Friday, October 25, 2013

Week 13/Model Creation and Design Finalisation

Week 12/Function Follows Form

According to Freidman, the function of each architectural space is determined by the equipment which is specific for that space.

Fig 1.1 demonstrates a linkage scheme graph. The functional spaces are represented as points while the links are the paths linking these spaces. While Fig 1.2 turns Fig 1.1 into a topological figure, hence starting to give the building a form.

From Freidman's theories, the form is to be manipulated firstly and then depending on the equipment required the inside can be manipulated to fit inside and fulfil the users needs. The sculptural form of my building is a 'monomorph'. (see Fig 1.3) Freidman also discusses how the inside and outside of the building are independent hence I can create my building form first.

Fig 1.1
 Fig 1.2
Fig 1.3

Friedman, Y. 2000. Function follows form. in. Sadler et al. (Eds). Non-plan : essays on freedom participation and change in modern architecture and urbanism. Oxford: Architectural Press. pp104-115.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Week 11/Space Planning

When investigating the spaces required within my building I came up with the following.

Spaces required:
            -Extra housing
            -Community hall
            -Food storage
            -Crop fields

            -Mini hydro plant

Figure 1.1 Demonstrates my initial space planning ideas while Figure 1.2 is my further progression on this. 

Fig 1.1


Fig 1.2


Friday, September 27, 2013

Week 10/Fitting the Brief

1.     SCRIPT
1.1.     Reality
Expected outcomes
·     Discussion on site context.
·     Discussion on needs and social relevance.
·     Discussion on future trends.
·     Diagrams and/or collages to present outcomes of discussions.
·     Sense of reality in your Architecture Fiction.

Due to the site, there were many possibilities and thus fitting in with my concept of being cut off a self-sustainable ‘village’ seemed a viable option. The needs of the ‘village’ would be that off crops for food and clothing as well as a water source. The surrounding woodland also provides a great source of building materials and it is suggested that sustainable harvesting be implemented so that certain parts of woodfordia are harvested then cared for while another part is harvested. It is hoped that by using this system the resources on the site are not exhausted rather utilised. It is hoped that as systems are recreated life will go back to a way that has a semblance of normal and eventually when the land has recovered from the nuclear destruction many years later life will go back to how it is at the moment. Due to all the media attention Syria’s biological weapons attack(2013) and Saddam Hussein have had there have been many conspiracy theories about the weapons that each country secretly has. It is possible that these theories as well as issues such as North Korea wanting to attack America and other dramas within the countries eventually leads to war and that the countries are reduced to using nuclear weapons as losing becomes an unbearable option.

1.2.     Creativity
Expected Outcomes
·     Exploration of future possibilities.
·     Exploration and identification of possible beneficiaries of your proposal.
·     Snippets of general future scenarios.
·     Creatively narrated and composed Architecture Fiction that includes "STAGE" and "SCENES" outcomes.

Some future realistic possibilities include that of self-sustainable communities having to learn to live off of the land. Some benefits of my proposal will include that off being able to confortable support a community that would otherwise struggle to survive after the events leading up the nuclear war. Another scenario could be that off little communities joining forces and certain communities being responsible for different resources and a system of bartering occurring within the communities. The stage becomes woodfordia and the surrounding woods while the scenes involve that of how the community would develop and work over time in a sustainable fashion in order to keep the community going.


2.     STAGE
2.1.     Purpose
Expected Outcomes
·     Exploration of appropriate architectural responses, such as scale, spatial requirements, facilities and logistic requirements.
·     Physical models to help your explorations.
·     Diagrams that demonstrate outcomes of your explorations.
·     1:1000 - 1:5000 site plan with your design that shows relationship to adjacent areas.
·     1:100 - 1:500 elevation and section of your proposal in site context.
·     Physical model that shows your proposal in context.

A 3D model was created in revit to help visualise and help to demonstrate how the building was to fit into the surroundings as well as how it would fit the clients needs. Residences, storage, a meeting hall as well as spare rooms for classes, functions and meetings were provided in order to fit the residences needs.  

2.2.     Navigation
Expected Outcomes
·     Exploration of spatial relationships, how they function together, how do people navigate through spaces, etc.
·     Plans, Sections, and/or Diagrams showing how people enter site and first available space(s).
·     Plans, Sections, and/or Diagrams showing how people typically navigate through spaces and use them.
·     Plans, Sections, and/or Diagrams showing how private/semi-private/public spaces are defined in your proposal.

The circulation space through the levels is at the end of the building as this space does not feature much natural lighting or ventilation. The plant room was situated beside this space due to reticulation of services as well as the lack of natural lighting and ventilation. The residences are situated on the outside of the building due to the large quantities of natural lighting and ventilation, this was considered to be desirable for the residences. The storage was situated on the inside of the building in the middle of the residences for convenience as well the lack of natural lighting and ventilation as this is not required for this space. 

2.3.     Integrity
Expected Outcomes
·     Exploration of forms, structures, materials and services for your proposal.
·     Plans, Sections and Elevations (1:100 - 1:200) that demonstrate overall form and structure of your proposal.
·     Plans, Sections and/or 3D drawing (1:10 - 1:50) that shows vignettes/snippets of key architectural details and material uses in your proposal.
·     Physical Models that shows forms, structural integrity and/or material.

A number of varying forms were investigated until the initial form emerged and became the proposal. 

3.     SCENES
3.1.     Presence & Identity
Expected Outcomes
·       Exploration and identification of a unique architectural identity of your proposal.
·       Name (and possibly a nickname) of your building.
·       Three Dimensional renderings and/or collages of your proposal in context.
·       Scenes that communicate how people come to your proposed spaces and why.

Casa Segura which is spanish for safe zone was named so due to it becoming one of the few safe zones upon which people are still able to live after the nuclear war. 
3.2.     First-Person Experience
Expected Outcomes
·       Exploration and identification of a set of key spaces that characterises and makes your proposal known by people in your future scenario.
·       A sequence of internal 3D renderings and collages that show how key spaces are used by selected audience in your scenario.
·       A sequence of internal and external renderings, collages, and/or physical models that shows experiential and atmospheric quality of the key spaces.

I am working on a number of images demonstrating the interior spaces and how the residents interact with the spaces. 


Friday, September 20, 2013

Week 9/Research

I found a lot of natural buildings in existence there were many timber houses and with the surrounding woods timber seems a viable material. Figure 1.1-1.4 show this.

I also came across a house constructed by a family out of hay bales, mud, rock, lime plaster and a timber frame. Figure 1.5 demonstrates this.

From this research I have come to the conclusion that due to the scarcity of resources the majority of the building materials used will consist of timber, concrete, straw and mud.

Beautiful natural structures Amazon Tree Houses. 2009.  The Ashes. Accessed on 10th October, 2013 from http://cciash.com/beautiful-natural-structures-amazon-tree-houses/

Natural Building. Inspirational Village. Wordpress.com Accessed on 23rd October, 2013 from http://inspirationalvillage.wordpress.com/natural-building/
Accessed on 10th October, 2013 from http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/wholewoods-natural-buildings/



Wholewoods Natural Building. 2013. Geiger, O. NATURAL BUILDING BLOG: Earthbag Building and Other Natural Building Methods. Accessed on 10th October, 2013 from http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/wholewoods-natural-buildings/

Fig 1.1
Fig 1.2

Fig 1.3

 Fig 1.4

Fig 1.5

Fig 1.6