EXHIBITION OF CRAFT
McKenna Richardson
Project Overview
Throughout the course of the semester, the main focus in the studio has been on finding ways to display craft. Whether it be through researching architects like Joyce Hwang, learning how to draft sketches, or model building, we've worked towards the goal of understanding not only the definition of craft, but also how it can be used to alter the world we live in.
01: Birdhouse
The summary of this project was to create a residence that fit the needs of a client by taking everything about them into consideration; their natural habitat, diet, behaviors, and any other unique traits that could be reflected in the structure.
Client Profile and Concept Plans
Client Profile
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Concept Plans and Parti
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Creating a client profile poster was a good way to present the research obtained about the client, an Eastern Screech Owl, and have it as a reference to any qualities about the actual building. As you can see in the concept plan, I stuck to the idea of an enclosed nesting space since these owls normally stay in the hollow of trees. These sketches were extremely helpful in getting down a quick idea of a structure based on small ideas.
Study Models
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These are some examples of cardboard study models that helped get the general idea of what I wanted to build. They all include a main nesting area, perches, and protection from other birds and predators for my client.
Drafted Drawings
Drafted Elevations
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Floor Plan
Parti
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After figuring out what the final building would look like, I drafted elevations, floor plans, and a parti. The elevations show what the structure will look like from all sides, while the floor plans and parti show what it looks like from above. I used lineweights to show main components that are closest to the viewer.
Final Model
This is the final model for the birdhouse project. It includes an enclosed main room with a semi-covered roof to keep the Screech Owl safe from predators such as skunks, racoons, and even Great Horned Owls. The multiple perches on the sides and bottom allow the bird to swoop down to catch prey and hoot to their hearts content.
This project was an effective way to showcase ways to incorporate a client's personality and hobbies into a residence suitable for them.
This project was an effective way to showcase ways to incorporate a client's personality and hobbies into a residence suitable for them.
02: Dean's Residence
The objective of this project was to create a temporary residence for the dean of a craft college, following closely with their assigned expertise- textiles, metal working, or culinary arts. The home is located near the college on the site of Old Alton Bridge in Denton, TX. Since my client's skill is based in textiles, there are components of the structure that reflect things associated with the specific craft.
Client Profile
Just like with the Eastern Screech Owl, a poster was created to reflect the personality, hobbies, and craft of the client. Before creating this profile, we were instructed to create a story or background of our client, making it easier to add in unique aspects to our build. My client would be sharing her home with multiple people and enjoys sunlight, but is also heavily focused on her work in textile design. This can be seen through the many fabrics scattered in the poster.
Concept Plan and Parti
These are some of the original ideas I had at the beginning of this project. One of the main objectives was to position the residence somewhere on the bridge- this could be on top, on the side, or it could take the place of the bridge itself. I knew I wanted to keep the bridge accessible to students or visitors who inhabit the college, so I tried out two designs that would allow that. In the second concept, the main part of the house is on top of the bridge with a small section hanging off the side. The parti on the bottom show what the structure looks like from a bird's eye view.
Study Model
This is one of the study models that looked the most like an actual structure. I stuck to the main concept of half on the bridge, half hanging off, and just changed up a few things to make it more livable. The design on the front is meant to resemble a string of thread along with the criss cross pattern of the windows.
Elevations
After making some final changes to the study, I created these elevations in autocad of all the viewpoints of the residence. There's a reference to the bridge on all the drawings to show where it would be located. I decided to have most of it hang off the side with only a small section the the top of Old Alton Bridge.
Floor Plans and Parti
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The floor plan on the left shows what each of the four levels look like from the inside, including the rooftop terrace on the top. Both drawings were done in autocad with another reference to the bridge.
Final Model
This is the final finished model, positioned on the bridge and to the side. One of the main aspects is the spiral staircase in the center that's visible to eveyone and leads to the terrace.
