ab / portfolio

chessboxin / a collection of architectural design project[s] completed whilst studying.

[ab-portfolio]

the premise for housing project is a response to the burgeoning issue of social-recollection amongst urbanised Chinese farmers. Having spent entire livelihoods on rural pastures, the cultural-shock being supplanted into a concrete box in the sky has a had dire effect on this population. was sought where traditional subtleties may be reinterpreted within an urbanised, modern context.  

 The building creates three separate 2 x bedroom dwellings. The planning is an interpretation of a traditional siheyuan [courtyard house]. Private areas including bedrooms and bathing were collected and placed together, eating and dining were paired with a separate living surrounding a building-high courtyard void. The void becomes a representation of the past, not present but sub-consciously moving towards a new future. Traditional subtleties continue to influence the planning; each of the internal zones provide visual connections towards other areas without direct pathways metaphorically representing the sentiment found in knowing your destination but to truly appreciate its virtue, one must travel a long, winding path.

[ab-portfolio]

the shelter was a model conceptually focused on providing dignity for homeless and disadvantaged folk. The premise of the structure was to provide a place to sleep in the evening off-the-ground, offering a dry place to sleep but also metaphorically respect towards the situation; you may be down + out but you are not alone. A clean, dry place to sleep is offered + dignity is given. Introducing the mechanism allowed the shelter to fold-away during the day, which having provided respite during the evening, provides a return to useable urban space during the day.

The model was constructed using contemporary fabrication techniques including cnc-milling, vacuum forming acrylic, setting concrete moulds from the acrylic, 3D computational design for 3D Printing and laser-cutting. Due to the constructed size + weight of the model, it required deconstruction. The remaining pieces were then re-envisioned as part of a reproducible milton bradley andrew best model kit; accounting for the time taken to complete the model and within its conceptual-premise, sustained periods of contemplation on the issue are offered. A socialist constructive inspired experiment designed question our commitment towards an equitable future.

[ab-portfolio]

the future.

[ab-portfolio]

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community hub is a real-world project submission for an architectural competition, located in inner-city Adelaide. The competition sought a community centre which would redefine what a community centre is. The proposal seeks to do this by employing simple geometry, precisely-placed to react against + towards the site[s] context, challenging not only it’s own form but that of the adjacent environment also. The design challenges our perception through several key strategies including – an impervious and floating/elevated structure, façade[s] and building-mass which ‘folds-away’ from the boundary creating open-views inwards towards the site and a circulation-system based upon the existing metro patterns/pathways. Pockets of outdoor, variation-al, recreational space were also vital. The hub facilities include an old-fashioned box-office window serviced by an express ticket-hall, 120 seat-auditorium, dbl. height gallery space, size-adjustable studio[s] and recreation venues including a café/restaurant, patron bar and the appropriate restroom + plant facilities.

[ab-portfolio]

terrace house is a real-world project, DA approved and awaiting construction in Marrickville, 2204. The original terrace is situated within a row of 5 homes and was built roughly between 1872 and 1873. The original house is divided into compact spaces with limited natural light. The homes’ bathroom and toilet are located in the backyard with outdoor living spaces also separated from any internal living area. Considerations for the terrace were to create larger, natural-light-filled internal volumes with an integral connection to the limited but highly precious, outdoor living areas. External materials, which would help the house ‘blend’ into neighbourhood again after construction, were also to be considered. Further, a vegetative roof + the repurpose of second-hand cinder-blocks into ‘grass-slabs’, the new design adds 40sqm2 of potable green-space, providing higher comfort through evapotranspiration.

The rear volume’s form was dictated via the necessity to preserve direct solar access for the neighbour, shaving a section from the rear of the volume. + in-doing so, creating an indoor / outdoor urban sanctuary across both levels of the home.