1C - Written Component of the Cabin Design

The cabin design follows the concepts and ideas present within the exemplar house, 33rd Lane designed by Geoffrey Bawa that exemplifies the notions that the house is an environmental filter, a container of human activities and a delightful experience.

As in the Bawa House, my proposed cabin design has an intimate connection with nature, where each defined space has a relationship with the exterior demonstrating a relationship both spaces are embraced and exist harmoniously. Despite the 500 metre square site allowance, I have chosen to make my cabin site a lot smaller so as to continue the idea of an intimate, up-close connection with nature, and containing this experience to the confines of the site. Unlike most architectural experiences the views and experiences are confined to the boundaries of the Bawa House so I had to find a way to 'restrict’ the interference of the outside, whilst still being aware of its presence. The views that my cabin offers are of the surrounding natural paradise. Each room opens up to the courtyard spaces and concurrently each courtyard fills each room with greenery, natural scents and offers shading. The courtyards also act as filters of the environment as they repel noise, ensure privacy from neighbours and purify air. Meandering through these tropical gardens offers an experience which is both peaceful and delightful. The ambience of the courtyards creates a sense of place which is pleasant and serene. The shade of a tree or a hidden wooden chair overlooking a small pond creates private spots for reflection, contemplation or relaxation. One may venture out into the north-east courtyard and find the reflection area, a 'wooden cage' that is inspired by a room in the Bawa House. Sunlight penetrates through the openings in the walls creating dispersing a spattering of light within the small seated area and also allows one to look out beyond the site to resplendent views of the city, river, and falls.

The axis within the house directs the movement through the house as well as their views. The axis have been positioned to allow one to walk fluidly from one end of the house to the other and influence how one might move around and experience each succeeding space so as to fulfil the designers intent. The cabin utilises the lines of axis throughout the house to create an adequate flow of air, lines of sight and destination points as one journeys through the space. The first main line runs through the front door, through the living room and kitchen and outside into the courtyard and reflection area on the opposite side of the house. The second runs through the ‘private spaces’ and sitting area where a view of the bedroom and courtyard beyond can be seen from the studio. This creates a delightful experience for the viewer.

Elements of the macro-environment have been considered throughout the design and various solutions have evolved and have been implicated in the design in regards to the house being an environmental filter. I wanted to implicate Geoffrey Bawas’ philosophy in my design where building and landscape exist as one harmonious whole and are constantly interacting with each other. The plan has been designed along specific axis so that each may harness the wind flow. The rotated rectangle has been positioned to catch the air flowing from the valley so that it may be channelled through the main living spaces. Heavy vegetation and shading on the west side protects the viewer from the harsh sun in a sub-tropical climate. The overall design is environmentally sustainable, where the surrounding landscape has been used advantageously and controlled in a desirable way so as to benefit the design. Wooden panels extending over the west facade of the house, as well as outward from the sitting room ceiling mediate light and further protect the inhabitants from the sun. It is these two facades of the cabin that are subjected to the most exposure to the sun. The architects’ studio has been positioned intentionally on the south-east corner of the house to take full advantage of the morning sun and the constant daily light that is offered by these directions to create the ideal working space. In the exemplar house, 33^rd lane, the pitched roof is a dominant feature in the design as it aids the ventilation flow in the house. I did not integrate a pitched roof into my design but instead chose to implement this roof types’ abilities and instead incorporated it into the courtyard. On the south-east corner one may wander along a long, narrow walkway that provides a pleasant, shaded journey through the respective courtyards, whilst also channelling wind down this backyard corner. The alternative to the pitched roof design was a flat green roof, inspired by the rooftop garden and form of the front facade of the Bawa House. “A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves a high quality water proofing and root repellent system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants”( National Research Council, Institute for Research in Construction). A green roof involves a "contained" green space on top of the cabin where this can provide a wide range of public and private benefits.

Principal Green Roof Technology Components .

Source: National Research Council, Institute for Research in Construction

For more information about green roofs click here.

The Floor plan of the house comprises a succession of spaces that all interconnect and relate to one another. Given the size constraints, the complexity of the Bawa House floor plan could not be continued in my cabin design, however its basic principles have been carried on. The series of rooms exist together on plan but remain independent of each other. The spatial adjacencies are dependent on private and public area. These have been grouped together on the plan, as was done in 33^rd Lane. The private spaces still remain present as they are central to the plan. The dining room, living room and kitchen are open to each other to allow for fluidity of movement and interaction within the house. The axis determine the main circulation paths though these public living areas, as well as linking the private areas to the public areas and the courtyards. The bedroom may not appear connected at first, where doors sectioned it off as desired, but it is very much present in a subtle way – it is the heart of the plan. The bedroom remains internal and central to the plan and still has a strong presence within the house despite at times being hidden. The toilet is connected to the bedroom, as was done in 33^rd Lane to allow discretion in a small residence. The courtyards have a strong connection to all areas within the site, whether it be a public or private area. The courtyards and the interaction between the landscape and built environment is a dominant theme in the cabin design which has been adapted from the exemplar architect, Geoffrey Bawa. The integration of these courtyard areas into the design establishes a unique haven and creates a strong sense of place for living in.

1C - Cabin Design

Floor and Site Plan:




Section and Western Elevation:



Roof and Extended Site Plan:


3D Interior Volumentric Representation:

The Architects Studio.

3D Representational Sketches of the Cabin:

1C - Designing

Here are a selection of my preliminary sketches during the early stages of the design process. These show some of the concepts and forms that I explored and tested and how they evolved and advanced into my final cabin design.

Inspiration from Nature:


Exploration of Forms and Concepts:




Evolution of Floor Plan:


Key aspects and concepts to be included within design:

Diagramming - A Delightful Experience

Courtyards:
The surrounding courtyards offer spaces for reflection and contemplation. The courtyards offer a private paradise in a suburban jungle. One may at peace with nature and bask in its gifts, offering a truly unique experience in it's urban surroundings. As shown in the diagram below, each room opens up to a glorious courtyard, so that one may be connected to nature at all times.


Sensory Experiences:

The Bawa House is made a delightful experience through the journey that our senses embark on whilst moving through each succeeding spaces in the house. The light unexpectedly penetrating through the roof or dappling across the floor through the slotted features above, the smells of the gardens, the rugged textures of the objects and surfaces, and the views of nature and ancient artifacts all contribute to this sacred exploration through time. Below are diagrams of the views and circulation paths within the house.
Maze of Rooms:

One may find pleasure in aimlessly meandering through the myriad of corridors and courtyards, getting lost in their surroundings. The careful planning and intelligent placement of each wall and walkway is appreciated by those who move through the house. The discovery of hidden rooms and courtyard spaces creates excitement and anticipation in the viewer as each nook and cranny unveils itself. These are rationalised by a series of axis running through the house. This is a dominant design element present within the plan.

Cabin:

Courtyard Areas for Reflection:

The Cabin will conisist of various courtyards which provide places for reflection, contemplation or relaxation. A feeling of delight is experienced as one moves though these courtyards surrounded by nature and basking in its gifts.The area in the north-east of the plan is a private area for reflection where one may sit and look out over a resplendant view of the river, city and falls.

Sensory Experiences:

The sensory experiences within the site remain internal. The openess of the design allows nature to come to it, rather than seeking it. Sunlight ascends though an opening in the ceiling and spills though the abundant doors and windows. Pleasing views are ones that remain within the confines of the site, with the exception of the reflection area which overlooks the water and city. All the views are within the houses' boundaries.

The Axis:

The axis within the house direct ones movement through the house as well as their views. The axis have been postioned to allow one to walk fluidly from one end of the house to the other and prompt how one might move around and experience each succeeding spaces within the house as the designer intended.

Diagramming - A Container of Human Activities

33rd Lane:

Positioning of Public and Private Spaces:
In the Bawa House the public and private spaces are easily distinguishable. These have been somewhat separated where the private areas are central to the plan where the public space are more open to the courtyards on the outer areas of the plan. The private areas are situated together on the plan with strong connections to each other, where as they have weaker connections to the public living spaces.

Spatial Adjacencies:
The spatial adjacencies within the house follow two main trends: most rooms in the house are adjacent to a courtyard and the public and private areas are separated. Public areas are located together on the plan whilst the private spaces still remain present as they are central to the plan. The bedroom may not appear connected at first, as it may be sectioned off as desired, but it is very much present in a subtle way - the whole house circulates it. The dining room , living room and kitchen are all situated together, however the amenities are not adjacent. Each bedroom is connected to a toilet- a room which Bawa obviously saw as very private due to its discreet locations.



Incorporating Nature into Everyday Living:
Bawa understood that a house was a container of human activity and found it necessary to incorporate nature into each aspect of living. This is evident in the plan where it can be seen that each room is connected in some way or another to the outside. This concept is obviously one that Geoffrey Bawa saw as crucial to healthy living.



Cabin:

Public Vs. Private Spaces:

In the Cabin design, the public and private spaces are have also been situated in distinguishable areas. The public spaces have are more open to the courtyards on the outer areas of the plan. The priavte areas have been situated together on the plan with strong connections that mirror those in the Bawa House. The public spaces are more open to the private spaces, however the private spaces remain conciously independant of the public.




Spatial Adjacencies:

The courtyards have a strong connection to all areas within the site, whether it be public or private areas. The bedroom remains central to the plan and still has a strong presence within the house despite at times being hidden. Living areas have been situated together to allow openess and fluidity in the plan.


Incorporating Nature into Everyday Living:
In the cabin design the courtyard spaces are intimately connected with the interior embracing them as part of the living spaces. Greenery spills into every room and becomes apart of the lifestyle inside the house. It is important to incorporate nature into each aspect of living, and each human activity inside the house.

Diagramming - An Environmental Filter

33rd Lane:

Embraces the Macro-Environment:
The Bawa Residence acts as an environmental filter by embracing the natural elements in a way that compliments and enhances the house. The design harnesses the elements of the macro-environment so that it is advantageous in the Sri Lankan climate. The breeze that flows in from the west coast is channeled through the hallways creating a natural cooling system. Bawa's work is often described as 'vernacular' as it demonstrates a strong influence from to traditional methods that were used in the tropical region. His approach to design and the environment is self-sustainable, environmentally friendly and functionally effective.

Embraces Vegetation:
Bawa believed in living harmoniously with nature, where he preferred to see the built environment as part of the environment and did not distinguish between the two. The Bawa House exemplifies this idea where the relationship between the landscape and building is symbiotic. The surrounding vegetation offers privacy, shade and serenity where its is incorporated into the house. Every room in the house is connected to the exterior in some way or another. Courtyards surround the house, with light and greenery spilling into every room.


Offers self-contained views:
Originally, the tower on the front facade was included so that the owner may view the ocean. However, as the neighborhood has developed over the years, this view has been lost. The views that remain are those inside the house; both to the exterior into the courtyards and to those within the house. Some of these views are established through the axis that run through the house, creating a focal point or direction for a specifc journey path through the house.

Cabin:

Embraces the Macro-Environment:

Wind channels thought the house with ease due to the openess of the design and axis that run through it. The direction of these axis was determined by the location of the vally in regards to the cabin site.

Embraces Vegetation:

The design embraces vegetation in a way that is symbiotic and harmonious. As Bawa did, I sought not to create a distinction between the built environment and landscape. The surrounding vegetation offers privacy from neighbours and in reflection areas, shade and tranquility. Courtyards surround the house, with light and greenery spilling into every room. Every room in the house is connected to the exterior in some way or another.

The Design Harnesses the Elements:
The design takes full advantage of its position in its surrounding by incorporating sunlight, air flow and views into its design.

1C - Site Analysis

Analysis of the Site:



Location of Cabin:

The idea location for my 500 square metre site would be a level area and as the site must be placed within the Mount Methology region, the cabin will be placed in the outskirts of the boundaries where the ground is more lickely to be level. The surrouding exemplar house also had specific site location requirements that were crucial the their structure and form.

Elevations of the surrounding buildings on the site:



The Bawa Residence must be placed on level ground with its orientation as shown above with wind channelling into the house from the western facade.


The Taringa House is designed to be placed on a slight slope and is surrounded by vegetation, an ideal location would be towards the bottom of a mountain or hill.


The Lambert House was designed to be placed on a slope, so as to maximise the views of the area and also compliment its unique form. An ideal view for this house would be of the city or overlooking a water passge.

The Chosen Site:

After entensive testing and deliberation, I decided on an ideal location that satisfied the needs of the group of surrounding exemplar houses as well as the ideas I had about the cabin design, which closely linked to the requirements of the Bawa Residence. This site is located on the north-easterly side of Mount Methology.
The characteristics that this site offered that were resposible for its selection were:
- its postion at the base of a valley formed between the Parti Peak and Linearity Lookout. The site would recieve adequate air flow from the wind channelled between these two high rises.
- its inclusion of the lookout offers views of the city, falls and river to the east. This location compliments the Lambert House and satisfies the requirements of the Taringa House and studio.
- the water included within the borders of the site. Views of the water is a desirable characteristic for the Cabin and is suitable also for the Bawa House as the exemplar orignally was designed to have views of the ocean.
These are the chosen positions of the neighbouring houses in plan view and in a 3D sketch:



3D Drawing of the Site:


Section of the Site: