Icelandic Northern Lights Research

CONFIGURAL FREEDOM INTRODUCTION

MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

“Configural Freedom� explores an inhabitants ability to create his own, personalized space with seemingly generalized modular units.

This design allows individuals who are all at different stages of their life of travel to create a memorable guest experience. This research booklet explores how this concept will be executed while analyzing site, programming and the needs of prospective users.

The primary modes of transportation on the site will be car, tractor and foot. There is a road parallel to the site, alongside a pathway that connects the main road to the site. This pathway brings you to the northern area of our site and furthest away from the nearby body of water.

Upon entering the site, one can walk to their mobile cabin or to the guest hub, move their cabins via trailer, or drive throughout the land.

ROAD ANALYSIS

SURROUNDING VIEWS OF SITE

PATHWAY TO SITE. PINNED ABOVE.

Contextual Analysis |

Programming

|

Site and Space Relations

|

Preliminary Massing

DIRECTIONALITY OF THE SUN: The sun rises in the eastern area of our site and sets in the west The biggest burst of sunlight hits the site from the south. This influences future passive strategies of conserving energy; cabins facing south during the day will receive daylight and heat from the sun. The sun setting will also balance the cooling properties of the nearby body of water.

MOBILE CABIN LOOKING TOWARDS BOREALIS

SUN PATH DIAGRAM

CONFIGURAL FREEDOM

THE FIRST TIME TRAVELER

THE NATURE ENTHUSIAST

Junie is a New York native who has yet Johnathan is an aspiring photographer to leave her cozy home in Staten Island. and an avid lover of nature. He travels She is very accustomed to city life and is often, thoroughly documenting each of not typically fond of the outdoors. She his experiences. The images and films is accustomed to the more expensive that he takes are not only for his personal qualities of life, adorning her aparment with enjoyment, but for his thousands of faithful modern furniture and eccentric art. She followers on his nature blog. When he isn’t wants to step out of her comfort zone and documenting nature, he is editing footage, experience a unique experience. blogging and conversing with other nature enthusiasts.

THE ANNIVERSARIES

Bill and Norma have been married for 45 years and want to engage in an authentic, unique experience to celebrate their anniversary. With Norma suffering from arthritis, her mobility is limited; often, accomodations must be made by their place of residency so that her joints will not be strained. Every anniversary she cooks her husbands favorite meal.

Contextual Analysis |

THE ADVENTURE SQUAD:

Programming

|

Site and Space Relations

THE HOST FAMILY:

The adventure squad has been best David and Kristin are Iceland natives who friends since college and aim to go on a have been watching the Aurora Borealis memorable friends trip every summer. They since they were children. Their love for are huge nature and camping enthusiasts nature and animals greatly influenced their who do not mind “roughing it� when it decision to buy a spot of land in which they comes to the beautiful wilderness. They are could enjoy their horses and the Aurora all very extroverted and enjoy interacting Borealis. Wanting to share their love for with anyone else who is nearby. the beautiful phenomenon, they allocated a portion of their land to tourists who seek to experience the beauty for themselves.

|

Preliminary Massing

THE STAFF MEMBERS:

The staff members of the cabin love the Aurora Borealis as much as the host family does. Not having any lodging on the premises, the staff drive to work daily. They enjoy meeting new guests and assisting them in maximizing their guest experience. There are workers in the kitchen, the sauna, the design room, and throughout the land in case any visitors need any assistance.

CONFIGURAL FREEDOM SLEEPING:

AMENITIES:

Accustomed to her high end loft in Staten Island, Junie needs a queen sized bed.

Although aiming to step out of her comfort zone, a queen will help her adjust.

Although Junie is trying to adjust to this radically new experience, sitting in the peaceful and cozy lounge/bar makes her feel close to home.

Johnathan does not have a preference over a queen or twin sized bed. If having a twin will allow him to bring more equipment to film and edit with, he would prefer a twin.

MOBILITY:

PERSONALIZED:

Junie does not mind walking or hiking.

Junie loves customizing her interior spaces and is an avid lover of materials. Being able to swap the materials of her modules makes her cabin feel like home.

Johnathan would still like to connect and engage with his followers during the duration of his trip.

Having a good wi-fi connection will allow him to do so.

Johnathan does not mind walking or hiking.

Although he does not mind working on his bed, Johnathan is most productive when he is able to sit at a desk.

Laying out his pictures and his documentations helps him think clearer.

Bill and Norma would be most comfortable using a queen sized bed. Norma’s arthritis prevents her from being in tight and spatially limiting areas.

The sauna will allow both Bill and Norma to decompress in a peaceful, quiet environment. The heat and steam from the sauna also helps soothe Norma’s joints.

Due to Norma’s arthritis, the couple is very limited in mobility. They are unable to travel very far, or travel back and forth continuously for amenities.

Every anniversary, Norma cooks her husband Bill his favorite meal. A tiny kitchenette in their cabin will help Norma not have to walk a long distance to the kitchen.

The adventure squad does not mind using twin beds during their stay. Wanting to room together to save money, they find it spatially feasible to use twin beds.

Being extroverted and nature enthusiasts, the adventure squad loves to immerse themselves in their environment. A well designed terrace would allow them to do both of these.

The adventure squad does not mind walking or hiking.

Friends since college, the adventure squad loves to joke and catch up with one another. A gathering space in their cabin would promote this conversation.

Contextual Analysis |

PROGRAMMING BUBBLE DIAGRAM

Programming

|

Site and Space Relations

|

Preliminary Massing

GUEST CABIN MATRIX

PUBLIC HUB MATRIX

PRIVATE ZONE MATRIX

CONFIGURAL FREEDOM

SITE SECTION

CONFIGURATION 1

CONFIGURATION 1: CENTRALIZED This configuration places the guest hub and private zone towards the center of the site so that they are easily accessible from all areas.

The hub and private zone are separate entities.

KEY: SITE PERSPECTIVE

Contextual Analysis |

Programming

|

Site and Space Relations

|

Preliminary Massing

SITE SECTION

CONFIGURATION 2

CONFIGURATION 2: PINNACLE This configuration places the guest hub and private zone on the highest elevated area of the site, bringing them “closer” to the Aurora Borealis. South facing, passive strategies will be able to conserve energy.

KEY: SITE PERSPECTIVE

CONFIGURAL FREEDOM

SITE SECTION

CONFIGURATION 3

CONFIGURATION 3: INTEGRATED This configuration integrates the guest hub and private zone into the site, unifying them with nature and their surroundings. The topography flows into the terrace, promoting a seamless transition between nature and architecture.

KEY: SITE PERSPECTIVE

Contextual Analysis |

Programming

|

Site and Space Relations

|

Preliminary Massing

AURORA BOREALIS ABOVE SITE

GUEST HUB NESTING INTO TOPOGRAPHY

SITE CIRCULATION Using this configuration, the site will be toward the northern region of the site. This places the guest hub and private zone closest to the road, easily accessible to incoming guests and tourists. Members are able to walk throughout the site, or move their mobile trailers via tractor. This design is integrated into a pocket within the topography, making the pocket a now seamless transition between architecture and nature.

CIRCULATION THROUGHOUT SITE

CONFIGURAL FREEDOM GUEST HUB - INTEGRATION In this design, the guest hub is integrated with the private zone and the terrace. The form plays with a push and pull effect that reflects the modular concept. The architecture is not only integrated within the site, but also within each other, reflecting how the various modular pieces of furniture will connect with one another to form unique creation.

MASSING OF GUEST HUB

ELEVATION OF GUEST HUB

SECTION OF GUEST HUB

SPATIAL ZONING

Contextual Analysis |

Programming

|

Site and Space Relations

MOBILE ROOM - ORTHOGONAL VOID The mobile bedrooms also play with the idea of modular architecture, playing with the push, pull and void of orthogonals to create a dwelling. The void creates a porch for the inhabitant to enjoy their surroundings. It also serves as a docking station for the assembly and transport of the custom modular furniture.

The interior space has a skylight that will allow guests to watch the Aurora Borealis from bed.

ELEVATION OF MOBILE BEDROOM

MASSING OF MOBILE BEDROOM SECTION OF MOBILE BEDROOM

|

Preliminary Massing