NEST - A housing unit designed through Discrete Automation

Discrete Automation : Timber Housing | Digital FUTURES WORLD 2020

NEST Group E Giacomo Righi Grimaldi Maria Kyrou Krzysztof Nazar Ghanem Younes Tutors Gilles Retsin Kevin Saey

N E S T - Summary

Following a series of discrete narratives, our exploration of parts focused on an elongated element, with four-faceted endings. Originating to the geometry of a voxel packing assembly, the part’s endings have a crystal-like geometry, which, when multiplied and stacked, creates intense rock-like forms and textures. It was this link between geometry and aesthetics, that captivated us as a team and led our explorations further.

The part’s endings were modified in order to multiply or restrict its interlocking ability. Meanwhile, the element itself was tested in different assemblies, densities and scales. These ranged from the way it can relate to the human body, to the way it can form a living space. For the formation of a building block, our strategy focused on filling predefined volumes, representing slabs and building cores. The element’s initial length and the grammar of their assembly would greatly affect the textures and densities of the final formations.

Instead of applying one uniform expression, we decided to incorporate these variations to the final arrangement of building blocks. Meanwhile, within the housing unit itself, the users are encouraged to excavate the mass of building elements, in order to assemble their own micro-spaces at will. These elements are also understood as material Commons, that one can share or co-assemble with neighbours. A series of common spaces are included in the apartment block, in order to promote this interaction. Both through and beyond the systematic formation of spaces, these discrete elements could assist the gradual formation of communities.

Discrete Assembly : deriving the Building Blocks

Forming the parts based on an initial module

3 final Parts

3 derived Connections

Discrete Assembly : forming Connection Details

Part 2

Part 1

Part 3

Discrete Assembly :

Connections + Assembly Patterns

assembly patterns

sections on connection areas

Formal Experiments :

1. Relating the parts’ length to the resulting assemblies

Spaces : Longer Elements

large + clearly defined

Formations :

simpler

Spaces : smaller + more complex Shorter Elements

Formations :

detailed

Formal Experiments :

2. Aggregating boundary volumes

Samples of boundary volumes

Gradual volume aggregation

Habitation Patterns :

Apartments distribution

Habitation Patterns :

Apartment Block

Habitation Patterns :

Exploded Isometric

Habitation Patterns :

Level 4 - Roof plan

Level 3

Floor Plans

Level 2

Level 1

Habitation Patterns :

Formal Details

1

3

2

4

1

2

3

4

Habitation Patterns :

Between furniture + building parts

Habitation Patterns :

Inner Views

NEST