I thought to make the walls more flexible I could foldout the walls to create a walk around deck and outdoor seating area. I may also incorporate the roof to foldout as well. The function of the deck would be to provide a transition into the building, provide various lighting conditions and levels of privacy as they could be raised or lowered as the writer pleases, outdoor seating for downtime in between work periods.
I know the building is a simple extrusion, but I wanted to experiment with a moving interior wall, The form of the building will be updated.
(Mitch) I really like the idea of the fold-out deck, as it can be used to create privacy and adjust the lighting conditions. What I'm not seeing is how you plan on designing the interior space to be functional for the writer. I like the idea of the movable walls/shelves however it would be nice to see them implemented into the space. The other thing is what appears to be a glass roof. Keep in mind that there are three large structures which surround the park, all of which could potentially see into your building, eliminating any privacy.
ReplyDelete(Liam) I wanted to focus on the facade first because I was suffering from interior decorating, but I will definitely come up with some interior designs shortly. I have never thought of viewers from above and I will keep that in mind when it comes to privacy. Thanks
ReplyDelete(Mariam) It seems like an interesting an idea, however, I am kind of confused on how this would function (i.e how would you communicate it through a physical model?... I suggest that you should make something fixed for this project to ensure that you have the time to convey what your intents are. And as Mitch mentioned, be aware of the surroundings.. :)
ReplyDeleteI really like the folding deck idea! Also, I don't think you should feel obliged to change the form of the building just because it's a simple extrusion. Changing the form (having weird angles or whatnot) will look weird unless there's an absolute reason for doing so, and not just because Vince doesn't want a simple extrusion. I completely agree with what Mitch said, and the movable furniture is pretty cool too!
ReplyDeleteConsidering the angle of the sun at various part of the day, i think using mirrors to 'defract' the sun would be almost blinding to the writer inside. Try using things like polished wood, that have semi refective qualities that wont send blinding rays into the cabin.Angling the panels of the roof would also, help, reducing the amount of direct sunlight
ReplyDelete(Liam) Thanks for your insight. Post your stuff now!
ReplyDeleteThe good in all of this is that there is a great sense of satisfaction when your students (especially first years) begin to learn how to be self-critical and reliant on more than the dictates of a single prof/authority. Everyone's opinions are valid however it is up to Liam to determine how best to follow suit: adjust/revise, remove, emphasize, or retain to respond. This is a critical piece of advice that I would wish all of you to understand and perhaps I should do this emphatically and directly in class:
ReplyDeleteAdjust/Revise
-if the information makes sense and you agree with the critic, go with it and try to integrate the feedback into your project
Remove
-the criticism has made you aware of the flaw(s) of a component and in agreement, you have taken the piece out of the design
Emphasize
-the criticism outlines a demand to reinforce what you intended as it is not strong in the resolution/articulation; in that state you will have to highlight these features
Retain to Respond
-this occasionally gets mistaken for "ignore"; what this means is that you have to find a way to respond to the criticism and defend your actions in light of the fact that you continue to make something that the critic has indicated is contentious; this is the trickiest option as it requires a great deal of logic, confidence (not pride), and research
Regarding the design, the foldout onto the ground is logistically a problem. Given the precedents you have seen, sliding panels may be far superior. Lifting and moving large panels requires a great deal of strength (no matter what material). Additionally, things that people walk on as potential wall/glazing protective surfaces are messy and really present challenges in Canadian climates (frozen elements, snow build-up, leaf build-up).
The fortress potential of this design works if you are trying to make a statement of the lack of privacy, homeless situation, or about the impending zombie apocalypse, but the walls send a huge message that might require some explanation.
Again, let me reiterate that I have nothing inherently against box designs - just bad designs. As I mentioned before (and I hope this is the last time I have to say it), a trope that first years do, especially with computers, is that they design a generic plan because that is all they are aware of and then simply extrude the walls up to the same heights and "design" elevations by popping holes and adding elements. These often result in decorated boxes (not necessarily cubes, but simply terrible extruded designs). I have indicated many great precedents that have been rectilinear but make sense (i.e. the Kundig house).