Design Studio 3 Portfolio

Design Studio 3 dealt with 4 different methods of generating architecture. The studio was broken down into 5 exercises and one main project. The first 4 exercises each focused on one of the four generators: form, memory, ritual and mediation. The fifth exercise was to analyze a work of architecture and break it down in terms of the different generators found in the work. The final project of the semester called for an integration of all the generators previously studied in order to successfully design a BATH HOUSE.

TITLE: EXERCISE 1 TUTOR: L. FERRON NO. OF SESSIONS: 4

The first exercise of the semester, FORM, delved into learning how “form� generated architecture. This generator dealt with the formal arrangement of elements in order to achieve a composition. A composition with a formal structure should show a clear hierarchy between its elements. This identifies 3 major element or group of elements, a dominant form, a subdominant form which directly relates and is usually opposite of the dominant and a subordinate form which balances the two prior forms.

The process began with simple 3-D explorations that highlighted all three axes.

After a suitable form was obtained, the next process was adding depth to each axis and experimenting with different position and sizes for different elements along with experimenting with varying dominant forms until a desired outcome was arrived at.

TITLE: EXERCISE 2 TUTOR: D. CUTHBERT NO. OF SESSIONS: 2

The memory exercise was an attempt in arriving at a formal design by ‘remembering an event therefore the memory of an event was the architectural generator. The first step in this exercise was to highlight how the event is remembered. The event was broken down into three sections (dominant, subdominant and subordinate), each of which was assigned a word to describe it. My analysis of the event was that it was a progressing decline and then came a sudden change in direction (rebirth). From this development of a memory we moved unto a abstract representation of the memory and developed an architectural form from the abstract representation.

Abstract representation of my memory of the event, the Kendal Train Crash, Jamaica 1957.

The aim of my form was to evoke the memory of the event. The journey begins with unorganized columns which progresses to projections which serve to distract the occupant from a central view. Finally one exits the form following the sloping ceiling which gives a sense of rebirth.

TITLE: EXERCISE 3 TUTOR: D. CUTHBERT NO. OF SESSIONS: 2

The ritual exercise investigated how to generate architectural forms by analyzing the activities that would take place in the form. This generator had to take into consideration the size and placement of different body parts for different activities. From each specific activity for the ritual, a space was then created using the human proportions. This exercise began with an analysis of the given ritual. I was given the Japanese tea ceremony. Specific and important activities which made the ritual what it was were recorded and analyzed. From this analysis I developed a suitable space to house the ritual of a Japanese tea ceremony.

SECTION THROUGH PASSAGE WAY

SECTION THROUGH TEA AREA

TITLE: EXERCISE 4 TUTOR A. WEST-MARTIN NO. OF SESSIONS: 2

The fourth studio exercise, mediation, explored how an architecture form could be designed by using elements to mediate between the inside of a building envelope and the outside environment. Mediation is simply how the building interacts with the outside while reacting to the climate. Forms of mediation for example would be windows, vents etc. For this exercise each student was given one of four sides of a building envelope. I was given the west facade. The west facade in the Jamaican climate implied the use of sun shadings devices to restrict direct heat in the afternoons. The angle of the sun during varying times of the year also called for a variety of shading devices, thus horizontal and vertical fins were used. An average of the sun’s azimuth at the west end determined the angle for the horizontal fins. Also the notion of private versus public was used to determine how mediation would occur.

A sketch of the public lower floor interior that shows how one views outside.

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Elevation of the West facade. The issue of climate and mediation played a role in determining the materials chosen for each floor. The first floor because it is the private area meant it would be occupied in the night therefore, timber was chosen as the building material because timber releases heat fast. In the Jamaican climate, the nights are not significantly different in temperature from in the days therefore the room would need to be kept as cool as possible.

TITLE: PRECEDENT NO. OF SESSIONS: 1

The precedent exercise was an exercise in identifying and analysing the four generators in a known work of architecture. This exercise served to further inform us of how architects design responding to those four generators (form, memory, ritual and mediation). The building given to my group to analyse was the Centre le Corbusier designed by Le Corbusier.

FORM The form of the building was devised on a grid system. This module permeated through the entire building and was used both in plan and section. The floor plan was basic addition and subtraction of this module.

MEMORY This building designed to by Corbusier was to serves as a gallery for his art work. The memory the building attempts to recreate is the memory of the architect himself. This is seen in the pattern on the facade of the building which is representative of his cubist art. This building also represented his desire for the future also. The building being a fusion of his known building material, concrete and his visions of the future glass and steel.

RITUAL The house being an art gallery called for large opens spaces to allow movement of both art and people. Though an exhibition space, Corbusier went against the traditional high ceiling space for he felt that high space took away from the art pieces.

MEDIATION The building being located in a cold climate served to determine how the building mediated the outside. There was a need for light and also for heat. The glass facade of the building served to allow light in and then trap the light.

TITLE: PROJECT 1. BATHHOUSE TUTOR: NO. OF SESSIONS:

The bathhouse project challenged the students to merge all four generators learnt throughout the semester in order to portray a chosen idea. In the bathhouse project each group chose a bathing ritual. The assignment was to create a space in which the bathing ritual could be performed using a single governing concept which uses the generators as a means to show this concept. My concpet for my project was the womb and rebirth. My main method of conveying the message was by the means of memory. The others generators were also used but memory was the primary method.

In my bathhouse I tried to recreate the memory of the womb. The bathers were to feel as if they were back in the womb.

The spaces where given thick walls to seem as if they were dug out. This was done in order to create the feeling of being inside a cave. The bathing area which was small and dark was then contrasted with the exit. After one exits the bathing area through a small open, they are greeted by an open space which seems to extend outwards due to the landscaping and also the ceiling surface which stretches towards the sky.

The organisation of the spaces was designed based on the uterus. This was the departure point for the design and also served to strengthen the concept of the womb and rebirth.