Project 1 | architecture

PROJECT 1 : DWELLING

INTRODUCTION

Project 1 is a our first project which consists of macro and micro part. The macro part calls for the

design of a double storey single dwelling unit that is inspired by a given client. It focuses on the translation of the client's specialty or any influences into an architecture, depicting a possible influence in the spatial qualities, tectonics, circulation systems, or design of the skin of the building. Site analysis is also required to allow the architecture to respond towards the site, and also we have to follow strict regulations in the design. The macro part touches on the technical parts of the project such as detailing of spaces as well as working plans and presentation drawings. Renderings, creation of boards and models are also required hence this project depicts an actual architecture project.

SITE CONTEXT

The project site is located in a tranquil plot of land in the middle of cantebury road which is located in the heart of Alexandra area. One will be taken away by its view and state of tranquility when at the site because ruralism and nature takes over here hence it allows many opportunities for architecture and nature to interact with one another. The site is also filled with british air due to its history hence giving a country side feeling. Due to the amount of vegetation, the site serves as a good place to receive ventilation as well as providing privacy and good amount of shading from the sun.

SITE ENVIRONMENT

PROCESS MODEL

FINAL MODEL

CLIENT

The client is an environmental artist who devotes his whole life to nature and creates land art, sculptures, installations and various type of artworks that are often involve with nature. His work often represents the site or an event that happened before there hence showing the hidden reality of nature in the site too. Those work are usually site specific which uses the materials found on site to create his artwork hence he often have a strong relationship with the nature of the site.

DESIGN CONCEPT

Through the client, various design drivers is being extracted out by his artwork while genius loci is being extracted out by his method of work and concept. The keywords extracted are used to drive the form of the architecture in a certain order and is being shifted by responding towards the site. In most of his work which depicts nest, clay is metaphored as life of a bird nest and it is understood that clay is the source of life as it allows a tree to exist which allow the nest to exist hence this is related back to the site whereby the dwelling can only exist because of the site and the site exist because of the genius loci. Therefore the concept of the dwelling will be the metaphor of the genius loci in the site hence the architecture will be site driven similar to how the client creates his art works.

GENIUS LOCI

Through the client, various design drivers is being extracted out by his artwork while genius loci is being extracted out by his method of work and concept. The keywords extracted are used to drive the form of the architecture in a certain order and is being shifted by responding towards the site. In most of his work which depicts nest, clay is metaphored as life of a bird nest and it is understood that clay is the source of life as it allows a tree to exist which allow the nest to exist hence this is related back to the site whereby the dwelling can only exist because of the site and the site exist because of the genius loci. Therefore the concept of the dwelling will be the metaphor of the genius loci in the site hence the architecture will be site driven similar to how the client creates his art works.

Precedence on design is being done on bates masi architects who manage to capture the genius loci of its area successfully in the house hence my design strategy follow closely to this precedence. Part of the genius loci also calls for integration of nature and architecture together as well as respecting the site's typology hence precedence is being done on the black and white house for its typology while edgeland house and sichuan musuem for its way of integrating with nature of the site.

PRECEDENT STUDIES

DESIGN STRATEGY

Through the research, the genius loci of cantebury road is being represented by 10 different qualities which will become design strategies that drives the quality of the space, ambience and other factors of the architecture. Therefore the design intent aims to reconnect architecture and nature by capturing the genius loci of the site, embrace it and enhance it hence making the site become a place.

SITE STRATEGIES

The house is also being designed to harness the site's wind to the deeper part of the house to create a heat stacking effect and also to cool down internal space via cross ventilation, which is done by creating strategised opening locations as well as placing spaces such as double volume and courtyard in strategic locations. Overhangs and sun shading device such as timber fins is created through the form at strategic locations to shade the spaces from the sun while creating a certain ambience.

The structural system of the house will be strictly made up of concrete post and beam system as the concept requires materials to be naturalistic hence steel beams are not used. Most columns are flushed with the wall and also have free facade hence allowing spaces to be maximized. Material wise, a mood board is inspired by the site which is part of the concept and its translated to a material board that is made up of natural materials and is applied to the spaces base on certain ambiences.

MATERIAL AND STRUCTURE

EXTERIOR RENDERING

One will be greeted with a structure that is similar to the black and white house in the site but only more contemporary hence one will sense expect to see modernism in the architecture but as they get a better view of the space, the courtyard will change the impression which implies nature in modern architecture as captured by one of the qualities of the genius loci in the site.

INTERIOR RENDERING

The journey of the house begins in the car porch and enters to the living spaces where most of it frames a certain view of the nature hence allowing one to experience nature and different viewpoints emphasizing that nature has take over the house.