14 Jul 2009 | 1 comment »
The concept of weaving on architecture. My original idea is to have the artisans center complex be woven together through expression of architectural elements. Also have visitors experience the journey through a series of courtyards of different activities.
I’m still looking for possible ways of incorporating the weaving concept into architectural elements, such as expressive beams and joists, cutting slits on building, and also creating dynamic reading of space through folding of materials.
Site overview
Interconnections between trades
Ebb & flow
Site plan first draft
Workshop plan
Workshop section
Example of gabion structure – Dominus Winery, Herzog and DeMeuron; www.architectureweek.com (photo copyright – Kevin Matthews, Artifice Images)
14 Jul 2009 | no comments »
I am interested in using natural methods to build a comfortable, useful and practical center for Koutiala’s artisans. After researching the climate of the site, I decided to group most of the buildings along the northern boundary of the site to help block the hot dusty wind, while keeping the southern side more open to allow the cooler breezes to flow through the compound. For the structure of the buildings, I propose using compressed mud brick on the outward facing walls, and gabion boxes (wire mesh filled with stones) for the inward facing walls. The gabion boxes have several advantages: they are cheap and easy to create with local materials, they provide thermal mass to keep the building warm on cool nights and cool during hot days, they are better for the environment than most building materials, and they create architectural interest through the play of light and shadow, void and mass.
The organization of the workshops is meant to allow artisans plentiful space to work in, both indoors and outdoors. My intent was to mimic the seasonal ebb and flow of the river, in the artisans use of indoor space during certain times of the year or times of day and outdoor space during other times.
14 Jul 2009 | no comments »
I drew inspiration from this image of a small tree next to a community well in Mali. The life, durability and delicacy of this small tree that seemed to grow out of solid stone reminded me of the spirit of Malian cities and communities like Koutiala. The river art piece shows my ideas of this light frame growing out of a solid foundation and supporting life on its many branches.
These ideas began to be transformed into an architectural form in this concept model. Here branches reach out from the solid mass of the building and spread across the site.
In these next sketches I was forming more built shapes and creating larger outdoor courtyards. I was also trying to preserve the current paths through the site so that the artisan center would fit into how the community is already using the space.
This model began to show a difference between light and heavy as well as a first take at roof forms. It also shows my idea of keeping the campus open to the public at all times but having the ability to close off the individual shops or buildings.
14 Jul 2009 | no comments »
First are two shots from my initial concept model. I decided early on that the previously chosen site might not be the best location for the new Koutiala Artisan Center. After studying Google Earth images I was attracted to the main axis between the market and the bus stop. It seemed that locating the center next to the main bus depot (at least I’m pretty sure this is the main bus stop) would create an exciting, iconic greeting for passengers arriving in Koutiala. This site also benefits from being located right next to the bus stop with the transport of goods and materials to and from the artisan center. Its proximity to the market ensures easy transport of goods and a much higher level of foot traffic. It also has the potential to act as a refuge for waiting passengers.
A smaller scale conceptual model exploring the possibilities of earthen walls and light steel frame trusses and corrugated metal roofs that consider daylighting, account for heavy rains, and natural stack ventilation.
Conceptual diagrams of the significance of the diamond shape as a sign of community in bogolan examples and how it may be manifested into the tensile part of the building
14 Jul 2009 | no comments »
I got my first ideas about what the Artisans Center might be like by creating a nametag for my desk. I started playing with weaving paper scraps to create an organic roof shape over a linear element, helping to unite the site. As I’ve continued to develop my ideas, the linear element has remained and become the main path of circulation. Rectangular buildings break off of the circulation, with the woven roof between them to create covered outdoor spaces.
13 Jul 2009 | no comments »
After the morning at the river I went home and pondered the project. Let’s face it besides all of the research we have done regarding Mali and their culture, we really don’t know what it is like to live there, to be there, to be Malian. So I thought of universals concepts that may apply…the idea of light and dark, needing shelter from the sun and wind, the comforting feeling of a human embrace. There it is…the artisan center is about embrace…the embrace between the teacher and pupil, the community and its craftsmen and craftswomen, the past, the present and the future. But now, how can I conjure the feeling of shelter and nurture the realtionship between student and pupil, through providing a comforting, welcoming embrace. What follows are a few explorations in various forms.
13 Jul 2009 | no comments »
I usually start my design process with watercolors, sketches and collage to get a feeling for the context in which I am working. Then I start with very rough models to lay out the beginning design. I think of the Artisan’s Union as the heart of the community. So I have placed the buildings around a central courtyard on the west of the site toward the city. On the east, I placed a garden space where there will be some modest living accommodations for some of the widows and orphans who belong to the weavers guild. To the south of their residence is space for the apprentices and the caretaker. A large space at the entrance to the compound can become a market area for the artisans and local residents.
13 Jul 2009 | no comments »
I started out by drawing some simple sketches of what I thought some of the interior spaces would look like. I was trying to get at the essence of the feeling these spaces could offer. I then constructed a basic massing model of the overall building. It focused on the roof volumes and overall shape of the layout of the building. At this stage I was playing with the idea of a floating roof that shaded the rooms below it. The angled geometry was my first attempt at responding to the interesting shape of the site.
13 Jul 2009 | 1 comment »
These sketch ideas begin to look at the Artisan Center site. I was particularly interested in making a module design that could repeat as the building process evolves. As funds are available one or many units based on the same module could fill the site. I made many diagrams of positive and negative space on the site to study the relationship of indoor and outdoor space. Courtyards with shade trees and shaded outdoor corridors are as important to the function of the place as the interiors.
13 Jul 2009 | no comments »
My concept models of ‘interlock’, ’shifting’ and ‘gateways’ informed my first design attempt of the artisan center. The ‘interlock’ conceptual model translated almost directly to the floating roof form. It is also scaled down to the design of the studio spaces and courtyards, where the link between outdoor/exterior, and studio/market spaces are emphasized. The market spaces bring life to the entrance and road edges, and allow permeability between the community and the artisan center. The easternmost corner of the site contains the motorcycle repair/mechanic trades, where it is slightly removed from the more public and communal spaces. The secon level (not shown) contains the living quarters for apprentices, caretaker, widows, and orphans. Street-side on the second floor has internet cafes, patios, and eateries that is distinct from the studio spaces, yet contributes to the life and vibrancy of the place.
Some things to consider in the next iteration are …
- accessibility points from the North (residentials)
- thinking about the focal/scupltural point in the large courtyard
- create a larger, more multi-use meeting space
- play with different sizes and shapes of the studios
- consider door opening sizes and functionality
- keep materiality and daylighting solutions in mind
08 Jul 2009 | no comments »
The word that people used in response to my project was “progression”. It reflects some of the recurring themes and motifs used in my my conceptual models and collages where I tried to capture a sense of rhythm and movement. It was also mentioned that this sense of progression could reflect the process of moving through a market or the moving along a courtyard where artisans are crafting. In a courtyard this progression is cyclical, much like Malian music is cyclical.
06 Jul 2009 | 1 comment »
A fort entrance??? Just thought that since there was a caretaker who lives on site, why not give them a perch from where they could view the premises in entirety.
RSS Feed