A journey of evolution in designpresented by

Jad Smith

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Ice Breaker 4 - 5

Kit of Parts 6 - 7

Written Narrative 8

Proportional Studies 9

Shapes of Space Typologies of space 10 Spatial organizations 11 - 12

Tectonic Journey of Three Diverse Spatial Experiences Digital build of spatial experience 13 - 14 Physical build of spatial experience 15 - 16 Physical build of site (1st iteration) 17 - 18 Physical build of site (2nd iteration) 19 - 20 Physical build of site (3rd iteration) 21 - 22

Each journey begins with a small humble step. A journey is defined as a passage or progression from one stage to another that is usually accompanied by a significant length in time.

This portfolio documents the start of my journey in architecture. The beginning of this course started in an abstract form of defining ourselves through the personification of an object. From that object we learned the basic principals of architecture, symmetry, asymmetry, repetition, rhythm. As we went from constructing physical palm sized models to using a digital platform for construction I faced my biggest hurdle, Google SketchUp. I have never used this program before this course, so learning on the fly presented it’s challenges. In doing so it has given me a broader understanding in develop-ing my physical builds as you can see in my last iterations of my Tectonic build.

This is the start of my journey and I’m pleased to present my work, let’s begin...

Ice Breaker

Concepts

- The pyramid structure represents my physical body that loves to learn

- The seed represents my love of architecture and it’s details

- The circular metal sphere represents my auraenergy which is constantly questioning the world

Formula:constantly questioning + inquisitively learning + critically detailed

Build Issues

- Tinsile was secured with basic knotting resulting in loss of tension.

- Unable to weld the metal contacts in sphere.

Lessons Learned

- Tensile construction needs adhesive to maintain it’s tension strength.

Ice BreakerSecond iteration

Concepts

- The pyramid breaks out of it’s questioning sphere initiating it’s understanding of basic architecture principals of asymmetry, repetition and radial pattern.

Build Issue

- Tensile tension is still being lost.

Lessons Leanred

- Tensile should not be made out of one single piece. It should be cut at a manageable length to maintain it’s tension.

Ice Breaker iteration broken down into a Kit of Parts

Parts from left to right- Structure base- Circular rings- Radial pattern- Obtuse pyramid- Tensile structure outlining pyramid

Kit of Parts

Kit of PartsSecond iteration

Original Kit of Parts reconstructed in a new form

Concepts

- The circular rings show repetition and transformation from small to big.

- There is repetition between the spire supports to the tensile structure and a correspondence to the rings.

- Rhythm is also present in the tensile structure as it goes from steady pace to a rapid rate of movement.

The Narrative

Concept

- The tensile structure represent the paths I’ve made in life. Starting from a single point from the bottom, my birth, I have gone into many paths. The upper tensile supports show misdirection and the crossover of tensile show overlapping chaos. The tensile jut back into the opposite direction portraying my life going onto it’s intended path. The journey to become an Architect. The blue tensile is my destiny in life linking my birth to my future profession.

Build Issues

- Tensile structure has lost it’s tension

Lessons Learned

- When constructing support pillars for tensile it is important to make sure they are properly stabilized to ensure the tension is maintained with the tensile. The material weight of tensile can greatly impact the structural integrity of it’s anchor.

Proportional Studies

Proportional Transformations: Even Distribution

Fibonacci Series Modular (Le Corbusier)

Build Issues

- This was the most difficult assignment of the course thus far simply because of my unfamiliarity with Google SketchUp. I understood the concepts of proportions, but I could not replicate some of the other principals digitally.

Shapes of SpaceTypologies of Space

Spatial OrganizationsCentralized: Base Plane

Radial: Elevated / Depressed / Overhead Plane

Linear: Elevated Plane

Spatial OrganizationsGrid: Base / Elevated / Depressed / Overhead Plane

Front view Rear view

Spatial ExperienceDigital Build

Topical view

Front view

Side view

Concept

- The entrance of this building has a welcoming set of rectangular arches portraying the architecture principal of repetition which draws the audience in.

- Once inside we are greeted with a monumental space that leads to an intimate area

- The intimate area has a broken roof with different elevated planes to allow sunlight to dance within the space

Spatial ExperienceDigital Build

Welcoming space Monumental space

Intimate space (exterior view) Intimate space (interior view)

Spatial ExperiencePhysical Build

Physical build alterations

- In the monumental space changes were made from the digital version to include a roof.

- The elevated bar that went across the roof in the digital build was moved over to the exterior wall in the physical model.

- This move provoked a greater sense of mystery to the monumental space from the audience standing outside.

- The intimate area was raised and converted to a 180 degree viewing platform.

Spatial ExperiencePhysical Build

- The monumental space now incorporates linear cuts into the back wall and roof to allow light to pierce this space.

- The intimate area had it’s walls replace with glass creating a tranquil observation platform.

- Seating was place in the form of rythem with one glass wall having one seat, the next two and the last with four.

Spatial ExperienceSite Build First Iteration

Spatial ExperienceSite Build First Iteration

Concept

- This site is a cliff that sits on the edge of an ocean with a vertical island that juts out of the sea

- The building is set on the edge of the cliff and is built around the elevated plain. The building placed on the island serves as an observation center providing unobstructed views. This isolated building is linked to the mainland by a walkway.

Build Issues

- Building the site itself was a great challenge due to it’s design. The base of the site is narrow and works itself to be three times it’s mass at the top. The template was reshaped from the previous layer needed complex forward thinking to create the proper effect of a precarious outcropped cliff-side.

Spatial ExperienceSite Build Second Iteration

Site Enhancements

- The small mountain that sat behind the building was raised significantly to embed the building into the mountain side.

- The top of the newly elevated mountain range can be removed to show the building structure embedded within the site.

- The island spire was remade to portray a feeling of danger. The middle was made more narrow and the top was made wider to support a bigger building.

Building Enhancements

- Framming detail has been added to the buildings.

- The island building has been remade into a more complex build to showcase a frame within a frame.

- The building adjacent to the island building both point in the same general direction.

- The building that is embeded into the mountain side has a walkway that leads to a open flat surface of the mountain space which serves as a viewing platform.

Spatial ExperienceSite Build Second Iteration

Spatial ExperienceSite Build Third Iteration

Building Enhancements

- The island building has a frame within a frame. In this new iteration I added a structure element from the inside frame that penetrates the outer frame. This new penetration also serves as an anchor point of tensile structure for the walkway.

- The detail framing have been moved to align with other frames to show proper structural integrity. The frames now show proper position for being load bearing supports.

Spatial ExperienceSite Build Third Iteration

- The building that juts out of the mountain side now has a wall face the runs parallell with the building below it. In previous iterations the wall was at an angle. This iteration it now has the same facing angle creating a cleaner look.