This past fall semester we were tasked with designing a housing project. Our Thesis was the 1% vs. the third estate. I chose to build this building around the concept of the 1%. This building is 9 stories high with 30 two story apartments. Each apartment has a point access which allows for a more private experience for each residence. Inspired by Giuseppe Terragni’s Casa Giuliani-Frigerio, I meticulously studied this architectural masterpiece for its profound analytical reasoning. Terragni’s emphasis on the city side versus the garden side, with an open facade facing the latter and a closed facade towards the former, became a pivotal influence on my design. In alignment with this precedent, my building’s concept revolves around a deliberate dichotomy. The private and secluded facet of the facade gracefully faces the city side, offering residents a sense of exclusivity. In contrast, the open, inviting facade extends toward the garden side, creating a harmonious connection with the surrounding environment. This intentional design not only caters to the residents’ needs but also extends its impact to the public realm, fostering interaction and engagement. The building becomes a dynamic and responsive space, balancing the privacy of its inhabitants with a welcoming presence to those interacting with its surroundings.
East Axon
Unit Stacking Diagram
Garden vs. city Diagram
Interior vs. Exterior Wall Diagram
ABOUT
OUR MICRO HOME DESIGN INCORPORATES A COMBINATION OF PRINCIPLES FOCUSING ON VERTICALITY, CIRCULATION,PRIVACY, AND SEQUENCE. THE BUILDING IS PROGRAMED AS A VACATION HOME FOR A COUPLE. THE SITE IS LOCATED AT STONY POINT, A SMALL LAND RIDGE ON THE EAST SIDE OF CAYUGA LAKE, NY, USA. THE BUILDING IS POSITIONED IN A CUTOUT OF THE SIDE OF A CLIFF, INCORPORATING GEOTHERMAL HEATING. THE BUILDINGS BOTTOM FLOOR SITS IN THE WATER WITH A DOCK BEING ATTACHED TO THE EXTERIOR.
OUR BUILDING HAS AN EMPHASIS ON VERTICALITY, WITH ALL ROOMS BEING LINEAR, AND CIRCULATION FLOWING THROUGH LADDERS BETWEEN FLOORS. FURTHERMORE, THE BUILDING’S ROOMS GO DOWN FROM PUBLIC TO PRIVATE, FOLLOWING THE SHAPE OF THE LANDSCAPE. THESE ALL CREATE AN EXPERIENTAL SEQUENCE THROUGH THE CIRCULATION. ON THE EXTERIOR, OUR FAÇADE HAS SEVERAL LARGE WINDOWS, ALLOWING FOR SUFFICIENT NATURAL LIGHT AS WELL HAS VIEWS OF THE WATER. THE WINDOWS ALSO CHANGE IN SCALE AND POSITION TO MATCH THE PRIVACY LEVEL OF EACH INTERIOR ROOM.
THE MAIN STRUCTURAL FRAMING OF THE BUILDING IS REINFORCED CONCRETE. IN RESPONSE TO THE SNOWY AND COLD CLIMATE OF UPSTATE NY, THE INTERIOR WALLS AND FLOORS HAVE A REINFORCED CONCRETE BASE, LARGE AMOUNTS OF INSULATION, AND WOODEN PERFORATED PANELS FOR FINISHING WHILE THE OUTSIDE WALLS AND ROOF ARE COVERED WITH ALUMINUM ISOLATING PANELS THE ROOF ALSO FEATURES 5 SOLAR PANELS FOR ENERGY OPTIMIZATION. THE DOCK IS FULLY WOOD AND IT HAS CONCRETE SUPPORTS THAT ARE COVERED WITH WATERPROOF MORTARS AND PLASTER TO PREVENT EROSION OVER TIME.
SEVERAL CONSTRUCTIONAL AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES WERE INSPIRED BY OUR CASE STUDIES
DESIGNED BY:
JAKE GLAGOLA, ISABELLA GARZON, JORDAN KRYSTYNIAK
MICRO-HOME CASE STUDIES
ARC 308 Florence
Professor: Luca Ponsi
Villa Vino is a retreat for a retired couple, blending wine culture, hospitality, and sustainability. Set on a site with natural water runoff to the ocean on Isola de Elba, it incorporates pathways and a rainwater harvesting system to irrigate grapevines. This system irrigates the estate’s grapevines, enabling a sustainable approach to agriculture and winemaking.
The main house, serving as the heart of Villa Vino, is designed to harmonize with its surroundings while offering modern comforts. Its open-plan layout encourages fluid movement between living areas, creating a seamless transition from indoor spaces to expansive outdoor spaces. Large windows flood the interiors with natural light and frame breathtaking views of the ocean. A rustic-modern material palette of stone, wood, and glass adds warmth and reflects the natural beauty of the site.
Guest villas are thoughtfully positioned throughout the property to ensure privacy for visitors while maintaining a close connection to the main house. These self-contained units echo the architectural language of the primary residence, featuring clean lines and inviting spaces. Each villa offers its own unique perspective of the surrounding ocean, providing a tranquil retreat for family and friends.
Social spaces, including a courtyard and terraces, encourage gatherings, while native landscaping enhances sustainability. Villa Vino harmonizes architecture, sustainability, and wine culture, offering a tranquil yet dynamic lifestyle connected to nature.
Villa Vino represents the perfect balance of thoughtful architecture, environmental stewardship, and a celebration of wine culture. It provides a tranquil yet dynamic lifestyle for the retired couple, allowing them to nurture their passions, host loved ones, and live in harmony with nature. This project is a testament to the beauty of sustainable living and the joy of creating a home that is both functional and inspiring.
The Calabar Colony
ARC 207
Professor: Joseph Godlewski
The Calabar Colony is an engaging and inviting film studio, meant to house the Nollywood film industry. The main layout is two separate clusters of buildings, connected by a tectonic bridge. The focus of the two buildings is the fact that they are reflections of each other. The building on the right shows a tectonic truss system with solid concrete structures within. The building on the right shows a heavy concrete structure with timber framing within. This is meant to create a sense of similarity between the two buildings. The layout of these two buildings is open and fluid, creating an open-concept floor plan.
The clusters also house the secret society of Calabar, allowing them to practice their rituals and dances. This space is not known to the public and can only be accessed from the structure on the right. The space is also meant to house the Nollywood film industry. Nollywood is the second biggest film industry, coming in behind Hollywood.3 This space is not only meant to show the latest movies but also, through the open concept feel, allows the producers to film movies in this space. The movies are premiered in the outside sunken movie theater. The layout of the buildings allows everything above ground to be public space and everything below ground is private space. The one exception is the residential housing on the third floor of the “Heavy” Structure. The underground private offices are accessible from the left structure and can be accessed from an open staircase leading down underground. This space is still accessible to the public but is not seen as a public space.
The weather in Calabar is either hot and humid or rainy and wet, making it difficult to be outside for a long time. Due to this, each building is reachable from the courtyard, allowing people to take cover if a thunderstorm is to occur. All the materials used are very common building materials used in Calabar, Nigeria. The tectonic structures are made of timber and bamboo, allowing there to be a feel of nature within the building4. The Truss system is also a more open and fluid environment. The Heavier structures are made from concrete. This material is used to support the structure above and below ground, and to create a contrast between the heavier and lighter structures in the colony.
THE CALABAR COLONY
FIGURE/GROUND DIGRAM
CONCEPT DIAGRAM
SYSTEM
“LIGHT” TECTONIC SYSTEM
“HEAVY” TECTONIC
THE CALABAR COLONY
EXPLODED
TECTONIC
TECTONIC
SKYWARD STANDS: THE PAPANTLA EXPERIENCE
ARC VC 407
Professor: LANZA, Mexico City
This project focuses on a modular, transportable seating system designed to enhance the experience of spectators of the Flying Men of Papantla ceremony in Mexico City. The flying men, or Voladores de Papantla, perform a ceremonial ritual that involves spinning from a tall pole, symbolizing the connection between the heavens and the earth. The ceremony’s central spiral movement inspired the theme for this semester’s project, guiding the design of the seating system. The stackable, lightweight chairs create flexible bleachers that offer elevated seating for better views of the ceremony. The modular design allows for easy transport and reconfiguration to accommodate different crowd sizes. The system serves multiple purposes: providing clear, elevated views for spectators, facilitating community gatherings, and offering a playful space for children to interact with. Additionally, the easy-to-stack design makes the chairs ideal for public, outdoor spaces, ensuring both flexibility and transportability. The chairs’ simple yet elegant design serves as a subtle but integral addition to the park’s overall aesthetic, enhancing the ceremony and the public gathering space. The chair system seamlessly integrates with the park, enhancing the ceremony’s atmosphere while adding fluidity to the public space. Ultimately, the seating system amplifies the Voladores de Papantla ceremony while providing a dynamic space for people to gather, play, and watch.
BAGEL IN WONDERLAND
Carlton Edwards Summer Internship 2024 Co-designed with Ricky DelPilar
“Bagel in wonderland” is an innovative community parklet designed to fuse the joys of reading and social interaction within an organic-inspired architectural form. This parklet aims to foster organic interactions and a strong sense of community through its thoughtfully designed spaces.
The parklet features several nooks carved out of a larger. Continuous form. These spaces bend and flowww throughout the area, providing diverse environments for individuals, small groups, and large gatherings to hang out simultaneously. The strategic placement of loose tables and chairs ensures flexibility and adaptability to meet the dynamic needs of its users.
The structure is crafted from marine-grade plywood, chosen for its durability and suitability for outdoor use. The plywood is shaped around frames, creating flowing, organic shapes that echo natural forms. Some of these elements are cnc’d shapes con- nected together, enhancing the design’s modernity and structural integrity.
Topping the structures are powder-coated metal “hats,” which add a whimsical yet functional touch and provide additional protection from the elements. Metal louvers, designed to match the accent colors of the adjacent building, offers shade and ventilation, contributing to a comfortable environment throughout the day. Integrated solar-powered lighting within the nooks ensures the parkelt is inviting as daylight fades. These lights highlight the organic contours and emphasize the parklet’s commitment to sustainability by reducing its environmental impact.
A small library component, potentially in partnership with the donelson library, invites visitors to explore books and engage in quet reflection or lively discussions. This library nook enriches the community experience, promoting learning and connection. Planters built along the street side of the structure introduces greenery and sustainable beauty to the urban setting. These planters enhance the visual appeal and create a sense of enclosure and intimacy within the parklet.
“bagel in wonderland” is a vibrant community space where form meets function, inspired by the organic beauty of nature. This proj- ect aims to create a welcoming and dynamic environment that nurtures social connections and intellectual growth, making it a cherished community asset.
