A Cabin Study

June 13th, 2013

Posted by loukev16 in Uncategorized    

 

 

While reading The Poetics of Space I have found myself frequently in conflict with Gaston Bachelard’s means of addressing ideas related to the experiences and sensations that one has in relation to architectural spaces.  Specifically the objective manner in which he presents his own ideas and experiences is one that does not care to acknowledge that all of the experiences he is describing are derived from specific sociocultural ideas and narratives that in no way constitute any inherent experience within the settings that he describes.  I find this to be problematic and have been considering a means to employ an architectural study that imposes a set of values on a space that those do not already exist within, and draft an interior layout within the limits of the space that is produced.  With this project I have created a series of random amorphous shapes that do not immediately signify any architectural idea. From this point I used drafting rulers to create a contour that allows these amorphous shapes to be defined by straight lines and right angles, with occasional obtuse angles where necessary. The product of this step was a series of blocky asymmetrical shapes, within which I then imposed traditional modern interior values in the space that the Cartesian definition of the shapes aloud for, due to the fact that they are defined by, and dependent on, a Cartesian layout of perpendicular lines and corners in order to function in the first place.ImageImage

Compact Cabins has been an excellent resource for

 

Compact Cabins has been an excellent resource for me in terms of providing a more in depth exposure of cabin architecture by providing drafts and floor plans and solutions for maximizing the use value of space. One of my favorite ideas thus far in this book is that of an elevated twin bed at a standard top bunk height, up against a wall.  This space underneath the bed is then filled with a reading nook with a chair and table, which not only makes efficient use of the space, but does so in a manner that really adds to a reading nook setting, my making it more compact and cozy. Included is an illustration from Compact CabinsImage

Cabin Design: A-frame with Loft Access Treehouse Balcony

 

I have bee reading Compact Cabins: Simple Living in 1000 Square Feet or Less by Gerald Rowan, which provides drafting plans and exterior sketches for cabins, cottages, and other small living spaces. In response to my reading I have decided to create a draft with a two dimensional exterior sketch of my own.  The cabin that I have design is an A-frame style cabin with a roof that extends all the way to the ground, providing storage space for firewood and anything else really.  This design incorporates some of my most beloved features of the cabins that I have been researching. Among these are the spiral staircase, a wood burning fireplace, a bedroom loft, a compact sink and cooktop, and a tree house patio that is accessed by the loft.  In drafting floor plans I have attempted to maximize the use value of space with features such as a stow away/fold out table, the compact spiral stair, and the roof extension storage on both sides of the cabin.  Additionally I devised a system for covering the loft tree balcony that involves a pull out tarpaulin system with attachment hooks on the balcony railing. I experimented with a few different interior layouts when designing the interior of the first floor, such as having the stairs in the front right hand corner and the large window in the back center, and eventually settled on the layout that I felt provided the most open space with the least sacrifice of potential use valueImage

June 13th, 2013

To Build A Log Coffin

Posted by loukev16 in Uncategorized    

June 13th, 2013

Synopsis

Posted by loukev16 in Synopsis    

This project focuses primarily on cabins as a means of exploring domestic space in the context of small living structures by focusing on what factors constitute the relationships and dynamics that develop between a person and their living space, how ideas on the topic interact with the values that inform cabin architecture, and how to visually and musically interpret these settings in a manor that captures these values.  More specifically, this project explores what factors make the simplicity and compactness of a cabin structure so appealing, and how to assess the extent to which different cabins exploit these factors in there architectural design and furnishing arrangements.  Putting into practice these ideas by designing my own cabin structures that interpret different styles presented in my reading and online research. This project focuses on skill building of drawing techniques that were presented last quarter by completing pastel interpretations of cabin photography, both interior and exterior, which will allow me to learn the techniques that will be required to do interior and exterior pastel interpretations of my own design. There will also be an introductory drafting component in which I will design an original architectural layout .

 

I am incorporating Gaston Bachelard’s The Poetics Of Space (1958) as a means to inform and expand the ways in which I experience and interpret architecture, specifically that which will be presented in the other books that I will read, which will become important in the process of discerning what my own values are in terms of design.

I am reading Blueprint Small: Creative Ways To Live With Less (2003) by Michelle Kodin, which explores small living spaces and details the technical building aspects of a variety of small homes that make effective use of less space, and accounts the experiences of the people who live in these spaces, which will be read in the context of The Poetics of space, and used as a means to inform my design process from a technical perspective, as well as specific examples of how these spaces inform the lifestyles of those who occupy them.

My reading for this project also includes Compact Cabins (2010) by Gerald Rowan which a collection of 62 cabin designs, all of which are under 1,000 square feet, with floor plans and detailed suggestions of how to maximize the use of these small spaces to suit ones individual preferences, which serves the purpose of providing examples that are in the specific vein of cabin architecture that I will explore, and provide ideas for incorporating elements such as bathrooms, fireplaces, cooking areas, and lofts, and provide an introduction and exposure to the drafting process.

 

My project takes the form of visual art in drawing plans for structures that are informed by my readings, drawing interpretations of the structures in the readings and possibly images obtained from internet research of the language used to describe the structures in my readings.  Drawing is an appropriate and useful medium for my academic endeavor because it forces me to consider how I interpret space visually and to develop skill and technique in a medium that is relatively new to me.  This project also takes the form of reflective writing, which is a skill building task for me in this project.  This allows me to digest the material and work on my critical thinking skills. I will write reflectively on the visual work that I do, which forces me to analyze my processes when working with drawing and pastels, allowing me to reflect critically on what techniques I am employing and what did or didn’t work, which I believe will allow me to become learn form my mistakes and make progress in terms of technique and conceptualization.

 

 

The body of work that I will produce this quarter on a weekly basis  includes finished visual productions incorporating drawing and pastel, and a critical written reflection of the process and final art productions  as a whole as well as in relation to the reading material, and WordPress. For my final project I am going to integrate my previous educational experience at Evergreen, as well as my long term educational goals, by embarking on an compositional endeavor that includes lyrical, instrumental and recording production composition.  This project will be a first time experience for me in sound engineering and in composing in a manner that is directly informed by, and in study of, my course material interns of the aesthetic and sociocultural values of cabin architecture.  This is the Ultimate task I intend to achieve in order to maximize this educational experience that is A Cabin Study.

April 8th, 2013

What Constitutes a Cabin?

Posted by loukev16 in Uncategorized    

 

 

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