Madhav

Madhav Srinivasan: Architectural Design 1

Project 01: Backyard Cottage

Attribution: Willem van de Poll, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

This project explored the concept of creating an Accessory Dwelling Unit (commonly known as a Backyard Cottage) for an assigned craftsman. I was given the craftsman of "Jeweler", and so designed my structure to be reminiscent of jewelers and gems. Throughout this project I discovered what an ADU is, worked around the City of Lewisville's competition parameters, and created a design that is compact, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing.

Craft Investigation

When approaching this project initially, it was crucial to investigate what craft actually is, in order to implement it into my ADU. I quickly understood that craft---for project intents and purposes---is a functional, handmade item created with expert skill. This definition can be applied to a variety of professions and hobbies; examples include bakers, woodworkers, and (in my case) jewelers.

Below is the Padlet I created while exploring potential ideas and craft-related information.

Concept Design

In order to develop a design I would like to work on carrying forward, I began to create a variety of unplanned models using multiple different methods. I then drew basic information of each idea---such as a floor plan and concept sketches---with the intention of exploring how each would fundamentally function. Below are the 3 most influential design ideas I created in this stage that led to my final ADU.

Concept 01 - This design was created with a variety of specific sized cardboard pieces, glued and attached together to create a vague shape.

Using this method, I explored ideas revolving around square-shaped geometry and various protrusions from the structure's main body. I chose to do this because I realized that a key concept in relation to jewelry was how the facets in a gem were created by various geometric shapes, and how jewelry often have various protruding sections. I carried this realization through to my other designs.

Concept 02 - This design was made by cutting and crafting chipboard pieces to attach together.

This was when I started playing around with more triangular shaped segments and more sloped roofs. The reasoning was behind this was that if you look at a diamond, you don't see neat squares. You see various triangles, rhombuses, and trapezoids of various sizes. In the effort to mimic this effect, I had dramatically sloped roofs and different heights for different areas, meant to show the variety of facets in a gemstone.

Concept 03 - This final design used a randomly selected assortment of chipboard and museumboard from a box of scraps. This helped me think outside the box and discover new ways to implement old ideas.

In this concept, I utilized aspects of the previous two to best develop what I pictured as a Jeweler's cottage. I created sloping roofs, triangular shapes, overhangs, and a variety of angles/edges in the effort to create what was most reminiscent of a gem in my mind. A few key ideas I implemented from the other concepts were the roofs that sloped until the ground (from concept 02) and overhangs and various openings (from concept 01).

Concept 01

Concept 02

Concept 03

Schematic Design

Of the concepts above, I selected concept 03 due to a few main reasons. The first is that it represented the Jeweler craft best, with its angular edges and various facets all cohesively linked. I also noted the potential for large amounts of natural lighting and interesting shapes to play into the "gemstone and metal" theme. In the end, it was the most interesting and visually appealing design of the concepts I had created.

Final Design

Floor Level - An issue with the concept was the sloped roof limiting usable space, so I chose to lower the ground floor by 2 feet. The intention for this was to allow for more livable space. This is implemented by having the entrance of the house be at ground level, and---once inside---you can walk up the stairs or walk down onto the first floor.

Storage - The spaces behind the bathroom and at the edges of the workspace can be utilized as a storage space, (they are otherwise unusable). In the workspace specifically, a desk can be placed against the sloped wall. Because the area underneath will extend away, it will allow for storage aplenty.

Dining Area - Despite the lack of a dedicated dining area, the countertop connecting the kitchen and living room will be raised so that highchairs/barstools can be placed against the counter. This provides an area which can be utilized for dining.

Stairs - The area underneath the stairs will be split for two functions. The side closer to the kitchen will be walled off, only accessible as a pantry from the kitchen. The other half will be open for a TV, so one can place a couch in the center of the living room. This maximizes the living space and storage space.

Exterior Design & Materials - I placed windows in various shapes and sizes to represent gems in a piece of jewelry. The windows have been placed as to also provide a lot of natural lighting within the building. I decided to use standing seam metal roofs and fiber cement paneling because metal roofs and windows are reminiscent of gems and precious metal.

1/4"=1' Scale

1/8"=1' Scale

Project 02: Bridgehouse

This project followed the design of a temporary residence for a guest craftsman. This project required 3 considerations: the bridge that acted as our site, the size constraints of said site, and craft's influence upon architecture. These elements came together to create a structure that acted as a gateway to the other sections of a larger project.

Research

The beginning of this project involved the in-person investigation of the "Old Alton Bridge"; the site upon which the bridgehouse should be constructed. This investigation involved the photography and measuring of the bridge and the surrounding areas. With this information determined, a site plan model was constructed.

The measurements influenced the project in a variety of ways, foremost being the narrow width of the bridge forcing the bridgehouse to be similarly thin.

Other considerations include the tresses on the bridge---which limited both outward and upward expansion, the surrounding river/trees/nature, and the highway close by.

Concept Design

The concept design largely focused on the creation of unique models, meant to explore various concepts that could be incorporated into a final structure.

Concept 01 - This design explored the potential of aligning segments of the bridgehouse with the bridge's tresses. The core tenants of this design involved a house composed of 4 main structures; each structure would align with the open space between each tress.

Concept 02 - This second concept unintentionally followed a near identical composition as the first, that being 4 main structures aligning with the tresses. The main difference, however, was the implementation of a flat surface extending through the tresses and out the side of the bridge. This could act as an outdoor space.

Concept 03 - The third concept was created in the effort to open up more options for a non-cubic construction. To this end, a variety of random scraps were selected and placed in an unplanned arrangement. This idea involved many slopes, curves, and other unorthodox shapes.

Final Design

The final design is a four-structure building connected by smaller pieces; the connecting pieces are reminiscent of craft in the way that it looks segmented and fractured, as if it is a stained-glass window. One of the four central structures extends through the tresses, creating a second story (a section for a guest bedroom). The house has been carefully designed as to maximize the limited width of the structure. Examples of this include under-stair storage and a joint kitchen/living/dining room.