Studio 2

The goal of Studio 2 was to study the concept of "Chance Interaction" by generating constraints which we would use to achieve unexpected and unplanned results, the success of which would potentially surpass intentionally designed elements. This was achieved through two abstract studies of chance operation, and culminated in the design of a site of "Last Repose" through which we also explored the concepts of life and death. This site was to include a death component, consisting of all the programmatic elements of a funeral home and a site of internment for the deceased, as well as a life component, consisting of a library and archive whose focus was texts pertaining to life and death.

For the first phase of Studio 2, we were tasked with creating a series of elements consisting of lines, planes, and volumes. We then had to create components made up of several elements each based on a series of rules which defined how elements could connect to each other. We also each came up with a verb which we then researched, diagramming all of its possible meanings and connotations. The goal of this was to create systems out of the components which we had defined by connecting them according to the rules we had written in order to evoke the chosen word.

The continued list of components and their rules

I devised the form for my system so that beginning with a solid central "nucleus" made up primarily of volumes, it would fade towards the edges, gradually shifting into a more plane-based geometry and then finally terminating with a series of interweaving lines which have far less substance than the nucleus.

Another view of the system. This manifestation was the result of a series of iterations all using the same theme and increasing in complexity.

Two sections of my system, shown connected to each other in order to indicate how the system might propagate.

The next step was modification. First, we could either change our word, or keep it. I chose to take "Evaporate" a step further, moving onto the more active and energetic word, "Boil." We also had to modify each of our components using a series of transformations to create something far more complex and interesting. Each of these steps of transformation is documented here.

Continued documentation of the steps of transformation for the modified components.

7 of the most intricate components which resulted from the modifications.

These modified components were then connected by shared elements to form a new system, evocative of the new word. In order to embody the word "Boil," I chose to create pockets within a primarily planar form which would be filled by interwoven lines. These pockets have a more vaporous appearance, acting like bubbles forming in a boiling fluid.

Another angle of the modified system. Like the first system, this manifestation was the result of a series of iterations all using the same theme and increasing in complexity.

As with the first system, I generated two sections of my system, shown connected to each other in order to indicate how the system might propagate.

The next project within this studio was site analysis. The site was located on Grandview Ave in the Mount Washingtown neighborhood of Pittsburgh. This neighborhood is famous for its phenomenal views of Downtown Pittsburgh. I generated a series of diagrams to explain various conditions on and near the site.

Photograph of the site

Photograph taken from within the site

View of Downtown Pittsburgh from the site

View of the Ohio River from the site

From Site Analysis, we moved to strategic programming. When dealing with the subject of death, I believe that it is important to choose a strategy which helps to provide meaning to tragedy. I drew inspiration from the forest fire, which, while incredibly destructive, is necessary to enable new growth. Similarly, human death is crucial in order to make room for new life. Human bodies are essentially borrowed organic matter which must be eventually returned. This strategy led me to choose a style of internment called "Promession" which essentially turns the body into compost. I chose to integrate this idea into my design by composting bodies into trees around my site which would serve as memorials for the deceased. I also reached the conclusion that rebirth could be associated with literal ascension, but since rebirth must always end in death, I chose to coil that ascension so that it ends directly over where it begins.

For my programming, I chose to begin with a large empty outdoor space located below grade which one would enter down into from Grandview Ave above. This space would be evocative of the wasteland left after a forest fire and would be tied to the death component of my building. From there, I placed an ascending green roof, rising up from the wasteland and coiling until terminating directly over the initial point of ascension. This green roof would be planted with trees, increasing in density towards the apex. The upper level interior spaces of this coil would contain the life components of the building, which would be entered directly from Sweetbriar Street. As the coil ascends, the view becomes increasingly spectacular, enlivening the space.

The programming model, showing the major details described above. Grandview Ave is located on the left side of the building.

Another view of the programming model without the site model.

When moving on to the architectural design of the building, I wanted to introduce a waterfall from the pinnacle of the building back down to the wasteland below in order to metaphorically tie life back into death without literally forcing the user to descend back into the wasteland. I chose to use a similar structural language to my original systems, associating the more vaporous line-based components with death and the more full-bodied components with life and rebirth. Finally, I wanted to put a point at the peak of the building which would force the user to look back down onto the death portion, further tying life to death.

The sketch model of the final design of the building. The building was formed using the same modified components as in the second system, connected according to the same rules. In designing the building, I chose to fill the wasteland with interconnected beams formed by the line components in order to symbolize the skeletal remains of a forest after a fire. The architectural spaces then rise out of this less-solid central area, coiling up to the pinnacle of rebirth.

The plans for the basement and ground floor levels of the building. The basement level is the death component of the building, while the ground floor contains the start of the life component.

The plan drawings for the first floor site plan and the second floor site plan, both of which contain a steadily rising continuation of the life component of the building.

The 2 1/2 and third floor plan of the building, also showing the increasing density of the trees on the roof.

The roof plan of the building and two section views.

View of the building as seen while approaching on Grandview Ave.

Aerial view of the building showing its entirety. The final model of the building was to be an abstraction of the actual design, evocative more of the systemic routes of its design than of the building itself. Consequently, details such as stairs, mullions, and anything else which was not explicitly defined by the assembled components were omitted from the model and expressed in stead in the plans and sections.