Week 10 - Project 3 - Architectural Relevance of Digital Technology

This week brought on the commencement of the final project; A School for the Study of the Body. The group's goal was to somehow integrate our folie from project 2 into the final design, in anyway/area that we believed to be appropriate. Just as was apparent in project 2, the successor design had to be highly malleable and open to transformation, all within the maximum 500sq m floor space. To gain more of an understanding of trans-formative architecture, primary research was focused on several exemplars. 

THE SUITCASE HOUSE - Gary Chang - EDGE DESIGN - China

The Suitcase House Exterior

My interest in this building extends back to many years ago. I believe its simplistic, streamlined aesthetics and trans-formative techniques serve a strong relationship with our group's project 2 design. The building is designed for complete adaptability which is all dependent on the user(s) and their requirements/moods. All main areas of the house such as the living room, dining area, kitchen, study room, bedrooms, bathrooms, sauna and storage can be completely concealed underneath hinged floor boards. As these floor boards are opened, they sit vertically serving as room dividers - thus multiplying spaces and creating new areas to be experienced. Along with the vertical flexibility of the house, more "permanent" dividing walls additionally expand and contract on track systems that are located on the ceiling. The boundaries between exterior and interior have merged by being completely timber clad, forming a unified relationship between all existing bodies. Once more, this strongly relates to the aesthetics of project 2 which were centralised around molding exterior with interior.

Floor boards opening to reveal hidden areas

Dividing wall contracted to form one communal space

Dividing wall contracted to form one communal space

 TRANSFORMER APARTMENT - Gary Chang - China

Transformer Apartment Interiors

Chang's experience of growing up in the over populated China has once again sparked an adaptable design. The architect's 32sqm apartment can be transformed into 24 different rooms by sliding walls (suspended from tracks bolted onto ceiling) or ejecting furniture (beds) from walls. The space can theoretically and practically accommodate up to 7 individuals at one given time and can modify to suit the needs of the number of occupants which inhabit it. I believe this to be a great example of how design is not limited by space restrictions, which is a key principal of the project 3 brief. The 500sq m maximum must accommodate many spaces for not only performance areas but also student classes. Concepts which "borrow" space from other areas within Transformer Apartment will be continued and further developed throughout the School for the Study of the Body. The driving forces behind Chang's design were solely limited space, technology and sustainability, however, the School's concept will further be focused on the elements of the body and its restrictions. Diverse configurations of the apartment and Chang's explanation of concept can be viewed in the following video: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/videos/worlds-green-homes/

Sliding wall track system pushed to create diverse configurations

THE DEE AND CHARLES WYLY THEATRE - Joshua Prince-Ramus - REX/OMA - Dallas

Wyly Theatre Exterior

This design relates to our assignment strongly because of its functional nature - a performing arts centre. The Wyly Centre has the ability to transition between proscenium, thrust, traverse, and flat-floor configurations within a few hours, making it possible to accommodate for varying numbers of users. Unlike typical theatre design, Prince-Ramus has worked against the "norms" by situating both back and front of-house areas above and below the main auditorium, allowing the space to be altered significantly (in a sense, expanding and contracting). This feature additionally allows the auditorium's glass facade to be opened to the external environment, maintaining a direct relationship with urban surroundings. Unlike the previous 2 exemplars discussed above, the theatre does not essentially borrow space from adjacent areas, as the auditorium square meterage consists of the entire ground floor. It does however, demonstrate an innovative solution to catering for not only numerous numbers of users but also for nature of performance - an aspect which must be considered for our Project 3. This example will be acknowledged and used as inspiration during the design process of the final design.

3 diverse configurations of seating and stage - adapting to varying performance types

Plans - 3 diverse configurations of seating and stage - adapting to varying performance types