project 3 final submission

Initial concept model of architectural strategy from precedent study. Room sizes and proportions were estimated based on the program of the double house, and various configurations were experimented with. This led to the final organisation of spaces within the house for both clients.

Presentation panels

Panel 1 - The development of the precedent study in the last two projects, showing which aspects led to adopting an architectural strategy as a starting point in the design of the double house.

Panel 2 - Images of the massing model in the 1:500 site model. These show the house in the broader context of Potts Point. They show the density of the area, and how the house responds to the restrictions of the adjacent buildings.

Panel 3: Plans and sections of the house at 1:100

1:100 model including adjacent buildings, footpath and part of Victoria St.

The model shows the general form of the double house with openings, the central shared garden and art display space, and relationship to the site in general. The landscape was intended to be intertwined with the house to create a strong connection with nature despite the somewhat introvertedness of the house itself. This builds on Loos' idea of private, introverted domestic life in Villa Muller, however integrates the landscape to open up the central axis of the house.

more beautiful landscape drawings

All from "Garrett Eckbo: Modern Landscapes for Living"

Garrett Eckbo

From his thesis study 'Contempoville':

"House and garden developed as an organic unit which will present a compelling setting for the "more abundant life." The garden flows into the house; the house reaches out into the garden. . . . Nature will dominate these gardens because the plant material is so placed that it can continue its growth with a minimum of interference by the hand of man"

landscape drawings - inspiration

In my project I want there to be a strong interaction with nature. As such, the garden is integral in establishing a relaxing environment for specific parts of the programme. Different parts of the house will wrap around the landscape in order to achieve a rich dialogue between house and garden. Below are some drawings from a couple of landscape architects who inspire me in achieving this and the kind of drawings I want to produce for the final submission.

Geoffrey Bawa landscape drawings

Utzon drawing: houses in Fredensborg

Various landscape drawings from "Relating architecture to landscape" by Jan Birksted

Some of my progress drawings

Soane house

cross-section

plan

I've investigated the John Soane Museum (as suggested by Celia) as a bit of inspiration for the spatial qualities of rooms and the kind of sectional relationship I wish to achieve in my design. As is evident in the section drawing above, Soane (who designed and lived in the house) created large, open spaces to house his art/antique collections whereas more private rooms were kept at a smaller scale and were more enclosed. This is similar to the way Loos treated spaces in Villa Muller, with the rooms he felt were of the highest importance being a larger scale than others.

In my design I wish to establish a similar relationship between the room's intended use and its spatial qualities - sketches of this development to come.

project 3: double house + garden

For project 3, the architectural strategy I have taken as inspiration from Villa Muller is that of the narrative in the program as envisioned by Loos, and the spatial qualities of the corresponding rooms in the house.

I have made a preliminary model of rooms of varying dimensions to get a feel for the scale of the spaces I wish to achieve in my design. I have arranged these, as pictured, in one possible configuration thinking about the way in which the houses are to be used. As Loos did with Villa Muller, I want to set out a specific spatial sequence in the houses but also intertwine the landscape with the living spaces. Villa Muller had a strict sense of introverted-ness in terms of blocking out the outside world, including eliminating the relationship to the landscape. I wish to completely remove from this idea in my design and integrate nature with the intended domestic life.

Some preliminary notes I have on my design include:

• art collector to live with another creative person e.g. an architect
  
• establishing separate programs for the 2 houses but have one zone which is a shared space, so that the 2 occupants can come together to enjoy and discuss the art
• sectional relationship to be quite interactive

Drawings and photo documentation of modelling progress to come!

project 2 final submission

Raumplan 2D studies - initial sketches (bottom of drawing) and photos of the rooms arranged in the shell of the building

Perspective of model (1:100) showing all the rooms of the house. 'Spatial austerity'

Elevation of model showing Raumplan

Spatial sequences study - (left) Photos of different ways the spaces in the house are used according to Loos' idea of program using rooms from Raumplan model. (right) Photos showing plan view of how these are arranged in the house. (below) Narrative showing the theatricality of the intended use of the rooms in the house as you move through it, washing one's hands upon entry etc.

Rooms that lady of the house would use

Rooms that the family would use

Rooms that the servants would use

Rooms that a guest would use

Transparency - drawing showing initial progression of thought (at bottom), and sketches exploring transparency of rooms as a result of walls that become screens in the living area of the house.Model (1:50) of transparent rooms and screen walls, showing 'spatial interaction'