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GSD 1101 / Introduction to Design and Visual Studies in Architecture / Fall 2014

Nerea Calvillo, Mariana Ibanez (coordinator), Kiel Moe (coordinator), Megan Panzano, Cameron Wu

Project #2: Site/Building Reciprocity

The second project introduces the site in the conceptualization of architecture. It involves the design ofthe space between buildings and the effects of their relationship on the urban fabric and the architecturalobject. Usually, the relationship between a site and a building is assumed to work one way: the siteprecedes the building. As such, the architect responds to the site and typically assumes control of thebuilding only. The site, in this case, is not a fixed and stable precondition. We only know the elementsfrom which it is made: two existing houses, topography, site limits, a rear access driveway or alley, apassageway between the two buildings and streets. Reciprocity will be developed by means of themanipulation of the relationship between these elements.

The project is organized in two stages, the first one begins with the arrangement of a pair of housesconstrained by a set of geometric relationships that appear to be determined by the city. In turn, thedisposition of these houses serves as the basis for imagining an urban context that could have motivatedthe arrangement. The problem is to represent the city as an urban pattern within which these two houses,

independently or together, belong to a larger field of repetitive houses, topography, streets andwalkways.

To think architecturally is to understand the relationship between site and building. The objective of thisproject is to develop the two simultaneously, producing discernable architectural and urban relationshipsthat are calibrated, interdependent, inextricable, and irreducible.

Site Definition and Constraints

The project begins by establishing a (3D) relationship between two houses. This arrangement of the twohouses will serve as the origin for designing the larger urban pattern that contains them. The project isrequired to include only as many houses and streets as are necessary to represent the urban pattern

characterized by two conditions: one which can be recognized as a repeating arrangement of typicalhouses and streets and another that can be recognized as singular, incidental, and exceptional.

The houses are to be arranged on urban blocks bounded by streets, with an exceptional pedestrianpassageway serving as a short cut from one side of the block to the other along lot lines of the blockinterior. The result is a fictional city conceived as an allegory of a neighborhood hypothetically located inCambridge or Somerville.

The main engine used to produce the origin for the site design will be a series of formulas which willcreate variable three dimensional relationships between the two typical houses. Streets and topographyare not included in the site mechanism; they will need to be added to the design. The designed streetsmust be parallel or tangent to at least one of the gable ends of the two given houses. If this is notpossible, parallel and tangent relationships to the street must exist with at least one longitudinal side

elevation of one of the two houses.

The streets and their intersections will be designed to follow typical arrangements similar to those foundin Cambridge or Somerville. Straight, curved, and T-shaped intersections are possible. Rear accessdriveways are somewhat atypical for Cambridge and Somerville, though there are occasions in whichdriveways penetrate deep into blocks between houses to reach other houses whose lots are embedded inthe block interior, or to reach the back of a house on the other side of the block.

The maximum slope of the street is 15%. The maximum distance from the nearest house faade to theouter edge of sidewalk is 10. The streets can be one or two way. Street dimensions: each lane for driving

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is 15 and the parallel parking lanes add 8 to either side. For two way streets the driving lanes can be 12each.

The second stage of the project will focus on developing the envelope of the original pair of houses as ameans to speculate about the tectonic consequences of the urban project.

The envelope shape of each of the two houses should remain unaltered, though each will be furtherarticulated by the addition of the following elements: windows (equal to 20-25% of the total exterior), afront and secondary door, a porch, a parking space or carport, dormers, roof eaves and chimney all ofwhich may vary in response to the two basic conditions, typical and exceptional.

Requirements:

Rhino model of site and housesSite planSite sections (two minimum): 1/8 = 1Site AxonometricPerspective view of the block-through passagewayPhysical Model of pair of houses 1/8=1

Elevations (two of a typical house, two of one of the houses sited atypically): 1/8=1

Required Readings:

Allen, Stan From Object to Field (PDF available on Course iSite)Anderson, Phillip Warren More is Different, 1972

Project Schedule:Project given: Wednesday September 24th

Final review: Wednesday October 8th