The final part of the project involved using the archetype analysis to inform the design of a Cabin for an Architect. The cabin was to be located in an imaginary and ideal architectural location on the virtual Mount Methodology near Charrette City within a community of existing exemplar houses. These exemplar houses were those researched within Part 1 (archetype research).
Redefined Brief:
Clients: Exemplar Architect and Partner
Size: 75 square meters of internal enclosed space. Additional covered external space can be provided. Site size can be no bigger than 500 square meters
Location: Anywhere within the Mount Methodology site defined within the provided map. Located within a community of the exemplar houses. Assumptions can be made within the site plan in regards to RLs, contours, waterways, trees and roads. The site area has been identified as a subtropical climate within the Southern Hemisphere.
Included Spaces:
- A space for living
- A space for working
- A space for reflecting
- A space for dining
- A space for preparing meal
- A space for sleeping
- A space for abluting
Site Details:
The majority of the exemplar houses researched were beach houses, therefore, a site context which provides a similar setting should be chosen. Because the provided site map does not include a beach frontage, it was manipulated so a lake could be formed within the centre of the site. Looking at the map, around the edges of site were names such hypothesis heights, locus lookout and linearity lookout. It also shows streams within the middle of the site, therefore suggesting it is the lowest point. A topography layout was created reflecting these assumptions, allowing the lake to form.
The site has already been identified as a subtropical environment within the Southern Hemisphere, therefore, it can be assumed that the best orientation for the house is North East. This allowed for a site to be chosen overlooking the lake in the north easterly direction. This is shown in the image below.
At a larger scale, individual house sites were identified within the community and vegetation could be identified.
Other drawings regarding site analysis are shown below.
This thorough site analysis enabled the design for the Cabin for an Architect to begin and ensured that the design produced was suitable for the chosen context. The design process was done in a number of steps.
Design Diagrams:
These diagrams help to establish a relationship between the studied Sunrise Beach House and the Cabin Design. The diagrams show key design elements from the chosen exemplar house and how they are integrated into the cabin design. The diagrams are divided into the three sections of a house is an environmental filter, a house is a container of human activities and a house is a delightful experience. Diagrams of Sunrise Beach House are shown on the left, diagrams of the proposed cabin are shown on the right.
A House is an Environmental Filter:
A House is a Container of Human Activities:
A House is a Delightful Experience:
Written Description - Lakeside Lodge:
The following description of the Sunrise Beach House is centred on the 3 fundamental concepts of the project - the house is an environmental filter, a container for human activities and a delightful experience.
A House is an Environmental Filter:
The proposed cabin design filters the surrounding environment effectively so as to create optimum living conditions. This is achieved by facing all living spaces toward the North Eastern orientation, allowing the penetration of morning sun and north eastern breezes into the interior. The inclusion of solid stone walls on the western side protects the cabin from unwanted western sun and winds. To ensure the building is aesthetically suited to the site, a colour palette was selected to respond to the surroundings and to make use of local materials. This criteria was also achieved by organising the layout of house into split levels to suit the slope of the land.
A House is a Container of Human Activities:
The separation of public and private was a main design pursuit within this cabin to maximise the effectiveness of the architect’s studio setting. The best possible internal conditions are provided through the separation of the loud areas, kitchen, dining and lounge, and the quiet areas, study, bedroom and bathroom. It occurs through the establishment of separate pavilions connected by an adequate connection corridor and the placement of the wet edge pool. This also helps to achieve the notion of keeping work separate and being able to escape to other more homely areas. The reflection space is adjacent to the studio area to allow the deep consideration of work projects. The cabin is also well protected from any road noise or fumes by the heavy stone walls.
A House is a Delightful Experience:
The cabin is designed to allow maximum views over the lake from throughout. Direct connection with the lake is made through the water feature which flows around the entry path, under the connection corridor and into the wet edge pool which appears to blend seamlessly with the lake backdrop. Sun shade patterning is created throughout the interior through the use of timber batons.
Final Design Drawings:
To ensure scale is correct within the digital format, scale bars are included within each drawing. Double click images to view at at a bigger size.
Site Plan:
Site Plan:
Floor Plan:
East Elevation:
East Elevation in Context:
Section A-A:
3D Volumetric Exterior Respresentation:
3D Volumetric Interior Respresentation - Living Room:
