Thesis: To Dwell

MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLOR

INQUIRY

THEORETICAL STATEMENT

LOCATION

An investigation and theoretical study of the relationship between the natural landscape and the technological advancements within the built environment. The question being asked, Is how can one build in a way that is truly one with the land? And is it even possi-ble to build this way? How can a person in modern society even survive without using the land, sea, and air for ‘their’ purpose or benefi t? What are the requirements for such a life-style? The intent is not to discover a new vision of ‘living’ but more so to dissect the ques-tion of “How can we build in a way that is one with Earth? And what is Architecture’s role in this contextual struggle?

To Dwell is to experience conditions that support and reaffi rm ones sense of who and what one is. This study looks at how technology can be applied to intensify the encoun-ters between humans and their immediate contexts. The study looks at modes of living and making that area applicable to a broad range of morphological conditions that connect humans to the earth rather than “subduing” it.

The site is located at the intersection of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The site is surrounded by residential, commercial, education, and hospi-tality locally. Much focus has gone into studying the Potomac river that runs directly through the site. Since the beginning of man, we have fl ocked towards running water. It provides transportation, signs of vegetation, and security from unwanted guests. As we can see today, the metropolitan area in its earliest stages were formed this way.

The borders of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia all meet along the terrain of the Potomac River. This site will offer a varying degree of terrain, a rising and powerful tide, and the open vista like landscape of the enclosing mountainsides; which are exposed to the elements of all four seasons. These three alone, preliminary, already provide enough discussion to achieve the goal at hand.

MARYLAND

DISCTRICTOF

COLUMBIAVIRGINIA

CHAIN BRIDGE

LITTLE FALLSDAM

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FLOOD ZONE

ACCESSIBILITY

VEGETATION

SITE MORPHOLOGY

SITE PHOTOS

12

3

3

4

4

1 HIGH VEGETATION2 LOW VEGETATION3 POTOMAC RIVER4 MOUNTAINSIDE

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APPARENTLY REINFORCING APPARENTLY NEUTRAL APPARENTLY NON-REINFORCING

OBSERVANCE DECKCOMMON AREA (EXT.)GARDEN (IN. & EXT.)EXTENSION OF MAN*M. BEDROOM2nd BEDROOMCOMMON AREA (IN.)KITCHENBATHROOMSLAUNDRY SPACESTORAGEMOUNTAINSIDEVISUAL CONNECTION:

PROGRAM:

RIVERVEGETATION (HIGH & LOW)

NATURAL LIGHTFLOWING WATERNON-VISUAL CONNECTION:FAUNA & FLORACHANGING ENV.TOWARDS DWELLINGJOUNERY:

ACCESS:

SMELL:

OTHER STRUCTURES

ACENSION INTO DWELLING

PERSONAL DWELLINGS

COOKING AREAOTHER ACTIVITIES:

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AC

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ES:

SUNSRISE AND SUNSETSFISHINGKAYAKINGDESCENING DOWN AND TOUCHING THE WATER

FROM THE GROUND PLANE

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1

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1.5

DIAGRAMS

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PRELIMINARY SKETCHES

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SITE PLAN

SITE SECTION

100 YEAR FLOOD PLANE

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EXTERIOR DECKA-A

B-B

C-C

D-D

EXTERIOR DECK

FIRE STOVE

KITCHEN

DINING

LIVING

MECH.ROOM

BEDROOMM. BEDROOM

BATH

EXTERIOR DECK

GROUND LEVEL PLANS

PRIVATE STUDY

1/4” = 1’-0”MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL

STORAGEOBSERVANCEAREA

MEZZANINE LEVEL PLANS 1/4” = 1’-0”MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL

PRIVATE STUDY


WEST ELEVATION 1/16”=1’-0”

EAST ELEVATION 1/16”=1’-0”

MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL

MARCELL SNDOGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLOR

SOUTHERN ELEVATION 1/16”=1’-0”


SECTION A-A 1/2”=1’-0”


SECTION B-B 1/2”=1’-0”


SECTION C-C 1/2”=1’-0”


SOUTHERN ELEVATION 1/2”=1’-0” SECTION D-D 1/2”=1’-0”


PRIVATE STUDY

AXONOMETRIC STRUCTURAL DIAGRAM

COMPOSITE WOOD BEAMS

COMPOSITE WOOD TRUSS SYSTEM

STEEL BLOCKING MEMBER

MONOCOQUE PANELING SYSTEM

CONCRETE BEARING PILES

STEEL FASTENERS

AXONOMETRIC STRUCTURAL DIAGRAMMARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL

Thesis: To Dwell

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