s the building was transformed to a gymnasium, and before that it was of service as a banquet and an exchange hall. The square in front of the building has a strong architectural unity and monumentality. Behind the facade there is a passage to a small school and the back entrance of the record office with had to be respected during the design process. This design is an attempt to return as many current functions as possible to the community in a transparent manner. The old building couldn’t deliver this openness and was therefore not incorporated in the design. The sports hall was made as large as possible in order to be very useful for existing sport clubs and surrounding schools where such facilities are lacking. To prevent the overshadowing of the houses in the north, the hall was half-buried. The front square is actually a widening of the sidewalk which made it impossible to maintain large crowds and furthermore a dangerous place for children waiting for the bus.. In the design, this urban square therefore extends to the roof the hall. To ensure this continuity, the square is paved with the same concrete tiles as the roof.
page on the left: part of the old plans of the equestrian school above: a bird’s view of the urban area below: conceptual overview
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page on the left, above: passage to the school behind the sports hall above: top view of the area below: view from the street
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page on the left, above: floor plan -1 above: longitudinal section below: view of the sports hall
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08 15x15x15
university assignment Autumn 2010
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The assignment was quite simply to design a meeting space in a cube with an edge length of 15 meters. In this design we investigate oblique surfaces which create different room experiences. Each space is a variation on this theme. The surfaces can be inclined walls, ceilings or floors. The circulation throughout the building organizes the perception of the spaces. In collaboration with Liesl Van Hecke and Sophie Eeckhout.
page on the left: volumetric study this page: plans of the first two levels
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page on the left: plans of the two upper levels above: entrance below: entrance to the bar and space for bike parking
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above: entrance from the inside below: view of the auditorium page on the right: perspective section AA
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09 Sarasvati
university assignment Spring 2010
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Sarasvati is a lamp, manufactured with 3D printing. The design is a (re)search on the possibilities of printing with poly-amide. This polymer has many useful qualities when used for manufacturing lamps. The flexibility and the warm touch make it an excellent material for design objects. But above all we can rely on the transparent nature, which resembles that of the different flower petals when created thin enough. Just as a flower, the lamps opens up and closes to regulate the light intensity. The physical model on real size scale was manufactured by i.materialise. Designed with Generative Components software. In collaboration with Wendy Geeraert.
page on the left: conceptual section of the lamp this page: part of the assignment was to design a poster which had to sell the product
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page on the left, above: physical model on real size scale, 3D printed with poly-amide above: four stances showing the regulation of light intensity below: conceptual sketch showing the ability of the material working as a hinge due to sufficient thinness and fatigue strength
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10 Zinneke 2008 university assignment Spring 2008
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Brussels has always had a complex relationship with the water in the city. On the one hand there is the Senne, which is one of the founding reasons of Brussels and which was vaulted in the 60s and 70s of the 19th century. On the other hand there are the numerous springs that directly give rise to various fountains throughout the city, of which Manneken Pis not only is the most famous, but also one of the oldest. Zinneke is a project that creates opportunities for meeting, collaboration, cooperation and creation, that generates an artistic and social dynamic between residents, associations, schools and artists from different districts in Brussels and elsewhere. In 2008 we had the opportunity to participate in the design for the scenery of this parade. The project is made of plywood, cut with CNC machinery. A parametric approach was used with the help of generative components software. In collaboration with Elke Durnez, Waldo Galle, Eline Himpe, Floriaan Nijs, Pieter Schiettecatte, Joani Taelman, Lieselotte Van de Capelle, Thomas Vanholle, David Van Moorleghem and Joran Marijsse.
page on the left: parametric model visualisation with Generative Components software above: location of the project below: photo of final installation
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Willem Antoon Bossier July 15th, 1988 (Canterbury, GB) Belgian and Portuguese nationality Address | Mussenstraat 1, 9840 De Pinte, Belgium Mail | willem.bossier@gmail.com
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