Space shaped by the light out of windows

The city is shaped not only by its objects and voids between but also by external factors which allow city to be perceived. The light either natural daylight or artificial one makes the perception of physical city possible. In daylight a wide range of variable components shape our perception – glare and shadows, air perspective and cloudiness.
After dusk man-made light is almost single player in the city. It suppresses light from the stars and the moon, thus city becomes totally separated from nature. It changes our perception thoroughly because rules of perception become different. We start to see in more selective and focused manner because of darkness. Space becomes enclosed and object-like more than ever.
Artificial light is a guide through the city and it also defines the character of the city.
Norberg-Schulz points the window as especially important in defining the spirit of place:
‘It does not only express the spatial structure of the building, but also how it is related to light. And, through its proportions and detailing, it participates in the functions of standing and rising. In the window, thus, the genius loci is focused and ‘explained’.
Edward Hopper’s famous paintings Night Windows (1928) and Nighthawks (1942) illustrates two levels of the city – one which is private, domestic and usually hidden, and another which is public, commercial such as cafe or shop.

Night Windows (1928)

Nighthawks (1942)

Aim. This mapping exercise tries to reveal the character of two former market towns – Blairgowrie and Kirriemuir which now experiences economic and social decline. I am interested in artificial light as the indicator of the level of diversity and vitality of these towns.

Method. I used two types of artificial light out of windows commercial and domestic) as a code which holds different information about spaces shaped by it three-dimensionally –
both in plan and in street views.

Result. Final maps show areas of commercial and social activity, difference between centre, residential and industry areas and density of towns.
Research also revealed different features of built environment such as: typology, orientation and rhythm of windows, character of narrow streets and blank gables, aspects of overlooking
and imaginary situation of spaces shaped only by light out of windows.

urban analysis / mapping / aero view / Kirriemuir

urban analysis / mapping / aero view / Blairgowrie and Rattray

urban analysis / mapping / street view / Blairgowrie and Rattray

urban analysis / mapping / street view / Kirriemuir

Zanis Lipke memorial museum

The place where all senses are engaged equally to create unforgettable spatial and emotional experience.

The very first sign to find the way to the memorial. 

External appearance - modest, intriguing...

Entry tunnel

The sign

The story

The teller

The drawing of a bunker

The model of Lipke's memorial

More visual experience on:
http://www.designboom.com/architecture/zaigas-gailes-birojs-zanis-lipke-memorial-museum/

Light Turret

During Winter holidays I found some spare time for participating in design competition "STORY-TELLING SPACE" for Dundee University Nursery. Organisator - DUNDEE TRANSITION TOWN Group  http://www.facebook.com/groups/204363026269920/
which is part of International movement Transition Network. See more on: www.transitionnetwork.org 
Brief was simple:
No more than 5x5m footprint.
Ecologically sustainable and/or recycled materials.
Easy to build by non-experts.
Able to be de-mounted and re-assembled quickly.

The site.

The site is located in Dundee University Campus area behind The Union building. The site is used by nursery nearby. It is quite secluded by trees around and within it and that makes it little bit unusual. Particularly with The Union building in the background.

The fully glazed facade of Postmodernist style building makes the site bright and glittering in sunny days. 

Another architectural feature of the site are couple of small turrets on the roofs of historic buildings near the site.

Concept.

I took a book as a symbolic base for the concept and structural idea.
Thus story telling space is:
    1. Enclosed from outside world and open at the same time.
    2. Airy, little bit dreamy and mysterious.
    3. Structural louvres as a book pages.

Another source of inspiration was a latern and a campfire because for me story telling usually associates with sitting around a campfire in a dark forest.
Thus I defined story telling space as:
    1. A source of light during dark time of the day.
    2. An enclosed space with light source (skylight) in the centre.
    3. A space with seatings located around the centre.

Story telling space is in form of a dodecagon (12 sided polygon)
and oriented with the entrance strictly north-south.  

It is a place where to lose all sense of time.
The light is only one which reverts it back. 

Structure.

The main structural idea: all elements of the building work as the whole structure. I chose OSB3 sheets as the main building material. It is cheap material with wide possibilities to use it.

I liked idea about standardisation which allows operate with certain sizes and use a material efficiently and parsimoniously.

For this shelter 90m2 is needed and that is around 30pc of OSB3 sheets. Thickness of sheets varies - 12, 15, 18mm accordingly to the structural purpose.

Another material used for this building is transparent polycarbonate for openings.

Here is a build-up scheme.

Building is easy and quickly de-mounted and re-assembled.

The lowest element of cladding forms perimeter of the dodecagon and braces it during assembling of the whole structure. 

Light turret consists of ribs that works in compression and pulls together all upper part of frame structure.

Light.

The light plays the most important role in my concept. Here is scheme showing different sources of light used to create different mood during twenty-four hours.

See more at STUDY WORKS.

The street

Borneo Sporenburg housing development in Amsterdam was a precedent for the new studio module “The street”. It is about defining and constructing a street by houses located along it. houses designed by individuals forms blocks and streets between. Parameters arranged by the group defines character of the whole block. 
I got unit at the very North end of our block (yellow).

The location: Dundee, Rosangle area, Taylor's Lane between Perth road and Magdalen Green.

The context of the site is mainly residential area with 2,3 and 4 storeys high terraced houses; calm, non-transit street (used just by locals) with moderate slope, close to the large parkland area and the river Tay. 

Open for significant views and close for a privacy

 The best view to the river Tay and Tay Bridge

  The street view

 Sun path

The main focus of this project is on relationship between different aspects of the built environment such as: public and private; individual and community; ownership and territory; interior and exterior.
There are 3 main concepts on which I based my design: community, function and light. 

1.Community 

Here I put emphasis on creating semi-public and semi-private zones to achieve the interaction between close neighbours. On the East side it is semi-private/semi-public area (in my case - transparent showcase) to make public pathway wider visually and fill it with public function.
On the West side it is set back threshold - semi-private zone between pavement and the main entrance under cantilevered volume. 

Diagram showing relationships with surrounding environment

Parti diagram - creating thresholds

2.Function

I expanded previously defined focus group (family of young professionals) to extended family (with some grandparents) because I found this family model more interesting and sustainable in urban living style. This is big challenge to design dwelling for 3 generations because of big differences between their life style, interests and requirements. I also split up function into three parts: living, learning/working and sleeping.

Parti diagram - interaction between inhabitants and functions

Initial scheme of spatial relationship between inhabitants and functions

Initially I used ramps for moving through different levels but it is not to implemented by Scottish regulations (4.3.11 Pedestrian ramps) which allows very moderate gradient of flight (1:12 with maximum rise 166mm(!) or 1:20 with maximum rise 500mm). It is appropriate for wheelchair users but too strict for pedestrians which can easily use ramps with gradient 1 in 10.
Then I came to idea about split-levels with moderate slope stairs between levels to provide accessibility for the all generations. I split up functions into two parts: private (sleeping) on the East side and common (living/working) on the West side.

This solution gives necessary enclosure and privacy for the each generation and in the same time allows validly communicate between them. 

The void (staircase) becomes a space in-between where interaction happens using all senses.  

3. Light

 

Exterior sketch. Night view

Interior sketch. Staircase

Model. Night view

 Model. Interior. Staircase