Project 2 - Double House

For this second project, I had an environmental concept that I wanted to incorporate into my design. My first attempt at doing so was not very successful. For example, the aesthetic aspects of my first design were not very suitable. My facades were too plain and did not match the surrounding buildings. Also my environmental concept needed to be optimised (e.g adding a roof which i decided to tilt by 20 degrees to optimise solar orientation). The detailed description of my design can be read on the following 2 sheets which I have used for my presentation.


First Submission:

Revised Submission: Whole Design and Plans changed

  

1:100 model, view of Gallery from Victoria Street

Garden separating Gallery and Residential Units

The Double House

West Facade

Plan view, Level 0 and Street Level

Plan view level 1 and Street Level

1:50 sectional model

ARCH 1201 - PROJECT ONE

I have chosen to study Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye

Part A:

For Part A I analysed the Circulation of the building and studied in detail the relationship of the Circulation to the whole of the building and how it affects the building's use. The drawing with the text, colour coding, plans and diagram should be self-explanatory.


Drawing 1

Purple: Stairs: Server and quick access
Green: Ramp: Main Public access
Yellow: Transition zone, connects public and private spaces

Circulation: Ground Floor
-Sense of dynamism: route curves along half circular entry block
-central entrance: main axis, columns emphasize main entry direction
-ramp exerts strong directional pull (upwards slope)

First Floor:
-ramp: separator between private(open) & private (enclosed)
-ramp as daylight strategy
-rectilinar spaces (Walls) create enclosed hallway

Roof:
-Movement ends at roof level
-enclosed by roof walls but coming up from ramp
 &looking at opening -> sense of continuit

 ''The ramp provides a gradual ascent from pilotis,
creating totally different sensations from those felt
when climbing stairs.” - Le Corbusier
 
Ramp: -most important element of circulation
-allows people to experience whole building
-3 levels dictated by continuity of ramp

“A staircase separates
one floor from the other,
them ramp links them
together.” -Le Corbusier

Conclusion:

Route of Circulation is a linear element with dynamisn
& cruvature which contrasts with the static geometry
of the box-shaped Viilla Savoye. The Circulation route is
dictated by the sequence of movement

Drawing2

 Drawing3

 Drawing4

 I have made the model of the whole building and colour-coded the parts that make up the circulation. The colour-coding is the same as drawing 1 (see above), green for the ramps, yellow for the transition zone and purple (the purple in the picture is much darker than how it looks on the real model which is similar to the purple colour in the drawing1)

 

Part B: Point 1 Structural Strategy

I analysed the structural strategy that Le Corbusier used for his Villa Savoye.

The conclusion which i could draw was that Le Corbusier manifested his 5 points of architecture. The core of his 5 points is the Pilotis. The Pilotis allows the building to be raised above ground, elevating the floor mass. This elevation of the building enables a 360degree view of the surroundings and also helps bringing in more daylight. 

The negative point of the Pilotis is that some columns are placed in arguably less suitable places, inhibiting movement and not being asthetically pleasing, for example having a column in the middle of the garage, or room or even living room. Although there is a grid system throughout. The structural grid system is not consistent throughout. It can be said that the structural grid system has been modified to suit the floor plan.

Le Corbusier's 5 point of architecture, which allowed this building to be built the way it is, have been elaborated on the drawing and colour coded according to the number of points. It is a thorough analysis of each of his points of architecture and their function.

A model has been made to show the structural grid system (Le Corbusier's first and most important point of architecture)

Part B: Second Point:

Geometric Systems, Proportions:

Like many of Le Corbusier’s works, the Villa Savoye is built based on human ergonomics in order to create harmonious geomtry. Le Corbusier believed: “Man is the measure of all things.” & designed “Le Modulor”, a system of measurement based on the Golden Ratio & Fibonacci Sequence. The Golden Ratio exists in nature and human anatomy, if we divide overall human height by height of our feet to torse, we end up with the golden ratio.
Mathematic relationships were used in many ancient Clasical architecutre esp in temples, e.g. the Pantheon. Le Corbusier used these in the context of modern architecutre.


Analysis: (Please refer to drawing below, it explains through colour coding the use of each rectangle)

- Golden ratio used in facade openings, floor to ceiling height, rooms (private use)
- √ 5 ratio used in overall length in relation to overall height, semi public space (living room)
- Square used in public spaces (terrace)


Golden Rectangle means:

Rectangle's side lengths are in Golden Ratio 1 / 1.618  =  1 / φ = Φ

φ + Φ = 1.618+0.618 = √5

The sum of the Golden ratio and the reciprocal
of the Golden ratio  is equal to √ 5 meaning
1.1618+ 1/1.618=2.23 -> this creates a harmonious relationship

√ 5 = 2 φ-1   ->  φ = (√ 5+1) / 2 = 1.618
√ 5 = 2 Φ+1  -> Φ = (√ 5-1) / 2 = 0.618