THE ARCHITECTURAL JOURNEY

of Ivan Kydiuk                                                                                                            

1 - PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE

In this chapter we focused on getting familiar with architectural skills and concepts like AutoCAD, drafting, sketching, model building, etc., to later do our first design project - the birdhouse. Our first task was the axonometric exercise.

    1.1 - AXONOMETRIC EXERCISE

In this practice exercise we had to draft an axonometric as well as plan and elevations of a provided shape. The axonometric had to be drawn accurately in 3d space, and be able to be accurately measured. These are basic skills that are needed in every architectural project to make an intuitive and accurate representation of your idea.

After that we drafted the model in AutoCAD to cut it out on the laser cutter and make the model of the shape.

    1.2 - BIRDHOUSE

This project was focused on creating a birdhouse for a set bird(client) on the site of the Old Alton Bridge, Denton TX. The birdhouse had to be made exclusively for the client, and cleverly integrated into the environment. We started the project by researching the client and its hunting and mating behavior, predators, nesting and habitat, to come up with the perfect birdhouse.

​We then explored a chinese lattice to get inspiration for the shaping of the birdhouse, and starting the brainstorming and concept sketching process, coming up with several various ideas.

Chineese Lattice

After brainstorming, reviewing, refining, and settling on the final version it was time to draft the plan, elevations and parti of the birdhouse.

Birdhouse elevations

And lastly, we built the final model, to show the outcome of the project and give clients an accurate representation of the work.

    SKETCHES

Throughout the unit we have been drawing geometric studies sketches to gain experience in drawing buildings and shapes. Each sketch trains a specific skill, that will become useful one way or another.

2 - ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN I

In this semester we focused on one project - creating a college dean's house that will be built on the Old Alton Bridge in Denton TX. This build is a part of the big project of creating a college campus in that area. The building had to be on or somehow connected to the bridge, and represent the colleges fields of craft - textile, culinary and metallurgy.

After analyzing the site, we moved on to analyze the client and their needs. We created a collage of the client's hobbies and ideas for the house.

Now it was time to start brainstorming. Similarly to the last project we created 3 starter designs that would later be revised and/or joined to achieve the result. We combined everything to come up with the final poster and model. My house is kinetic and has the special feature of opening/closing the living room on demand.

The poster used for presentation