Submission 2 Models

Top floor Disabled movement path (Wire)
Mid Floor movement path (Wire)
Ground Floor movement path (Wire)

Submission 2

Bordeaux house - OMA project

Formal devices in the architecture; e.g. proportional systems, facade strategies,
types of openings, geometric shapes employed etc and study the relationship between these strategies and domestic activities in the house:

As we move from one stage to another in our reading of the building we can observe the nature in which the building allows us to 'read' it is written in the materials chosen.
Concrete is often seen as a cold, un-welcoming material. the use of such a material in the construction of the top level creates a warm cocoon and embraces the inhabitants within, this in turn creates the sense of safety and intimacy within the building heightened by the glimpses of the outside world at different levels.
The middle level is define clearly by its complete transparency, this allows the inhabitants to blur the boundary of the interior and exterior space, this is important as it welcomes the country side into the building allowing the disabled and able occupants an open living space.
The ground floor is opened to the world via a singular window, backed by the carved interior walls and cellar like spaces the transition between domestic space and building entry is breached.
Circulation of the house:

The circulation patterns within the house suggests a particular path of movement and life within the house. On one side of the building a strong sense of linear movement is observed, this accentuated by the strong straight lines of the lower cellars and the bold walls within the top floor. The square movement space of the lift is directly mirrored by the circular spiral staircase, it is important to note that the axis of asymmetry is based around the cusp of interior and exterior of the middle floor, this alludes to the division of the disabled and interior living and the able and the exterior environment.
Linearity of movement in one side of the house is attributed to the being wheelchair bound and movement in straight lines is easiest. Curved movement in the opposite side of the house is what the architect must imagine keeps people more engaged when moving within the house.
Structural strategy for the building:

The structural strategy of the building is based around the use of pivots, levers and supports.
The structural elements of the building can be broken down into 4 major components holding up the floor plates of the building.
The structural components of the building can be loosely linked to that of the human form, this can be seen in the central column space which houses the circular staircase which can be seen as the hip or pelvis of the building. The L-Shaped beam are the legs holding up the top and mid floor plates, and the I-Beam being the arm of the building holding up the top floor by pivoting about the column and counter balanced by the large weight.
The use of such structure allows the building to reduce the need for load bearing walls which can impede vision and alter the usability and perception of a space, none more significant than that of living space between the building which is surrounded by floor to ceiling glass windows.
the use of such structural elements also frees the building to furthermore impose the feeling of 3 different 'rooms' or 'buildings' layered on top of each other.

ARCH1201 Design Studio 3

Bordeaux House

Link to blackboard blog creation:
25+ hours of modeling has been completed.

File Front Link

http://files.filefront.com/13917623

Movement Textures

Final UT Environment Design

Environments alter over time where from early drafts of my model have indicated the transformation and evolution of my design ideas from the solid bridge to and extensive array of both hanging and subtracted spaces within the bridge itself. My designs are infulenced by the engineering world where each component is close to beging physically possible.

The final unreal tournament environment was designed specifically for the two clients; Barrack Obama, first black president of the USA, and cultural pop icon Madonna who's name instantaneously brings femininity. Both share not only the origins of their passports, but they hold profound influence of millions of people globally, every aspect of their lives are scrutinized to find fault in their powerful and immortal persona's. The transparency of their lives was considered and integrated into the design of many features in this model.
Obama's Space:
Obama's space is located within the bridge itself, as it consists of an office, gallery area, staff break/smoking/meeting areas and a press conference hall/theater. It is also loosely base on the industrialized nature of the United States where the ventelation slats and structural trusses are a borrowed from industral buildings.
Obama's office is an elongated space where the woven wooden flooring accentuates this. A sense of power is created in the area, where from the office large glass panels allow him to observe the entire space and the elevated platform is also a metaphor for his elevated stature.

Wooden slats are installed through out the entire structure where natural light is filtered through illuminating the wall of the gallery, meeting area and viewing platform. The red roof is a reoccurring texture throughout the clients area as it invokes the feeling of fortune and prosperity.

The Theatre:
The Theatre itself is a narrow space where a singular podium and microphone stand. Light is allowed in through the top of the space creating a intimate environment.
The Meeting Space:
The meeting space itself was created upon a wind turbine where the revolving fan blades generate power. where better to place the meeting and dining table for both Obama and Madonna.
The dining table itself is closely linked to that of a traditional rectangular table. The particular design is actually the collaboration of both Madonna's Lift and Obama's Lift where both lifts are designed to invoke the sense of power, the meshing of the two allows me to create a powerful piece of functional furniture to be placed at the focal point of the meeting space.
The lifts both connect to the meeting space where they provide a moving interaction within the environment so that the shift from one structure to the other invokes the sense of freedom, enlightenment, leadership, supremacy and ultimately power.
A structural truss protrudes from the bridge directly above Madonna's space allowing cables to suspend the entire space from its curved roof, this allows the feeling when within the space of weightlessness and total freedom.
Madonna's Space:
The initial designs for Madonna's space were far too complex and disjointed. So in my final design i decided to create a minimalist space where the curving structure invoked a sense of femininity and light and shadows created a sense of intrigue and mystery.
Meditation Platform:
On the roof of the structure sits a small dais where Madonna can do her meditation and yoga to unravel from a stressful day where the view from this location allows her to distance herself from the powerful platform above and enjoy the calming effect of the rounded hanging space.
The Recording Studio:
Within the lower level created from the curved floor below a recording studio is located where a separate Faraday cage (mesh cage to cut out intrusive radio waves) with its duel microphones and stool is an ideal place to record her new albums.