Rachit com 3

HOLMAN HOUSE bY- DURBACH BLOCK ASSIGNMENT - 4 RACHIT TRIVEDI - 25303066

Ground Level

Assignment 1 The assignment task was to create a Rhnio 3D model of Contemporary Architecture case study building and to develop further with different rendering technique. Requirement was to generate three renders, one day shot, one night shot and interior of the building followed by tectonic and line drawings, plan and section. For this assignment my case study building was Holman House, located at Sydney, Australia, designed by Durbach and Block firm.

Assignment 2 –

01 BRIEF

In the second assignment task was to create grasshopper geometry in part or fraction of the case study building. Further, to apply similar or completely new rendering technique. Final requirements are similar to assignment 1 that is three renders followed by the line drawings and tectonic details. For this assignment I selected voronoi geometry in curve and applied to change the façade of cantilever structure of Holman House.

Assignment 3 – Finally for assignment three we had to use a fraction of the geometry created by grasshopper and to produce rapid- prototype 3D print followed by the series of photos of the model. For this assignment I choose ABS strong and flexible plastic as a material for final 3D model print.

HOLMAN HOUSE COLLAGE IMAGES

2

3

The Holman House, a single family residence is situated on the edge of a 70 meter high cliff of Dover heights, west of the city of Sydney, Australia.

The way Durbach Block has designed this house, clinging to the edge of a cliff with its soaring white cantilever and spatial acrobatics, has great resemblance with Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘Falling Water’ completed in 1934.

02

The Holman House is a clear example of contemporary architecture which echoes the essence of architecture of past, which unifies nature and architecture. According to Wright his architecture was not “in folding but unfolding for you.”(Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water, 2005). When one moves around the building one can sense the unfolding aspect in a similar manner. Holman House is quite unusual for its internal spatial quality which unfolds the drama when one walks through the house.

The most important character of Falling Water is its cantilever floor levels and horizontal structure. It looks like the structure is not posed on the water fall, but because of its horizontal nature it’s blending with the water fall. Similarly with Holman House, the dynamic part of the structure is its cantilever curved wall structure.

HISTORY & STYLE

HOLMAN HOUSE EXTERIOR NIGHT RENDER

4

5

“If internally motivated and homogeneous systems were to extend in straight lines, curvilinear developments would result from the incorporation of external influences.” (Lynn, 2008, 9)

03 GEOMETRY

6

Curvilinear form in structure is a design style of Durbach and Block firm.

Echoing Lynn, curvature and cantilever shapes of Holman house is result of external influences, whether it is site context in terms of view or breaking the continuity of typical urban development strategy. In the planning and flow of the transition one can observe the contrast. One side of the building is straight and linear and housing most of the utility rooms. Where on the other side has these three curvature façade which opens up to the nature. “Logic of curvilinearity, that can be characterized by the involvement of outside forces in the development of form.” (Lynn, 2008, 9) Direction and flow of the geometry is quite dramatic. Entrance is narrow diagonal passage which leads towards living area through the kitchen. Here all three curves opens up in different directions. In contrast, on the left side it feels like dead end, but that leads to the master bedroom and stairs to lower level. On the lower level again inverted curved wall divides the two bedroom with diagonal walls, center part of the curved wall acting like a pivot to that both bedroom’s diagonal wall. Similar to upper level all the utilities are placed on one side of the straight liner wall.

PARTI DIAGRAM

Upper Level

Landscape plans

Lower Level

Transition Staircase

Master Bedroom Garage

Spiral stairs

Kitchen

Formal Seating

level 1

Terrace Garden level 2 Entrance

Living

Dining

level 3 Pool Bath

Bath

Pentry

Master Bath

Formal Seating Study Bed - 1

Bed -2 PROGRAM DIAGRAM

STRUCTURE DIAGRAM

7

“Certain features of buildings may reveal internal functions sufficiently directly to be seen as more than metaphors for those functions.” (Anderson, 1987, 22) Here with the program diagram of Holman House, all the activities and living spaces are defined by the two colours blue and aqua. Further, in the diagram the gradient green colour represents terrace garden on different levels and a swimming pool.

04

One can observe that the living and dining area are centrally located in the program, which represents the most important features of the Holman house. Both living and dining area has access to all interior and exterior spaces through different transits. Living and dining which open up in different directions gives best view of the ocean, curved wall blocks the sun rays and protects from north wind in harsh climatic condition. In a way “Structural detail may reveal their own function, but may also serve metaphorically.” (Anderson, 1987,22) All the services and other rooms are linearly arranged on one side of the house. Eventually, all the spaces are connected to exterior landscape area.

PROGRAM

1. INTERIOR RENDER 2. DAY TIME EXTERIOR RENDER

8

A

5 6

1 2

4 3 7

8

A’

LOVER FLOOR PLAN

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Study Bedroom-1 Family room Bedroom-2 Pentry Master Toilet Terrace Lower terrace & Pool

9

“The Building is seemingly molded by the atmosphere rather than the other way around. The atmosphere occupies space between a building and its context. Or, rather, it defines that space” (Wigley, 1998, 20-24) Certainly, Durbach Block has achieved seamless fluidity, between space and atmosphere in Holman house. Spaces are open and merge into one and another. Here architecture is like a cinematic experience which drives you through a sensuous atmosphere. Narrow entrance passage, feels like enclosed space and suddenly opens up in living and dining area.

05 SPACE & ATMOSPHERE

Living, dining and kitchen are best examples of “Raumplan” open space plan, yet opens up to different direction, whether it is ribbon window, full height window or to the back yard and master bedroom. Atmosphere in all the spaces are different. In some part it is intimate and private where as in some spaces it gives sense of freedom, close to nature and more generous. “On the one hand spaces in which the entire body can dwell all the senses being involved; on the other hand spaces where there is perhaps only room for the roaming eye. Spaces for use as opposed to spaces for looking at” (Risselada,1988,8) According to Neil Durbach, experience of being in the house in stormy weather condition is quite exhilarating. It feels like booming waves are actually bumping in the house. However, construction of house is robust enough to handle these elements.(Woodard,2005)

GRASSHOPPER-VORONOI INTERIOR RENDER

10

11

“Technology is present with both the forms in a chiastic quality. Translating this chiastic presence into a language proper to architecture is like saying that there is no construction without a construing, and no construing without a construction.� (Frascari, 1996, 526) The word technology comes from the original components of techne and logo and has different meanings at different times. Here both forms refer to the relationship between construction and construing. (Frascari, 1996, 526)

06 TECTONICS

12

In the tectonics of Holman House one can observe the relationship between the construction and construing. The cantilever concrete structure which opens up to ocean, sits on a rocky surface above a 70m high cliff. The architects have tried here to erase the thin line between natural envronment and artificial build form by joining few components which can be consider as a tectonic.

Building material used for the lower structure of Holman House is stone masonary, which acts as an extention to the cliff. Structurally, architects used reinforced concrete slab and precast concrete walls render with cement plaster. The concrete cantilever structure rests on four sleek steel columns, which transfers the load downwards to the solid rocky surface. It can be further interpretated as heavy looking artificial structure sitting on a natural surface with the suppor of four minimal columns.

RCC. Celing Slab

Voronoi Wall Facade

10mm Curved Glass

RCC. Floor Slab

Metal Angular Pillar

Base Structure from Stone masonry

Railing

70m Cliff

TECTONIC DETAIL

13

“The fact that there is so little detail today increases the decorative effect of what there is. Its ordering is one of the chief means by which consistency is achieved in the parts of a design.” (Hitchcock & Johnson, 1995, 82) The quote above seems to be evidential in most of the important details of the Holman House. The details are considered precisely while designing. Like for example, openings of windows in the house. Here the series of different height windows are placed on the façade which opens up to the ocean. Variations in windows opening enhance an ornamental value to the monotonous looking cement rendered façade.

07 ORNAMENT

Another example of ornamental detail can be observed on curved wall, instead of having full height glass window, the ribbon window appears to be sleek and gives panoramic view of the ocean. On the window ledge, gap between the vertical round support and vertical section of the aluminum window has been filled with mirror finished panel. This reflective panel adds illusion of continuity in space. One of the panel in dining area one can see the reflection of courtyard landscape.

Similar kind of precise detailed can be observed through the skylight. The ledge of skylight window and top shelves of book rack are painted with bright blue, red or yellow, which can’t be seen from below but cast a soft coloured tinge onto white walls.

1. EXTERIOR DAY SHOT WITH VORONOI

14

2. DAY TIME NIGHT RENDER

SECTION - A-A’

15

08 MODEL IMAGES

16

17

08 MODEL IMAGES

18

19