Lucas Morgan: Architectural Design I

Project 01: Fibonacci Cube

The golden section can be found in many places, whether it be in architecture or in nature, the golden section is seen to be pleasing to the eye. The golden section is made by taking any two numbers ​in the Fibonacci Sequence and making them the dimensions of a rectangle. The Fibonacci Sequence in a group of numbers in which the next number is the sum of the two numbers before it. (ex. 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21, etc.) The goal of the project was to create an architectural structure that is adapted to the assigned biome with 3 sets of 2"x3" planes, 3"x5" planes, and 5"x8" planes.

Landscape: Forest

My landscape was the forest. my two main concerns when creating a structure adapted to the forest were weather and wildlife. I decided that to best fit the forest, my structure would have to be elevated in order to escape animals and there would have to be a plane blocking rainfall from the inhabitants and a space below that plane for the inhabitant to be.

Drawing and Model

My plane study drawing, showing multiple views of my initial 3 planes.

The first idea I had

The second structure idea.

I made my first idea with the intentions of having a lot of space to walk around on top of the 5"x8" plane, but in addition to not seeing much potential in this design, to get under the plane, one would have to contort their body. I made my second model very similarly, with a lot of walking space and space under the large plane, but once again, the height was too small. While creating my final design, I decided to branch off from the horizontal-5"x8"-plane design and i instead placed the 5"x8" plane vertically in order to add height. I then inserted the 3"x5" plane through the larger one in order to create a platform. I added the 2"x3" plane at the bottom for support. I chose this model because I liked how it's versatility was similar to that o a tree and also that it adapted well to the forest.

Final Cube: Model

In my final cube, i placed more vertical planes in order to define the corners of the cube. I placed the basswood to bring out the planes behind it and to imply windows.

Project 02: EcoHouse

Our assignment was simple. We were tasked with creating a sustainable house that was marketed towards millennials. In order for the house to be sustainable, it had to be environmentally friendly, long-lasting, and energy efficient. 

                    Research

During my research on millennials, I found many themes that i wanted to include in my design. First, most millennials are family oriented, meaning that serving their family and providing the best possible life for their family is important to them. Another discovery was that millennials can be lazy, so in order to incorporate that into my design, I must place rooms strategically to minimize movement. I also aimed to create a modernistic house for visual appeal. For sustainability, I made the walls white in order to reflect light and heat, therefore reducing the use of air conditioning. I also added gardens and trees for pollination, shade, and air filtering. Lastly, I added a solar farm on the roof to provide shade and clean energy.

Drawings and Models

My 4 elevations, showing 4 different views of my house.

My floor plan, showing the layout of the rooms

This site plan shows an overhead view of what the plot would look like

This section shows what the house looks like on the inside

My study model, showing the basic form of my house concept

In my house, I placed the stairs to the second story right in front of the front door to allow for an easy transition when coming home. I also put the kitchen next to the Living and Dining rooms for easy transport of food. The garage leads to the utility room so that when coming home, people can drop their coat or dirty laundry there before continuing on with their day. Upstairs, the guest bed which could also be used for children, is immediately to the right for the hosts/parents to easily check on the people staying in the room. There is also a bathroom next to the the guest bed. The master bed includes a balcony overlooking a beautiful park and also a private master bath. The storage and mechanical rooms were placed out of the way as to not clutter up the space. Between the bathroom and mechanical rooms, there is a spiral staircase that takes people up to the roof deck. On the roof deck, there are two mine gardens for fruits and/or vegetables so that animals do not eat them. There is also a picnic table in case the family wants to have a nice time with a view. In the backyard, there are two trees to provide shade and fresh air. I tried to leave a lot of space open in the backyard for playing. There is also a patio for possible cookouts or just another spot for a nice meal.

My final model