​Shane Duggan, Architectural Design II 

Project 01: Craftsman Cottage

"A close-up black and white photograph of skilled hands shaping a pottery piece on a spinning wheel, demonstrating the intricate art and focus required in pottery making." Photo taken by Quino Al, published on freerangestock.com

This project is centered around craft: what it is and how it relates to architecture. Specifically, exploring elements of craft found within pottery and ceramics. The main task of this project was to design an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU) for a specific craftsman, in this instance, a potter. Required for the design was a living and sleeping space for this craftsman, as well as a workshop. Each of these elements needed to flow together and connect back to the central craft of pottery. 

Initial Investigation

Prior to the start of this project, an initial investigation of craft was needed. Origami, with its delicate and precise folds, stood out as a medium of craft. The collage seeks to communicate key qualities of origami. Triangles and squares represent sharp folds found in origami, culminating in the form of an origami butterfly. This shows the transformation from something formless, like paper, into something delicate and beautiful. Variations of the word "craft" in the background represent the trial and error process that often comes with learning a new craft.

Next, a focus was placed on exploring craft elements within architecture. Wendell Burnette is a wonderful example of architectural craft, as each of his designs respond to the environment in some way. Along with this, many crafted elements are incorporated into his work, such as baskets for lamp shades or hand crafted hangars that look like planets. This collage was created to highlight his craft using digital composition.  

Pottery Investigation

In depth exploration of pottery was essential to the development of this project. Through this investigation process, potters and ceramists were found that inspired elements of the design like shape, color, and material. Along with this, an understanding of the clay creation process was developed. Three stages, shaping, drying, and firing, were found to be the biggest parts of ceramics. This would influence organization of workshop spaces and final material choices for the ADU. 

Concept Designs

Concept 01: Concept 01 explores the idea of a moldable experience. The entire floorplan rotates around the central kiln, and allows the craftsman to choose what experience they want to walk into. The rotation of the plan is also reminiscent of the rotation of potters wheel, further connecting the soul of this design to pottery. This is the concept that I would follow for my final design.

Concept 02: Concept 02 explores craft in the sense of observation. Large windows would allow outsiders to look in, seeing the craftsman's process of making. in the same way, this craftsman would be able to look outside, constantly being reminded of their natural environment.

Concept 03: Concept 03 follows certain forms that can be created within the process of pottery. The circular overhangs evoke what a piece of sliced clay looks like, and cover the entire design in order to provide large amounts of shade. Garage doors open workshop spaces to the external environment. ​

Schematic Design

The schematic portion of this design was focused on exploring how to realistically incorporate a rotating workshop into the design and generating ideas for site elements. Here, early concepts for exterior spaces and landscaping produced an idea of circular planters being dotted around the structure. This idea was inspired by basalt columns that can be found around the world, and heavily influenced the final design. The idea of a "moldable experience" was also developed during this stage of design. 

Final Design

The final design expands on themes explored in concept and schematic portions of this process. Intersecting cylinders mold together to form necessary spaces within the cottage. Main living spaces within the central cylinder are generally left open, allowing for a "moldable" living experience. This means that occupants of this cottage can arrange spaces however they please. The rotating floor concept is retained, sectioned off in it's own space for the sake of practicality. The walls of this cottage are unusually thick, as this cottage will be built using rammed earth techniques. Rammed earth walls directly connect the final design to the Earth, as the technique requires the layering and compressing of earthen materials from surrounding areas. This enhances the buildings connection to clay, as both are essentially made from dirt. 

Furthermore, grass roofs are a key feature of this cottage design. Grass roofs not only provide excellent insulation but also help the building incorporate into the environment. Cylindrical planters dotted around the exterior enhance this effect, creating a gradient that eases the design into its surroundings. The heavy use of cylindrical forms alludes to common pieces of pottery such as pots, cups, bowls, and plates, all of which are typically circular or cylindrical in form. 

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Project 02: Master Craftsman House

Project 02: Master Craftsman House, was set up to be a continuation of the previous Apprentice Cottage project. The goal of the project was to design a house and site in which a master craftsman could live in and be able to interact with their apprentice. The house design needed to be inspired by the essence of craft--in this instance, pottery--and communicate well with the other buildings on site. Required for this project was a shared workspace, in which both the master and apprentice could come together to craft items. This provided an interesting opportunity in which to show varying degrees of craft on site, and would become the most influential piece of the overall design. 

Concept Designs

Concept 01: This concept leans heavily into the industrial side of pottery, and the master house's linear design is meant to pull you in towards the centerpiece of the site: the workshop. The workshop is designed with forms commonly found in pottery, and is meant to be a large, monolithic structure that pulls attention towards craft. The workshop is also meant to be a sort of temple, in which clay harvested from underneath structure could be taken up and made into beautiful pieces of pottery. 

Concept 02: This concept was meant to show craft from outside looking in perspective, with an internal workshop completely exposed with glass would allow onlookers to observe a master and apprentice at work. The design is also heavily inspired by industrial aspects of pottery, in which the shape and materials of the house feel warehouse like. Panels on one side of the house would provide privacy for the master craftsman, while also providing space for a kind of watershed to be created. 

Concept 03: This concept takes the industrial ideas developed in previous concepts and leans heavily into it. The master craftsman house was inspired by Riken Yamamoto's fire station, and elements from that design are present in the workshop as well. The idea of this concept was to make the site one of industrial production, where the master is training the apprentice in the ways of industry. 

Schematic Design

The concept chosen to be further developed was the first one, in which there is a ritualistic temple made the centerpiece of the site and a large, mostly glass master craftsman house. While developing this design, an intriguing idea came about: what if there was an entirely see through section of the building, through which you could see the monolithic workshop? This idea became a driving factor in the final design of the house, and glass became the main material used in the façade. When developing the workshop design, the challenge became figuring out how to connect the workshop to the ground in a way that was practical. This meant that stairs would become an essential part of the design. In the end, a plan was developed that worked well for allowing access into the workshop, while maintaining the levitating presence of the workshop. 

Final Design

The final design takes everything learned, developed, and experimented with from previous parts of the project to create one final and innovative product. A large, monolithic structure in the middle serves as the workshop, but also as a connector within the site. In order to pass from Master House to Apprentice Cottage, one must pass underneath this monolith, serving as a constant reminder of the work and collaboration that is to be done between master and apprentice. From afar, the workshop catches the eye of onlookers and is meant to draw attention to the craft that is done on site. Inspired by the menacing designs of Louis Etienne Boullee, the main material is concrete, cast and etched to mimic stone blocks. Large, concrete pillars aid in this mimicry, echoing themes commonly found in the designs of temples. Further leaning into this workshop being a "temple," a window is cut into the roof to allow for "heavenly" light to pass through, elevating the atmosphere of the space.

The Master Craftsman House is designed with the idea that a master craftsman would be completely consumed by their craft. To them, it is not a honey, it is their life. In the design, this is portrayed by its linear design, which draws you in toward the workshop. Along with this, the central hallway of the house is entirely glass, including floors, ceilings, and roofs. This allows for a clear view towards the workshop, as well as aiding in drawing occupants to it. The main living space as well as the main bedroom is designed to open up toward the rest of the site, and much of the building is enveloped in glass to make it appear more transparent. A garden wall on the southern wall of the house helps it incorporate into the surrounding environment. The home, in its essence, lends itself over to the craft of pottery, making it entirely subservient.

Apprentice Cottage Floor Plans and Elevations

The apprentice cottage was designed to reflect the aspects of beginning in the craft of pottery. An apprentice potter must both metaphorically and physically build their skills from ground up, and the cylindrical "extrusions" from the earth represent that idea. Along with this, the materials used for the cottage would be entirely natural, with the exterior of the home being rammed earth, and the interior combining wood and crafted tiles that the apprentice and master would craft together. The apprentice cottage represents the natural aspects of pottery, as the apprentice has not yet built up the necessary skills required to craft pottery industrially.