PORTFOLIO P MINNAAR 10025384
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Portfolio of selected work by PIETER MINNAAR
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“Architecture is an expression of values.” - Norman Foster
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CONTENT Introduction_ 05_Manifesto University Projects_ 07_Myanmar Embassy 12_Monumorial 20_Social Distillery Work Experience_ 38_Lupides Vita 42_House Potgieter Travel Experience_ 48_Photography & Sketches
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MANIFESTO ARCHITECTURE AS catalysts for positive change "Nothing is as dangerous in architecture as dealing with separated problems. If we split life into separated problems we split the possibilities to make good building art" - Alvar Aalto I believe architecture has the power to induce positive change and make a meaningful spatial contribution to its surrounding context, however this is only possible when a more holistic understanding of architecture and the various informants that influence design, is adopted. I believe that when architecture is understood as an intricate system of factors that work together to form a whole, the potential for architecture to become a vehicle for positive change increases dramatically. Numerous informants and their relationship
05_normative position
with architecture needs to be considered before inserting a building into a context, however isolated thinking has often resulted in poorly designed buildings with little to no connection to its physical and environmental environment or its surrounding community. Richard Sennet (2012:3) believes buildings have become "self-referential" objectsinthelandscapeoftenlendinglittletonointeractiontothephysical environment that surrounds it, which leads to a disparity in architectural language on a macro scale. Without a certain synergy, spatial integration cannot happen and a disconnection between architecture and its physical environment is eminent. According to Frey (1999:3), an increasing amount of projects are becoming 'single-minded' as they tend to focus on solving one specific issue and ignorantly ignoring the various issues that are created in the process. In order to avoid disparity between architecture and its physical environment, Frey (1999:208) proposes that a spatial design framework be used. Another important informant that is often overlooked is architectures relationship towards the natural environment. According to Donald
Watson (2000:159), the way in which we design and construct buildings, have led to a visible increase in environmental concerns within the architectural profession. We have come to the realization that our profession is a key role player in the degradation of the environment. To decrease the environmental disruption, Watson (2000:159) proposes that research and practice be used to gain knowledge of how architectural design can improve the impact is has on the environment as well as how to profoundly respond to its ecological role and context (Watson 2000:159). Another important relationship that is often lacking in good design is the relationship between architecture and man. Christopher Day (2002:126), argues that one of the most important factors to consider in architecture is the potential of space and form to act as 'insidious shapers of person and community' nourishing and inciting positive development on a social and individual level. I believe if architecture is approached in a holistic manner it has the potential to create meaningful places that are powerful enough to help man to dwell (Norberg-Schulz 1979:2). In order to allow architecture to become catalysts for positive change our approach toward design should become more holistic. The relationship between architecture, its physical and environmental environment and the communities it serves cannot be separated and should all be considered as equally important when designing our future cities.
Bibliography: Day, C. 2002. Spirit and Place – Healing our Environment. Oxford: Elsevier. Frey, H. 1999. Designing the city Towards a more sustainable urban form. New York: Routledge. Norbeg-Schulz, C. 1979. Genius Loci Towards a phenomenology of Architecture. New York: Rizzoli. Sennet, R. 2012. Recovering the materiality of the physical environment. After Crisis. Issue 1, pp. 3-4. Watson, D. 2000. Environment and Architecture. In: Piotrowski, A. and Williams Robinson, J. eds. The Discipline of Architecture. Minneapolis: University of Minesota Press, pp. 158-172.
normative position_06
01
HOUSE WAI EMBASSY OF MAYANMAR
The brief was to design an Embassy for the Republic of Myanmar in Brooklyn, Pretoria. The challengewastodesignabuildingandspacethat wouldadheretoboththerichhistoryofMyanmar while at the same time create architecture that is truly South African and that would respect the context in which it is placed. Privacy plays a major role when designing an Embassy. By taking this into consideration and they very primitive culture of Myanmar, the concept of blurring the boundaries between inside and outside spaces arose. The key to this project being succesful was through making use of a grid system that brought order, structure and authority to the people using this building but at the same time being able to enjoy and be part of the environment they love.
07_second year
SITE PLAN Inside-out_08
NORTH ELEVATION
SOUTH ELEVATION
In reality the public and private realm is seperated by a strong threshold and was interperated as just that in this project. A thick stereotomic mass, dividing the public and private functions of the Embassy. Conveying an authoritative image to the public while in reality the building is very open and transparent. 09_second year
The project exposed me to an architecture that has a strong division between public and private, what that meant for this project and howtheycanbeutilisedasatooltogiveidentity. The whole building[public and pirvate] is made up out of a light weight steel structure that abides with the concept of being shifting the threshold between inside and outside spaces.
VIEW OF COURTYARD
INTERIOR VIEW
VIEW FROM JULIUS JEPPE STREET Inside-out_10
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MONUMORIAL THE EVERYDAY MAN In the year 2045, a group of people decided that they are going to start their own city by barricading themselves in on a piece of land. Within this new barricaded city, resources are very limited. For this precinct to be successful, the people will have to start sustaining themselves. For this to realise, Infrastructure is required that will enable people to make a day to day living, from informal trading to owning a shop. This new typology acts as a mediator between different social and cultural groups. The street edge is activated through the architecture, by providing seating, shade but mainly a place for interaction. By providing space for [in]formal traders on the busy street edge, a degree of social interaction is evoked.
11_third year
SITE
FIRST AXIS
SECOND AXIS
INTERACTION PATTERN
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT design development_12
13_third year
FARMING SECTION
This space celebrates and showcases the event of farming, processing and the production of certain food products. This is achieved by making certain processes through architecture is transparent and/or easily accessible .The structure is a monument for man and emphasises the position these citizens have taken up daily to survive.
LONGITUDINAL SECTION
MARKET SECTION section development_14
15_third year
VIEW FROM FARM
NORTH ELEVATION
VIEW FROM STREET
VIEW FROM TOP 3d model_16
As the pedestrian progresses through these spaces, he is channelled away from the busy street edge and led through the market area where he/she is immersed into the activities of the "everyday man". STREET LEVEL SECTION 17_third year
VIEW FROM STREET spatial interaction_18
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SOCIAL DISTILLERY LABOUR OF LOVE With the success of our self sustaining city, more and more people are flooding the precinct . Immigrants wanting to live here, will have to go through a initiation and integration process that will slowly teach and integrate them into our society. Waste management is the answer to this. Through hard labour, the waste of the city will be collected by the immigrants. This will give them the opportunity, while they are working for this community, they also get to knowitbetter. Labouroflove-doingsomething because you love it. In this scenario they are labouring away because the love the city. The social distillery is a architecture that will enable workers to do something good for the community, and also give them public exposure. By turning something bad into a valuable commodity, people will recognise their effort.
19_third year
CONCEPT
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM INTEGRATION design development_20
21_third year
DISTILLERY SECTION
WASTE MANAGEMENT PROCESS
By collecting and using organic waste, a type of ethanol can be produced and in turn be distilled into a drinkable alcohol. This is a type of feel good drug. So by having a social function within this industrial realm, the exposure the distillation process is increased and in return the gap between working and playing is reduced. This will have a positive effect on both the working immigrant and the receiving community. section development_22
CONCEPT PLAN
BASEMENT PLAN
FIRST FLOOR PLAN 23_third year
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
spatial layout_24
25_third year
view from pretorious street_26
SECTION A-A: BAR 27_third year
VIEW OF DISTILLERY
VIEW OF COURTYARD
VIEW OF BAR distillery experience_28
VIEW OF DISTILLATION PROCESS
SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE A 29_third year
VIEW OF WASTE IN-TAKE
SECTION B-B: WASTE & DISTILLATION waste management process_30
VIEW OF ACCOMMODATION 31_third year
The building offers temporary accommodation forthe workers,while theyarebeingintegrated into society. The bar will offer more than just workingexposurebutwillalsoactassurveillance during night times of these immigrants. The architecture will take the pedestrian or user on a experiential journey, through this rhythmical purification process. Framing and exposing certain details of it and the product.
VIEW OF PRIVACY SCREENS
SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE B
SECTION C-C: ACCOMMODATION worker accommodation_32
DETAIL D: GLAZING SYSTEM 33_third year
DETAIL E: ROOF
DETAIL C: SAWTOOTH ROOF
DETAIL F: GREEN ROOF
DETAIL B: HANDRAIL construction details_34
35_third year
aerial view_36
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LUPIDES VITA residential development With the student accommodation market being so saturated in Hatfield, the client's brief to me was to design a residential complex in Brooklyn, Pretoria that will cater mainly for the working class and/or young lecturers from the University of Pretoria. The site is a 1.7ha piece of land situated across from UP on the southern side of Lynnwood road and its location is perfect for the scheme. Due to the size of the development the design and construction will be handled in phases. With the help of Hans Wegelin and other architects from the brooklyn homeowners association, intesive design guidelines were established that helped with the development of this scheme.
37_work experience
PERSPECTIVE FROM LYNNWOOD STREET design development_38
The concept section illustrates the height restrictions but also the facade articulation that will help shape the massing of the architecture. By following those guidelines a successful scheme was developed that responds well to human scale, natural light and the context it sits in by giving back to the people and the environment.
VIEW OF PRECINCT FROM HAY STREET 39_work experience
6200
4.2m Max Building set back
Fifth Floor Fourth Floor Third Floor Second Floor
3060
2m Building Line
3060
Sixth Floor
3060
3060
4200
First Floor Ground Floor
2805
21 420
3060
3060
Boundary Line
3060
2000
Lynnwood Road
Basement -1
CONCEPT SECTION OF NORTHERN FACADE
DESIGN ITERATION
TYPICAL FACADE SECTION design development_40
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HOUSE POTGIETER RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT A 2 -storey, 4 bedroom home built on a steep site within Waterkloof Ridge, with magnificent views over the valley and Pretoria CBD. The house sit closely within the landscape, groundedbyastrong steretomicwallresponding and supporting the views over the valley. The concept for the house orginated from the following three informants : to maximise natural light, to maximise views to the east and to minimise visual obstruction for the neighbouring houses. Through the development of my concept, the design was able to respond well to its context.
SPATIAL LAYOUT 41_work experience
CONCEPT PLAN
GROUND FLOOR PLAN design development_42
CONCEPT SOUTHERN ELEVATION
CONCEPT SECTION A-A 43_work experience
SOUTHER ELEVATION
SECTION A-A design development_44
CONCEPT SECTION B-B
SECTION B-B 45_work experience
CONCEPT SECTION C-C
VIEW FROM RAYMOND STREET design development_46
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TRAVELS Photography & SKETCHING During my stay in South Korea, I had the opportunity to visit some inspirational architecture, including buildings designed by Alvaro Siza, Rem Koolhaas, Jean Nouvel, Mario Botha and Zaha hadid.
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APPENZELLER MEMORIAL HALL - IARC
SAMSUNG MUSEUM OF ART - REM KOOLHAAS
LIGHT OF LIGHT CHURCH - SHINSLAB
MUSEUM 2 - JEAN NOUVEL
DAEJEON UNIVERISTY DORMITORY photography_48
ALVARO PAVILION - ALVARO SIZA
SEJONG LIBRARY - SAMOO 49_travel experience
CHAN UCCHIN MUSEUM - Chae-Pereira
APPENZELLER MEMORIAL HALL - IARC
sketching_50