Introduction

ARC 103 explores the ranging spatial qualities of sequence, alignment, lighting, and many more. Through in-depth case studies and a detailed interpretation of works by reknown architects, the course explored the methodologies used in structures of the past.  The range of exercises focused on building upon the details of a chosen architect and using modularity as well as creativity to design and analyze drawings, physical models, and scale.

Exercise 01 - Introduction

Exercise 01 explored the architectural ranges of order, arrangement, space and sequence. Groups were assigned case studies on particular architects and structures around the world that represented key design features.  Our group studied works by the Dutch architectural firm, UN Studio.

Completed in 1988, the Mobius House is located in the upscale Dutch neighborhood of Het Gooi.  It is perched on the edge of a hillside and surrounded by woodlands.  The Mobius House redefines living space through its unique looping structure.  Designed for two individuals to live in the structure, the design combines the ideas of circulation, program, and structure through its unique paths and representation of a Mobius strip.  This structure of movement is transposed in its construction through its organization of concrete and glass elements.

Similarly, the Villa NM, located in upstate New York, explores the same unique features of space and movement.  It is the design made for a single family house accross a sloping site.  The landscape is used in a unique fashion to achieve traits of programmatic and volumetric organization in the structure.  The Villa NM is a box-like volume that splits into two seperate volumes; one that seamlessly follows the northern slope and one that is lifted above a hill to create a parking garage underneath.  Similar to the Mobius House, the Villa NM uses large standing windows that range horizontally from floor to ceiling.

Exercise 01 - The Villa NM

Exercise 01 - The Mobius House

Exercise 02

Exercise 2 dealt with exchange of information and the communication of design concepts in a professional and outstanding manner.  An important factor of architecture is the relation of visuals and conceptual ideas to clients through graphic design.  This exercise explored the idea of using chimaeras to develop a unique architectural publication.  We had to create exploded axonometric views of both studied structures.  Following this, we had to combine similar design ideas and conceptuals from both buildings into a single unique and graphically appealing application.  The chimaera is an abstract representation of form, space, lighting, and structure.  Furthermore, by developing the imagery through monochrome colors, the design was made to specifically highlight various key features about both buildings that were meant to be shown.  In the end, the chimaera created a beautiful combination of several details of the Villa NM as well as the Mobius House.  It became an abstract interpretation of contents of the structures that are unseen and embedded into the complex structures.

Similarly, the exploded axonometric drawings were created to represent the various details and aspects of the structures.  By finding significant elements of both the Villa NM and Mobius House, we were able to create an exploded axonometric plan that depicted these ideas.  Both buildings are representative of flow and the movement that takes place throughout the houses.  These axonometries help constructors to understand the case study of each building and explore how the movement and fluidity of the buildings occurs.  Additionally, the exploded axonometric views show how the entire structure comes together through combination of various features and materiality.  

Villa NM Exploded Axonometric View

Mobius House Exploded Axonometric View

Chimaera

Exercise 03

Exercise 03 was an exploration of spatial qualities and constructional creativity.  Spaces are not always defined by merely physical properties or materiality of structure.  Space takes on a variety of quantative aspects that encompass comfort, discomfort, coziness, and many more.  By manipulating and combining these various values, a unique space can be created to serve a purpose that encompasses all aspects of room, light, division, exhibition, and more.

The exercise dealt with developing a space defined by formal, spatial and qualitative characterisitics.  The space was designed to represent an exhibition space that would provide for the displaying of our chosen architect's models and drawings.  The exhibition space was to be designed to address the user, the visitor, the displayed objects, and the exhibition.  The structure was to account for material investigation and the use of a modular aspect to create the exhibition space.  

Additionally, the exhibition space was designed with the purpose of creating a vertical outdoor space.  The space would be inhabitted by three distinguished rooms and zones that would honor the work of the architects studied.  The space was to be designed to account for the exhibition of ten fictitious physical objects.  The space was to be designed for a flat fifteen by twenty feet (300 square feet) area of land, with no height limitation.  

The enclosed space would use a repetition and variation of a modular element that could be connected to some distinct element of the studied buildings in previous exercises.  The vertical enclosure would allocate spaces for exhibition as well as a film room for each of the architects pieces and models.  Additionally, the exhibition space implemented the elements of flow and variety through the enclosure.  Keeping the visitor in mind, there was particular attention paid to flow and development of the structure as well the use of room and lighting in creating synthesis and stimulation.

Exercise 04

Exercise 4 was a combination of space, structure, light, and stability. The project dealt with incorporating all the elements of past exercises and also the element of creativity. The instructions called for a mock-up to be created at full-scale in terms of size and strength. Using a certain modularity and element from the past exercise, the mock-up was made to show a certain element of the design, if it were to be built at full-scale. Keeping these techniques in mind, our group developed the module based off the original case-study of UN Studio's Villa NM structure.

Another important aspect of exercise 4 was the use of materiality. A maximum of two materials were allowed to be used, and the group had to keep in mind the stability of the mock-up and even the full-scale building. Thus, our group decided to incorporate EMT steel piping as a material to create our structure. The pipes were bent and drilled for connectivity and to create the odd shaped modules.