HOUSE-SCAPES: ECOLOGIES OF DWELLINGWSA2 SEP-DEC. 2011
CORAL GROWTH BRANCHING PATERNS
CATHERINE LEUNG
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The task was to choose an ecological system and analyze it in terms of its material economy through the structural form.
Here, I chose to examine coral in terms of its growth through branching patterns. I began with exploring different coral types and structures as well as simulating its growth by aggregation.
OBSERVATION
CORAL TYPES GROWTH BY AGGREGATION
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Initially I began to choose five main phases of the coral branching growth stages. By using salt dough and candle wax, I made physical models of this coral growth. This was a way of symbolizing the random process of the growth pattern.
SYNTHESIS
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
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PARAMETRICS
These are some digital models of the coral ecological system. Here I used parametrics to generate the branching patterns. The layered images illustrate the stages in which the coral branches.
PARAMETRIC BRANCHING GROWTH MODEL
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1
2
3
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FORMFINDING PRECEDENTS
After exploring the coral ecological system, I then looked at how it could be applied to architecture. Here are some precedents I looked at that used coral branching systems in their architecture.
1. RENAULT CENTRE - FOSTER2. STANSTED AIRPORT -FOSTER3. EXHIBITION CENTRE - ALSOP4. JEWISH MUSEUM - LIBESKIND
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SITE ANALYSIS
Our given site was in Cardiff City Centre, adjacent to the Railway Station and within close proximity of the Millenium Stadium.
THe site analysis helped in the subsequent stages particularly when designing the housing scheme to fit within the site’s surroundings.
TO RESIDENTIAL AREA
MILLENIUM STADIUM
CARDIFF CENTRALRAILWAY
SITE
TO CITY CENTRE
MATERIALS PALETTE
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PANORAMIC VIEWSNORTH-EAST
WEST
SOUTH
SITE SECTIONSSHORT SECTION (NORTH-SOUTH)
LONG SECTION (WEST-EAST)
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MASTERPLAN CONCEPTS
The brief was to create a schematic proposal for a housing complex on the given site. The aim was to derive a formal logic for the massing of the site according to the parameters of the ecological study.
Here are my initial masterplan concepts that have been influenced by the parametric branching growth patterns of the coral ecological system.
INITIAL SKETCH
BRANCHING PATTERNS AS A DRIVER FOR MASTERPLAN MASSING.
MASSING IN THE ‘NEGATIVE SPACES’ BETWEEN THE BRANCHES.
INNER COMMUNITIES, COURTYARDS, MICROCLIMATES, DOUGHNUT DWELLING UNITS.
SITE INFLUENCE:
BIGGER COMMUNITIES FACE DENSER CITY MASS.
SMALLER COMMUNITIES AGAINST SPARSE MASS.
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MASTERPLANMETHODOLOGY
After establishing my main masterplan concepts, I then went onto use the research from the ecological formfinding to process a masterplan.
I considered how the parameters I previously studied could generate formal structures, as well as being sensitive to site’s landscape.
Here’s the methodology I went through in designing the housing scheme.
MAPPING CORAL BRANCHING GROWTH PATTERNS (3D MODELLING)
USING CORAL BRANCHING AS A FORM OF MASSING
USING CORAL BRANCHING AS A FORM OF URBAN LANDSCAPING
USING CORAL BRANCHING AS A FORM OF NEGATIVE SPACE. LIVING AREAS ‘IN-BETWEEN’ BRANCHING PATTERNS
USING RAISING DWELLING UNITS TO CREATE MICRO-CLIMATES AND INNER COURTYARDS
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ROUGH MASTERPLAN SKETCHES
These are my very first masterplan designs. I focused on the use of negative spaces as a form of massing and the ‘doughnut’ dwelling unit shapes for micro-climates and inner communities.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
CORAL BRANCHING PATTERNS
INITIAL MASTERPLAN MASSING MODEL
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MASTERPLANGROWTH
CONCEPTUAL IMAGE SHOWING HOW MY HOUSING SCHEME CAN EXPAND OVER TIME. THIS IDEA WAS DERRIVED FROM HOW CORAL BRANCHES TO GROW OVER TIME.
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PUBLIC-PRIVATE ZONING
When developing my final design, I first thought about the public/private areas.
This is a model that shows how I divided up my space into different public/private zones.
DWELLINGS
COURTYARDS, PRIVATE CIRCULATION ROUTES
COMMUNITY CENTRE
RETAIL, PUBLIC PROMENADE
= PUBLIC
= SEMI-PUBLIC
= SEMI-PRIVATE
= PRIVATE
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DWELLING UNIT TYPES
After establishing the public-private zoning of the site, I then went on to look at the dwelling unit types.
There are 3 unit types:- 1 BED (50m2)- 1+ BED (60m2)- 2 BED (70m2)
This model shows how I chose to distribute these unit types over the site. In total, there are 21 dwelling units.
BIGGER COMMUNITIES FACE ONTO THE DENSER CITY MASS
SMALLER COMMUNITIES FACE ONTO THE SPARSER CITY MASS
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FINAL MASTERPLANS:GROUND FLOOR
KEY - PUBLIC SPACES
1 RETAIL UNITS A CAFE/RESTAURANT B FLORISTS C BUTCHERS D BAKERY E CANDLE STICK MAKERS F CHARITY SHOP G CRAFTS CENTRE H FARMERS’ MARKET I 24HR CORNER SHOP J LOCAL GP2 COMMUNITY CENTRE3 PUBLIC SQUARE4 STARS/SEATING/WALK-THROUGH5 PUBLIC PROMENADE
KEY - PRIVATE SPACES
6 RESIDENTS’ CAR PARK (UNDERGROUND07 DWELLING BLOCKS A 17 RESIDENTS B 14 RESIDENTS C 10 RESIDENTS D 10 RESIDENTS8 STAIR/LIFT TOWER9 PRIVATE COURTYARDS10 PRIVATE SQUARE11 PRIVATE DWELLING BLOCK STAIRS12 REFUSE AREA
RIVER TAFF
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1A
1B
1C
1D
1E1F
1G1H
1I1J
2
4
5
3
6
7A
7B
7C7D
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8
9 9
99
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11
11
11
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12
12
CAR PARK
MILLENIUM STADIUM
MAIN C
AR ROU
TES
BUS RANKS
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FINAL MASTERPLANS:FIRST FLOOR
KEY - PRIVATE SPACES
1 STAIR/LIFT TOWER2 UPPER CIRCULATION (‘SREETS IN THE SKY’)
MASTERPLAN MODEL
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AA’
BB’
MASTERPLAN SECTIONS
These are my hand-drawn sections of my housing scheme proposal. I took one through the shortest axis and one through the longest axis of the site.
MAIN ROAD STAIR BLOCK DWELLINGS
LONG SECTION BB’
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MAIN ROAD DWELLINGS RETAIL PUBLIC SPACE
SHORT SECTION AA’
STAIRS/SEATING/WALK-THROUGH RETAIL PUBLIC SPACE
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URBANLANDSCAPING
After designing the overall massing of my housing scheme, I then thought about landscape strategies and how my initial chosen ecological theme (coral) could influence the exterior landscape.
The bulk of the urban landscape consists of the coral branching pattern, which is made up of a combination of paving and grass.
The materials used are influenced by the surrounding external site and their types encourage different activities (eg. soft grass for sitting on, hard paving for circulation routes).
INNER
COURTYARDS
BIRCH
TREES
PRIVATE
SQUARE
GRASS
PATHWAYS
ECOLOGICAL
SYSTEM
INFLUENCE
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MASTERPLANPERSPECTIVE
This is a perspective of my housing scheme showing the use of raised dwelling units and ‘streets in the sky’.
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MASTERPLANCONCEPT PERSPECTIVE
Concept perspective showing views from different areas of the site.
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COMPARATIVE BOARD
This comparative board is a technical illustration of my housing scheme proposal. I tried to convey and explain the main concepts of my design proposal through an exploded axonometric of my masterplan.
CORAL BRANCHING GROWTH PATTERNSBRANCHING GROWTH AS A FORM OF ARCHITECTURAL EXPANSION
CORAL BRANCHING GROWTH PATTERNS
‘IN-BETWEN’ LIVING SPACES
‘DOUGHNUT SPACES’ - MICROCLIMATES (HOUSING PRECEDENT - LAN ARCHITECTURE)
PUBLIC-PRIVATE ZONING
STREETS IN THE SKY
NEGATIVE LIVING SPACES
INNER COMMUNITY
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UNIT CONCEPTS
When designing my housing unit, there were two main concepts I considered.
I thought mainly in terms of the public-private zoning and also how to integrate the original ecological system (coral branching growth patterns) into the design.
DIVISION OF SPACES
SPECIAL SPACES (ENCLOSED, PRIVATE)
SHARED SPACES (OPEN PLAN, PUBLIC)
CORAL BRANCHING PATTERNS
BRANCHES AS CIRCULATION ROUTES
LIVING SPCAES IN-BETWEEN
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6
78
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101111
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UNIT PLAN
Chosen Unit (50m2, 1 bed, 2 people)
KEY
1 ENTRANCE AREA2 STORE3 WARDROBE4 BEDROOM5 BATHROOM6 LIVING ROOM7 KITCHEN8 DINING ROOM9 BALCONY10 COURTYARD11 SURROUNDING UNITS12 CIRCULATION ROUTE
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FACADE DETAILING
After designing the housing unit, I then went on to design the facade of the housing unit.
The design incorporates traditional materials, such as concrete, which are found in the site’s surroundings, as well as modern systems, such as living walls.
EXTRUDED WALLS
TIMBER SEATING
GREEN WALLS CONTINUOUS GLASS ROOF
PLANTERS
SASH WINDOWSSHUTTERED CONCRETE
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AA’
1
2
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TECHNICAL SECTION
When designing the facade of my chosen housing unit, I started to think about the technical details and construction systems. This is my tecnical section AA’ taken through the chosen housing unit, down to the ground floor.
KEY
1 CONCRETE FOOTING2 REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMN3 185MM CORE REINFORCED CONCRETE WALL (SHUTTERED)
TECHNICAL
SECTION AA’
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- 4- 5
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7
8---------
------- 9
-----10-------11
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13-------14 ----15
----1617
CLOSE-UP OF
TECHNICAL SECTION
KEY
4 40MM HARD URETHANE FOAM INSULATION5 12MM PLYWOOD6 14MM SOLID OAK FLOORING7 GREEN LIVING WALL UNIT8 SOIL (PLANTER BOX)9 INSULATION10 12MM PLASTERBOARD11 TIMBER LINTEL/WINDOW SILL12 DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOW UNIT13 TIMBER STUD14 GUTTERING15 DOUBLE GLAZED ROOFING16 TIMBER ROOF PURLINS17 10MM TIMBER VENEER FIXED TO CEILING BATTENS
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HOUSING COMMUNITY MODEL
This model represents one of the ‘doughnut’ dwelling units within my masterplan.
With these ‘doughtnut’ dwelling units a sense of community is created (with the inner courtyards) and micro-climates are formed.
INNER COURTYARDS/COMMUNITIES
VEGETABLE PATCHES
REFUSE AREA
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TECTONIC BOARD
When designing the housing units, I thought about different ways I could convey an interesting aspect of the design.
I started by building a poly-model in 3DS MAX and then unfolding my model with Pepakura. I then laser cut this ‘net’ and used it as a mould for plaster casting.
Here I have used a negative space model to explore the tectonics of my housing unit proposal. The facade detailing is shown in negative space. It shows the space around the building and represents the continuous flow of the material it’ll be made of (concrete).
‘NET OF MODEL’RED = CUTTINGBLUE = ETCHING
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SUNDAY LOCAL MARKET
MILLENIUM STADIUM
MILLENIUM PLAZA
CARDIFF RAILWAY
RIVER TAFF
BUS RANKS
TO CITY CENTRE
TO RESIDENTIAL AREA
CAR PARK
ACCESS
RAILWAY CAR PARK
HOUSING SCHEME IN SITE CONTEXT: EXISTING URBAN LANDSCAPE
JUXTAPOSED AGAINST AN IDEALISED NATURAL LANDSCAPE
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