unofficial blog for course ARCH243

Lehigh University
Art Architecture and Design
113 Research Drive
Building C
Bethlehem, PA 18015

Colin

Colin 11/2

Street

I thought of a street as a way of connecting two of more places. I wanted my precedent to be more complicated than just a linear movement, and the hexagonal shape of the Vessel paths were more interesting to me.

Congregation

I thought of a place for congregation as somewhere that people can come together as a community. This definition reminded me of the piazzas throughout Italy which provide communities with places for congregation.

Isolation

I thought of a place for isolation as one where people can go to be alone and away from the rest of the world. The Alpine Chapel Wirmboden is a confined space which you are isolated within but is also an isolated building itself.

Sacred

I thought of a place that is sacred as one that is associated with religion and spirituality. I also thought of it as being etherial and vertical in design. The designs for the Abrahamic Family House embodied this concept as all of the buildings utilize vertical and airy concepts.

Profane

I though of a profane space as one that is opposite to the sacred. It is more dense, less vertical, and more ominous. This bunker is ominous just by being a bunker however it also has a heavy feeling as there is a massive dish weighing down the structure and increasing the density.

Commerce

I thought of a space for commerce as one that is eye catching. I think that Apple typically designs their stores in city’s across the world in order to draw more attention and therefore more customers into the store. This example seems to fit the definition best as it is a spherical structure in the forefront of many typical skyscrapers. The lateral openings also increase interest as the store becomes almost entirely open to the outside.

Learning

I thought of a place for learning as one that stimulates the user and encourages collaboration. The New York Public Library uses a space that is normally just for transport (stairs) as a collaborative area where the users can see out into the outside world and onlookers in other rooms can also be inspired.

Living

I thought of a space for living as one that houses life while also being alive itself. The Roatan Prospera design utilizes the extrusion of similar shapes to suggest movement in the spaces themselves.

Exhibition

I thought of a space for exhibition as one that displays the contents of the space. The Farnsworth House is totally transparent which allows for linear movement while also displaying the contents.

Contemplation

I thought of a space for contemplation as one that allows the user to be calm and thoughtful. This meditation room at the Brion Cemetery is a space that does just that. Users can reflect in the space and by having the upper half closed off but the bottom open, there is an emphasis on becoming grounded and clearing your headspace.

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