Juliet Padilla: Architectural Design I
In this project I was tasked with creating a backyard cottage with a robotics engineer in mind. I focused on the craft of robotics in my thinking and in my design. Much of my work included researching what makes up the craft and what makes up a backyard cottage. A lot of thought was put into how the cottage might combine the needs of both to create a functional space.
Craft Investigation
In my investigations for this project, I looked at a multitude of small homes to develop an understanding of making the best of limited square footage. What I found were a number of tricks to make the interior feel bigger, such as using an open floor plan, stopping walls short of the ceiling, and using transparent or see-through materials. I also researched the uses of craft in architecture, which I found a variety of including masonry, stained glass, and handmade tile.
Concept Design
Concepts for this project began with models, all of which took influence from some aspect of robotics. Some attempted to mimic the forms involved in things such as circuitry while others were inspired by styles associated with robotics in an abstract sense. From there, a multitude of sketches were produced to further develop each concept.
Concept 01 - This model built from Lego began with the geometry found on motherboards and circuit boards, components present in robots. Observing these, there are a lot of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines. Using those in my design I developed a very angular cottage reminiscent of brutalist structures which are a common style in the realm of science fiction, a genre often associated with robotics.
Concept 02 - In this concept, I explored the same shapes but in a vertical sense. As these lines are what connect the functions of a circuit board together, I chose to exaggerate this diagonal connection by giving the stairs a large space all to itself. This stairwell provides the same function as its inspiration by connecting two spaces meant for functionality, the workshop space and the kitchen and dining area. The overall shape of the building is very sleek and modern outside to contrast the division it contains much like a robot's clean outer shell contrasts its busy inner workings.
Concept 03 - The process of this design went a bit different than the former two. Inspired by a single piece of scrap material used in the model, I sketched an entirely different building with curved lines on every face. These curves represent the fluidity of a robot's motions rather than try to mimic the rigid lines of its circuitry. They are, after all, crafted to move, and I wanted my cottage to convey that movement. Additionally, with a limited square footage, these curves could be used to provide a unique bit of extra space.
Concept 01
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Concept 02
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Concept 03
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Schematic Design
The third concept was chosen because I found it the most visually interesting and it also fit the site better than the others. Additionally, its required outdoor space is a second-floor deck, which suits the artificial aspect of robotics more than a traditional garden would as it isn't totally immersed in nature but still connects to the outdoors.
Final Design
The two-story backyard cottage features a downstairs living and eating area, along with a laundry room, half bath, and a workspace for a robotic engineer. Up the stairs is the master bedroom and bathroom with a large deck with space to grill and entertain. Its L-shaped nature allows it to mold to the site, leaving space to the right of it for parking and to the left of it to enter. The design is a futuristic blend of curves and planes meant to reflect the aesthetics and movement of robots. It features four pocket doors, two being the double front doors, that give the cottage movement in the literal sense. The majority of the building is made from insulated concrete, with portions dedicated to recycled steel represented by the brown material in the final model. Details such as railing for the stairs and deck are intended to be made up of metal wire as a nod to wiring within a robot.