march thesis portfolio

The Tower of NurtureThe Towers of DreamsThomas Higginson

s08448350MArch Thesis Project

ContentsDibeth 4Vienna 12Die_Kuratoren 34Augarten_Flakturm_Towers 60Dreamology 68The_Towers_of_Dreams 72The_Tower_of_Nurture 74

Studio Month was the preface to my design projects. Focused on Digbeth, Birmingham, the intention was to develop a way of reading, recording and interpreting a location and the architecture within it. Methods of drawing and photography were developed alongside the crafting of narrative prose to begin

on the past, considering the present and

4 Studio Month | Digbeth Dreamology

Digbeth Sketches

5Studio Month | Digbeth Dreamology

Investigative Drawings

6 Studio Month | Digbeth Dreamology

laser cut

casting bending welding

piercing gluing fixing

sewing threading hanging arranging

burning recording

painting

Modelling became the final expression of the Digbeth fable, using composition, materails and form to dipict the findings and readings of the area. A vernacular currently ruled by a subserviant architecture, design to serve and provide the industry which it harboured within. Cruel adaptations of these spaces begin to take over, culminating in an architecture adapted and forced to work; the original integrity is lost.

Digbeth Conceptual Model

historical brickwork vernacular as a

constant

reflections of industrial past

markings of industry

industrial relics

tentative ties to progression

choreography of progression

demise of architecture being designed to suit

technology

technology begins to define architecture

refined technology defines architecture

Model Elevation

The Rise of Technology vs Vernacular

Reflecting on Past Industry

1 - Inner city2 - Leopoldstadt3 - Landstasse4 - Wieden5 - Margareten6 - Mariahilf7 - Neubau8 - Josefstadt

17 - Hernamls18 - Wahring19 - Dobling20 - Brigittenau21 - Floridsdorf22 - Donaustadt23 - Liesing

PROVINCIAL BOUNDARY

DISTRICT BOUNDARY

9 - Alsergrund10 - Favoriten 11 - Simmering12 - Meidling13 - Hietzing14 - Penzing15 - Rudolfsheim-Funhaus

16 - Ottakring

The Digbeth study gave a focus and direction which could be taken forward to analysiing and understanding the city of Vienna. Using techniques and methods developed within Studio Month, the fable of Vienna would be written.

13Speculations 1 | Vienna

Provincial Map of Vienna

25,000 BCPre-historic evidence of settlement

1146Emperor Otto I defeated the

Magyars. Babenberg dynasty establish residence in Vienna

1848Defensive barracks were built and a central arsenal to

defend against uprisings

1865Construction of the Ringstrasse began

1856Sigmund Freud Born

1891Kunst Museum

1897Wiener Secession formed with Gustav Klint as President

1898Secession Building

1906Postal

Savings Bank

1910Loos Hoos

1914World War I follows the assasination of

Franz Ferdinand

1918Austro-Hungarian Empire disolves follow the end of

the war

1926Moller House

1928Wittgenstein House

1939Sigmund Freud Dies

1944Flak Towers

constructed in Viena as Nazi Defences

1945Austria was redefined

by the Allies

1955Austrian State Treaty signed

1979Central Bank

25,000 BCPre-historic evidence of settlement

1146Emperor Otto I defeated the

Magyars. Babenberg dynasty establish residence in Vienna

1848Defensive barracks were built and a central arsenal to

defend against uprisings

1865Construction of the Ringstrasse began

1856Sigmund Freud Born

1891Kunst Museum

1897Wiener Secession formed with Gustav Klint as President

1898Secession Building

1906Postal

Savings Bank

1910Loos Hoos

1914World War I follows the assasination of

Franz Ferdinand

1918Austro-Hungarian Empire disolves follow the end of

the war

1926Moller House

1928Wittgenstein House

1939Sigmund Freud Dies

1944Flak Towers

constructed in Viena as Nazi Defences

1945Austria was redefined

by the Allies

1955Austrian State Treaty signed

1979Central Bank

Timeline denoting influentual people, architecture and social/political movement.

Viennese Timeline

16 Speculations 1 | Vienna

Map of Culture

Desktop research outline key elements of Vienna to investigate and discover.

Research analysing the demographic of Vienna. It is interesting to see such social and political development since the influences of Wartime Vienna. Two key points to establish are that religious diversity has increased significantly which may seem obvious, a move away from restrictive politics allowing for more freedom of belief. Following the end of WWII such cultural acceptance has seen the population grow greatly however due to an influx of internationals, the electorate remains small. This leaves an interesting conditions where the majority of those that live within Vienna will not be politically represented.

Judenplatz Memorial

There are certainly signs that Vienna is respectful of its somewhat tainted past. The concept of monument becomes sacred in a town willing to accept history and not forget. With extreme right wing politics remaining to a minor extent, Vienna delicatly addresses the concept of monument with how new architecture is allowed to comment on this subject and how existing architecture with assigned meaning is now treated.

Rachel Whiteread’s Memorial

A contentious point which took control of much of my investigation and in turn my dissertation was that of ‘ornament’. The most outspoken our the figures who addressed this subject was Adolf Loos, framing those who attempted to use ornament aas criminals. The Seccessionist movement with figures including Otto Wagner had varying opinions on the subject, shaping the architecture at the turn of 20th century. Loos beleived in using materials to define space and to reveal meaning rather than turning to decorative symbolism. The cippilino marble used in the Loos Haus is testiment to his honesty with material.

Cippilino Marble Exterior

External Cladding Detail

Chrome Detailed Bank Counter

Otto Wagner shared Loos’ views on the importance of ornament vs decoration however not to the same extremes. Being a founding member of the seccession movement, Wagner was influenced heavily by the Art Deco movement and with that, a heavy use of symbology. Through my research of the ongoing arguements of the use of ornament, I began to understand that what began to define ornament and seperate it from decoration was the relevance and meaning behind it. Beautifully crafted Art Deco style finishes internally and a delicately pinned facade most certainly created vision of grandure and security for the Postal Savings Bank but I believe the relevance of such details was scarce, a view shared by Adolf Loos.

Postal Savings Bank Pinned Facade

Majolika and Medallion haus are vital in understanding Otto Wagners use of ornament and it provides in interesting arguement against Adolf Loos. The subject of the ornamentation is questionable, floral and crest work of a local sculptor, but the ornament defines the spaces which reside internally, clearly divide work and home from ground floor and above respectively.

Majolika + Medallion Connection

Ornamental Facade Elements

Symbolism Facing the Seccession Building

The Seccessionist movement which contained such visionaries as Gustav Klimpt and Otto Wagner. It took a stance against ornament but to a lesser extent than the views of Loos who broke away from the movement. The Secession used symbology heavily as can be seen with the Seccession Building, a manifesto encapsulated in the built form.

Following the research in Digbeth, I carried on with the approach of analysis through various methods of recording. Using drawings and photography as the main source of understanding but investigating materiality through impression and rubbings allowed for a more haptic relationship.

Haptic Recording Methods

Central Bank Interior Concrete Hand

Concept Image of Socio Politcal Issues

As a collective, our study group began to see patterns emerging corresponding to style and advancement being connected to major arts and architectural movements of the times. This combined with socio political stigmas of wartime Vienna led to an understanding that Vienna lay within a realm of disconnection. It was clear from this point that Vienna needed a new defining era, a movement which could kick start creativity and move away from reliance on previous styles, movements and stigmas. This paved the way for ‘Die Kuratoren’ The Curators. As a movement, we would attempt to redefine and address the ‘Traumstad des Kampfes’ the stuggles of a dreaming city.

Richard Meyer Inspired Collage

As a movement, a series of foundations as part of a manifesto. We would work with these foundations as our guide to create a progressive architecture which would aim to give Vienna a style and direction which is seemingly lacked.

35Speculations 1 | Die Kuratoren

M y t h E x p o -s u r e

O r d e r

C l a r -i t y

L a n -g u a g e

Evolu-t i o n

Respo- n s i b - i l i t y

36 Speculations 1 | Die Kuratoren

Foundation Sketches

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Exploratory Print

Concept Plan of Movement

Through initial exploritory models, we began to search for an architectural style. Using our manifesto and foundations as a guide, we developed an architecture which was both a direct reflection of our architectural beliefs and which would fit the requirements for what we believed was needed in Vienna. This first model investigated ground treatments across a ground plane, creating moments in an otherwise linear route.

Progressive Concept Model

Mechanical Anatomy

This second model looked at taking human anatomy as a design driver. This was trying to develop a human architecture to remain relevant to the user through its design, allowing for a physical connections and understanding inherent within the architecture.

Craddling of the Heart

Collaborative Concept Model

Whilst exploritory models were undertaken by each member of the Die Kuratoren movement, we assembled our work as a collective model. Our intentions were to each investigate the foundations, whilst moving towards a style as a movement so it was key to keep relating our individual works with each other.

Collaborative Concept Elevation

ST. STEPHENS CATHEDRAL

WU CAMPUS

RINGSTRASSE

DONAUKANAL [DANUBE]

KARLLUEGER PLATZ

VOTIVE CHURCH

SIGMUND FREUD’S OFFICE

Locating the DK HQ

It was established that we should design a headquaters as a central point within Vienna for us to work and develop. This was to be located within key landmarks, and in a place of high footfall, as this would not only facilitate our requirements to work but would act as a piece of propaganda, spreading our message to those who interacted. The building would be as the Seccession Building, a pure embodiment of our style and intentions.

ST. STEPHENS CATHEDRAL

WU CAMPUS

RINGSTRASSE

DONAUKANAL [DANUBE]

KARLLUEGER PLATZ

VOTIVE CHURCH

SIGMUND FREUD’S OFFICESigmund Freud’s Office

Votive Church

Karllueger Platz

Danube

WU Campus

St, Stephens Cathedral

Ringstrasse

DK HQ Primary Core

The headquarters was designed by Die Kuratoren, referencing the foundations and manifesto. Each room and the overall form, bespoke to our needs as a movement with its image portaying all which we stand for.

DK HQ Overall

DK Studio Space

DK Meeting Room

Submerged Circulation

Viewing Tower

Central Core Circulation

Dk Dining Room

Main Entrance Stair

Debating Room

Augarten Park Site Map

Flakturm Tower Locations

63Speculations 1 | Augarten Flakturm Towers

The flakturm towers of Vienna were constructed in pairs, with the 3 sets forming a triangular defence for the city. The ‘L’ Tower was the radio tower, recieving and processing information to send to the ‘G’ Tower, the gun tower which would act on the information provided, shooting down targets. The towers were designed by Albert Spier and Adolf Hitler were influential in their design and implementation. Each tower was constructed extremely quickly, displayed by the 3m concrete walls which are said to still be drying on the inside.

64 Speculations 2 | Augarten Flakturm Towers

‘G’ Tower

‘L’ Tower

The pair of Flakturm towers within Augarten park remain untouched since the end of the War, standing as monuments to those who fought and died. These bold statements of resemblence, add to the feeling of Vienna’s continued connection to the Nazi regime. Towering over the surrounding architecture, there is a powerful feeling when in the presence of such structures. The towers remain locked and untouched, unlike the other towers across the city which have seen architectural adaptation.

66 Speculations 2 | Augarten Flakturm Towers

Augarten Figure Ground

Sigmund Freud’s Residence

As my architecture through Die Kuratoren sought to address the issue of lack of style and creative direction I took to dreamology to become a new source of creativity. Sigmund Freuds work would become the basis for my research, having lived and worked in the city. My architecture would look to harness the minds of Vienna, directly taking inspiration from the people. In this way, the creative expressive which would evolve from the process would have the rigor expected by those such as Loos who always sought relevance to design decisions to avoid disconnection. This process would generate new ideas and creativity whilst having a direct link to Vienna and its people.

69Speculations 2 | Dreamology

Neuron - Pen and Ink

By understanding how sleep patterns work and how the brain functions I intended to create an architecture which allowed for the purest of dreams. The brain is more susceptible to dreaming when at certain times and when certain conditions are met. Lucid dreaming involves the realisation that one is dreaming. By teaching this method of dreaming through my architecture, I could obtain clear and meaningful dreams from those who entered.

70 Speculations 2 | Dreamology

Sleep Cycle Graph

Dream Venn Diagram

There are known stimulants which improve various aspects of dreaming such as the capability to recall a dream, the vividness of the dream itself etc. I would harness these stimulants as well as developing an architecture which itself assisted dreaming. The architecture would facilitate the perfect preparation and understanding to allow for the purest of dreams to be dreamt and recorded. It would be these dreams which would shape the creative future of Vienna.

71Speculations 2 | Dreamology

72 Speculations 2 | The Towers of Dreams

Augarten Panoramic

The Towers of Dreams project inclusive of two symboitic schemes. In the same way that the ‘L’ tower recorded and fed information to the ‘G’ tower to act upon, as too will The Tower of Dreams. My project, the tower of nurture will facilitate the learning and practice of lucid dreaming culminating in recording of the dreams produce. Upon being recording, the dreams are transferred to

dreams and works as a creative resource for the minds of Vienna to access and work with.

73Speculations 2 | The Towers of Dreams

Dream Harvesting Concept Render

75Speculations 2 | The Tower of Nurture

the Tower of Revelation with recorded dreams in script and image of cultural and personal relevance.

Through sensual stimulation and contrasting evocative architecture, the Tower of Nurture will teach those who enter how to access their minds and convey their dreams through the act of lucid dreaming. The journey through the lower levels will rid the mind of conscious troubles, removing distractions and promoting certain chemical and psychological conditions to aid both the vividness and the quality of the dream. The final stage of the process becomes the recording of the dreams, careful transcribed on to parchment, they are then transported in an act called ‘The Procession of Dreams’, which takes the transcripts to the Tower of Revaluation.

The tower respectfully replicates the internal space of the existing L tower, allowing projected glimpses into the restricted monument. The internal volumes are exactly as the L tower but on a 90 degree rotation, with a new architecture present on a different plane. This plays to the mind of the dreamer whilst allowing a connection with the original tower, respectfully leaving it untouched and sealed. The journey through the Tower of Nurture bears a dreamlike resemblance to occupying the original tower.

The role of ornament has always been a defining feature in the development of Vienna and its contrast with decoration; the defining factor is that ornament has cultural and theoretical relevance. Knowing this, the Tower or Nurture turns to the Viennese mind for undeniable contextual links, providing

The Tower of Nurture is one part of an intrinsically linked project under the name of The Towers of Dreams, including the Tower of Revelation as its counterpart. Through the development of the Tower of Nurture, I intend to explore the ideas of harnessing the dreams of the minds of Vienna with intention to curate and exhibit in the Tower Of Revelation. This will be a project undertaken by the Die Kuratoren architectural movement, as established by Fable. Die Kuratoren was created in the belief than Vienna has always been a city defined by stylistic movements yet it currently resides in a state of ambiguity. With these symbiotic projects, The Towers of Dreams intend to indulge in the delights of the Viennese minds with the intention of provoking creativity and inspiring stylistic change.

THESIS STATEMENT

76 Speculations 2 | The Tower of Nurture

Sketch Concept Plan

The ‘L’ tower lies as a monument to those who fought and died in the war. For this reason, my architecture had to be respectful whilst giving a vital insight in to the tower and the role it played. I intended to compliment the existing tower, not effecting its role as a monument but allowing a connection which is not currently allowed. This lead to my design sitting infront of the tower, not breaching its solid form.

Existing Tower Model

Concept Plan and Section

It was my intention to create a progressive experiential architecture, which suits itself to a series of progressing rooms in a linear fashion. With each room comes a greater understanding of the process of lucid dreaming and with it, the concept or reality and the dreamstate becomes blured.

Concept Entrance Room

Nutritional stimulation form part of the experiential learning experience. Certain foods promote melatonin which in turn creates a more expressive dream. By offering a specific meal as part of the journey, the body is allowed to prepare for dreaming. Foods such as venison, almonds and soy beans are all proven to assist the process of dreaming. With different foods improving, vividness, type of dream and how easy it is to recall.

Concept Nutritional Stimulation

Mental focus is key to successful lucid dreaming. Allowing areas to clear the mind is vital. The understanding that one is intending to lucid dream should be the only thought at the front of the mind, play a trick and assisting the brain in the success of dreaming.

Concept Room of Solitude

Certain smells have been seen to improve the vividness of lucid dreams. Sandlewood, rosewood and lavender to name a few aid in both the relaxation and providing a more vidid dream. Sound can also be used to promote lucid dreaming. a specific alpha wave channeled fools the mind in to thinking it is precisely on the boundary between consciousness and unconsciousness.

Concept Aural Stimulation

Each space within the design offers varied stimulation, aiming to improve the quality, vividness and level of control within the dream. This menu targets certain chemicals within the brain to assist in this process.

Dream Menu

The final action within the building is the recording of the dreams. The dream cycle is interupted where dreams are predicted to be ending. This 105 minute cycle repeats over, by access the dreamer at these points, the quality of the dream recollection is higher, and allows for the dreamer to go back to sleep and continue dreaming once more.

DREAM RECORD SHEET

Dreamer ID: 31245

Sex: Male

Age: 34

Arrival: 18:15 06/09/16

Departure: 03:35 07/09/16

Sleep Cycles: 6Sleep Cycles: 6

Total Dreams Recorded: 5

Transcription: Deniz Riemer

Dream 1

Notes: REM achieved after 20 minutes. Remained still throughout cycle. Vivid memory upon awaking. Mild confusion following transcription. Dreamer returned to sleep successfully.

Transcript Transcript

I was in a forest. Walking. I remember the light coming down through the trees; my feet hurting. I was bare foot. There was a deer. He had his antlers caught in a tree. I felt like I should help but I just kept watching him. He was really struggling. (Dreamer seems distressed). I couldn't help him. He tore the antlers right out of his head and I couldn't do anything. That's when he started to run at me... and I woke up.

Dream 2 Dream 2

Notes: REM achieved earlier, 17 minutes. Dreamer was restless. Seemingly confused upon arousal and out of breath. Disorientation present for 2 minutes post awaking. Dreamer returned to sleep successfully.

Transcript

I was being chased. Most of the dream I was running. (Dreamer pauses I was being chased. Most of the dream I was running. (Dreamer pauses momentarily to take breath). I really wanted to know what I was running from. It kept going through my head. Should I turn around? What was it? I came to a clearing and I felt relaxed for the first time. I finally turned around and there was a woman. She looked in to my eyes and she faded away.

Dream Transcript

Proposed Shadow Tower Section

Concept design toyed with the fact of

lay infront of the monument. However it then

tower with its theoretical foundations

foundations as such. I would replicate the

create a new architecture passing through at 90 degrees. This would allow a connection to the tower to which access is not allowed whilst playing with the mind, forcing it to think in 2 ways. The shadow tower would be constructed in the same dense concrete form, meaning the connections and detailing of my proposed architectural element would need to be considerate of this. The tectonics

connection.

Tectonics Overview

Through the Tectonics project I intended to explore how I could connect in to the existing concrete of the shadow tower, and provide a clean and crisp engineered architecture which could sit in contrast. This exploration focused around the new circulation route, a series of steps forming a walkway with would pass through the shadow tower at 90 degrees. The new route would connect in to the old staircases which in their reformed state now lay across the base of the building.

Sigmund Freud, when both compiling his research and seeing patients like to be in his chair and sitting in it in a certain way. The chair in this case had a functional purpose as any, but it was how the individual used it in which the value of it lay. To this extent I chose to look at designing my footpath around this thought process. The path itself would become a tool to assist the dreamer, becoming a way of harnessing concentration and ridding the consciousness of unnecessary thoughts.

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

Sigmund Freud’s Chair SketchSupporting Elements Inspired by Chair Legs

Investigative Model Fixing in to Concrete with Resin

The materials used within the tectonics piece would be concrete for the shadow tower element and a light weight and precise aluminium and timber construction for the walkway. I would make 1 tred at 1:1 investigating it in 1:25 also to see it in context. The lightweight and precise elements would gracefully adorn the shadow towers concrete mass in a juxtaposed fashion. The model would investigate how the aluminium would fix to the concrete via coring, resin and aluminium bracing. With elm wood planks crafted from the elm trees removed from site to allow for construction.Every element would be perfectly crafted with minute detail to show an engineered craft lacking in the concrete mass of the shadow tower, ornamenting it.

Base Fixing to Shadow Stair

The base of the design shows the coring of the shadow tower’s concrete stair. An aluminium member is then set in to the stair in resin with the core being retained for a handrail. Aluminium brackets then brace the tread and riser of the stair to prevent lateral movement.

The elm wood plank which sits carefully within the grasp of the aluminium framework is cut at 45 degrees with voids to allow for views through the walkway down in to the shadow tower.

Aluminium Supporting Arm

The elm wood plank is routed to allow for the aluminium frame to sit flush within to woodwork. The aluminium is kept as lightweight as possible with apertures cut through, the bolted connections become an ornamental addition eluding to the technical nature of the construction.

Aluminium Support to Elm Plank Detail

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Shadow Study of Intricate Apertures

A 1:25 sectional model forms a section break through the 1:1 element of the model. This aims to show the pathway in situ, showing the repetition of the tread element which connects to complete the route between the shadow towers floor plates.

1:25 Sectional Model with Walkway

Tower of Nurture Sectional Perspective

Tower of Nurture Plan

1 - Entrance Lift2 - Cleansing Chamber3 - Nutritional Stimulation4 - Nasal Stimulation5 - Aural Stimulation6 - Dream Recording Clinic

The Tower of Nurture resides on the SW side

form of the shadow tower gently breaches the ground plane so as not to distract from the original tower, leaving the monument in tact.

This lift car carries one dreamer down into the depths of the shadow tower, beginning

Entrance Lift

The washroom allows the dreamer to cleanse themselves and their mind, preparing them for the journey through the tower.

Cleansing Chamber

With a set menu prepared and set out for each fi

provoked to improve the dreaming process. This element of the scheme occurs early on in the journey to allow for the food to be digested and the mind to act on these chemical changes.

Nutritional Stimulation

A series of canisters containing sandlewood, rosewood and lavender essential oils. These scent are aerosolised in the head piece

nature.

Nasal Stimulation

Headsets are collected in this area and worn for the remainder of the dreamers stay within the Tower. Alpha waves target the brain and creat the illusion of dreaming whilst being awake.

Aural Stimulation

here the dreamer is carefully recessed in to the solid walls of the shadow tower, providing a calm, quiet and dark setting to allow the uses to drift off in to the dream state. The dreamer is gently awoken

fimeeting with another person throughout the

Dream Recording Clinic

The Tower of NurtureThe Towers of DreamsThomas Higginson

s08448350MArch Thesis Project

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