This particular example is also playing with ideas of materiality: these surfaces have no depth and use rounded edges to investigate continuous surfaces.Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Microarchitectural Articulations: Hubs
Microarchitectural articulations are most effective when they are placed together. This particular example combines a counter, some seating and a desk space (not visible) in a highly articulated area that can be occupied in various ways. The point is that because use is not immediately clear, users are able to project their own uses on the surfaces so that they fit in with changing programmatic requirements.
This particular example is also playing with ideas of materiality: these surfaces have no depth and use rounded edges to investigate continuous surfaces.
This particular example is also playing with ideas of materiality: these surfaces have no depth and use rounded edges to investigate continuous surfaces.
Microarchitectural Articulations: Surfaces
I thought I would take a minute to post an image of exactly what I mean by a microarchitectural articulation. This example shows two ways of using a combination of solids and voids. When these are intersected with the envelope of a building, opportunities are created for users to inhabit the surfaces in a variety of ways that may not neccessarily be controlled by the designer.The idea is that if enough variations of this kind are assembled, spaces can be inhabited in unexpected ways by users, but also support many different kinds of programs. MA's can be grouped to create hubs, and I think that the combination of different surfaces also provides opportunities for users to occupy them in new ways.
At the moment, the problem is that while I can assemble MA's in many different combinations there is no measuring device to say if it is correct or incorrect: there are no rules for them to follow or break. Hence the problem, hence the thesis, hence the blog.
Meeting 1: The preliminaries
So far I haven't been that busy at school: I moved my stuff into my desk, I reformatted the music I have in iTunes, helped my friend AL with the presentation work for her thesis ( she was a semester ahead of me and has now graduated), and built a few Sketch-up models that make it very clear that I don't know what's going on.
This morning I had my first meeting with my thesis advisor, M, and we discussed exactly what I need to do for my project. First thing is to nail down a third advisor. I have M, of course, and an architect from outside the school is helping as well (and we shall call him... Flame). I need one more, and I have my fingers crossed that NLMLN will have the time to join us. He always has killer comments at thesis presentations, and I would much rather hear them at my mid-term review when I can do something about it. He's fun, too, and it would be great if he'll spare the time.
The next thing to do is look at exactly what kind of project I want to do. Before Christmas, M and I had discussed the possibility of my designing a new School for the faculty of Architecture, as we just merged with the School of Landscape Architecture and the university will need to put both faculties into a larger building. One of the thesis presentations last weeked was suggesting a new school, and while I think her project was interesting, I don't really want to look into the theories behind the study of architecture and what kind of spatial requirements that has.
Since this is the case, M suggested I consider designing a prototype building that could serve many different kinds of programs. It could be placed on campus and serves as a School of Design, but it could also be on the beach and work as a community center, dcowntown and be a restaurant or shopping space, or in the country and serve some other program function.
Maybe some background information is needed here. I spent all of last semester working on my Directed Studies. Basically, the DS is a paper to investigate the theories behind your design interests to jump start the project. My DS looked at the dichotomy between flexible and articulated space, and suggested that one of the ways to preserve the potential of open space while introducing the scale of the body would be to insert articulations that are ambiguous enough to serve as seats, tables, desks, stairs and other furniture-sized pieces. While I call them 'Microarchitectural Articulations' in the paper, they are more a combination of surfaces that allow different kinds of occupation.
So for my DS I argued that these articulations could serve to enliven space and through their ambiguity encourage different kinds of use based on what activities were happening alongside them. It was divided into three parts: the argument that small-scale articulations could introduce the scale of the body into a project and that they could articulate a flexible space, a collection of precedents that describe how microarchitectural articulations (MA's) could be deployed (as a field, by creating overlapping programs, and by producing hubs of use) and an appendix that illustrates some examples (including the very-popular-with-other students 'assgrabbing and foot massage station') that show little Graphic Standards people using them in suggested ways.
Because the MA's articulate space without defining it, M was saying today that it should be possible for me to design one building that incorporates them that serves many different functions. One design could be used for many different kinds of programs, and identical copies of the building could be deployed on many different sites.
While in theory this seems like a good idea, I am concerned about a couple of issues. First is that while I argue that using MA's can make a flexible and articulate space, I think they have limitations. I don't think that permanent surfaces would be viable in a hospital or a domestic space. The argument is more that they can be used to support different programs that may overlap in different ways depending on the time of day. Instead of designing a proto-building, it seems like they need a building that has large programmatic variations during the day. Our School of Architecture has variation between morning, afternoon, evenings and weekends, but the variation is not that great: we spend mornings in classes, afternoons in studio, evenings and weekends at our desks (in studio again!) or in the social space. So the programmatic needs don't vary that much.
One of the other problems with doing a school of Architecture is that the program is not really that demanding. We would probably be just as happy in a large warehouse with some sound separation if there was natural light and a big beer refrigerator. Our classrooms and studio space have moveable furniture, and a crit space is basically a lot of white walls that we stick stuff to so we can talk about it. The microarchitectural articulations I designed can be used as desks or seats, but they are a little more temporary than studio spaces. Frankly, if I'm designing a studio, I will put in ergonomic chairs and desks instead of surface variations because to do otherwise seems cruel.
The best options to explore the possibilities of MA's happens in spaces that have strict program requirements, like bathrooms, kitchens and offices. A lecture hall might also offer some scope, but it doesn't seem like enough.
Now, on the other hand, if I was designing a school that acted as something completely different half of the time it might showcase the MA's a bit better. If it was a school during the day and something entirely different at night it might work, but if I'm going to do that I can't use the example of a School of Architecture, because it would be tatamount to saying that students at the school of architecture need the influence of this other program on their studies.
This certainly bears further thought.
This morning I had my first meeting with my thesis advisor, M, and we discussed exactly what I need to do for my project. First thing is to nail down a third advisor. I have M, of course, and an architect from outside the school is helping as well (and we shall call him... Flame). I need one more, and I have my fingers crossed that NLMLN will have the time to join us. He always has killer comments at thesis presentations, and I would much rather hear them at my mid-term review when I can do something about it. He's fun, too, and it would be great if he'll spare the time.
The next thing to do is look at exactly what kind of project I want to do. Before Christmas, M and I had discussed the possibility of my designing a new School for the faculty of Architecture, as we just merged with the School of Landscape Architecture and the university will need to put both faculties into a larger building. One of the thesis presentations last weeked was suggesting a new school, and while I think her project was interesting, I don't really want to look into the theories behind the study of architecture and what kind of spatial requirements that has.
Since this is the case, M suggested I consider designing a prototype building that could serve many different kinds of programs. It could be placed on campus and serves as a School of Design, but it could also be on the beach and work as a community center, dcowntown and be a restaurant or shopping space, or in the country and serve some other program function.
Maybe some background information is needed here. I spent all of last semester working on my Directed Studies. Basically, the DS is a paper to investigate the theories behind your design interests to jump start the project. My DS looked at the dichotomy between flexible and articulated space, and suggested that one of the ways to preserve the potential of open space while introducing the scale of the body would be to insert articulations that are ambiguous enough to serve as seats, tables, desks, stairs and other furniture-sized pieces. While I call them 'Microarchitectural Articulations' in the paper, they are more a combination of surfaces that allow different kinds of occupation.
So for my DS I argued that these articulations could serve to enliven space and through their ambiguity encourage different kinds of use based on what activities were happening alongside them. It was divided into three parts: the argument that small-scale articulations could introduce the scale of the body into a project and that they could articulate a flexible space, a collection of precedents that describe how microarchitectural articulations (MA's) could be deployed (as a field, by creating overlapping programs, and by producing hubs of use) and an appendix that illustrates some examples (including the very-popular-with-other students 'assgrabbing and foot massage station') that show little Graphic Standards people using them in suggested ways.
Because the MA's articulate space without defining it, M was saying today that it should be possible for me to design one building that incorporates them that serves many different functions. One design could be used for many different kinds of programs, and identical copies of the building could be deployed on many different sites.
While in theory this seems like a good idea, I am concerned about a couple of issues. First is that while I argue that using MA's can make a flexible and articulate space, I think they have limitations. I don't think that permanent surfaces would be viable in a hospital or a domestic space. The argument is more that they can be used to support different programs that may overlap in different ways depending on the time of day. Instead of designing a proto-building, it seems like they need a building that has large programmatic variations during the day. Our School of Architecture has variation between morning, afternoon, evenings and weekends, but the variation is not that great: we spend mornings in classes, afternoons in studio, evenings and weekends at our desks (in studio again!) or in the social space. So the programmatic needs don't vary that much.
One of the other problems with doing a school of Architecture is that the program is not really that demanding. We would probably be just as happy in a large warehouse with some sound separation if there was natural light and a big beer refrigerator. Our classrooms and studio space have moveable furniture, and a crit space is basically a lot of white walls that we stick stuff to so we can talk about it. The microarchitectural articulations I designed can be used as desks or seats, but they are a little more temporary than studio spaces. Frankly, if I'm designing a studio, I will put in ergonomic chairs and desks instead of surface variations because to do otherwise seems cruel.
The best options to explore the possibilities of MA's happens in spaces that have strict program requirements, like bathrooms, kitchens and offices. A lecture hall might also offer some scope, but it doesn't seem like enough.
Now, on the other hand, if I was designing a school that acted as something completely different half of the time it might showcase the MA's a bit better. If it was a school during the day and something entirely different at night it might work, but if I'm going to do that I can't use the example of a School of Architecture, because it would be tatamount to saying that students at the school of architecture need the influence of this other program on their studies.
This certainly bears further thought.
Moving in
I'm setting up a weblog to help get me through my final semester of architecture grad school. This thesis thing feels a little beyond me right now, so I thought I would make an effort to document what I'm working on. Hopefully it will make things a little clearer. It isn't just the work that gets to me either, as there are a whole host of other things that affect how my work goes.
This whole thesis thing is tough.
I moved into studio early to get a desk: the Sunday before classes started I was here plugging in my printer and sticking a lock on a desk. Thesis student's aren't assigned desks in the campus studio. Instead, they are expected to work in the downtown studio. The downtown studio is pretty big, but the only people working there are thesis students. Not only would I get lonely, I would also get scared, as the area is commonly referred to as 'cracktown'. My school has chosen to place the students in one of the worst neighbourhoods in North America. I'm all for taking back the downtown, but I refuse to work in a place where I have to worry about my personal safety.
Since I moved in, most of the Thesis and Directed Studies students who wish to work on campus (for various reasons) have clusted in the south-east corner of the school so we can all work together. Yesterday we got an e-mail saying we had to move out of these spaces because they have been assigned to MASA (that's our advanced students).
They need desks too, I guess. They don't tend to work very late, but I suppose they have just as much crap to leave around as I do. The problem is that I'm supposed to move downtown to provide this space for them and it really pisses me off. I'm not moving, of course, and neither is my friend K (who is also doing her thesis) but the DBA and Veg are both moving to another part of the studio. Our little ghetto is breaking up and now I'll be sitting in a sea of empty desks every night after 6. MASA students don't tend to hang around very much.
This all came to a head a few hours ago. I was completely prepared to fight the administration and stick to my desk and I am still doing that, but it's a little different when there is a person in front of you asking why she can't have a desk as well. But this sucks! I don't want to work downtown. I feel unsafe in the studio even when it's full of people: I'm just not interested in being there alone. I know it's unlikely anything will happen to me, but I don't really care. I don't want to spend an an hour and a half on the bus every day and I don't want to be away from the studio.
The worst part is there is plenty of room for all the thesis and MASA students in the school the way things are. There are even enough desks. The problem is the administration did not put any space aside for us so we have to sqeeze into all the leftover spots. There are studios with tons of room -- they even have large open spaces in the middle of their desks to meet, and cutting tables. This, when I'm in my final semester and have to fight for a place to sit! All the expletives in the world can't begin to describe how annoyed I am by this.
Anyways, it looks like I'm okay in my seat for now, but I'm sad I don't get to sit with the people I'm friends with this semester. I didn't have a desk at all last semester, so this is better, but it was fun before and now it is not. I'll just have to make do.
ETA: I just got an e-mail from the school saying that there is a lecture happening in the downtown studio so any thesis meetings or anything will have to happen on one side. Good grief!
This whole thesis thing is tough.
I moved into studio early to get a desk: the Sunday before classes started I was here plugging in my printer and sticking a lock on a desk. Thesis student's aren't assigned desks in the campus studio. Instead, they are expected to work in the downtown studio. The downtown studio is pretty big, but the only people working there are thesis students. Not only would I get lonely, I would also get scared, as the area is commonly referred to as 'cracktown'. My school has chosen to place the students in one of the worst neighbourhoods in North America. I'm all for taking back the downtown, but I refuse to work in a place where I have to worry about my personal safety.
Since I moved in, most of the Thesis and Directed Studies students who wish to work on campus (for various reasons) have clusted in the south-east corner of the school so we can all work together. Yesterday we got an e-mail saying we had to move out of these spaces because they have been assigned to MASA (that's our advanced students).
They need desks too, I guess. They don't tend to work very late, but I suppose they have just as much crap to leave around as I do. The problem is that I'm supposed to move downtown to provide this space for them and it really pisses me off. I'm not moving, of course, and neither is my friend K (who is also doing her thesis) but the DBA and Veg are both moving to another part of the studio. Our little ghetto is breaking up and now I'll be sitting in a sea of empty desks every night after 6. MASA students don't tend to hang around very much.
This all came to a head a few hours ago. I was completely prepared to fight the administration and stick to my desk and I am still doing that, but it's a little different when there is a person in front of you asking why she can't have a desk as well. But this sucks! I don't want to work downtown. I feel unsafe in the studio even when it's full of people: I'm just not interested in being there alone. I know it's unlikely anything will happen to me, but I don't really care. I don't want to spend an an hour and a half on the bus every day and I don't want to be away from the studio.
The worst part is there is plenty of room for all the thesis and MASA students in the school the way things are. There are even enough desks. The problem is the administration did not put any space aside for us so we have to sqeeze into all the leftover spots. There are studios with tons of room -- they even have large open spaces in the middle of their desks to meet, and cutting tables. This, when I'm in my final semester and have to fight for a place to sit! All the expletives in the world can't begin to describe how annoyed I am by this.
Anyways, it looks like I'm okay in my seat for now, but I'm sad I don't get to sit with the people I'm friends with this semester. I didn't have a desk at all last semester, so this is better, but it was fun before and now it is not. I'll just have to make do.
ETA: I just got an e-mail from the school saying that there is a lecture happening in the downtown studio so any thesis meetings or anything will have to happen on one side. Good grief!
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