ARCH101. Final Portfolio.

P O R T F O L I OBRENDA JOY GABBAC.

ARCH101. SPRING 2012.FINAL.

S P A T I A L E X P E R I E N C E SPrior to constructing our final projects, we were given an assignment to visit places, both manmade and natural, that evoke spatial experiences. While on our individual visits, we were to record any emotions and what physical aspects contributed those emotions. The places I have visited – Japanese Tea Garden and the San Francisco Federal Building – both had a sense of wonder in their individual ways. The Japanese Tea Garden's high bushes and trees, shaded pathways into open areas, and calming pond gave a sense of natural beauty, solitude, peace, and mystery. The San Francisco Federal Building's high ceilings, large window on the east side, and small gaps for sunlight in the lobby gave a sense of awe, structural beauty, and curiosity of what other features the building may have.

After visiting these places and having spatial experiences, I wanted to somehow evoke them into my final project. I wanted visitors to experience the sense of mystery, solitude, awe, curiosity, and wonder. In order to evoke these experiences, spatial conditions would have to be of varying shapes, proportions, and textures, and there would be light play of varying qualities. In this place, I would want it to be suitable for varied amounts of people.

D E S I G N P R O M P T

Explore, challenge, and concstruct the idea of “wonder” to evoke diverse spatial experiences.

Respond fully to the site and varying climatic conditions.

Design and construction shall be related to place-making, the evoacation of memories, and the transformation of time.

The design and construction of path and nodes should encourage inhabitants to occupy in both physical and metaphysical ways.

D E S I G N T O O L S & P R O P O S A LI created varied proposals using different forms of design tools. I first used Google Sketchup, thinking that I should try to use it since I haven't used it in months. I somewhat forgot to use it and I felt a bit restrained in expressing what I want to design. I then used AutoCAD. I found using AutoCAD more easier than Google Sketchup because I have been learning how to use AutoCAD this past semester, and I felt my designs can be expressed more. In both programs, I was able to see my designs orthogonally and from various perspectives. However, both computer-aided design programs are both time consuming, and when I had a design in mind, I just sketched it out. I also created small scale models with foam core, museum board, balsa wood and paper.

My group mates—Sabrina and Nick—and I had a bit difficulty in the beginning in having a definite design. We initially decided on having a seating area in our pathway/node and worked off of the design I had of an arch-like canopy seating area. We then thought of how to make it more complex, intriguing, and respond to the site. We knew we wanted to either compliment or reprimand the brutalism of Batmale Hall, and create a sense of mysticism, serene, magical. The thought of an arch-way path came into mind; however, its curvilinear design was not very site responsive. Therefore, it was changed into angular frames that compliment the harsh angles of Batmale Hall. And to add on to the complimentary design, we also designed the seating area to also be angular.

T H E S I T E

Insights:

Fairly large space.

Inner corners of walls can create a sense of solitude.

Shade from sunlight and rain, and protects from windy conditions.

Design can coincide with the brutalism of Batmale Hall.

Can correspond to many features – window mullions, soffits, and angles of storefront windows and roof/overhanging balcony.

Issues:

Not much sunlight is shone in this area.

Difficult to add light play.

Difficult corresponding to curving wall.

Was chosen upon the thought of “good plots of land will soon be gone.”

T O O L S & M A T E R I A L S

Wood: 2'' x 4” of varying lengths, particle board

Screws: 1 1/2”, 2”, and 3”

Power drill

Table saw, hand saw, jigsaw

Screw eyelets: 1 15/16”

Manila rope: 1/4” thick

Turnbuckles

Construction:

All work was done on-site.

Familiarity of site assisted in creating conversation between design and site.

Spent almost 90 hours of construction.

Each day of construction was given an opportunity for design refinement.

Construction issues:

The use of a handsaw was time consuming

Thankfully, other groups allowed us to share tools, i.e., table saw and jigsaw.

Wood was a bit scarce, especially towards the end with the amount time left towards the day of critique.

C O N S T R U C T I O N

Construction:

All work was done on-site.

Familiarity of site assisted in creating conversation between design and site.

Spent almost 90 hours of construction.

Each day of construction was given an opportunity for design refinement.

Construction issues:

The use of a handsaw was time consuming

Thankfully, other groups allowed us to share tools, i.e., table saw and jigsaw.

Wood was a bit scarce, especially towards the end with the amount time left towards the day of critique.

P R I M A R Y S T R U C T U R E

Arches/angular frames.

Coincides with the dynamic angles and brutalistic style of Batmale Hall.

Frames are aligned to window mullions.

To not create any arbitrary placement. Spaces in between frames correspond to soffits above.

The second space creates a sense of solitude with its encompassing walls, frames, and lattice.

Openings in frames create a pathway.

As if traveling through time. Expresses silence.

S E C O N D A R Y E L E M E N T S

Buttresses and platforms.

Elevates the originally short frames to be held up more sturdily.

Platforms allow you to enter through frames without stepping through awkwardly.

Intent is to step only on platforms to cross through.

In many Asian temples, you are not allowed to step on the doorframe as a sign of respect.

Rope.

Grid arrangement.

Corresponds to the following group's rope arrangement.

Attached to frames by screw eyelets to create clean craftsmanship.

Evokes movement between frames and resistance.

Creates a confine and sheltered spatial experience.

T E R T I A R Y E L E M E N T S

Turnbuckles.

Attached to top part of frames to further support the frames by pressure.

Zig-zagged pathway boundary.

Further emphasizes the dynamic angles of the building and compliments the angular frames.

Creates a path that leads you to the entrance of the following group.

C R I T I Q U E

Strengths:

● Frames and buttresses created more stability and length.

● Turnbuckles that were friction-fitted were well- executed.

Weaknesses:

● Grids could've been looser to create a curved element.

● Ropes should have been explored more.

● End of frames needed something to reward people joining the walkthrough.

● The rigid design of the ropes and the closure of space created a depressed feeling.

● Could have created more platforms to create a sense of heirarchy.

F A I L E D D E S I G N S:T R I A L & E R R O R

Sadly, we were unable to construct our seating area due to time constraints and many construction issues. It was either the design looked ridiculously arbitrary or due to construction constraints, it was not possible.

We also tried to create a lattice with the wooden seatings that are just laying around in the corner of the studio. I wanted to create some sort of curtain wall with it to enhance the spatial experience and create more of a sense of mystery in the walkthrough.

O V E R A L L R E F L E C T I O N

Teamwork was a bit tough. Somehow during this assignment, I felt as if I was placed as the leader of this group. Design proposals between one another was either agreed between two and the other opposed. We solved this democratically and thoughtfully. There was a lot of trial and error, especially on the seating area. My group and I stressed so much on craftsmanship and gratefully, we were complimented on our clean craftsmanship.

Looking back on my midterm reflection, I did do what I intended to do in the final part of this semester. I did sketch my ideas as much as possible and explored different methodologies of constructing. Throughout this final project, I continuously presented different designs and ideas to my group mates. Some designs were more well-thought out than others. But when we were proposing ideas to one another, I always had the questions “Why is that there? What is the benefit?” always in my head.

Overall, through all this struggle, I think I am now prepared to create amazing works that have intention, meaning, and a clear concept. I think I now perceive and think a bit differently compared to before. My desire and passion for architecture and design became more stronger this semester

Special thanks to Professor Jerry Lum for the motivation, wonderful criticism, and helping me think the impossible is possible this interesting semester.