Lecture and Tutorial Blog: Week 2

Lecture

Introduction:

The lecture for week 2 was given entirely by John Gamble on the topic of the Villa Maireia, designed by Alvar Aalto. The house is situated on a large estate (already containing two houses) in the town of Noormarkku on the west coast of Finland. Although the house I have been designated is the Gehry House of Santa Monica, I found this lecture both thoroughly informative and also helpful in my own personal exploration of the Gehry House. Gamble explained that Aalto desired to change the way in which buildings were designed and thought about, in particular Aalto believed that designs were not dealing with a wide enough range of issues and consequently lacked a human quality. In a 1935 lecture, Aalto explored his “goal of an inclusive architecture”, one that accommodates the full scope of human and ecological ‘patterns’. A pattern is a complex network of relationships, and a single design should exist amongst many different interconnected patterns. Aalto had 3 main strategies that allowed him to methodically create effective and comprehensive design. These strategies were; to explore multiple, co-spatial structures (patterns), to explore high levels of formal articulation and finally to explore predominantly non-repetitive relationships (e.g. no repetitive grid). In order to understand Aalto’s explorations of these specifics we must look at the intricate detail of his work, explore the subtle specifics of the design (as introduced in the first lecture).

The Patterns of The Villa Maireia:

 John Gamble explored 2 of the many patterns that Aalto explores in the Villa Maireia design. To briefly examine these patterns, the first involved the connection of the site to the ridge structure that runs through the estate, and secondly the connection of the layers of the site and design. The ridge structure runs through the Havulinna house, in particular directly on the axis of the pool, up to the site of the Villa Maireia which is flattened out, creating many interesting relationships. Aalto approaches the ridge in many ways, one example being the ordering of the 3 structural bays that hold the central interior spaces. The fine detail of the irregular bays creates a diagonal that runs along the ridge line. The spatial flow through the rectangular forms creates an intimacy within that is highlighted through the 2 apposing sub-bays that appose this to create ‘places of rest’. The second pattern can be described as the relationship between the ‘centre-perimeter-outer’. Through paying close attention to detail such as the size of the small connecting door between the interior and exterior dining spaces, we are able to examine the subtle relationships between these layers. These are only a few examples of the many explored in the lecture, that opened my eyes and reinforced the need to examine the specific details of a design in order to understand it.

Tutorial

Following the lecture I returned to the plans and images of the Gehry House at Santa Monica. I focused on trying to examine the patterns that flow through the design, in particular looking for specific subtle irregularities. The first idea I was able to explore and see clearly was the creation of the boundary within the house. Although I had vaguely understood this concept in the first week I was able to examine it closely with particular reference to the patterns I could see emerging. Firstly and most obviously the aluminium exterior creates a harsh, contrasting barrier to the site, providing an unwelcoming façade. Secondly the exterior, boundary walls beyond this aluminium façade create an extra layer that needs to be passed in order to enter. However, to interestingly twist this pattern the tilted and angled window presents a glimpse of the interior, and a break in this exterior barrier. Finally, when walking through the front door we are confronted with quite a restricted and defined space. Through this examination I changed my plans for my section cuts, deciding to cut through this line from the front door to the back garden. This section highlights the many different layers that need to be passed in order to reach the secluded, blurred interior/exterior garden. The added on building mass blurs this line through creating a garden like space, full of natural light and wooden elements, on the interior. This space is then connected to the outside as the wooden framework of the windows and doors facing the garden are exposed. I hope to reflect this idea through cutting a section across the back of the house.

In the week 2 tutorial i was also able to show my tutor the full drafts of my floor plan and sectional drawings. The main points i needed to focus on were to maintain continuous line thicknesses and specifications throughout all drawings. Secondly i need to highlight the most important elements of the windows, mesh and stud work in order to examine my ideas on the design.