Simple. Not Simplistic.A book by Aaron Mark.

geometric historyThe following ten pages contain selected examples of architecture studio projects completed prior to Simple. Not Simplistic. While none of the geometries shown are duplicates of one another, they all fall into the same family of shapes.

SIMPLE NOT SIMPLISTIC

People often get words that sound the same with like definitions confused for one another. Simple and Simplistic and Complex and Complicated are tragic examples of this type of confusion.

I am interested in simple design ideas rather than complicated ones. To be simple is not to be simplistic. To be simply stated is to be concise. To be simplistically stated is to be naive about how complex an idea is. To be complex is not to be complicated. Having a complex idea is to understand that there are many inter-related parts. Having a complicated idea is to not understand the inter-related parts.

I believe that confused architecture is bad even if it looks interesting or even if it looks beautiful. My intent is to create architecture that is clear conceptually, formally, and functionally but not be naive about what it is. Architecture is inherently complex. Architectural designs that should always be thought about and understood as inter-related. Complicating what these are leads to a confused architecture. Simple and complex are both acceptable. Simplistic and complicated are sins.

My preoccupation with particular geometric forms has largely influenced my work for several years. In the past, there has been little investigation of a particular family of re-occuring geometry. Projects have developed, for better or worse, with out realizing or addressing how these specific geometries can impact or drive an architecture. In this book, I have integrated significant investigation into the implications of geometry as it is applied to the forming of buildings of particular site and program.

Lot-Ek has asked us to make physical concepts. For me, these physical concepts have started with geometric statements. In each of the five buildings we were asked to make, I aspired to use geometric statements to invent solutions that address the complexity of program and inhabitation.

This book is an exploration of the potential of simple geometries as spatial devices.

2. Storage

3. Health Club

5. Hotel

FIVE BUILDINGS.

1. Retail

4. Theater

Given five opportunities to explore the insertion of formal studies into urban context, in each chapter, geometric study adapts to program and setting

Five unique sites along New York City’s High Line are given for five general program types: Retail, Storage, Health Center, Theater, and Hotel. Each site provides a new set of characteristics and limitations that influence the proportions and applications of a desired form requiring a balance of geometric purity and programmatic practicality.

2. Storage

3. Health Club

5. Hotel

thrift store for ideasThe Thrift Store for Ideas features a showroom that seeks the collaboration and the evolution of original ideas through the selling of novelty. Here, individuals can purchase patented ideas or inspiration that have been discarded by creative people.

The open air structure allows for an open exchange of ideas and accessibility. A viewing space at the level of the High Line acts as a visual link between occupants of the High Line and the showroom.

FIVE BUILDINGS.

1. Retail

4. Theater

Given five opportunities to explore the insertion of formal studies into urban context, in each chapter, geometric study adapts to program and setting

Five unique sites along New York City’s High Line are given for five general program types: Retail, Storage, Health Center, Theater, and Hotel. Each site provides a new set of characteristics and limitations that influence the proportions and applications of a desired form requiring a balance of geometric purity and programmatic practicality.

1.

2.

1. The display space fills the interior of the show room, maximizing the density of displays allowed at the Thrift Store.

2. The viewing space from the High Line allows visitors of the park to look into the show room.

Ground Plan

Second Floor Plan

Site PlanRoof Plan

Site Plan

2. Storage

3. Health Club

5. Hotel

Totem storageThe Totem Storage Space is a facility for placing small personal items of large sentimental value. The goal of the architecture is to emphasize the impact of an individual’s experience with their personal item.

A dense field of storage units within and above the mass in addition to the sea of letter boxes at the ground level of the site creates a large scalar shift from outside and inside. The heavy mass touches the ground selectively limiting accessibility in order to promote privacy.

2.

1.

1. The entrance from the High Line limits separates totem storage from the letter boxes at the ground level.

2. Personal items are stored within 8x8x8 inch boxes that exist within a field of storage cells at the roof level.

2.

1.

1. The entrance from the High Line limits separates totem storage from the letter boxes at the ground level.

2. Personal items are stored within 8x8x8 inch boxes that exist within a field of storage cells at the roof level.

Ground Plan

Second Floor Plan

Roof Plan

Site Plan

2. Storage

3. Health Club

5. Hotel

Dive and ClimbThis health club utilizes a repeated series of mirrored frusta units which house artificial climbing rocks and pools of water for diving determined by orientation and depth. The interior forms of each unit vary in tilt and depth to provide several difficulty levels for both diving and climbing accomodating a range of fitness levels.

In addition to holding personal fitness functions, each unit also acts as a light well that tunnels diffused light onto the site below.

1.

2.

3.

1. The deepest diving units go up to a depth of 40 feet, allowing for scuba training.

2. Entrance to the health club at the High Line level through the easiest difficulty-level rock walls offered at the facility.

3. In addition to the High Line Level Entrance, more difficult climbing units can be accessed from the ground level where climbers can hook onto automated belay devices.

Climbing units range in difficulty based on overall height and the tilt of the interior surfaces.Diving units range from most easy and shallow to most difficult and deep.

Climbing units range in difficulty based on overall height and the tilt of the interior surfaces.

Ground Plan

Second Floor Plan

Site PlanRoof Plan

Site Plan

FIVE BUILDINGS.

1. Retail

4. Theater

Given five opportunities to explore the insertion of formal studies into urban context, in each chapter, geometric study adapts to program and setting

Five unique sites along New York City’s High Line are given for five general program types: Retail, Storage, Health Center, Theater, and Hotel. Each site provides a new set of characteristics and limitations that influence the proportions and applications of a desired form requiring a balance of geometric purity and programmatic practicality.

Concert WheelThe Concert Wheel uses a radial formation of frusta units to direct a centralized focal point from all audience members to conductors and also individual focus to specific musicians of the ensemble beyond. Audience members occupy units in pairs above ground while musicians perform below.

A reflecting pool at the ground level of the project visually completes the ring of the geometry that is partially hidden below ground.

FIVE BUILDINGS.

1. Retail

4. Theater

Given five opportunities to explore the insertion of formal studies into urban context, in each chapter, geometric study adapts to program and setting

Five unique sites along New York City’s High Line are given for five general program types: Retail, Storage, Health Center, Theater, and Hotel. Each site provides a new set of characteristics and limitations that influence the proportions and applications of a desired form requiring a balance of geometric purity and programmatic practicality.

1.

2.

1. The entry of to the Concert Wheel leads to the center of the ring where all participants of the show are visible.

2. Each audience cell points specific views towards the center and to an individual musician’s cell beyond.

1.

Second Floor PlanGround Plan

Second Floor Plan

Site PlanRoof Plan

Site Plan

2. Storage

3. Health Club

5. Hotel

Hotels FieldThe hotel operates as a field below ground, a field at ground, and a single large module very high above ground.

In this project, an array of a single geometry operates in a field condition generating spaces varying in levels of intimacy.

Hotel units in the field function at a domestic scale which is contrasted by communally scaled auditorium spaces contained in the large module sitting above.

2. Storage

3. Health Club

5. Hotel

1.

2.

1. Hotel units are divided into two levels to take advantage of form the interior space of the geometry.

2. Points of entry are located where site restrictions prevent units from operative as hotels.

1.

2.

1. Hotel units are divided into two levels to take advantage of form the interior space of the geometry.

2. Points of entry are located where site restrictions prevent units from operative as hotels.

1.

2.

1. Hotel units are divided into two levels to take advantage of form the interior space of the geometry.

2. Points of entry are located where site restrictions prevent units from operative as hotels.

3.

3. Smaller auditorium spaces accommodate smaller audiences for more intimate functions.

3.

3. Smaller auditorium spaces accommodate smaller audiences for more intimate functions.

At the highest level, large auditorum spaces accommodate large masses of people.

At the highest level, large auditorum spaces accommodate large masses of people.

Smaller auditorium spaces are located below larger auditoriums.

Ground Plan

Second Floor Plan

Roof Plan

Site PlanRoof Plan

This book was made in spring 2012 under the guidance of Lot-Ek Studio (Ada Tolla and Giuseppe Lignano) and Thomas de Monchaux at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.