-WIP-
8. Space and Form Exploration #1
After reading Form Defining Strategies, I'm encouraged to explore spaces and form in relation to my concept using physical models.
Physical models are the springboard to architecture.
The book emphasizes on the importance of making physical models for architectural design. It highlights its potential being the springboard to architecture as physical models are more prone to chance and productive errors. They retain its power to manifest and suggest relations, scales and forms of organisation that digital models often do only with difficulty.
Here are some other interesting points from the book:
Physical models are the springboard to architecture.
The book emphasizes on the importance of making physical models for architectural design. It highlights its potential being the springboard to architecture as physical models are more prone to chance and productive errors. They retain its power to manifest and suggest relations, scales and forms of organisation that digital models often do only with difficulty.
Here are some other interesting points from the book:
Fulcrum
I came across this word in the book which I thought it might help later in the design stage. As the term is associated to pivots, I can relate it to my topic because joints such as hinges are a common part in the design solution for compact living spaces. Here is how the book define fulcrum:
The fulcrum is a point on which a lever
rests or is supported and on which it pivots; a fulcrum may play an essential
role in an activity or event. Thus, the fulcrum is the point around which a
movement takes place, something happens. In architectural terms, one can say
that the space of a certain movement is formed around it. If one were to
describe it, it consists of a point and a line, and the mere outline of these
forms the backbone for the pivotal movement.
With the 'modularity' concept in mind, I tried to play around with triangles using cork materials. These triangles define the units and constraints for the folding technique, hence creating spatial qualities. With the natural form of the cut-out triangles, I've formed horizontal, vertical and slanted elements interestingly creating planes, connectors and boundaries.
‘Make it what it wants to be.’ – Louis Khan
7. HINGES
These are some different types of hinges we can find in the market today.
And this one, I think, is something different. This furniture managed to have a central pivot. Watch how it works in the video below. (Sorry, I can't find any other videos of this).
6. Case Study #1 - SCALE MODEL of Kitchenette
I made a scale model of the Tamka Apartment's (see Case Studies Page) kitchenette, which is the special feature in the space, to study the mechanism and the system that made the furniture go beyond its original function. Joint by the hinges, it has the power to transform into something that holds more than one function - a kitchen (with cooking and storage space), a dining table or a writing desk.
By doing this model, I realized I need to consider a few things as I design for my personal project:
1. The materials to use that may serve dual purpose (eg. wall and desk)
2. The maintenance of the joints as it will have high frequency of usage.
To sum up, this model shows how the 'cabinet' is transformable as it opens and closes. While doing this, I became more aware on the most important element in transformable furniture - the joints. I did a little research on the different types of hinge which I'm going to show on the next post.
By doing this model, I realized I need to consider a few things as I design for my personal project:
1. The materials to use that may serve dual purpose (eg. wall and desk)
2. The maintenance of the joints as it will have high frequency of usage.
To sum up, this model shows how the 'cabinet' is transformable as it opens and closes. While doing this, I became more aware on the most important element in transformable furniture - the joints. I did a little research on the different types of hinge which I'm going to show on the next post.
5. INITIAL SKETCHES - Plans | Sections | Perspectives
Below are my initial sketches of the plans within the boundary of a house unit, which is my intended space to work on. I tried a number of times with different experimental techniques like sketching with eyes closed and using one pen each hand to sketch simultaneously). I stopped when I got a good number to choose from, in which I realized that the swifter and simpler I moved my hand with the pen, the more interesting forms I create.
I tried to set a certain language as I create each sketch. There were linear, diagonal, radial, angular and some varied forms too.
The set 21-24 I've sketched appeal to me more and number 22 seems to be the best among them (I'm thinking it may vary as I experiment on in the later part). I just think that this one managed to create interesting forms that displays natural instead of rigidity. And so it made me think:
Is it possible to explore modularity with the absence of rigidity?
After the plans, I moved on to do more sketches but now in sections. I tried to get it from the chosen five I got from the plans (#4, 5, 20 and 22), and I've come up with these five different themes:
1. Geometric - Play with levels and forms (cubic, additive and subtractive)
2. Linearity - Explore linear elements that can create space in a less obvious way
3. Boundaries - Create space by varying the levels, making boundaries and segmenting spaces.
4. Angles - Play the angled forms in section to create interesting elements on the ceiling.
5. Rigidity - Random placement of planes and creating simple layout that reflects regularity.
Lastly, I sketch some perspective views which shows the ideas I am aiming for my space.
4. COMPARATIVE studies in thumbnail diagrams
Comparative studies of these projects:
1. Tamka Apartment (21 sqm)
2. Red Nest (23 sqm)
3. Studio in Madrid (27 sqm)
4. Graham Hill's (39 sqm)
5. Mp3 House (42 sqm)
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