Unit+08

= Design Challenge - Personal Dwelling Space =

== **In this design challenge you will get to design the dwelling of your dreams! The only catch is, everything has to fit in a really small space. Read on to find out the details. ** ==



"AFFLUENCE OFFERS THE KIND OF FREEDOM I AM DEEPLY SUSPICIOUS OF. IT OFFERS FREEDOM FROM RESTRAINT AND VIRTUALLY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT RESTRAINTS"

 * Charles Eames **

= Introduction: = = Providing a space that shelters us from the elements and provides for the basic NEEDS and WANTS of living is one of the most fundamental of human tasks. The kinds of structures that humans create vary according to culture, location, and throughout the span of human history. In the early 21st century the average size of a family dwelling in the United States is approximately 2400 square feet. It is becoming clear that the impact of such dwellings along with the accompanying lifestyle (cars and other fossil fuel burning vehicles, appliances and various other toys), on the environment is not sustainable. Society is facing some very real CONSTRAINTS upon how we live. Architects, designers, community leaders and others are busy imagining news ways of thinking about how we dwell. There is a tremendous amount of interest in small architecture at present. In this project you will, explore just how big a structure has to be to accommodate all of the basic functions of a dwelling, and design a structure that meets those needs. You will also explore the importance of "site" and how it can impact your design choices. =

==In this culminating design project you will bring to bear all that we have covered and that you have learned in class this semester. Review the information on the class wiki before you begin the project.== = = =Design a small house that provides all of the necessary spaces and equipment for your basic human needs in a footprint of no more than 200 sq. ft. of interior floor space and also creates a “sense of place” that you would be comfortable and happy to live in.=
 * The Design Challenge: **

//Simplicity of form is the best strategy and I recommend designing a structure that uses simple geometric forms. Your design will have to meet all of the criteria listed below.//
==//Design from the general to the specific: Layout the largest forms first then fill in details later. If you get the basic forms and their relationships to each other correct – then the details will follow more easily.//==


 * ==Your building cannot exceed a foot print 200 sq. ft. of interior floor space. You can create a single elevated sleeping surface that is no larger than 4x8' or 64 sq. ft==
 * ==Your building's highest point cannot exceed a height of 20' from ground level.==
 * ==Must provide all functions necessary for domestic living (spaces for sleeping, cooking, working, relaxing and personal hygiene etc.)==
 * ==Your building must have exterior walls that are 6" thick and interior walls(if you have them) should be 4" thick.==
 * ==Your building must be located at a specific site (location).==
 * ==You may add an additional exterior platform (deck) which can be up to 100 sq. ft.==
 * ==Your design should address the basic elements of architecture (function, aesthetics and structural integrity), and other important concepts we have covered in the course.==


 * The Design Process **

=**You must follow the basic design process in order to fulfill this assignment. You must document and post ALL phases of the design process in your e-portfolio. Please follow the format that I have outlined below for organizing in your portfolio CLEARLY LABEL EACH PHASE OF THE PROCESS. The phases of the process are as follows:**=

**SUBMIT FINAL DESIGN FILES**
==** //Remember that even though you will follow the steps in the design process, the process does not have to follow a strictly linear path. In fact, you my find that after you do some research you will want to re-define your problem. Likewise, after brainstorming (ideating) you may need to do some more research, and so forth.// **== = = =Activity 1= =**DEFINE THE DESIGN PROBLEM**= ==The design problem is already partially defined for you in that I have given you the basic criteria (see overview section above), however now you still need to fill in the details according to your own personal point of view.==

**STEP 1**
== Create a ** prioritized ** list of your WANTS and NEEDS - what must you absolutely have and what can you live without in your living space. DO THIS WORK IN YOUR SKETCH BOOK AND UPLOAD A SCANNED OR PHOTOGRAPHED COPY TO YOUR E PORTFOLIO ==

**STEP 2**
== In a brief written document (at least one paragraph) analyze the kinds of spaces that you currently live or work in. Observe the places that you live and work and consider what about them do you like or dislike. Think about things like the amount of light, the height of the ceilings, the number and placement of windows and doors, the sizes of spaces and what kinds of materials are used. Consider how you actually live in your home and what is most important to you. Support your opinions with photographs or sketches. ==

**STEP 3**
== Select a location for your structure. It can be anywhere on earth, but you must consider how your location's specific conditions such as climate, weather, topography local cultural styles and customs etc.and how they may determine the design aspects of your project. Locate a specific site using Sketch Up (geo location). Write a short paragraph describing your location, why you chose it, and how you will respond to the specific conditions of your location. Provide specific data to support your choices. DO THIS WORK IN YOUR SKETCHBOOK AND UPLOAD A SCANNED OR PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE TO YOUR E PORTFOLIO ==

**STEP 4**
== Based on the information gathered in the first two sections, create a **SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM**: How much space will you devote to what activities or needs and why? How can you make spaces work for more than one task? How will your structure be oriented on the site to take advantage of specific characteristics such as: slope, sunlight, vistas (views) and other natural and man made features. Watch the presentation (link below ) for examples on building diagraming. Use freehand sketches and notes to work out your ideas. ==

View the Presentation: Use the link below

 * Diagraming a building**



=**ACTIVITY 2 - RESEARCH POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS**=

==Look at what others have done to solve this type of design problem. I have provided several resources below. You may use them or find your own. Select at least **three** sources, and using images, sketches and annotations, provide a brief analysis of the information you found and how you might incorporate it into your own design. **SCAN AND POST TO YOUR E-PORTFOLIO**==

Tiny house revolution really skinny house urban living shoebox dwelling Smallest Homes Tiny Houses Capsule tower

anthropometrics data Aircraft facilities Space saving ideas Micro-dwelling Tiny house talk

=**ACTIVITY 3 - BRAINSTORM**= ==**IN YOUR SKETCHBOOK**, create **THREE** different basic concepts that you could use for your design. Clearly label EACH concept and make multiple freehand drawings and/or sktech models for each that use different views of the building to describe the approach. **These drawings should be done very quickly and loosely** Use the techniques of orthographic and isometric drawing to communicate your ideas. You should also make written notes on your sketches to help explain. **SCAN AND POST TO YOUR PORTFOLIO**==



Example of Preliminary "brainstorm" sketches

=**ACTIVITY 4 -** ** CONSULTATION/ CRITIQUE **= Consult with me on your preliminary design work. During your critique you will take notes and write a short response. You must consult with me before continuing on in the process. POST BOTH YOUR NOTES AND YOUR RESPONSES TO YOUR E-PORTFOLIO.

IN ADDITION TO THIS FORMAL CRITIQUE I WILL BE CHECKING IN ON THE PROGRESS OF YOUR PROJECT OFTEN DURING CLASS TIME. YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS MAY ALSO BE ASKED TO CRITIQUE YOUR WORK. IT IS EXPECTED THAT YOU WILL RESPOND TO THESE INFORMAL CRITIQUES AND REVISING YOUR DESIGN IF APPROPRIATE. THIS MAY MEAN REPEATING SOME PHASES OF THE DESIGN PROCESS. THIS IS A NORMAL PART OF THE ITERATIVE DESIGN PROCESS. SAVE ALL VERSIONS OF YOUR WORK AND POST TO YOUR PORTFOLIO.

=ACTIVITY 5 - **REFINE THE DESIGN**=




 * Early concept sketches (top) and then (bottom), a more developed drawing of the same building project, showing multiple views by the architect William Leddy **

===Choose the design approach that you feel is the most promising, and begin the process of refining it. You may find that you want to incorporate elements from your different preliminary explorations. Do this work in your sketchbook and using your freehand drawing skills, develop a rough ground plan, section, and elevations. You may find that you may want briefly to go back to earlier phases of the design process to do some more brainstorming or research if you reach an impasse in your design process. You can also make a quick sketch or study model (to scale) to test out your ideas. **DOCUMENT AND POST ALL OF THIS WORK TO YOUR E-PORTFOLIO**=== Here is an example of one of a preliminary design which Is now being further refined. It was developed form the concept sketches above. It shows a more developed 3d model of the building as well as it's specific location and some basic landscaping.However details like windows, and interior fixtures and furnishings have still not be developed.

Quick sketch models can also be used to refine your design

=PROJECT - **FINAL DESIGN**=

**Basic Criteria for the building design**

 * ==Your building cannot exceed a foot print 200 sq. ft. of interior floor space. You can create a single elevated sleeping surface that is no larger than 4x8' or 64 sq. ft==
 * ==Building cannot exceed a height of 20' from ground level.==
 * ==Must provide all functions necessary for domestic living (spaces for sleeping, cooking, working, relaxing and personal hygiene etc.)==
 * ==Your building must have exterior walls that are 6" thick and interior walls(if you have them) should be 4" thick.==
 * ==Your building must be located at a specific site (location).==
 * ==You may add an additional exterior platform (deck) which can be up to 100 sq. ft.==
 * ==Your design should address the basic elements of architecture and other important concepts we have covered in the course.==


 * ==In Sketch Up: Fully developed 3d model showing both the interior and exterior of your structure. This should include: the structure itself, the site where it is located, and any furnishings and equipment that you deem necessary. **You must organize your model using: components, groups, layers, scenes and styles.**==
 * ==In Layout: a multi- page document (a minimum of 3 pages). Page 1 should include a large view of your structure on its site. You may use multiple views but one should clearly be larger than the rest. Page 2 must contain at least 3 Elevations (sides). Page 3 must have at least one ground plan (from top), and at least one section view drawn to scale. All pages must have a title block with appropriate information contained in it (use may use the template I have provided or create your own). THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE PRINTED.==
 * ==A finished conceptual model of your building including the site, to scale (TBD)==

=SUBMITTING FINAL DESIGN FILES (SKETCHUP AND LAYOUT)=
 * EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!!! THIS IS IN DIFFERENT FROM OUR USUAL PROJECT SUBMISSION PLEASE FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY **

**__I NEED ACCESS TO YOUR ORIGINAL FILES SO THAT I CAN GRADE THEM. YOUR PROJECT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED COMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE GRADED UNLESS YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS STEP__**
==**ALL OF YOUR FINAL DESIGN DELIVERABLES MUST BE UPLOADED INTO YOUR E-PORTFOLIO AND SUBMITTED TO ONCAMPUS AS USUAL. ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE CREATE A NEW FOLDER ON YOUR DESKTOP LABELED WITH YOUR LAST NAME AND THE TITLE: ARCH FINAL PROJECT FALL 2015. PLACE YOUR FINAL SKETCHUP AND LAYOUT FILES FOR THE FINAL PROJECT IN THIS FOLDER.**==

=ASSESSMENT= Your project will be graded using the following rubric.

Does not meet the criteria |||| **2** Does an acceptable job of meeting the criteria || **3** Does a good job of meeting the criteria || **4** Does an excellent job of meeting or exceeding the criteria ||
 * CRITERIA || 1
 * Project is complete and present in the e-portfolio. Work is well documented and clearly presented and organized ||  ||||   ||   ||   ||
 * The Project fulfills all specific criteria and conditions outlined in the project description ||  ||||   ||   ||   ||
 * Project goes beyond what is comfortable and known. Takes creative risks and is an original and imaginative solution to the design problem ||  ||||   ||   ||   ||
 * Project shows a good understanding of the concepts and techniques of design and representation ||  ||||   ||   ||   ||
 * Drawings and models are created with attention to detail and good craftsmanship ||  ||||   ||   ||   ||
 * PROJECT GRADE ||||  ||||||   ||
 * PROJECT GRADE ||||  ||||||   ||

=FINAL PROJECT CHECKLIST YOU MUST HAVE ALL OF THESE ITEMS=

**DEFINING THE DESIGN PROBLEM**
PRIORITIZED LIST OF WANTS AND NEEDS SPATIAL ANALYSIS (WRITTEN WITH IMAGES TO SUPPORT) SPACE PLANNING (FREEHAND DRAWINGS WITH NOTES) SELECTION OF YOUR SITE (GOOGLE EARTH/MAPS IMAGE AND WRITTEN DESCRIPTION)

**RESEARCH**
NOTES AND IMAGES FROM AT LEAST THREE SOURCES

**BRAINSTORMING**
DEVELOP THREE DIFFERENT DESIGN CONCEPTS. FREEHAND SKETCHES USING MULTIPLE VIEWS FOR EACH, USE ORTHOGRAPHIC AND ISOMETRIC METHODS TO CONVEY YOUR IDEAS.

**CONSULTATION/CRITIQUE**
NOTES FROM AND YOUR RESPONSES TO YOUR CRITIQUE

**SELECTING AND REFINING THE DESIGN**
FREEHAND DRAWINGS SHOWING MORE DETAIL OF YOUR BUILDING: GROUND PLAN, SECTION SKETCH MODEL (MODEL IS OPTIONAL BUT EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR WORKING OUT SPACE PROBLEMS)

**FINALIZING THE DESIGN**
FULLY DEVELOPED SKETCH UP MODEL SHOWING BOTH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF YOUR STRUCTURE. INCLUDES ALL DETAILS : SITE, BASIC LANDSCAPING, FURNITURE, APPLIANCES, WINDOWS, DOORS ETC.FINAL PRESENTATION DRAWINGS: ISOMETRIC VIEW, GROUND PLAN, SECTION, ELEVATIONS (SHOWING RELATION TO SITE).

=THE FINAL EXAM/ PRESENTATION:=

Final presentation Rubric:
Final presentation Rubric

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