Project Overview
This project explores design through the creation of a series of rules defined by location, social needs, services and systems. The design of the building evolves as additive rules are added based on new requirements or design specifications. This project was concepted before I had any knowledge of computational design or generative design.
House Rules!
Year
2009
Contribution
I designed this apartment building for my final senior undergraduate project under professor Annette LeCuyer. The project requirements, building codes, and site at Main St. and Swan St. in Buffalo, NY were provided to the studio.
Process
A video game has defined rules and objectives. This housing project has a starts with a list of constraints and evolves with additive rules.
This is project starts with a project brief for housing development:
Site on empty lot at Main St. and Swan St. in Buffalo, NY
65 unit apartment building
parking space requirement: 60% of units
01 Defining the units
Taking inspiration from Tetris, the modular units can be rearranged to provide living spaces that suit different needs.
02 Defining the proportions
Adjusting the proportions of the units offers opportunities to use the extra space for circulation corridors when aggregated
03 Allocating services
Consolidating the spaces needing plumbing vertically and creating a series of structure cores.
04 Maximzing for outdoor space
The initial approach to aggregation aims to optimize the allocation of outdoor space per unit. By employing a double layer of units, the number of units accommodated is increased.
05 Adding mixed use
Adding mixed use spaces with constrained spatial parameter and dimensions create the need to reallocate units so that spaces can be accessed by residents and the public.
06 Adding additional access
External staircases allow for additional access points affecting the aggregation of the units.
07 Final Aggregation
The residential units are provided a sense of privacy with the rain screen. The public spaces are glass with structural glass to invite residents and people on the street to engage in the activities happening throughout the structure. For units without outdoor space, a smoker’s balcony is provided with retractable rain screen.
08 Construction Details
Section detail of common connections and transitions at 1.5 inches = 1 foot.
Results
The project was well received by the UB faculty and nominated for a scholarship sponsored by Cannon Design. I received a scholarship and internship from Cannon Design during my graduate studies in the media architecture dual degree program at UB.