Design Studio 3 Project 1: Journey for the 5 senses

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and explain different spatial types in architecture, and how they inform spatial use and experience
2. Identify and analyze case studies to inform the design project
3. Create tectonic expressions of different spatial typologies which impact on the uses and experiential conditions of space
4. Generate design through conscious consideration of section-plan relationship with considerations of human scale, natural light, materiality and textures
5. Produce drawings (both 2D and 3D), modelling and verbal presentation to communicate and visualize architectural design and ideas. 

Precedent Study of Jewish Museum, the Linear Space

The Jewish Museum is an interesting space which consist of many poetic feels to create the feeling of darkness, chaos and uncertainty according to the history of Jews in Germany. There are sounds, sight and hearing sense to enhance the feel of fear. Light and shadow also playing an important role to create dark spaces. In this project, we are able to learn more about poetic feels and playing with light and shadow, materials and others to create different spaces.

Precedent Study of Villa La Rotunda, The Centric Space

 

Villa La Rotunda is a classic building which emphasise on hope and light, have a obvious contrast with the Jewish Museum. It is a centric and symmetrical building with four entrance. The interior and exterior of the building are bright and grand with ornaments and drawings which bring out the hopeful and sacred atmosphere in the building.

Box of Darkness and Heaven

After the precedent studies of existing buildings, we are required to design and develop buildings to enhance the knowledge of poetic architecture. The centric building of out design was developed from a simple box. The journey of the spaces is from dark to bright which reflected the poetic feel of the poem - There is Another Sky. The poem is to encourage the poet's brother to be brave and walk through hardness of his life. 

From the exterior of the building, the raw concrete surface of the Box which located in the centre of a greenish field, pull attraction of people. In this building, there is a lot of uneven surface of wall, represent the tree trunk of the forest, to let people feel the darkness and hardness along the pathway. The openings represent the brunches and leaves of the dark and bright forest, which people are able to experience both difficulty and hope.

The model is made of white board to show the exterior and interior poetic architecture in a physical form. The 3D model is also very helpful during presentation to show the concept easily.

The Linear Space on the Cliff

After analysed the poetic architecture and precedent studies about the Jewish Museum, Berlin, we are required to design a linear building or space for people, according the poetic feel of the poem, There is Another Sky, to experience the journey of 5 senses.

From the exterior of the building, people are able to observe the concrete and metal surface of it. The irregular shape of the long building and part of it hanging on the cliff, draws attention and makes people feel excited. Sometimes we choose to escape from problems we met in our life. In this building, people are able to pause in spaces along the building, feel and think about problems in life. On the platform, this is the time to make decision, whether to stay in the garden or back to the reality and solve problems to have a better life.

The model is made of white foam board to show the lightness and softness of the building. The foam was cut in angular shape, from complicated to simple, represent the journey of problem solving in life.