Part and whole
Vertical void and horizontal void in
section, they together kind of create an inner network of the house. Most of
the vertical voids are involved in circulation directly;. The middle level
functions as a junction of those vertical elements. I wouldn't say it is part
of the circulation, as there is no wall or other things to limit or indicate a
possible circulation in this level. However, although most of the vertical
voids connect different levels of the house, horizontally they isolate the
living zone. The gap between the children’s room and the parents’ room is the
most significant one. Due to this gap, the top level is divided into two
independent houses. And the elevator and the wife’s stairs also contribute in
separating the parents’ room into smaller individual space.
Basically my chosen part represents the
more significant and dramatic half of the house in terms of void. The other
side is a bit ambiguous in this aspect. For example, The kids’ stair is amphibious,
no doubt that its a tunnel connecting different levels, but visually it's a
column.
Private and public
Development process
1. Figure out and map the major living
space for each occupant in section
2. Overlap all the patterns, the darker the
space is, the more public it is.
3.
Use the section as a plan, and extrude the image into volume. Obviously,
the tallest column stands for the most public part of the house, as it can be
accessed by every user.
Idea: imagine all the possible users of the
space
Instead of just abstractly defining a
public space of private space, the assumption of possible users is more likely
to improve the user experience. It is more like a tailor-made product, or a
reflection of the expected life pattern. In Bordeaux house the living pattern
of the wife and the owner and the kid are quite sure and simple, but the maid
did take me a while to think about her possible activity and circulation. And
what I did might not be accurate.
Wife stairs, no entertainment space, no
study space, circulation.
Psychological relationship
Development process
1.
explode the plan into different
individual functional unit
2.
define the psychological
distance between each
Idea: psychological distance
The psychological distance is based on the
type of separation like solid wall or glass and circulation. Whether the
separation in between is opaque or transparent can significantly affect the
psychological distance in the adjacent zones.
If the adjacent zone is visible, it gives a sense that at lease that
zone is visually connected. And if it is blocked by a solid wall, it means that
the room is isolated, it is physically and visually independent.
Circulation I mean if there is direct access
between these two zones. If it takes a long way to get to the adjacent zone,
even though they are next to each other in plan, they are actually two different
ends of the house. The psychological
distance is huge. The most significant example in this house is the parents’
room and the kids’ room. In plan they are quite close to each other but they
are actually the most isolated zones in this house. The hallway between them is
not a circulation for normal use, as it connects the bathroom. I assume it to
be used for emergency.
