Monthly Archives: May 2017

2017/05/24 Same Building in Different Person’s Mind

It is quite interesting that different students have different compositions toward the same building during final review. Photographer shoot buildings in different perspectives as a observer. Different visitors and users also have different memories for the same building. Architecture begins to have its real life designed by architects. Architecture keep growing and changing over time and have different characters in different people’s mind. And that is out of architects’ control.

2017/05/22 From Detail to Entirely

Ikea is a furniture company which is famous for its detailed instruction. Every customer can assemble their furniture with Ikea instruction. Ikea has shown Swedish’s principle toward details – simple and effective. During my journey in Stockholm, I find that this principle exist in interior design as well as architecture design.

   

The furniture in Italienska Kulturinstitutet looks quite light and like floating because of its detail. The table leg shrink from above to bottom. To keep the strength of table legs, the end of legs was made from metal instead of wood. The edge of drawer was also cut into beveled surface to be separated from subject of table.

    

The structure of buildings can be designed as decoration. The bridge of white architecture has special steel trusses. The roof structure of  Italienska Kulturinstitutet is designed with lightening system to make theater space look quite relaxing.

Detail design is an essential part of architecture design which can support the concept of the whole project. Every project is supposed to be designed from detail to entirely.

2017/05/20 ‘Swedish Style’

Sweden could be regarded as a ‘young’ country compared with other Europe country. From two weeks journey, I am quite interested in ‘Swedish Style’.

Many guides have mentioned that many Swedish architects or artists traveled to other countries and went back to Sweden. This phenomenon shows the attitude toward learning and copy. Many projects in Sweden, not only architecture but also food and culture, can be found some traces from other countries but still have their own characters. Sweden people learn a lot from other culture and turn them into their own culture instead of copying. I think that is the reason why Sweden could be a such strong country – always keeping ‘Swedish Style’, which means show respect for local context and culture.

2017/05/18 Structure Precedent Study_AULA MEDICA

The steel structure and wood frame curtain wall of Aula Medica impressed me a lot. I did not find too much information about its structure so I tried to do a precedent study of structure based on today’s visit.

So here is a diagram I drew based on a section drawing from website. The main structure is steel structure aiming to hold a big space without column. The wood structure is used to hold the curve curtain wall.

  • Red part: Main Steel Structure. The top two floors are used to be a big truss which could be regarded as  the big roof of Aula Medica. This big truss realize cantilever which is around 15m long. The big space’s floor is also quite thin to realize the span.
  • Purple part: Isolated Steel Structure to hold circulation cure (for fire).
  • Green part: Some small steel structure to hold some parts individually.
  • Grey part: Wood Frame Structure is used to realize the curtain wall. It is also connected with big steel truss.

Tips:

  1. Architect did not choose steel structure for curtain wall. I think the reason is Sweden is so cold that steel structure may be demolished because of being exposure to exterior in winter.
  2. Interior space – ALL interior walls have cellular materials on the top which can absorb noisy. -Really Quiet
  3. Brick walls of this building are only decoration – maybe an ironic of old one ( brick structure )

2017/05/14 A Tricky Diagram_The Development of Photography

                      A Diagram From Mrs.Bear and her granddaughter Ms. Bear

  • 1826 : Oh My Bear!!! Look at this!! This is me!! ( People first try to take something down)
  • 1900 : Please take a photo for me to celebrate my birthday! Mr. Bear                                          ( Black and White photography became popular in the world)
  • 1936 : Look at my beautiful brown hair! I wish it would not turn to white!                                      ( Color photography began to take place of black and white one)
  • 2017 : Hi grandma! ( from Ms. Bear) Let me use photoshop to give you bigger eyes and a red lip! Purple hair is the most popular hair style ! Do you like it? (photography is more than an approach to take something down. )

2017/05/11 Three types of Community in Urban Context

Type 1: Courtyard Community                                                                                                                  This type of community is quite similar with the expansion part of Barcelona with a larger scale. Residential buildings are used to keep the boundary of the urban street and contain the city park inside. Citizens share high-quality public space with the standard housing status.

Type 2: Opening Block Community                                                                                                          This type of community is built around a urban park. The urban streets are continue and break into opening community. Every block has its own neighborhood. Every unit has higher living quality with big living room and balcony.

Type 3: Single House Community                                                                                                            Several single houses are built in a community instead of along the street. Community has its own street system which is narrow and  closed. Every family not only enjoys its own house with green space but also lives in an active and safe neighborhood.