Membrane + Axis

ARCH 302
2024
Lopez Island, WA

Based on Olson Kundig’s Pierre House as our case study, we designed an upper educational facility situated in an imaginary site in Lopez Island, WA. After studying the environmental conditions, we wanted to maximize the surface area to southern sunlight. Thus, we developed a grid system to place the required programs according to light, heat, and sound, with two axes serving as circulation. The resulting chunky form generated a varying relation to the site’s boundary, carving out many outdoor social spaces.

Axis Diagram

Therm Anaylsis_NE

SW

North Elevation
Level 03

Elevation Detail 

East Elevation

West Elevation

Section B

Thinking about the inhabiting experience of our building, we wanted a spectrum of enclosed and conditioned spaces, enclosed and naturally heated, and exposed with water membranes. Inspired by our case study, we wanted to use a mixture of concrete, stone, perforated metal, and glass to express these variations. Similar to the axis logic of distributing programs, we paired these materials together to follow this logic. With this system, it generated a building that formally reflects the location of sunlight: the contrasting material envelopes enhanced the polarized relationship between varying temperature and light conditions. 

Detail Wall Section_West

 

East

Framing_ Level 01