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Architectural Design Studio 2

For our very first Design Studio 2 project, in a group of 5, we are assigned to analyse, investigate and explore a case study house, House VI by Peter Eisenman. House VI, or the Frank Residence is completed in the year 1975, in Connecticut, United States. It is a highly controversial house as the house challenges the unconventional living and defy the Form Follows Function concept. Peter Eisenman totally abandoned the Modernist view of function as an important aspect when designing a building.

 

We are to produce a short video clip to introduce Peter Eisenman and his dictums and concept, along with his works and the architectural elements of House VI that we have indentified. Later, a complete set of Architectural drawings of House VI are produced, displaying the plans, sections, elevations and Axonometric projection of the building. 

 

The final task of this project is to produce a set of ten 6 x6 x6cm conceptual models to formulate our architectural concept and ideas analysis of House VI. The conceptual models display the elements and characteristics, along with Eisenman's design concept of House VI. 

 

Through this diagrammatic abstraction project, we acquired the ability to identify master architects and their works and understand the basic architectural compositions of solids, planes, lines and frames. 

 

Project 1: Famous People, Familiar Faces, Diagrammatic Abstraction 

Project 1, task 1: Video clip of House VI by Peter Eisenman

Plans, sections, elevations and Axonometric Projection of House VI

10 Conceptual Models 

Project 2A: Pavilion @ Kuala Selangor Nature Park

For our second project, we are to form a group of 2 to design a pavilion for a specific character in Kuala Selangor Nature Park. We went to Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Selangor to carry out our site analysis for this second project. Groups are broken down to analyse different sites, such as hill, open field, mangrove swamp, forest, river and lake. My partner and I obtained the open field to carry out our site analysis along with 10 other colleagues. The aim of this project is to generate form and space through architectural conceptualisation, with the emphasis on exploring the user requirement and simple spatial organization skills and site responding to develop an architectural proposition. 

 

 

*CLICK ON THE OPEN FIELD PANORAMA ABOVE FOR SITE ANALYSIS SLIDES.*

The second task of this Project 2A is to design a pavilion for the specifically assigned character on drawing lots basis. My partner and I have gotten a Hairdresser for our pavilion client. The proposed site for the pavilion is the open field (on top of Malawati Hill) at Kuala Selangor Nature Park with the purpose of a place for relaxation and contemplation. The designed pavilion includes spaces for meditation, contemplation, observation and viewing. 

 

The design concepts for our pavilion include the extracted elements and characteristics of the Hairdresser. The design concepts are: FLUIDITY, VERSATILITY and TRANSFORMATION. 

 

  • Fluidity: The structure of the pavilion is inspired from the fluidity of the hair, which can be shaped and twisted into various forms.

  • Transformation: The hairdresser is able to transform the outlook of her clients and she is constantly keeping up with the latest trend to create new hair designs. 

  • Versatility: The Hairdresser is a charismatic lady that is able to work with numerous clients of different personalities and hair types. She is also able to adapt, improvise and react spontaneously on treating and shaping her clients' hair.

Project 2A, Task 2: Pavilion Design

With these concepts in mind, we created a pavilion with transformable spaces to accentuate the fuildity and versatility nature of the hairdresser. The pavilion structure is made up of timber slits joined together on steel poles that acts as the hinge for the joints. The hairdresser is able to push and pull the timber slits to manipulate the spaces within. The timber slits is able to form a ledge for sitiing and lounging. The pavilion is able to transform into a series of spaces and designed with respondance to the user's needs and site context. 

A series of presentation drawings and panels of the Pavilion

A series of study and mock-up models experimenting with various model making materials

Pavilion Final Model in Balsa Wood

By the end of Project 2A, I have learnt the importance of designing a building that engages with the site context. The design process is a complex task in which the  site plays an important role in affecting the users' experience. As quoted by Frank Lloyd Wright, It is crucial to intergrate the design along with the site so that the building would look like as if it grew from the site, instead of sitting on it. Thoughts and attention should also be given to the climatic and topography of the site in terms of materials selection for the designed building. This project is enriching in a way that enables us to experience the full-on building designing process, from site analysis to the end product of the pavilion. 

Design Studio 2, Project 2A: Pavilion presentation day.

Project 2B: Retreat House @Kuala Selangor Nature Park

For my third and final project of studio 2, we are required to design a retreat house for the same character from the pavilion project. It is an individual project and a continuous project from project 2A. Therefore, my retreat house client remained the same, which is the hairdresser. We are to designed a retreat house that denotes a place that provide peace, tranquility and privacy. The retreat house must functions as habitable architectural spaces to enable the activity associated with living, dining, cleansing, cooking, storage and such within the built up space of 150 square meter. This project explores the relationship between architectural tectonics, functional space and context in architecture.

 

I have extracted 3 design concepts in terms of the character and career wise of the hairdresser. The hairdresser is a person who is constantly open to new ideas, keeping up with the latest trend with an artistic edge/flair. She is able to transform a person's outlook and loves to challenge the traditional ways of doing things.  The three concept extracted from this short narrative are as below:

 

Design Concept

  • Transformation: Rotatable transformable spaces with the integration of modular capsule units. The fixed capsules reflects the will to adapt to site.

  • Flexibility: Spaces transform and function according to user's need and preference to bring out her flexible character. Each planes and surfaces are utilised.

  • Unconventional Living: The hairdresser is young and contemporary. She challenges the unconventional way of living that reflects her expressive nature. 

 

Hence, a capsule-like retreat house is designed for the hairdresser with rotatable spaces that is able to relate to the unconventional living lifestyle. The capsules are arranged in linear form that go along with the contours of the proposed site. The retreat is designed in a minimalist cylindrical form that stacked on one another. The simplicity of the form is able to enhance and bring out the qualities of the interior spaces within that emphasizes on user experiences, which is the key element of the entire house.  

 

The space configuration of the house is arrange into four activities. These are the possibilities of how the spaces could be rotated and utilised. The designated spaces for the hairdresser include a dressing room, studio/workspace/bedroom, bathroom, kitchen/dining/meeting area, foyer/lounge and a viewing deck. The private and semi-public spaces are arranged in relation to the site context. This being said that private spaces are located at the open field, which is away from the densed visitors areas. The semi-public spaces like foyer/lounge, viewing deck, bathroom and kitchen/meeting area are place on top of the slight contours, looking towards the scenic view of the horizon and the foot of the Malawati hill which is a densed tourist spot. Below illustrates diagram of the potential space configuration.

Presentation Panels

Through this retreat house project, I am able to interpret and analyse a client's character in relation to the design of a small building and to design a house that meet the user's requirements and respect site context that balances both internal (architectural spaces/layout/circulation) and external (aesthetics and forms) design values. I have came to realise the importance of user's experience and able to design a building that is well intergrated onto the site. This is a truly challenging and interesting project that emphasizes on the originality and drawing relations with the nature. 

Final presentation day. 

Group photo of Design Studio 2 Project 1 colleagues with Mr. Peng Wei (Project 1 design tutor). 

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