Open house

2nd year of studies already have started in the end of August when Sketch Design Competition was announced and I started to generated ideas for it. Object is an outdoor learning space different from the traditional. Client is real - the pupils and staff of Grange Primary School. This means - the best proposal will be realised.
I came to my concept very quickly without being on the physical site – thanks to my spatial imagination. 

This photo shows significance of the place – presence of nature. Narrow belt of trees along the site creates view free of buildings and other elements of the city.
The main idea of my concept is building – 'mediator' between inside and outside, people and nature, as well as place for feeling, exploring and playing. 
As a base for my design was taken archetype of a house - compact, simple form; double pitched roof (local feature ;). 
And then... I opened it.

...filled with content...

 

I open it for all 5 senses.

This house is open to the light – direct light in the morning and diffused during the rest of the day.

It is open to the best views towards the cluster of trees.

It is open to scent what comes from flower bed.

It is open to sounds what come from birds and school nearby.

It is open for pupils and everybody who walks along. There are sitting stairs inside where to sit and eat lunch. 

Site plan

 

Plan

Section

South view

It is hard to realise from the street that there is a school. While “Open house” will be as a place mark to pay attention and be inviting. 

Street view

Street view

 Build-up scheme

 

Inspired by nature

Could you imagine more inspiring place for architect as Botanic garden? University of Dundee Botanic garden which celebrates 40th Anniversary this year amazed me by diversity of plants and places there. For more details see in: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/botanic/ 
In the one of two glasshouses where tropical plants grow I found very interesting plant which impressed me for the last tectonic design project - Pavilion. This plant is Nepenthes (Pitcher plant).

Any engineer could be interested to analyse structural properties of this plant to figure out how does this thin pedicle can hold this big pitfall trap filled full with liquid.

When I was thinking about concept the very first idea was about Pavilion for our architecture school. I found site very interesting - located by the way from the centre of campus to our school.

I tried to create pavilion which could embody essence of architectural studies, which could be attractive to visitors and which could literally suck them inward. 
Before I turned to something organic I sketched and tested on paper something box-shaped...

... until I drew this:

And then I remembered plant has been seen in glasshouse.

Further sketches led me to the final image:

Structure consists of several different size circular 3x centred arches arranged one behind other and connected perpendicularly with parabolic arches. All this structure is supported by one large arch which in turn is supported on the first arch of structure thus forming one whole, closed structure.

Model

 Plan

 Elevation and section

Site plan. Pathway improved to correspondent with Pavilion

View to the Pavilion and Architecture school behind it. 

GREEN answer to stressful daily life

My summers have always been linked to the countryside. I guess from here I have desire for a green lifestyle. Here in Dundee I have joined to the gardening group for being in relationship with nature and make new friends. Every Sunday we meet at the Botanic gardens in our small allotment to do some garden work. It is agreeably to see that your work bears fruit, even it is some small sprout in the next week after sowing :).

Climate in Dundee is very suitable for gardening

 Cold-frames – pure thermal physics.

Made from recycled furniture

 Different plants into the cold-frame - for more quickly growing

Very first sprouts - sowed in the previous week!

Herbal spiral - landscape architecture for herbs.

The anatomy of one building

Demolition building was a former shopping centre store in the heart of Old Riga. In recent years different activities have been taken a place in this building - a nightclub, art exhibitions and even the architectural office.
Last year it was demolished to allow the space for a new hotel.
My attention was attracted by the building's anatomy and inspiring details.

Demolition in process 

Structure 

Walls

Room

Decoration

The best view is from this room

Wall painting technique - roller painting

Momento Mori

 

Research Retreat. Result

This is the first project where I have tried to extend the boundaries of way how to present my design. Until now I have been very modest in terms of presentation. Usually I put more emphasis on functionality or technical aspects of the solution. I found very challenging to discover myself in more artistic approach. Here it is...

 

...see more images at STUDY WORK.

Research Retreat. Brief

Context.

The main building of this place is Hospitalfield House built in 1849. In nowadays it is a residential art centre – place for creating  in a medium with 'quiet ambience, tranquil country gardens and particularly generous studio space' (http://www.hospitalfield.org.uk/).

The building is built in the Gothic style from red sandstone which is typical local material of most of Arbroath buildings.

The site is a park bordered by old trees and further by stone wall variables in a height.

There are several art pieces located in the park and out of it. One of them on the way to the park was very impressive to address and inspire me.

Programme

Private accommodations (25m2 each) and studios (40m2 each) for 6 artists, gallery/event space (100m2), ancillary (kitchen 25m2), storage and WC). Besides them some external areas for relaxation, contemplation and exhibition are required.

Research Retreat. Process

“A picture without a frame is like a soul without a body”

“I can only finish my pictures when they are framed" (Vincent Van Gough).

I have thought why paintings should be framed and why frames used to be so rich, even richer than the same picture. What is the important message transmitted by frame?

Throughout the history frame has been used as 'a decorative boundary, it protected and emphasised the work it held, and might have a strongly symbolic aspect' (Paul Mitchell).

I brought frame as main concept for my design of Research Retreat.

I perceived the meaning of frame in the wider context.

*Frame is significant feature of the site. The site is framed by different layers of surrounding environment such as crop fields, stone wall and finally lines of trees.

*Frame is strong and recognisable stereotype of art, especially painting.

*Frame is integral part of functioning society in terms of ethic and law codes.

Intangible of the site caught in the tangible painting and framed with Mannerist Frame.

The frame in my design is a coherent scheme within which to live and work in a creative atmosphere. The frame pulls together this small commune, bounds from the unnecessary information and focuses on main things.

The very first sketches shows development of this idea.

The main idea of my proposal is about linking together accommodation with studio because of the specific of residence in Hospitalfields. The period of residence varies from couple days till several months. This factor and specific character of artist living style demands flexible and compact solution which provides close links between daily habits without interrupting creating process. Contemplation and study is inseparably linked with active creation.

Next idea is about specialising and communication between artists for inspiring process of creation. This factor demands common area.

All these factors together make multi-layered space where private passes into the public. 

 

The first plan of the building shows public and semi public areas (gallery/event space and studios) located around the courtyard and private areas located by perimeter with view to the park. The main feature - variety of entrances to the each cluster. Private entrance from courtyard and public link between all studios and gallery. This creates one continuous art gallery in the case of "Doors open day", when visitors could walk through the whole building without disturbing artists in their private accommodations. 

But there is one problem with clusters located in the corners. They do not have direct access to the courtyard. I improved design by lengthening the courtyard to get access for each cluster. 

Besides, I changed location of the main entrance. Now it is directed towards the park.  

Artist represents that part of society who breaks frames and boundaries in the searching of new horizons. This concept is embodied in the solutions of openings for the traffic of people and light. 

Sketches of exterior and interior.

 Main entrance

Courtyard

Gallery/event space with diffused light through skylight along the perimeter.

Artist's accommodation with direct exit to the park and light flushing the wall through skylight.