Building something just for the heck of it

Bored couple of days, I decided to use some of the balsa I had lying round to make something with it. I was originally thinking about "Geodes which are essentially rock cavities or vugs with internal crystal formations or concentric banding."(wikipedia) They look like a common rock from the outside and not until they are cut in half you can see the contrasting crystal surface inside. I tried to accomplish something similar with the needles and the balsa by pointing everything inwards.

Studio Final: Concept Statement

Studio Final: Site Analysis

Studio Final: Research and Exploration

Studio Final: Site and Roof Plan

Studio Final: Floor Plans

Studio Final: Sections

Studio Final: Elevations

Studio Final: Model and Perspectives

Work in progress...

These are some shots from the model I have been working on. Also included some shots of the how the interactive glass wall will be. It have been somewhat difficult to show the concept of 3D vs 2D light. I think I will work on some more diagrams, posibly 3D diagrams that show the concept in a more explicit way.

View from Bolston St. looking Northwest.

View Looking from Copley SQ.

View from the "Tunnel" towards Old South Church.

View from "Tunnel" towards Copley SQ.

View of Interactive Wall on the street level facing Boylston St.

At Night the wall would be activated by the passerby with help of sensors located facing the sidewalk.

Some Preliminary Floor Plans Misc. Drawings

These are some preliminary Floor Plans for discussion, they are all annotated please let me know if you have any questions.

Also here are some updated wall sections showing the new double-skin wall.

Some diagrams that I might use for the final presentation

I look foward for comments.

Preliminary Sections

These are some sections that I have been working for my building. I will be posting some elevations as well in the next day or two. Also I'm working on the floor plans that will go along

with these drawings later this week.

Section AA

Section BB

I uploaded them again, I must've been sleep-walking when I posted them last time.

I have been doing som research on the interactive glass which it will be on the street level. It basically works as a giant touch screen, pedestrians will be able to browse the internet or look at pictures while the are still outside of the building. Also the screen-glass panels on the higher floors will include integrated photovoltaic cell into the glass providing some renewable energy to the building.

Preliminary Model

Here are some pics of my building model, this is how far I got as 11:00pm Monday the 3rd. I did not get to build the building in context as I ran out of materials and time. You know trying to built a model in a Hotel room away from home with my Family on a holiday weekend! So much fun! Oh well I will try to get the rest done tomorrow after work.

Here is the latest shot that I took tonight showing the building in context. After working on the physical model I realize there's a lot to be done and figured out. I'm having some trouble with the main volume as I can't make it read as solid as I intended. I'm going to be looking at making it all glass behind the glass panels so it reads more solid instead of having punched openings. Enno's comment about the entrance is also an issue that I will be addressing as soon as I can. I was thinkng that maybe that corner steps down as you go into the building. The first floor glass band I was thinking it could be some special glass that interacts with the passerby.

Thanks for the comments!

Intensive Wrap Up!

What an amazing week!, It was unbelievable to meet everyone and spent time at the studio. Only a week but it felt like a whole month, I feel like I know everyone for a long time.

Well, I'm looking foward to see you guys again in January.

Here is a summary of my project for the Intensive, enjoy.

Dimensional Light
This project explores the concept of contrast between the light as a tri-dimensional volume and light as a two-dimensional object. The tridimensional light fills the space, defines an area; on the other hand, just like electronics the two-dimensional light stays on the surface as it diffuses onto the air.
Site
Walking around Copley Square at night I noticed how lively the area is; I couldn’t help to notice the role lighting plays on the buildings and the surroundings. The way it makes its tri-dimensional presence, bounces on different objects and screens the area changing the perception of the passerby.
Program
The electronic store in this building represents two-dimensional aspect of light. Electronics light is flat, they could show pictures, different graphics or videos but still the light produced by it is essentially two-dimensional. They all create a false sense of depth. The electronics store is within a tri-dimensional volume of light of the building complementing each other with their dissimilarities.
Massing
The main volume on the building will be illuminated from within creating a tridimensional light volume at night. The outer glass panels will filter the daylight creating different layers and texture into the space. There is a play between the positive and negative spaces created from carving the main solid volume, the verticality of the glass panels relate the adjacent buildings.

In my final presentation comments were made about the building's translucency from both inside and outside. How the "2D light" starts with technology and becomes a spacial experience or the "3d light". Also a comment was made about how the natural light will affect the space inside. We also talked about the building making reference to the stain glass windows from the church across the street. All these comment were very useful and I will be addressing the as soon as I can.