Final Re-envisioned Design & Presentation

500 words 

THE POSEIDON

“A place where the sun sets, an allusion to a place that exists only in our mind, in our senses, that is ever-changing and mutable, but is nonetheless real” - Ensamble Studio

God of the sea, protector of waters, my re-envisioned piece of architecture is named after the majestic Greek God Poseidon. Located in a picturesque landscape overlooking the ocean, the inconspicuous house from the front unlocks a heroic multilevel oasis. The structure holds and powerful stance over a cliff’s edge where each of its three levels balance on a cantilevered structural frame. The Poseidon’s uncommon shape and concrete walls convey a unique space that also ensures a level of comfort and relaxation.  

Looking from a distance the structure looks as if it’s placed in an apparently unstable equilibrium; however all its structural components enclose living spaces which defy gravity. The Poseidon is an audacious structure with a generous four car garage that comes to an abrupt end on a cantilevered platform. The one bedroom structure becomes great for entertaining on its two expansive lower decks. The third level houses a bath pool which spans over the edge of the concrete slab. With the key idea of balance and counterweight in mind, faith is needed to venture to surrounding areas and platforms.

The contemporary design was originally influence by Antón García-Abril’s Hemeroscopium House, where a range of structural beams counterbalance each other.  Just like the Hemeroscopium House, The Poseidon traps, a domestic space, and a detached horizon. From a person’s very first step, they are no longer themselves daring to be whatever they please as they adventure through house. Each part of the structure is exposed to the elements. Large wind deflectors are placed on either side to reduce the effects of strong winds and whirling seas. Every step is taken with caution as you get the feeling of uncertainty. This is slowly lost in the panoramic views that lead out to sea.

Through The Poseidon House a piece of architecture that may look unfinished, incomplete or broken comes together. The state of infrastructure that is a raw and exposed progresses into a sublime and mystical state. The bare structure stripped from fancy cladding and it’s aesthetic appeal allows you to see what structurally holds it together. This becomes a new found beauty where most of the architectural qualities of the house conquer.  By making things off balance and deconstructing those in a way new forms and spaces can be created. Architecture doesn’t just come from being a finished product; it can be raw and exposed still conveying a space for living and entertainment. This is strongly conveyed in the original Hemeroscopium House and is a central idea that prevails though The Poseidon House concept.

Shadows are casted without expression through the raw exposed structure. Light is however controlled through rotating shutters on the west side of the high pitched roof. Natural light can enter the house on demand leaving a fresh and vibrant feel for any occupant.  The shutters also allow for cross ventilation as the calming ocean breeze cuts through the rough solid roof and concrete walls. At night illuminated L.E.D glass panels surround the house  and set the mood for any occasion after sun down.

Video Walkthrough showcasing design



Three A1 Poster Displays  (Interactive)

Download link for Final Interactive PDF

http://www.gamefront.com/files/20917194/The+Poseidon+-+Interactive+PDF+Arch1390.zip

 

Three A1 Poster Displays (Print)

 

Final Re-envisioned Design 

Exterior

 

Interioir 

Sketchup 3D Model

Draft Layouts for Final 3 page A1 PDF's

 

AI Walkthrough and Shutters Moving (Light analysis)

Model Development 

Redeveloped Concept Design

Vray Renders

In Crysis (Sanbox Editor) 

Real Time Visualisation 

Section

Presentation Formats & Base Layout for Final Assignment

 

Three A1 PDF's - Base Layout

The image is all three of them in a line so you can see the overall orientation as if there were printed out and placed next to each other.  As you can see it’s not finished and plans, sections, 3D model and elevations still need to be added. Envelopes represent places in which I will have interactive content such as animations and rollovers to other content. I really like the three large images as they are of high quality captured in Crysis to custom set dimensions. The reason I have them off grid and in unique shapes is because my re-envisioned piece of architecture also follows this same expression of design. For example the roof is pitched high, and the overall balance is challenged of the entire structure. Text images and other content below will however follow a grid. Texts will me in columns for each of my ideas and images will be aligned with each other. Overall the poster challenges traditional layouts as I didn’t want a poster that simply everyone looks at and can see the layout straight away. I want their eyes to gaze from left to right as if they are in the environment looking at a large panorama of my piece of architecture. Information comes second, shown beneath as it does not interrupt the main concept design. This is more structured. A white background reinforces simplicity as the more you show the less complicated the concept becomes. It is also a lot easier on the eyes to register information a white background as we are so used to it.   

 
Presentation Formats

1. Interactive Poster: The interactive poster will showcase the design in a digital PDF. The entire document will allow the viewer to engage with the re-envisioned design as the poster is no longer static. The interactive poster will also give new insight into ways to present an architectural concept. Due to information and text being small the entire poster may not be visualised, this will however be addressed by having a print medium as well.

2. Print Poster: The print poster gives the opportunity to see the entire poster in full sight. Interactive contend will be removed and replaced with high quality renders to portray the design as a static form. The Poster will also allow viewers to have broader knowledge I what my design looks like when I am going through my interactive poster during my presentation.

3. Short Film: (max 2 mins long) A shirt film will end my presentation as the third format. It will pan through my design and various aspects/ideas I have focused on. For example balance/stability, structural exposure, and light vs. shadows. I will have a custom developed walk through in Crysis Sandbox to show the design in real time as if the design could be engaged with if it was built today.

Developing Draft Model ( Concept and Ideas)

Idea: Structural Exposure

MEGALOMANIA from Jonathan Gales on Vimeo.

This Video depicts city in total construction. The built environment is explored as a labyrinth of architecture that is unfinished, incomplete or broken. Megalomania is a response to the state of infrastructure and capital, evolving the appearance of progress into the sublime. The reason behind drawing ideas from bare structures stripped from their aesthetic appeal is that you can see what structurally goes into them. By making things off balance and deconstructing them in a way new forms and spaces can be created. Architecture doesn’t just come from being a finished product; it can be raw and exposed still conveying a space for living and entertainment. This is strongly conveyed in the original Hemeroscopium House and is a central idea that will prevail though my redevelopment and concept.

My Concept ( Draft Renders)

Concept and Direction 

Counterbalance-  “A force or influence equally counteracting another”

A counterweight is often used in elevators, cranes and fun rides. In these applications, the expected load multiplied by the distance that load will be spaced from the central support (called the "tipping point") must be equal to the counterweight's mass times its distance from the tipping point in order to prevent over-balancing either side. This distance times mass is called the load moment. This concept that revolves around “balance” in what I wish to explore through my piece of architecture.

Located on a cliffs edge, the concept of my reinvented building reinforces the idea of balance and counterweight. Tropea, Italy is the surrounding platform in which my building would be built. This is the desired landscape of the house as it is engineered in a way that it sits reaching, cantilevered from cliff face rather than its foundation being on top of the cliff. The triumph of such a structure will make it exceptionally unique compared to surround structures as they may be roughly modelled. My concept overall has been influence by both the Hemeroscopium house and the Cervantes Theater. The main shapes and geometry of the structure have been sketch above in my initial concept however will develop into a detailed 3D model that will be rendered in the near future. The structured sits on a similar “A” frame as the Hemeroscopium however also interlinks a pool beneath.  

Mash Up