Kamryn

Project 01- Thoreau’s Cabin at Walden Pond

Henry David Thoreau lived in a secluded cabin for two years to pursue a life in the most simple form of living possible. In his two years of isolation he wrote Walden, which is his most famous book. In his book he describes the simplicity of his time spent at Walden Pond and he describes the beauty his natural surroundings. Thoreau went to Walden Pond to find a more meaning in life. He found a newer sense of appreciation for nature and he influenced many activists and environmentalists throughout American History.

The cabin he built there is very minimalistic
For our first project we dissected Thoreau's cabin and found out the dimensions of everything only using the length and width of the cabin. We also learned about the framing in a building and how to use that to achieve what we want in a particular design.

Padlet about Henry David Thoreau:
https://padlet.com/carsonc/an-exploration-of-henry-david-thoreau-ep1ox03lpff7bm3h

Elevation, Floor Plan, Section

With the information from photos and readings of Thoreau's book Walden, we found out the dimensions of his cabin and the materials used to make these drawings

Exploded Axonometric Drawing

we did this drawing in order to better grasp the concept of how the framing in a building is appropriately spaced and set up in a way that the building is structurally stable. We also explored the idea of what his foundation would most likely be comprised of and what it would look like.

Laser Cut Chipboard Model/ 3D print

Lastly for this project we explored how the sun plays a big role in architecture. We used this model of Thoreau's cabin to see how roof overhangs can efficiently reduce electric bills and shade buildings to maximize the sun.

Project 02- Writers retreat in LBJ Grasslands

Project Brief

For this project, you will design a living and working retreat for a group of writers. The work of each writer-in-residence is in some way tied to ideas about landscape, either as inspiration or as way of communicating ideas. Your design for this retreat must connect your clients with the surrounding environment at a variety of scales. Because of project location, you will also be responsible for creating a sustainable architecture that is inspired by and connected to the landscape of which it is a part.
5 cabins for 5 writers, 1 communal space

Site Location

For this project we had the ability to choose our own site within London B Johnson National Grasslands.
The site I chose is on a pretty steep hill; the top of the hill is almost completely flat with only a couple of trees and as slopes down the number of trees increase and there's a decrease in elevation of about 100ft

Concept design - research

Design 1

THE BALANCED BARN

This concept was primarily based on the idea of the site being balanced ( hence the name ); so the amount of trees removed in the process of construction would be added back somewhere on the site. The cabin also has barn style window coverings to shade the whole house during the hottest/ coldest points throughout the day

Design 2

ALL GREEN

The all green concept is essentially a shipping container embedded into the east side of the hill with a green roof covering on top of it. The shipping container has two large widows to provide a great view of the early morning sunrise.

Design 3

SOLAR SUFFICIENT

In my final concept I wanted to have this roof that had an angle based off the altitude and azimuth angles of the sun where my site is. The roof will be filled with solar panels and will extend beyond the cabin to provide shade.in this design the cabins are all connected together and placed on the south side of the hill to receive the most sun for the solar panels. The cabin itself is only a little bigger than a shipping container so its footprint on the prairie would be very minimal.

Schematic/Final Design

Site Model

I chose to move forward with my 3rd cabin design, In this phase of design I also made the decision to create a new communal space.

To begin the schematic design process, I first had to better understand my site. I made a site model using a laser cutter. The models topography lines were spaced at three feet intervals in order to show an increase/decrease in elevation. This created an accurate 3D visual of my site.

Below is an infographic about Lyndon B. Johnson Grasslands to help better understand the site

lbj grasslands by KAMRYN BODINE

Communal space

Next designed was a new communal space.Here the writers are able to experience the raw/sensitive environment that the Blackland Prairie is, so in order to achieve this, the architecture will interact with the environment. The design has a central deck that connects a office/library space to a kitchen/living area. Above the deck there a trellis that acts as a central point of passage starting from when you first arrive at the retreat. You travel from the main road to communal space and then once the trellis ends the writers disperse to their individual cabins.

Cabins

The cabins are visually the same as my concept design with slight adjustments. There is now a cabin specifically for the south side of the hill and one for the east side of the hill.

South Cabin

There are 3 south cabins along the south side of the hill. The cabins roof has solar panels and the roof is angled to be 30 degrees: that's the angle that captures the most sun on my site. There are to main views from my cabin one facing south and one facing north. The writers' area is along the south window and it symbolizes being a secluded area to write and enjoy the view of the blackland Prairie at LBJ grasslands. The other window is facing north towards the communal space to show the community of being with other writers.

East Cabin

There are 2 east cabins along the east side of the hill. The roof is still angled south but the primary views are now east and west. The biggest difference between the south and east cabin is the interior.