Anoushka Kolatkar: Architectural Design II
Project 01: Wunderkammer
The prompt for the Wunderkammer project was to create a working and display space for a master craftsman. The word 'wunderkammer' is German for 'room of wonder'. During the Renaissance, it was often used to refer to private collections of exotic or rare items. For our purposes, we defined it as a collection of curiosities relating to the cræft.
Cræft Investigation
Cræft Interpretation
First, we explored the idea of cræft as a general concept. I interpreted cræft as something that requires process, time and investment. I also thought of it as a mix of technicality and art, with each informing the other, with a final product emerging at the end.
As a class, we decided that our definition of cræft for this semester to be a functional object made with expert skill by hand.
As a class, we decided that our definition of cræft for this semester to be a functional object made with expert skill by hand.
Lake | Flato and Cræft
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lake flato case study by Anoushka Kolatkar
Brown Residence parti (Lake | Flato)
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Next, we researched prominent architects and explored how they use cræft in their works. I researched Lake | Flato Architects, a firm based in Austin, Texas. By conducting a case study and creating a collage, I learned that Lake | Flato's use of cræft
lies in their materials and connection to the building site. The firm is a leader in sustainable architecture, and always tries to pick materials that suit and complement the location's natural resources. Furthermore, Lake | Flato works to connect indoor and outdoor space seamlessly, as demonstrated by my parti model of Brown Residence.
lies in their materials and connection to the building site. The firm is a leader in sustainable architecture, and always tries to pick materials that suit and complement the location's natural resources. Furthermore, Lake | Flato works to connect indoor and outdoor space seamlessly, as demonstrated by my parti model of Brown Residence.
Metalworking Investigation
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Next, we were each assigned a traditional cræft for the semester, and investigated it using a collage and a Padlet. I was assigned metalworking. Initially, I thought of metalworking as this brutish, primal work. However, from my research, I concluded that I was very wrong, as metalworking has a huge range of processes and skills, from big sculptures to jewelry work. It's a very intuitive, precise cræft that requires a lot of time, effort, and attention to detail to get just right.
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Metalworking
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Concept Designs
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Concept 01:
Concept 01 explores the origin of metal. Metal is found in mineral ores underground, which are then extracted and smelted into workable material. Similarly, this concept features asymmetrical floors and an underground forge, connecting the craeftsman to the earth. |
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Concept 02
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Concept 02:
Concept 02 is reminiscent of the shape of an anvil, a vital tool to a metalworker. Getting to the workshop requires walking through the Wunderkammer, thus facilitating connection between the finished product and the work in progress. |
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Concept 03:
Concept 03 is a literal representation of the element that enabled humans to begin metalworking: fire. A circular, continuous workspace allows for a fluid process, as metalworking involves several skills that are applied as needed. |
Concept 03
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Final Design
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I decided to combine my ideas from Concepts 01 and 03, opting for stacked, asymmetrical floors while keeping an underground forge with open spaces for working. I also added a gantry crane mechanism for moving projects between spaces. The final design was drafted in AutoCAD as plans and a section.
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The final presentations for this project featured an abstract drawing and model, designed to convey the concept of the Wunderkammer design.
My final drawing uses vertical space to visually stack the floor plans, with the section in the middle. Ribbons of molten metal photos run horizontally along the paper, and an exploded view of the gantry crane shows the different metalworking processes housed within the building.
The model emphasizes the physical attributes of the building, including the mineral ore asymmetrical walls. The focal point is a hand smashing down a glowing hammer, reiterating metalworking as a hands-on cræft. Finally, a 3D-printed representation of the gantry crane hangs from the top, showing an integration of technology into this building dedicated to the traditional arts.
My final drawing uses vertical space to visually stack the floor plans, with the section in the middle. Ribbons of molten metal photos run horizontally along the paper, and an exploded view of the gantry crane shows the different metalworking processes housed within the building.
The model emphasizes the physical attributes of the building, including the mineral ore asymmetrical walls. The focal point is a hand smashing down a glowing hammer, reiterating metalworking as a hands-on cræft. Finally, a 3D-printed representation of the gantry crane hangs from the top, showing an integration of technology into this building dedicated to the traditional arts.
Wunderkammer Drawing
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Project 02: Cræft College
This project was a continuation of Project 01, featuring an application of our assigned traditional craeft. Each class was assigned a different part of a traditional craeft college campus, with AD2 taking on student and faculty housing. My assignment was to design student housing for 20 metalworking students.
I focused on incorporating what I learned about metalworking from the Wunderkammer project: metal is a craeft that’s very connected to the earth, and metalworking can be done through a variety of methods to produce a variety of products.
I focused on incorporating what I learned about metalworking from the Wunderkammer project: metal is a craeft that’s very connected to the earth, and metalworking can be done through a variety of methods to produce a variety of products.
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We began by creating partis to represent potential design solutions. From there, we narrowed it down to 5 options, and then to 3 partis from which to develop concept designs.
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25 Parti Options
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Concept Designs:
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Concept 01: Heightened Macaroni
Concept 01 explores stacking spaces and verticality. The first block is a community space, with stairs leading onto a green roof. From there students can enter their residential units, consisting of 5 students per space. |
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Concept 02: Segmented Tidepod
Concept 02 focuses on movement through outdoor elements. Student housing is located on either side of the communal building in the middle, with gathering spaces located around the site in small spaces. |
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Concept 03:
Concept 03 features a communal space sunken into the earth, and four towers rising up from it. Each tower has 5 residential floors, housing students in an apartment-style layer. The middle of the communal space is hollowed out as a green space. |
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Schematic Design:
I decided to further Concept 03. I pulled the building design out of the ground, so I would have less of an environmental impact on the site. After evaluating the site, I adjusted the communal space to be a boomerang-style canopy with lots of open space underneath. An outdoor cafe and shade garden were added under the canopy, as well as two indoor study spaces. The towers were modified to feature balcony space on each floor.
This semester, there was a focus on sustainability in architecture. We research the Living Building Challenge, which is a set of guidelines for designing sustainable buildings. We also learned how to conduct sun studies, and potential real-world applications of that research.
In order to make sure my housing design was sustainable, I outlined a number of factors that were taken into consideration while designing my building:
In order to make sure my housing design was sustainable, I outlined a number of factors that were taken into consideration while designing my building:
Final Design:
My final design features an outdoor Kebony wood canopy held up with mass timber pillars. It has shade gardens, an outdoor café, and walkways underneath. There are two indoor study spaces under the canopy as well, with mass timber walls and a curved one-way glass wall, so students can see outside but not vice-versa. Each study area has couches, tables, and vending machines for late-night crammers.
Five steel panel exterior housing towers extend up from the canopy, accessed by stairwells on the canopy ground floor. Each tower has a stairwell and an elevator, surrounded by steel mesh to allow airflow in a conventionally enclosed environment. A tower has five floors, each housing a student in an apartment-style layout. The student has access to a full kitchenette, laundry systems and an open-air balcony all on their floor.
This building is designed to take full advantage of the climate and sun path in Argyle, TX (location of site). It also has access to nature from anywhere in the site, encouraging interaction with the outdoors.
Five steel panel exterior housing towers extend up from the canopy, accessed by stairwells on the canopy ground floor. Each tower has a stairwell and an elevator, surrounded by steel mesh to allow airflow in a conventionally enclosed environment. A tower has five floors, each housing a student in an apartment-style layout. The student has access to a full kitchenette, laundry systems and an open-air balcony all on their floor.
This building is designed to take full advantage of the climate and sun path in Argyle, TX (location of site). It also has access to nature from anywhere in the site, encouraging interaction with the outdoors.
