Project 1 Final Submission (part 4) --- Final Proposition

4. Final Proposition

The final proposition is a concept about the house formed by the convergence of the ideas from the aspects explored previously. I think one of the most important ideas that Le Corbusier tried to convey is the central idea of living with nature. He is specific in the way that in living with nature, that human should avoid disturbing the natural landscape and to change this, he suggested the idea of living above the ground to avoid from destruction of my model. The ramp connects and links the exterior environment (exterior landscape) to the interior environment (interior roof garden landscape) and the path of the ramp begins with an opening to the environment (entrance door) and ends also with an opening to the environment (facade opening on the roof floor). These ideas are shown in my model as I use white cardboard to symbolize the outer landscape and by using the same material for the roof garden, I am simply trying to convey the idea of elevating the landscape from ground up to the first floor of the house. The rest of the house is made of transparent sheets to suggest them to be places of looking out, whilst the roof garden is made with the same materials with the landscape to show their similarity, and also the idea of looking in within the box

Project 1 Final Submission (part 3)--- Details

3. Details

The view and landscape.

I took a specific point of view to analyze how Le Corbusier brought the landscape into Villa Savoye. There are three major elements in the view—frames, reflection and internal plants ,which blur the boundary between nature and architecture.

Reflection on the Ground Floor.

There is a curved glazing wall on the ground floor separating the interior and exterior in a creative way. According to Le Corbusier’s concept of Villa Savoye, the house is supposed to be lifted above the ground just like it is flowing in the air. The internal space is dark while the external space is bright. The glazing wall reflects the surrounding environment and in the same time, people can still see through the wall. When visitors walking along the glazing wall to the entrance, they not only feel the rhyme of the light on the curved wall, but they also feel like walking in the nature.

Frames

a) frames of planter beds

Le Corbusier uses the white frame of planter beds to disguise the skylight.

b) frames with glazing

The glazing blur the view of landscape which provides a contrast with view through un-glazed frames. I think the same view through different frame form a hierarchy, blurry or clear.

c) frames without glazing

The direct and clear view through the frame bring nature closer to visitors

Reflection

Reflection

a) ”going-through” reflection

It is a pleasant experience when looking at this kind of reflection. The glass wall reflects the courtyard while people can still see the interior through the wall. What is more interesting is that there are frames behind the wall, and the reflection of external white frame is overlapping the internal black frame.

b) reflection

The reflection emphasized the natural elements in the courtyard.

Internal Plants

Then plants can blur the boundary between nature and architecture.

However, I created a glass box that represents the external façade. I then placed a roof on top to make the person move their eye to the level below this to experience the model. After the Villa Savoye was built, architects designed building with full height walls as glass, as they were non-structural due to the domino system. As I stated above, Le Corbusier could have had full height glass, however he wanted framed portioned views of the landscape. For this reason there is an opaque material placed to show the Villa Savoye.

I thought that this was an interesting conceptual model. I personally felt that it was interesting, as it allowed me to compare and contrast one of the first building used via the domino effect to buildings post Villa Savoye. I personally like the idea of framed views, as we appreciate the landscape as an artwork, rather than just a view outside.

Project 1 Final Submission (part 2)--- Exterior VS Interior

2. Use of Landscape

Internal

Pilots	198 m2
Habitation	285 m2
Solarium	0 m2
Total	483 m2

External

Pilots	225 m2
Habitation	121 m2+9 m2
Solarium	84 m2
Total	438 m2

Internal : External (Proportion) = 1 : 0.91

I was looking at the relationship to the landscape and last week I noted that the amount of exterior to interior space was nearly equivalent. I had modelled the exterior and interior spaces last week, however thought that they didn’t show how the space was nearly equal. For this reason I endeavoured to find a way that would best display this. I made two quick models, however in the end thought that only one was strong enough to display this information.

I ended up modelling both the exterior and interior spaces again, and placing them on a balance. Once placed on a balance, if the balance is to equal out then it would show that these floor area equal.

To find a building that has equal exterior to interior space is very unusual. Some buildings have exterior space spread out through a large site, however the site that the external areas has been taken from is only the footprint of the building, which is extremely unusual.

I thought that it is a great idea and one that I would love to emulate in my next project. The idea of making private exterior spaces is a great idea, and since this building, many others have been created with rooftop gardens or exterior public areas that are elevated. I thought this model worked well and represented all that I wanted to represent.

Project 1 Final Submission (part 2)--- Circulation

1.Circulation

There are two circulation paths for the house; the ramp symmetrically middle of the house and the spiral stairs located in the north-eastern area of the house. In comparing the two different types of paths and their relations to the house, the shapes are firstly quite different and juxtaposing. The ramp provides a horizontal progression through the house; it allows slow movement and is parallel to the floor slabs. This way of circulation is much more public and open in contrast with the spiral stairs; it connects between the public spaces between the floors and as the occupants move up the ramp, they can continue to view the surroundings, providing the experience of an architectural promenade; exploring time and revealing the successive perceptions of spaces. The spiral stairs on the other hand allows a fast, vertical progression through the house. The occupants experience no views of the surroundings whilst climbing the stairs, and located in the private part of the house, this circulation path is much more enclosed and private.

The models of the ramp and spiral stairs as a result tries to illustrate the horizontality of the ramp using wood matchsticks and the verticality of the spiral stairs with straight wires which wraps around a spiral. The spiral stairs is poked through the base, to demonstrate the drilling through the house.

Project 1(Part 1) - Analyse

Enclosure

Circulation

Structure

Project 1(Part 1) - Final Drawings

Project 1(Part 1) - Villa Savoye Research

A Reflection on Le Corbusier's 5 Points

01. THE SUPPORTS.
What resonated most with this point was the purpose and pure function of the supports. Corbusier expresses them in their most purest form, their presence is for support, foundation, stability.

02. THE ROOF GARDENS.
Sure enough, Corbusier also addresses the purpose of the rooftop gardens as well; not only are they to serve as a peaceful oasis, but they also serve a rather crucial part in the integrity of the entire building. Although beauty and luxury are displayed by the garden, below the surface we see it protects the building itself, conceptualized to be somewhat of a 'skin' and it also resolved the issue of the flat roof in regards to weather and water run-off. The most interesting point he makes is "In general, roof gardens mean to a city the recovery of all the built up area."

03. THE FREE DESIGNING OF THE GROUND-PLAN.
Through all of this precision, specificity, exact, and practical nature comes independence. It again shows the purpose and function of the above elements and how they contribute to a freedom of design creating a unique experience / transition from the facade to the interior of the space.

04. THE HORIZONTAL WINDOW.
Here, Corbusier not only convinces us of the beneficial light and illumination of horizontal windows versus vertical, but he also stresses how horizontal windows are fitting give the structure of the supports. This is also interesting as it reflects the horizontal nature of the building itself, and the strength, stability and support of the reinforced concrete as it's wider than it is tall.

05. FREE DESIGN OF THE FACADE.
With this point, Corbusier, while still practical and within function somewhat breaks free of the support construction and demonstrates the versatility the building can also have with the balcony-like extension of the floor. Here the facade can break free of the supports and dividing factors of the interior; it's interesting how he breaks from these points but still with limitation.