-MOBILITY FRAGMENTS OF SPACEYEN-PING WEN M.ARCH 2019
MOBILITY FRAGMENTS OF SPACE Exploring user-determined and moduality through joinery
YEN-PING WEN
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE, AND DESIGN OBJECT (AIADO)
SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO 2018/2019 ACADEMIC YEAR
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CONTENTS
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Thesis Statement
02
Thesis Questions
03 -1 Previous Study & Works 03 -2 First Research 04
Thesis Project
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References
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01 \\\ THESIS STATEMENT
In the 21st century, with the increasing desires of humankind and the development of techniques, architecture is being regarded to huge machines in the cities, which rely on all of the external power sources for survival, such as electricity and hydraulic power. However, a devastating disaster could turn these stuffless ‘machines’ into plenty of garbage and pollution just in a twinkle, and they are not easy to move or take down.
This thes is aims to re-think the form of architecture, discussing the modularity and user-determined by using the small and independent unit. The goal is to create an experimental space that starts from small unit instead of huge building, to break down the concept that we thought about traditional architecture.
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02 \\\ THESIS QUESTIONS
HOW TO CREATE THE MODULAR SYSTEM THAT CAN FUNCTION AS FURNITURE, WALL, AND ARCHITECTURE ?
WHAT IS THE MOST SUITABLE SIZE OF SINGLE UNIT ?
WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL WOULD BE THE BEST CHOICE ?
HOW PEOPLE DETERMINE THE SPACE IN THEIR OWN WAY ?
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‘ The house is a machine for living in’ – Le Corbusier (Le Corbusier,Towards a new architecture, New York: Dover Publication, 1986, p. 107)
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03-1 \\\ PREVIOUS STUDY & WORKS
In the 20th century, architects regard building as a machine that could be assembled by different functional pieces. For instance, architects dealing with columns, rooms, roofs as components and viewing architecture as an assemblage from those components. This kind of machinic theory that became a main concept behind the functionality, and standardization order that laid the foundation of modern architecture. However, in the reality, the ways of human living include different movements and behaviors that sometimes cannot be measured, it contained mobility and changing. Thus, I question this stylized approach, which set specific functions into the individual living unit and limits their variability. If we can consider the architectural components as the cells of the body, then those cells could make up any organs. If we turn architecture into small units or fragments so that space can be using freely and easily adapted to different lifestyle and time.
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Le Corbusier’s well-known drawing - a man with his hand up. He use this as a unit to standerlized every designed in order to create a system.
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20TH NEW ARCHITECTURE
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The believers of Mechanism or functionalism defined house as different functionality and elements, and tried to match the owner’s lifestyle.
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‘ Why should architects decide for the people who live in their building? I felt like people should decide for themselves. ’ – Yona Friedman
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WATER BLOCK HOUSE - Kengo kuma P R OJE C T T Y P E - I N ST A LLA T I O N EX H I BI T I O N T I T LE - M O M A /H ome Del i very Fabri cati ng the Modern Dw e l l i ng
The W a t e r b lock Hou se is th e experi m ent of m od ul ari ty that has pot e nt i al t o co m p o se d w e llin g of in fin ite conf i gurati ons. Af ter natural d i sasters hap p e ne d s o fr e q u e n t in J ap a n , it tr ig g er s Kengo Kum a to rethi nk of the system and t he f o rm o f t h e h ou se n owaday s. H e ai m s t o break the verti cal separat i on of t he d i s cip lin e s lik e a ir con dition in g , pi pi ng syst em , st ructures and bri ng the m al l t o ge t h e r . Ta k i n g in sp ir ation fr om LE GO, the w at er bl ocks are t he uni t s t hat coul d s e l f -su p p o r t itself a n d a llow wa ter f l ui d t hrough. Moreover, t he system has t he p o t e n t ia l to b e ou tfitted with an el ectri cal system t hat rem ai ns pr ot e c t e d f ro m t h e wa t e r , a llowin g th e blocks t o be i l l umi nat ed. W at er bl ock can func t i o n a s m a n y oth er r oles like lig hti ng equi pment, st ori ng rai nw at er, ch ange i t s ro l e b y t h e t hin g y ou p u t in side. 19
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P R OJE C T T Y P E - I N ST A LLA T I O N EX H I BI T I O N T I T LE - GA LLE R Y M A /STUDIES IN ORGANIC
Two y e a r s la t er , th eir team ex h ibi t s an experi m ent al ho use u sin g t he sa me wa ter block system . The bl ock ha s t wo c a p s, if two cap s a r e connect ed toget her, wa t e r f lo w s b etween th em so that i t can f unct i on as a p i pi n g sy st e m. U s e r s c a n u se th e b lock to a ssem bl e not onl y a vert i cal wa l l b u t a lso a r oof or ev en fu r ni ture l i ke a bed . Thi s i s us e r - d e t e r m in ed modu la r sy stem so i t gi ves t he l ayman f re e d o m o f w h a t th ey wa n t to bui l d.
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JOINERY STUDY
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03-2 \\\ FIRST RESEARCH My first attempt started by researching a traditional Japanese wood joint that could be built as a modular system. The joint contains three important functions. • First, it can make the whole unit sturdy. • Second, it can be assembled easily after read the instruction. • Last, it can be disassembled without destroying. The Cidori Joint originated as a traditional Japanese toy, it was re-purposed by Kengo Kuma Associates. And it perfectly matches the three functions. Moreover, it doesn’t need any additional joinery or screw to build.
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After figuring out how to build this join, here comes the questions :
[1]. What is the right scale of single unit ? [2]. How to let this unit achieve multiple tasks ? [3]. How to let laymen understand the way of assembly?
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[1] What is the right scale of one unit ?
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To define the purpose of using the unit in order to find a scale that is meaningful to human body scale. If it is strong as a chair then it can possibly transform as other space fragments. Next, assuming adults would be the main user, the chair’s height should between 46cm- 50cm. The result of one unit scale is 56x56x56cm and the seating height is 48cm.
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[2] How to let this unit achieve multiple tasks ? 28
Simulating the real lifestyle with this modular system, I build several units to see how body emage with it. Using single unit with a plat can become a chair, expand it with two others unit can assemble as a bed.If assemble vertiacally, this modular can become bookshelves. I add another short part on the top or unit so then it became a table. WIth few strips and combined with Cidori joinery system, this modular has a lot potential.
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[3] How to let the layman understand the way of assembly ? 30
User guide demonstrates how to assemble the whole system and the different functions that this modular can achieve. There is no drill needed, only with dowels, wood sticks, and plates.
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Although Cidori modular system has the function of disassembly and reassembly, it still requires 8 single parts to assemble into one unit, which makes the process difficult. The invention of this modular system was to explore the possibility of fragmented space, but the way of connection has limited the extensibility of this system. For example, the connection structure of Cidori is to drill a hole on the top and bottom sides of the stick and use dowels as the link between units. It merely extends in XYZ axis rather than grows in all directions, not as flexible as the cells in our body. To break through the limitation of the XYZ axis, we need another designed joint instead of simply using the dowels for connection. From the perspective of materials, wood has strong flexibility,it can be easily modified during the processing. The texture of pinewood is soft and light, which is not a good fit for this module. While cherry wood has a hard quality that can support more functional needs. From the perspective of proportion, the size of one single chair is 56x56x56cm, which won’t be for everyone. This problem could be solved by extending the unit or combining the boards. Making physical object is the method for testing usability, not only because it can push me to modifies my work periodically, but also let me have instantly discussion with others. The modular system of Cidori is easy to carry and move. OS system has a lot of freedom for its users who like to create and DIY their own home. Cidori system gives me a deeper understanding of function, proportion, and the relationship between human body.
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04 \\\ THESIS PROJECT
To design my own modular system, which can achieve the concept of fragmented space. Each unit can self-support and connect to each other. It would be easy to move and assembe. And It will be demonstrate 1:1 scale in the end.
1. HOW TO CREATE THE MODULAR SYSTEM THAT CAN FUNCTION AS FURNITURE, WALL, AND ARCHITECTURE ?
2. WHAT IS THE MOST SUITABLE SIZE OF SINGLE UNIT ?
3. WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL WOULD BE THE BEST CHOICE ?
4. HOW PEOPLE DETERMINE THE SPACE IN THEIR OWN WAY ?
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05 \\\ REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY Ceriiza, Luca. 2008. Yona Friedman. Italy. Corbusier, Le. n.d. Modulor. 2000: Boston : Birkhäuser. Corbusier, Le. 1927. Towards a new architecture. New York : Payson & Clarke, ltd. Friedman, Yona. 1980. Toward a scientific architecture. The MIT Press. Kuma, Kengo. 2015. Small architecture ; [and] Natural architecture /. London : Architectural Association. Price, Cedric. 1984. Cedric Price. London : Architectural Association. Schaik, Martin van. 2005. Exit Utopia : architectural provocations, 1956-76 . Schittich, Christian. 2010. In Detail, Small structures : compact dwellings, temporary structures, room modules. Seonwook, Kim. 2012. Mobile architecture. Yona Friedman, Manuel Oraz. 2015. Yona Friedman : the dilution of architecture. IMAGE RESOURCE P.10 VILLA SAVOYE http://www.hotelswelove.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/villa-savoye-1_pascal-lemac3aetre.jpg P.16 Yona Friedman https://www.maxxi.art/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/YonaFriedman_ritratto.jpg P.18-19 Water Block House http://kkaa.co.jp/works/architecture/water-branch-house/ P.20 Water Block House https://payload.cargocollective.com/1/5/167056/3540992/3_water%20brick_gallery%20ma_2_
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P.21 Plan
Kengo Kuma-‘小建築‘ p.70
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