Project 4A

This post is a little delayed but for those who didn't see my project during crits yesterday (which I think is most of you since I was close to last) here is a little sample of what I produced.

Wall Section with diagrammatic shadow projections

Assembly

Shadow study with physical model


Possible shadows as seen from adjacent highway

The crit was really helpful with suggestions as to how I can tie this 'shadow play' within the rest of the building. Playing with varying degrees of transparency amongst the program of the facility will ensure appropriate visual connections to each activity and perhaps create layers of 'screens' (such as this first proposal) that one may view the various activities through.

another weekend in our favourite place

As our Tuesday deadline approaches, our studio is beginning to look like a tornado went through it... We're working hard to complete our models, but sharing many laughs along the way. Through all the stress and frustratation, it's comforting to have such a great group of studio mates for encouragement and support (and love!) (Awwww.)

Loaf of Bread + Lemon Merengue* (over-heated styrene) = My model...

Stay tuned for the full reveal!

*No Vince, it was just a test piece.

How many architects does it take to disassemble a model?

library books being put to good use

No comment.

It glows!

Frank saves the day (again)

Jess confused by what sort of modelling she's supposed to be doing...

Now back to work!

Model Progress Report

voices in my head

Colours of studio!

Thought i'd post something bright..fun and happy before the weekend of doom arrives...

As you can see, we've really made the studio space into our home. It gets progressively messier each day..









LAMP TIME!

Project 4A progress report

Just a quick update on the envelope progress. A couple of things still need to be worked out such as the actually fin shape. Judging from the current outcome, they may have to trimmed down slightly in order to avoid knocking into the adjacent units. Though the position in this first render of the units is wrong, I don't think it will be a problem in the overall scheme.

Note: All cells will have glazing like the two in the middle.

Detail of Fin pivot connection in the open position.

Detail of the fin pivot connection in the closed position.




A look at the piston assembly. (closed position)

View from inside the space looking up at the roof assembly. Piston in open position in the foreground, and closed position in the background.

Detail of 3-point connection.

Pyramid Fail

Pyramid........more like euroloaf...how architectural!

Facade!

As mentioned in my last post, I am looking into facades which are able to filter and control daylight while also providing shading and protection from the desert sun.

Looking to a number of Renzo Piano’s projects for inspiration I went through a series of iterations which effectively act to let in daylight while minimizing both glare and heat gain.

Initial concepts were such that I was looking into a number of individual fins and components, but with the risk of it looking too bulky/distracting with all the connections I abandon it in search of cleaner lines. What I did like about this initial concept was the idea of these fins acting as ‘light scoops’, which led to the second iteration of a more curvilinear form which only allowed light in from certain directions-as shown on the top left.

Amalgamating these concepts, I have developed a light curvilinear form which peels away from the building where day lighting and views may be desired while also creating a shade. Those areas of the façade which lay flat against the building act as a double skin, reflecting sunlight away from the building. In suggesting these panels be perforated metal, it is intended that vision into the building will be restricted during the day time hours with exception to the ‘peeled away’ areas while revealing the activities when lit from within during the night-effectively highlighting the activity/creating a stage.

Cirque Progress Post

It has been awhile since I last posted...maybe because I decided to drop out of school to join the circus (kidding!). However the experiences from today’s field trip did really give me a good sense of what the training area entails and how certain spaces are utilized. We’re so used to watching shows like Cirque du Soleil as audiences from the theatre performance setting that it is often difficult to imagine what goes on behind the scenes and what the acrobatic training space is really like. So my design is based off of the values that Cirque du Soleil carries within its program. Based on my research, Cirque du Soleil is heavily involved in water management within their buildings and also chooses to use water in many of their individual shows and programs. The founder of Cirque, Guy Laliberté, also started a foundation called the One Drop foundation which aims to provide access to clean water for countries all over the world. Through the success of Cirque du Monde, performers use circus, visual and multimedia arts along with folklore, popular theatre, music and dance to encourage change in communities. In addition to raising awareness of water-related issues by entertaining and educating, ONE DROP works side by side with local partners to improve living conditions of disadvantaged communities through access and responsible use of natural resources, especially water.

As a result of this, I envisioned my building design to have a very fluid form, replicating the movements of water. There are obviously many programmatic issues that need to be revised as well as further design changes. I’ve based the programming of my building from what I perceived to be most important in Cirque values: Change, Creativity, and Community. Thus, most community spaces such as the cafe, the lobby, outdoor area etc, are in a central/atrium like space that connects the other spaces where change and creativity happen.
Here are some following sketches so far...


For my component design I wanted to design my envelope to replicate a water movement but at the same time allow it to be utilized for certain functions such as shading or ventilation. With these ideas in mind, I wanted to implement windows as part as a large glazing system that would pivot in a perpendicular direction to the facade of the building. The pivoting windows would be rippled glass of some sort and would create subtle shadows of moving water within the interior spaces during the day. During the night, the rippled glass would create blurred impressions from the human movements inside the training space which would give the effect of movements in water. Due to the fact that these windows would pivot and therefore are operable, it allows for ventilation which would pass through the training space and exit from operable windows in the roof.




The trouble i’m having is designing the component with a facade system that would give the appropriate effect i’m looking for, yet at the same time I don’t want the facade to be entirely saturated with these rippled glass windows. Still lots to figure out...time is running out =(.