Experiment 2: The bridge
In this assignment, the building environment is in the university, which is diversified. In the face of various educational stratification phenomena under the comprehensive influence of factors such as gender, class, ethnicity, etc., we strive to create a platform for equality and respect for student differences and diversity. I want to demonstrate this inclusiveness of university by constructing a bridge that integrates multi-level different spaces as a whole which can satisfy both the sense of hierarchy and integrity.
At the same time, the theme of this work is the bridge. It can be said that it is an excessive space connecting different functional buildings, and it is a rest space after the students' study. They can quietly review the knowledge of the previous lesson on the bridge, they can enjoy the carnival after the exam with their friends, they can have academic discussions with their tutors, or they can free themselves to enjoy their own space. For me, this bridge should be able to satisfy students' extracurricular activities. In short, every student should be able to find a comfortable space on this bridge outside the class. In this case, a comfortable environment full of freedom and encourages open thinking and stimulates innovation is necessary, which makes me consider the flowing space. Different spaces are connected through nodes to form a fluid and open area.
With all these considerations, I began to think about how to achieve a sense of hierarchy and fluidity of space through the structure. With some research online, I found that the semi-open structure design can satisfy these conditions. Since the characteristics of architecture come from people's perception, with people having multiple levels of view in one spot, they can feel the hierarchy and fluidity of space, and therefore the bridge structure is determined to achieve this goal.
Connect building:
University Terraces Apartment and Tyree Energy Technologies Building
Reason:
Tyree Energy Technologies Building: Renewable energy is desperately needed for a variety of reasons and the world needs engineers that are going to help mankind reach the goals of reducing emissions and use of resources. Engineers are needed to research, design and construct ways to improve the way we use energy and resources and find new eco-friendly and financially sustainable sources of energy.
University Terraces: Students can go directly from the apartment to the learning building without turning around on the ground level which saves time. At the same time, students can enjoy various club activities on the bridge without worrying too much about safety when back home in late-night because the entrance of the building needs a student ID to open, no outsiders can get on the bridge without someone leading. Students can go back home from bridge to apartment without reaching the ground level.
At the same time, the theme of this work is the bridge. It can be said that it is an excessive space connecting different functional buildings, and it is a rest space after the students' study. They can quietly review the knowledge of the previous lesson on the bridge, they can enjoy the carnival after the exam with their friends, they can have academic discussions with their tutors, or they can free themselves to enjoy their own space. For me, this bridge should be able to satisfy students' extracurricular activities. In short, every student should be able to find a comfortable space on this bridge outside the class. In this case, a comfortable environment full of freedom and encourages open thinking and stimulates innovation is necessary, which makes me consider the flowing space. Different spaces are connected through nodes to form a fluid and open area.
With all these considerations, I began to think about how to achieve a sense of hierarchy and fluidity of space through the structure. With some research online, I found that the semi-open structure design can satisfy these conditions. Since the characteristics of architecture come from people's perception, with people having multiple levels of view in one spot, they can feel the hierarchy and fluidity of space, and therefore the bridge structure is determined to achieve this goal.
Connect building:
University Terraces Apartment and Tyree Energy Technologies Building
Reason:
Tyree Energy Technologies Building: Renewable energy is desperately needed for a variety of reasons and the world needs engineers that are going to help mankind reach the goals of reducing emissions and use of resources. Engineers are needed to research, design and construct ways to improve the way we use energy and resources and find new eco-friendly and financially sustainable sources of energy.
University Terraces: Students can go directly from the apartment to the learning building without turning around on the ground level which saves time. At the same time, students can enjoy various club activities on the bridge without worrying too much about safety when back home in late-night because the entrance of the building needs a student ID to open, no outsiders can get on the bridge without someone leading. Students can go back home from bridge to apartment without reaching the ground level.
Theory of movement
Personal understanding: The existence of moving elements is to provide people with multiple possibilities. It is not moveable because it is interesting or beautiful. It moves and changes in order to adapt to different situations, so as to achieve the purpose of saving.
Selected article:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263515000151
"The integration of responsive components in architecture offers the potential to enhance the experience of the building by giving expression to fleeting, changeable aspects of the environment. Responsive buildings enable a physical response to changes in the environment through specific building elements; in rare cases, these responsive elements become an integral and poetic element of a culturally significant work of architecture. In this paper, I examine two types of responsiveness, one which concerns the changing environment and another the activities and needs of the building׳s inhabitants. "
Words: environment, respond, change, needs
Theory: The moving element responds to environmental changes and human needs in an economical manner.
Personal understanding: The existence of moving elements is to provide people with multiple possibilities. It is not moveable because it is interesting or beautiful. It moves and changes in order to adapt to different situations, so as to achieve the purpose of saving.
Selected article:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263515000151
"The integration of responsive components in architecture offers the potential to enhance the experience of the building by giving expression to fleeting, changeable aspects of the environment. Responsive buildings enable a physical response to changes in the environment through specific building elements; in rare cases, these responsive elements become an integral and poetic element of a culturally significant work of architecture. In this paper, I examine two types of responsiveness, one which concerns the changing environment and another the activities and needs of the building׳s inhabitants. "
Words: environment, respond, change, needs
Theory: The moving element responds to environmental changes and human needs in an economical manner.
The first attempt of the bridge structure
The easier way to create hierarchy is to make a multi-level structure and for the circulation, I think the circle is a good idea to try, so I designed to make a two-layer round platform. I created a cubicod as a starting point to represent the Square house. Then, I draw a ring, which is a bit larger than the Roundhouse below. On top of the Roundhouse, I also made a round platform and connected it to the ring through some short bridges. Besides these bridges, I added some ramps (which I will make up the stairs later) and connected it to the second floor. There is a huge hall at the top, which is then divided into different areas, such as studios, staff offices, etc. Two long bridges extend from this floor to connect another building.
One point perspective sketch:
Two-point perspective sketch:
The second attempt of the bridge structure
As the first model didn't satisfy the course requirement, I began my second attempt which starts from the cross and through simple push and pulls, I create another two-layer structure.
Perspective sketch of the cross
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| Left |
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| Front |
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| Back |
Animated drawings
2-Point perspective
Axonometric
Texture
Plan
The building I selected is the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. It can be seen that the exterior wall of the whole building is full of fluency, and the structure is also gradually upward. The closer to the center, the higher the building.
Unlike the normal plan, the plan of this museum is full of randomness and flexibility, like a moveable living creature. It can be been that the plan is extended to three directions but for my design, I only want two directions. As a result, I cut the left-hand side segment.
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Original plan
Based on the edit plan, I create the general shape of the bridge and divided them into three different function zones: Relax zone, self-study zone, lecture hall zone
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Relax zone
Regarding the design of the rest area, I studied the design of the Suzhou Garden in China because I think it can create a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, which makes people feel calm and relaxing. Among the many garden factors, I chose the pavilion, river, small bridge and screen elements, because I think they are extremely unique.
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| Screen |
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| Pond and bridge |
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| Pavilion |
Lecture hall zone
I built three movable classrooms, with glass on both sides and cutouts above to ensure maximum sunlight. These three classrooms are at the same level, and the classrooms on the left and right can be moved to the middle to form a large classroom for some special occasions, such as exams. When all the classrooms are closed, the glass door will automatically shrink, connecting the three classrooms together without obstruction.
This is a small European-style pavilion, just next to the classroom. When it rains, students waiting for class can rest in it.
Self-study zone
This building was inspired by the Mobius ring. If someone stands on the surface of a huge Mobius belt and walks along the "road" he can see, he will never stop. Based on this design inspiration, I adjusted the design of the Mobius ring and applied it to my design. When people step on this corridor and walk down the path it can see, he can lead from the bottom to the top. At the same time, you can enjoy the campus landscape from 360 degrees along the way. Except for the floor and pillars, this building is made of movable glass, which ensures sunlight and vision on the maximum level. The glass uses unidirectional perspective glass, and students can rotate the glass to choose whether to watch the outdoor scenery and whether they want to close the space.
Next to the building, I built a small hexagonal study room, suitable for team discussion and learning.
First development
The first change I made was to make the connection between space and space more interesting, so I cut part of the bridge and add another kind of bridge element.
The second area that I want to modify is the classroom. I think the regular classroom lacks innovation, which is not conducive to stimulating students' thinking. So I wanted to create a symbolic appearance. I feel that learning requires impetus and courage, which reminds me of the chariot, full of momentum. Based on some pictures of ancient war vehicles, I modified the classroom to look like this. It can move on the bridge, and the platform can move up and down through telescopic columns. Five minutes before the class, the platform will be lowered to let the students go in. The platform will rise during the class, and the students can pass through from the bottom, which greatly saves the space that needs to be occupied and is more interesting.
This is the second learning space I designed, which can be used as a gathering place for different communities.
I also reshaped my bridge to create more variation.
The third thing is that I want to make the small meeting room a movable element.
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| Original meeting room |
The first idea is a movable roof. Through the continuous deformation of six triangles, students can adjust the angle and range of sunlight.
The second idea is that this conference room serves as a movable element. They can be separated or gathered together to form a large conference room. When they merge, the separated wall shrinks.
The third idea is that the meeting rooms on both sides can be raised and students can reach the second floor through a telescopic staircase.
After building all the elements, I found that they did not blend well, but there was some repulsion between them. I tried to adjust the layout.
The result still makes me unsatisfied. I found that the existing building completely restricted my inspiration. After thinking it over again, I plan to start over.
Second Development
With the second attempt, I started with the simplest process: create a box, push and pull to create different shapes. From the following pictures of my model plan, it can be seen that I have developed 7 volumes (including the square house). There are connected through different transition space like bridge and stair.
Through push and pull the volume in different height and scale, this allows me to create a sense of hierarchy.
In the new design, it can be seen that I have used wood as the main material. The shape of the wooden structure is very beautiful, which makes people far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and has a feeling of returning to nature and relax. At the same time, the wooden construction period is short, the cost risk is small, and the energy consumption for a building is much lower than that of other structures. On the other hand, among all the main building materials, wood is the only renewable building material. In terms of energy consumption, greenhouse gas, air, and water pollution, and the development of ecological resources, the environmental protection of wooden structures is much better than that of brick-concrete structures and steel structures. Moreover, the material has good ventilation, and is easy to keep the indoor air fresh. When the life of the building is over and needs to be treated, the wood can be easily reused or returned to the soil to start a new life
Space introduction
Level 2
Reading Space with the moveable ceiling. People can sit on the cushion or sofa when reading.
The figure below shows the state of the wood sheets closed and open. They will automatically rotate with the angle of sunlight to ensure sufficient light sources in the room. In the daytime, this design can maximize the use of natural light and save electricity. In the evening, people can also manually adjust the angle of the board to choose the closed mode or stargazing mode. When it rains, all wood sheets will turn off and the room lights will automatically turn on. It can be seen that facing with different weather conditions and people's needs, the movable wooden board can make corresponding changes to respond.
This transitional space connects the conference room, student service, hall, and leads to the third floor. Students can discuss academic problems with teachers and print out materials here. There is a huge clock facing the wall, which can be seen by people on the second and third floors.
After a long period of study, when the students are tired, they can come here. The rest corner is surrounded by glass on three sides, so people can enjoy the sun and the distant scenery. This area brings students closer to nature, allowing them to take a break from their studies. They can also bring their lunch or some snacks to eat here, either share with their friends or enjoy their time.
Student Services Centre can access a range of services and advice including admissions, registration, fees, financial support, immigration and visas, Erasmus, course selection, exams, results, and graduation. Students can find all their needs and get help in this center.
This is a corner next to the lecture room which is suitable for chat and relaxation. When students finished their lectures, they may have more questions they would like to discuss with their lecturers or classmate. In order not to interfere with the next class here, this area provides them the place. Besides, for the students who arrive early and are waiting for the next class, this area is also a place where they can stay.
There are the hexagonal rooms with the moveable curtain which can be separated into different zones by moving the curtain. At the same time, the outer material is half glass and half wood. As a result, students can find either a darker or a brighter place to study or rest according to their needs.
Through the movable door curtain, people can adjust different sizes of spaces according to their needs. Doing homework with friends only needs to occupy a table, so you can pull up the six curtains to form a small space. If you take a tuition class, you need to occupy six or seven tables. You can also close the curtain to separate the tutoring room and other spaces as needed. Other activities such as meetings of the club department, academic discussions, etc. can also be held here. Removable curtains provide the building with multiple possibilities to adapt to different situations. Compared to fixed-size spaces, this design is more inclusive and flexible, and there is no need to build many different-sized spaces to meet different needs. One space can solve a variety of needs while reducing occupied space and funding.
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| Animation |
Class space vs Self-study space
Level 3
This is the corridor on the third floor, the wall is glass, people can see both the second floor and the surrounding scenery.
This platform connects the corridor with deck chairs and barbecue appliances, which can serve as a gathering point for community activities. The deck chairs here enables students to sleep or enjoy the sunbath in a more relaxing way. At the same time, it provides stairs leading to the study room on the first floor and the garden on the third floor.
This is a double-deck staircase, the bottom floor connects the third and fourth floors, the top floor is both the fourth-floor ceiling and the fifth-floor observation deck.
Level 4
This is a small garden where students can sit on the grass or lie on the grass to enjoy their lunch and the sweeping views. There are also some tables and chairs are placed in the middle. Students who are sitting here will be surrounded by the plants and they are also able to see what's happening on the lower floor through the glass. This is the area where students can either study, or rest, or have something to eat. They can choose to sit on the chairs or lie on the grass. Students have multiple ways to do whatever they want to do.
This veranda is another area for students to access if they don't want to sit with plants/grass or they want to step out of the sun into the cool. This is a shady spot where they can sit down and rest. Students can also enjoy the view from the other side of the campus here.
This is the pavilion - students' other choice for the place they can study, rest, or eat.
This is the Language Corner, and the musical corner is just next to here. Students can meet up with their friends to come here to practice the language. Students can organise some activities such as language exchange - students can teach each other their first language. This is a big area for students to choose where they want to stand or sit will be comfortable for them. More language-related books and materials will be placed on the shelves. Students can feel free to use them when they are needed.
The food corner where the student can enjoy their meal and the sunlight. On the right-hand side is the music corner.
The music corner where students can play around with these musical instruments. Students can go and play their skilled musical instruments. In the meantime, other students can sit here and enjoy a concert from them. For those who like music, they can exchange their experience with each other or play an instrument together, such as piano duet.
Level 5
This area is on the highest floor. Students who stand here may see the whole campus, offering a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the campus and its surroundings.
Please watch this video for further details --- circulation of the bridge
*BETTER WATCHING EXPERIENCE IN SMALL SCREEN*
*BETTER WATCHING EXPERIENCE IN SMALL SCREEN*
It can be seen from the pictures and the video above, almost all of the spaces are semi-open; if it is a closed space, then at least one side is glass. Through this kind of structural design, people can see the view from other floors or other buildings. In this case, this structural design successfully demonstrates the sense of hierarchy and fluidity of the building through human vision. In addition, for two moving elements, the wood panels can respond to environmental changes (weather and sun) and saving electricity, and the wall curtains respond to different activity needs and saving the occupied area. Therefore, this design meets all the requirements listed before and successfully practices the theory.
Five real-time images
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Lumion file:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TNItXPkMW6KX7zzd6aSCAwgwA9U4NMBl/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r9I0WExxnUfWTjrSR24Op9WKVPzMHb_h/view?usp=sharing (compressed）
SketchUp file: 3D Warehouse
