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Seeking SolitudePending StructuresCourse Tutor: Valentin Bontjes Van Beek

Alexandre KhachwajianDavis Butner

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Index:Chapter 1- Context :: a. Concept Introduction: Why Pending? i. Site Documentation ii. Surveying the site b. Site Analysis i. Perspective, Plan, Section, Side c. Concept Sketches d. First test model

Chapter 2- Site Model Fabrication :: a. Version 1.1 i. Assembly and building process ii. First Model (Front, Back, Side) b. Version 1.2 i. Developed Model (Perspective front, Perspective back) ii. Developed Model (Front, Back, Side)

Chapter 3- Climbing Wall Concept :: a. Research and Precedents b. Lattice Pattern Testing i. Lattice Scale Tests ii. Climbing Structure Laser Cut Tests c. Climbing Wall Design Development i. Skeleton Layer Development ii. Development of Climbing Wall Profile iii. Final Developed Climbing Structure

Chapter 4- Chair and Platform Concept :: a. Research and Precedents b. Version 1.1 i. Explosion; Retractable seating mechanism ii. Sectoin; Elevation iii.Axonometric; Plan c. Version 1.2 i. Explosion; Retractable seating mechanism ii. Sectoin; Elevation iii.Axonometric; Plan d. Version 1.3 i. Explosion; Interlocking pieces ii. Sectoin; Elevation iii.Axonometric; Plan

Chapter 5- Hooke Park Fabrication :: a. Laser Cut Templates b. CNC Cutouts of Climbing Lattice c. Tight Fit d. Organized Layers of Climbing Wall Cutouts

Chapter 6- On Site Assembly a. Platform Inspection b. Final Model on Site

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Chapter 1- Context ::

a. Concept Introduction: Why Pending? i. Site Documentation ii. Surveying the site b. Site Analysis i. Perspective, Plan, Section, Side c. Concept Sketches d. First test model

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Pending Structures

Concept Introduction: Why Pending?/pend•ING/ :: (adj) being in continuance (prep) during; while awaiting

The concept of ‘pending’ is defined by the relationship between an entity and the notion of anticipation amidst the passing of time. That which is anticipated is understood, though not yet defined. In an architectural sense, such mean-ing may imply a sense of uncertainty, literally a space in waiting which, in order to be physically experienced, must be physically pursued.

Positioned within a busy corridor above a pre-existing fire door, ‘Scaling for Solitude’ provides access to an isolated retreat evading the pedestrian traffic of the AA. Visible from above, behind a section of railing on the first floor, the space can be closely observed, analyzed, and understood, yet just out of reach. On the contrary, the site’s only ap-proach from below conjures a sense of undetermined anticipation, a physical means of arrival, yet lack of an initial visual perspective. Out of reach or out of sight, this is a space awaiting interaction and exploration.

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Site Documentation

Aerial view of site

Rear lobby of 32 Bedford Square

View from first floor through window

Looking up into the void

Experiencing the Site: Measuring only 94cm wide, the narrow corridor leading from the front lobby to the back rooms of 32 Bedford Square opens upward to a surprising four story void. The insertion of a fire door within the ground floor of the void produces an elevated platform ledge, allowing for direct views through an adjacent first story window. Tailored for individual occupancy and spa-cious enough for one to sit and observe through the window, the platform provides the perfect vantage point towards activity on the AA’s central courtyard terrace below.

View of terrace from seated position

Possible seating orientation

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Surveying the Site

Measuring height of adjacent wall Measuring gypsum cornice Measuring decorative cornice

Measuring platfrom dimensions Measuring panel over elevator door

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Site: Perspective Site: Plan

Site Analysis

33.0

94.6

83.2

43.2

50.5

76.2

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Site: Section Site: Side

Site Analysis

21.5

24.5

244.

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Potential seating element using se-rial pieces of curved plywood.

Initial idea for an overhead lattice pattern. Providing a sense of pri-vacy for the user, this pattern would serve as an artificial ceiling within the four story void.

Sketches

An original sketch outlining a po-tential wall-mounted ladder design. Ideally, the ladder would be created from a single piece of plywood.

Side panel for bench design using a triangular lattice pattern.

Potential gridded lattice design assembled from interlocking curved sections of plywood.

First sketch of platform plan with regions for a bench and desk con-structed from parallel sheets of plywood.

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Styrofoam Model

Front of model

Back of modelSide of model

Perspective view

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Chapter 2- Site Model Fabrication a. Version 1.1 i. Assembly and building process ii. First Model (Front, Back, Side) b. Version 1.2 i. Developed Model (Perspective front, Perspective back) ii. Developed Model (Front, Back, Side)

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Assembly/Building Process

Piecing together model

Arranging model components Assembling cornice brace

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First Model

Front Back Side

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Developed Model

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Front Back Side

Developed Model

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Chapter 3- Climbing Wall Concept

a. Research and Precedentsb. Lattice Pattern Testing i. Lattice Scale Tests ii. Climbing Structure Laser Cut Testsc. Climbing Wall Design Development i. Skeleton Layer Development ii. Development of Climbing Wall Profile iii. Final Developed Climbing Structure

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The following circle lattice pattern is ideal for a climbing structure due to a number of factors. Firstly, circles of vari-ous dimensions are placed at random throughout the pattern, allowing for a number of hand and foot hold choices. Sec-ond, each circle is interconnected and joined at a minimum of four points which provides maximum stability and support for a rigid lattice structure.

Interlocking Sideboard

Nova Climbing wall

Research and Precedents

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Lattice Scale Tests

Climbing wall lattice sample Platform scale attempt 1 Platform scale attempt 2

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Climbing Structure Laser Cut Tests

Laser cutting climbing wall-tests Outcome from laser cutting

Closeup of climbing structure

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Largest Foothold

Handhold

Smallest

Circle size

Skeleton Layer Development

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Development of Climbing Wall Profile

First wall climbing itiration Second wall climbing itirationFront Layer

Third wall climbing itirationBack Layer

Experimenting slotting system-Mid section

Experimenting slotting system-Mid sectionExperimenting slotting system-Top section

Climbing wall profile

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Final Developed Climbing Structure

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Final Test Piece of Wall Structure

Three layers of wall structure placed in siteTop view of final test piece

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Chapter 4- Chair and Platform Concept

a. Research and Precedents b. Chair Concept 1.1 i. Explosion; Retractable seating mechanism ii. Section; Elevation iii.Axonometric; Plan c. Chair Concept 1.2 i. Explosion; Retractable seating mechanism ii. Section; Elevation iii.Axonometric; Plan d. Chair Concept 1.3 i. Explosion; Interlocking pieces ii. Section; Elevation iii.Axonometric; Plan

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Interlocking platform

Interlocking wall structure

Research and Precedents

Conceptualizing the interlock of plywood furniture

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Chair Concept 1.1

Exploded chair structure 1.1

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Site: Axonometric Site: Plan

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Photos of Test Models

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Exploded chair structure

Chair Concept 1.2

Perspective view of seat retracting

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Site: Section Site: Elevation

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Site: Axonometric

Site: Plan

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Exploded final chair structure

Chair Concept 1.3

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Site: Section Site: Elevation

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Site: Axonometric Site: Plan

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Photos of Final Model

Autostereographic illusion created from platform latticeFocus on wall structure Focus on chair structure

Visible lattice layers and chair/ platform assembly Enlarged platform lattice test

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Chapter 5- Hooke Park Fabrication ::

a. Laser Cut Templates b. CNC Cutouts of Climbing Lattice c. Tight Fit d. Organized Layers of Climbing Wall Cutouts

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Laser Cut Templates

CNC one of the templates Outcome from CNC

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CNC cutouts of climbing lattice

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Testing human proportion to the bench Steps to platform

Testing sturdiness of platfrom Testing seating capability

Tight Fit

Tight fit

1.1 scale platform

Tailored fit

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Organized Layers of Climbing Wall Cutouts

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Chapter 6- On Site Assembly a. Platform Inspection b. Final Model on Site

43Slotiing the platform into place

Front side of platform Back side of platform

Platform Inspection

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Final Model on Site

Testing the final structure on site Sitting on final structure looking at the terrace