ARCHitecture 113.01: play spatial

Architecture Core Studio 113.01 began with understanding the content knowledge associated with the fundamentals of architecture. 

I began by furthering my understanding of design within a designated space, in turn developing spatial intelligence and honing my visual thinking skills. I drew models to scale and learned how to illustrate plans, sections, elevations, and axonometric sketches correctly so the purpose of my initial designs could be clear. I also incorporated the use of line weights, both with lead pencil and micron pen, to show forms of hierarchy within my pieces with an arrangement of moments. I was able to hone my craft and refine my attention to detail through the increasing variety of materials I worked with. Another aspect of this deliverable was the opportunity that it gave me to further explore layout design. My knowledge of the design process was heavily influenced throughout the course of the semester by questioning why certain design decisions are made and how they may lead to the best possible outcome. 

The first step taken during the semester towards building our final model was creating paper models which had features that would become our guide in creating our piece. The ultimate goal of creating paper models was to understand the spatial opportunity that we create when we design, and to use the linear or curvaceous characteristics of the initial model and turn them into powerful moments within our final creation.

When I finished photographing the paper models, I chose the best and most inspirational photographs to be the base layer of my abstract traces for each paper creation. The abstract traces uncovered new areas of my drawings and extended the limitations of my project. It was with these overlays that I was able to sketch out new relationships within my model. I then combined my layers of trace to one sheet, and used those sketches as my inspiration for multiple abstract models for Project B. 

Project C allowed me to still work within the realms of abstract design but on a much larger scale. Using grey and white sheets of bristol board and an eighteen by twenty-four cut piece of quarter inch foam core as a base, I created a triangular layered design that showed linear movement in the center of my piece. Amidst the mummified look were pieces of foam core that were angled up lifting the thin sheets of bristol board off the canvas, creating shadows throughout the model. 

The final required me to build a site model incorporating my "layered-movement" style into the topographical aspect of the site and build a folly based on some of the moments in my selected paper model. 

Below is the portfolio that I submitted encasing all of my work. For project A and B, weighing a total of 20% of my course grade, I scored a 90 out of 100. For project C and the Final, weighing another 20% of my course grade, I scored an 88 out of 100.

PROJECT A 

PAPER MODELS

ABStract scans

PROJECT B

ABSTRACT RELIEFS 

PROJECT C

ReLief and drawing scans

FINAL 

FINAL MODEL PHOTOS

FINAL MODEL SCANS

The background of the portfolio is a design I created for this project using illustrator, incorporating the same type of pattern shown in my project C sketches. 

As a designer I want there to be a correlation between what I create digitally and what I build in architecture. What I love the most about this project was the opportunity to translate my sketching abilities into physical prototyping skills.