the four designs are complete! The clients wants and needs are simple, light (lots of it), large open spaces, outside areas or courtyard (her tower) and a passage throughout the space...
These ideas have inspired my designs to create a comparison of concrete and light as well as making a journey though the building. Her space was an escape from the every day drag of life, an escape from her office building as a Chinese consulate. The filtering of light is incorporated into all my designs due to the fact that it is a really important aspect of my client. Her tower is seen as a courtyard to sit and reflect upon herself.
This first design is the one I think fits the client best. The front passage way is a bunker like structure buried into the ground. this area contains the kitchen and eating areas. You then walk through this area to the back stairs and enter up into the living area on a raised level. To your right is a decked space. The bedroom is on the other side of the living area. Both the living area and bedroom face out into the courtyard in the centre of the building. There is a small staircase which leads onto the rooftop of the first passage way which enables more outdoor space which could be used as an entertaining level for the client. The exterior is concrete slab mixed with lots of glass panelling.
My second design is a lot more open plan than the first. Two large levels, one on top of the other, allow for more movement within the building, quite opposite to her work style. Large glass panels run through one side of the building through first and second floor to allow for equal lighting throughout . The living and bedroom areas are on the second floor whereas the kitchen, dining and bathroom areas are on the first floor to separate public and private domains.
First Floor Plan ^
Second Floor Plan ^
My third design is again quite different to the ones before. it has two split levels, public on the ground and private above. the use of filtered light in this design is very important. The Panels at the end of the building provide all the light to the building (apart from the other open end) but the light is filtered to create different patterns throughout the day on both ground and first floor. Ground level contains the living area, kitchen, dining and bathroom. Up stairs is a private area where the client sleeps and where she can relax. There is also an outside area too that is a courtyard (shown in green).
First Floor Plan ^
Second Floor Plan ^
My fourth design is a bit more complex that the ones previous. The entrance is a long passage down the side of the building which bring you out into a filtered light area where the kitchen and dining area is. This area is opened out into the courtyard situated in the centre of the layout. On the right there is stairs leading to the raised level of the design. This is where the private domain is, once again with a wall for filtered light. The bedroom is behind a dividing wall, and then leads out onto a decked area over the courtyard. The client can privately sit and reflect in this space.
All my designs meet the requirement of the client, both personally and for living. Lots of filtered light in contrast with heavy concrete gives the designs a feeling of security without heaviness. All designs take the client on a passage throughout the whole building rather than just room to room.
