Exercise 5

SKETCH PROBLEM 5: Synthesis
Assigned: May 15, 2019
Due: May 24, 2019, Pinup, Location TBA
Desk Crits: 5.20.19,  5.22.19

VERSION 1.    – D R A F T  – 

OVERVIEW

Following the mid-review there are three choices available: 1. continue with the current family unit shelter that you are developing with modifications and more detail, 2. substantially alter the family unit shelter, or 3. gain what insights you can from earlier work and develop are relatively new family unit shelter (including non-traditional households). The square footage for each unit is now discretionary. Aggregates of modules at the family unit scale or sub-unit scale may be considered. The current exercise is a precursor and draft for the final review.

Within exercise 4 the studio began to more deliberately incorporate site and the surrounding environment with respect to the design of the community layout of 16 family units of 4 to 6 persons each for a total population of approximately 80 residents. More nominally it began to identify the type of community it serves. A specific square footage for each unit was targeted. This exercise now takes on a more complete exploration of site. It takes into account a more distinct response to the specific community served. Additional built structures are included to provide for community or private uses. You are asked to argue for and determine what size unit is appropriate.

DISCRETIONARY SIZE UNITS

The 4 to 6 person “family” unit should include accommodation for non-traditional households. The design of each unit can be based upon an aggregate of smaller sub-units. In turn aggregates of family units can be in also be placed together or joined in clusters throughout the site.

The square footage specification may include built structures as small as 50 square feet that aggregate into a large single family unit. The family unit size itself should probably not be greater than 600 square feet.

TYPE FABRIC STRUCTURE

In the first few exercises the studio examined a “soft” architectural type shelter that relied upon fabric tensioning and tensegrity methods as part of the structural solution.  The studio then worked on developing a “hard”  rigid frame folding type shelter where fabric was used as skin but not as a part of the primary structural method. Now as in the mid-review sketch problem the choice of type fabric structure is discretionary and may be a hybrid of earlier types.

Moreover, the earlier sketch problems concentrated predominantly on physical scaled study models, but were less developed with respect to the use of architectural drawing and computer modeling.   In contrast,  this current exercise will balance the use of all media. It will also now need to more fully address the site, circulation, public to private space, surrounding environment, land and oceanfront features. This final sketch takes on the objective of accommodating a longer term stay of an uncertain time length.

SITE

The field trip to OIMB established three potential sites for the UNHCR community of 16 residential units. They included the adjacent parks Sunset Bay State Park, Shore Acres State Park, and Cape Arago State Park.  One of the sites should continue be developed and the layout of the 16 family units remains the primary objective.  Secondary units (e.g., dining, infirmary, meditation, picnic areas, gardens) should now be incorporated into the site plan according to the community narrative that you will determine. A digital terrain model of the site is integral to completing the site layout and design process.

As a quick thought experiment or tracing paper type exercise, imagine the site devoid of buildings. Where would you go to find a quiet reflective space?   What are some places for non-building land uses, such as gardening, recreation or social gathering? At the periphery of the site, are there now opportunities for some kind of amenity (e.g, a bench or even mini-lookout shelter) that may offer a place for private reflection or more intimate contact with the natural environment? How does the sun rise cast light and shadow  on the land? Also reconsider the site’s assets and outdoor space options relative to notes taken during the field trip before finally establishing building footprints. That is, where are the best places to establish semi-private spaces for separate clusters of family sized units for residents that may have a more distinct social relationship to one another (e.g, first-responders, counselors, humanitarian-aid workers, nurses, family members, etc.) than they may do to the community of 16 family units at large?

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The review should include photographic references to and if feasible physical inclusion of study models from the earlier exercises as they reflect the primary method of investigation through the first half of the term.

  1. Develop a family unit collapsible fabric architecture structure as a single unit or as an aggregate of sub-units.
  2. Develop the physical connection to the ground or foundation system.
  3. Deploy the structure on one of the three sites studied on the field trip: Sunset Bay State Park, Shore Acres State Park or Cape Arago State Park.
  4. Depict in plan the deployment of 16 family-unit shelters as well as additional structures (e.g., dining, infirmary, etc.) appropriate to the type community or type communities that you establish in your program narrative.
  5. Develop a 3D view (axonometric or perspective renderings) of a cluster of family units and their spatial, social and physical connections during the day and at night.
  6. Based upon your own review of the literature in the bibliography or from other sources determine a narrative of a particular group of forcibly displaced people that would form the community.
  7. Establish roughly five discussion points and one key proposition that you are testing in your design, and that may help to shape the discussion for the final review.
  8. The choice of materials, including hardware, fabric and rigid structural elements, should be identified.  Take into account, cost, weight, portability and collapsibility.
  9. The armature itself should fully flatten and collapse to the degree possible.

Constraints:

  • At least two entrances/exits for each family unit.
  • Operable openings for fresh air, natural light and views.
  • 4 to 6 places for sleeping.
  • 4 to 6 writing surfaces and/or one common surface for dining.
  • Daylighting.
  • Minimal artificial lighting.
  • Simplified building transformation / assembly process.
  • Passive solar design principles.
  • Consideration of wind, rain and snow.
  • Consideration of environmental impact on habitats and marine conditions.

Include In Less Detail:

  • Washing or WC facilities.
  • Kitchen.

Media:

Investigate the structure concurrently in physical model form and through drawing and computer modeling. The joints in the structure may be studied mechanically if abstractly with off-the-shelf hardware (e.g., Michael’s, Lowes, etc.) and/or 3D printed components. More specifically, consider fabric connection devices that help with retraction and unfurling of the structure. Consider the degrees of freedom in the movement of the joints. Optionally establish interchangeable parts that can be assembled and disassembled for more than one purpose. Note that computer renderings or drawings can be used to supplant the physical modeling of joints if you are short of time. However, one physically prepared joint should be developed, either very rough or of more finished quality.

For this penultimate exercise, use a smaller scale representation and layout for the final plot as a mockup for final review itself. We will discuss the options in studio today. For the final review, plot size will be __________ (also to be discussed). Up to the equivalent of at least two plots is recommended. More is acceptable. However, the full width of the plots should not exceed 8′.  Moreover, you may want to compose each plot as a tile of smaller plots.

Compile and place a PDF file of your presentation under your name “LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_SKETCH5.PDF” in the aaafileserver for the class and under the sub-folder “SUBMIT/LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME/SKETCH5/. For this pre-final review bring whatever physicals to the pinup that you think are needed to have a meaningful discussion. For the final review bring as many of your study models dating back to the beginning for the term as possible. The date of the final review it still being determined by the department as will be announced.

  • Requirements:
    • An operable and detailed joint minimally at ½” scale (i.e., ½” = 1 foot).
    • At least one physical prototype of the shelter at discretionary model scale, optionally with the integration of CNC fabricated components or off the shelf hardware store components. Re-use or modification of an existing prototype is OK although may be less optimal for design exploration.
    • Computer based detailed axonometric or perspective renderings of exterior and of the interior  of a single unit, showing light, shadow, interior elements and people during both daytime and nighttime conditions.
    • Two sections, one elevation, and plan, of the family structure at 1/4” or 1/8” scale.
    • Axonometric or perspective rendering of 3 to 4 units having a “communicating” or physically adjacent relationship to each other, ideally in both daytime and nighttime conditions.
    • Axonometric or perspective rendering the full site in less detail.
    • Site plan depicting the community of 16 units, additional built structures, outdoor amenities, pathways, significant features and spaces.
    • A larger area plan showing the site context of the park as a whole with your more site specific plan included more abstractly.
    • One wall type section showing material connections to the ground and also to the roof structure at 1/4″ to 1/2″ scale.
    • Two larger area site sections showing the full scope of your park site including the waters edge and adjacent areas of land or forrest. The representation of family units may be abstract. The sections may be drawn at discretionary scale; however, it is recommended you work with as large a scale as practical.
    • Integrate insulation into the fabric structure per the discussion with visiting guest Joseph Buccini, WJE Associates and Tom Hahn at whatever level of detail seems appropriate to your level of understanding and investigation.
  • Extracurricular:
    • Create a thumbnail scale image series to depict an assembly of your structure.
    • Create a thumbnail scale image series to depict a  transformation of your structure from an initial temporary deployment in the first 24 hours to a semi-permanent condition when more resources arrive.
    • Create a thumbnail scale image series to depict the initial delivery of the all the structures and setup.
    • Create a thumbnail scale image series of how a structure or it’s parts are packed for shipping.

Scenarios:

  • Eating/sleeping/meeting.
  • Warm day ventilation/cold day or night insulation.
  • Daytime/nighttime conditions.
  • Light power supply for reading/laptop recharging/nighttime activity.

NOTES/MISCELLANY OF ADDITIONAL PRESENTATION OPTIONS AT YOUR DISCRETION

  1. Show variable site conditions in renderings (e.g., wind, sunshine, rain, runoff etc).
  2. Help each other with respect to sewing machine use, 3D modeling, and, if it is available, 3D printing.
  3. Incorporate precedents and earlier investigations into your study.
  4. Incorporate on site sketches, field notes and photos into your study that capture key site features and conditions.

EXTRACURRICULAR DESIGN OPTIONS

  1. Develop a method of full retraction into a box that can be transported as flattened cargo.
  2. Develop an option to incorporate or perhaps add thermal mass days or weeks after the initial setup of the shelters.
  3. A physical site model is not expected; however, you may want to consider a partial site model that incorporates one or more clusters of units.