USC 102a Portfolio

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4-7

Project 1: Case Study

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Project 2: Body in Space

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Project 3: Figure-Ground

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Project 4: Dwelling spaces

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CASE STUDY: PROJECT 1 Team: Emil Sarkisyan, Essence Ervin Chosen House: Elektra House by David Adjaye

For our first project, Essence and I were assigned to investigate a case study house of our choice. We selected the Elektra House, a unique piece of modern architecture located in London, designed by David Adjaye.The Elektra House is distinguished by its innovative design, with one side of the house almost entirely made of glass.

According to Adjaye’s vision, this design element transforms the house into a sort of ‘light box’, allowing natural light to permeate through the central window system and the numerous skylights adorning the roof.Upon completing our drawings of the house, we were then tasked with enhancing the design by adding details that we believed would improve the house. We chose to incorporate a new window at the front and modify the bottom of the staircase to create additional storage space, an element that was lacking in the original design.

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BODY IN SPACE: PROJECT 2 For this project, I was deeply inspired by the concept of “intersection.” The creation of space through intersection is a fascinating phenomenon in my eyes, so I wanted to explore this in model form. I examined many precedents and found myself particularly drawn to the idea of creating space without distinct levels. I believed that by using a program of irregular intersecting corridors, I could “blur the lines” between floors aswell as create intersections. This approach would result in a captivating experience for the occupant, creating an almost maze-like interior space. Through my analysis, I aimed to delve into this concept and the way I felt would be the most effective in conveying my idea would be by comparing it to an existing, conventional program system as I have done below.

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FIGURE-GROUND: PROJECT 3 This figure-ground is based on the multitool I chose to analyze in Project A. While exam ining the multitool, I observed a direct correlation between structure and use, which I wanted to explicitly demonstrate t hrough my model.The large, blocky shapes are fragments of t he metal casing structure of the original multitool, and the small, delicate bridge-like pieces are individual tools from the object.Through this model, I attempt to illustrate a connection between the structures by demonstrating mutual dependence. A testament to the intricate interplay between form and function.

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DWELLING SPACES: PROJECT 4 Through this project, I aimed to further explore the design system of intersections in relation to my figure-ground form. I also sought to address past shortcomings observed in Project 2. I expanded certain corridors and merged them to create more open spaces for occupants. Another concept that emerged during the creation of this model was the inherent quality of “sociability” within the structure’s form. Naturally, through the action of intersection, spaces were created that drew the house’s occupants towards more social areas. I investigated this through my analysis; when the corridors intersect, larger spaces are created that allow for gathering. This is in contrast to less social spaces, such as the bathroom or bedroom, which are located at the ends of these corridors where no intersection is observed.

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Emil Sarkisyan USC Architecture ARCH 102a Prof. Demar Matthews 2023