Digital Design - Zumthor Serpentine Pavilion 2011 Module 1

Digital Design - Module 01 Semester 1, 2019 Sara Lui

921538 Samuel Lalo + Studio 17

Week One

Reading: Zeara Polo, A. 2010. Between Ideas and Matters.

According to Zeara-Polo, the diagram does not play a representational role in the design process but provides an organisational and can have a performative quality depending on how it is deployed. Explain how Diagram is different from Signs and Symbols? (100 words Maximum)

Signs and symbols typically don’t need to be explained because their images tend to be widely used and therefore recognised amongst the society/community that they are found in. Because of this, signs and symbols tend to represent simple information to the viewer.

Diagrams, on the other hand, are not as easily recognised to the general public, however, they may be recognised by specific groups.

Diagrams tend to need additional information explaining their meanings, such as a block of text relaying information, a key, or an index, and tend to relay more detailed information.

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Week One

Precedent Analysis

Fig.2 Plan view of building structure

Fig.3 Perspective of building structure I began modelling by tracing the cross section of the structure given to us, then turning the trace into a 3 dimensional object and using the image of the plan to develop the overall structure. Once the whole structure was created, a skin was created to envelop and create the walls and roof of the building.

Fig. 1, Hufton and Crow, 2011, Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, https://static. dezeen.com/uploads/2011/07/dezeen_Serpentine-Gallery-Pavilion-2011by-Peter-Zumthor-photographed-by-Hufton-and-Crow_16.jpg

Fig.4 Perspective of building with no roof

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Week Two

Reading: Hertzberger H. 2005. The in-between and The Habitable Space Between Things, from Lessons for Students in Architecture.

Herzberger discusses how design should not be extreme in its functionality. Use your precedent study to explain how the pavilion allows for an appropriation of use. (100 words Maximum)

One of Zumthor’s key ideas for the design of this pavilion was to create an enclosed garden, that could be reached by passing through multiple zones with different auras. Whilst the structure is simple and seems functional, the garden space could be utilised for multiple uses; it was a place for visitors to sit and have a private moment, a place for to observe the workings of nature in the garden, as well as a place for friends and family to hang out and enjoy each others’ presence, and occasionally, for small functions to be held.

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Week Two

Isometric

Isometric of Zumthor’s Serpentine Pavillion

The image shown here is an isometric of Zumtor’s Serpentine Pavillion 2011 from a South Eastern view. The pavillion as a whole is quite a closed structure, yet with an intense focus on threshold and differing experiences through different spaces, the overall structure and various layers of the pavillion needed to be shown. After modelling the whole building from its’ timber floor and wall structures to its’ external walls, I cut into the model in a way that made it seems as if I was peeling away each layer to expose the next one and ensure that each layer could be seen in detail at some point.

Modelling multiple layers really helped emphasise the importance and experiences of threshold and space, which was one of the key concepts of this building. With the guiding corridors and walls, envisioning the circulation of movement within the structure was relatively easy, and mapping it out really helped me realise how narrow the spaces were, and helped me envision what it would be like to move through those spaces myself. Keeping in mind of the narrowness and contained nature of the building, I realised how lightness and darkness were used to create or help intensify the feelings of moving through each threshold.

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Week Two Diagrams

Circulation

Threshold

This diagram shows the circulation of people in the pavilion space.

The bottom diagram shows the probable density of foot traffic by visitors, whilst the middle diagram shows some regular paths that one would take when navigating through the space.

This diagram shows the thresholds and auras experienced when moving through the space, represented by shadows. The user experiences 4 different types of spaces; the light park area outside of the pavilion exterior, the dark inner corridor, the partly shaded and roofed area around the inner walls where seating is located, and an illuminated path flush around the inner garden.

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Appendix

Process

Tracing of the internal timber structure

Extrusion of tracing to create 3 dimensional timber structure

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Copying of timber structures according to the floor plan to create the overall structure. Split was used for the corners

Appendix Process

Skin/walls created by enveloping the timber structure

Roof created

Overall completed building complete with skin and internal timber structures

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Appendix

Process

Created a curved surface to split the model to show underlaying layers

Finished isonometric after splitting and exposing layers

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