Final Poster Submission

A1 Interactive Poster







A1 Print Posters







Link to A1 PDF Poster

http://www.filefront.com/14823411/A1Poster.pdf

2nd Draft Poster

Draft Text

The re-envisioned Vitra Design Museum follows a dissimilar concept to the original building. Whilst some aspects of museum’s architecture are retained, the original function, site, structure, form and materials are transformed to create an alternative interpretation of Frank O. Gehry’s unique and artistic museum.

The function of the building is essentially transformed from a space that displays magnificent pieces of art to a holiday home, ultimately providing comfortable living for a couple. However, apart from being a place to live, the function of the re-invented Design Museum involves creating a relaxing and leisurely atmosphere within the home. This is achieved through the delivery of the site, structure, form, materials and aesthetics.

The holiday house is located on a secluded beach, surrounded by nature. The soothing sound of the crashing waves and harmony of singing birds create the relaxing atmosphere required by the re-envisioned Design Museum.

The form of the original Vitra Design Museum is quite complex. The re-invented version is a little toned down, by removing some of the complicated aspects, whilst adding simple features to express the buildings functionality. By creating a less complex architecture, there is less tension within the home.

The original structure is also a little dissimilar to the holiday beach house. Wall thickness will be reduced for the interior whilst still keeping some thickness for the exterior, to create a contrast with the external environment. Furthermore a variety of lighter materials are integrated in the structure of the beach house, such as glass, wood and aluminium. This lightness of structure creates a relationship with the residents of the house, resulting in a sensation of less responsibility and burden, thus reinforcing the relaxation of the environment.

Materiality will also be greatly altered. Unlike the Vitra Design Museum, the re-invented beach house will have a larger variety of materials emphasising on the buildings concept. Warmer and more welcoming materials will be used, much suited for a beach home, e.g. wood and white ceramic. A lot of natural materials will also be used, including stone, creating a contrast between the more synthetic materials used, including glass and aluminium. Moreover the choice of materials forms a modern, organic architecture that is welcoming and combines notions of relaxation and comfort.

The aesthetical accessories are quite lacking in the original Vitra Design Museum. Thus the reinvented museum acts upon this by including some water features, i.e. interior waterfalls. The use of water features emphasises the location and the relaxing atmosphere. Furthermore images of appealing landscapes are framed on the walls to create a homely environment.

The scale of the Vitra Design Museum is somewhat large, consisting of large floor spaces and high ceilings. However, the re-envisioned beach house has been scaled down a little to suit its context of a home.

The re-invented Design Museum will have an open plan, creating a smooth flow of movement and unimpeded circulation through the home. This will be achieved by replacing some doors with openings, and removing obstructing walls. In addition, the back entrance of the beach house is a wide set of bi-folding doors, which when open unites the interior and exterior spaces. This creates a relationship with indoor living area and the natural, soothing environment outside.

The functional form and purposeful structure of ‘Vitra Beach House’, combined with a soothing contrast of natural and synthetic materials, and appealing aesthetics, produces a delightful re-envisioned solution for the Vitra Design Museum.

Draft Layout

First Draft Layout

Textures

Finalised Design Vitra Museum Re-envision Concept

Layout Plan

Initially I decided on a rough room layout, and placed it over the original floor plans of the Vitra Design Museum. This gives a rough indication of my intentions with the transformations.





Sketches

Below are floor plan sketches of my new concept.





Modifications

The image below shows the modifications that will be made to the Museum's structure and form. It also shows details, with aspects of other buildings.



Early Model

This model originated from the base model I created of the Vitra Design Museum. Aspects of the building were altered to reflect my re-interpretation.





Below shows some aspects of the model that was altered as experimental brainstorming. It includes adding a butterfly roof and extended the back on of the building.

Grid Layout

Chosen Grid Layout

Below is the grid layout that has been chosen out of the two drafts below







Initial Sketches

Below are two sketches of alternative rough grid layouts.

A3 Montage

Initial Vitra Design Museum Re-envision Concept

My concept for the re-inventing of the Design Vitra Museum revolves around the notion of ‘function’.

It is anticipated that the building will be transformed into a holiday beach house, ultimately providing comfortable living for a couple. Thus, apart from being a place to live, the function of the re-invented Design Museum involves creating a relaxing atmosphere within the home. This will be achieved through the delivery of form, structure, materials and aesthetics. Firstly the form of the Design Museum is quite complex. The re-invented version will be a little ‘mellowed’ down, whilst adding simple features to the building to express functionality. The structure of the museum was also I little dissimilar to a house. Wall thickness will be reduced for the interior whilst still keeping some thickness for the exterior, to create a contrast with the external environment. Material will also be greatly transformed. More warm and welcoming materials will be used, suited more for a beach home, e.g. wood. A lot of natural materials will also be used, including stone. This will create a contrast with the more synthetic materials used, including glass and aluminium. The aesthetics of the reinvented museum will also include water features, i.e. interior waterfall.

The functional form and purposeful structure of ‘Vitra Design Beach House’, combined with a soothing contrast of natural and synthetic materials, and appealing aesthetics, will produce a delightful re-envisioned solution for the Vitra Design Museum.

Design Vitra Museum - Final Model

Early Renders

Design Vitra Museum - Image Comparisons

Comparison 1





Comparison 2

Case Study - Hotel Marques de Riscal

Hotel Marques de Riscal

Located in in the village of Elciego, at the heart of Spain’s wine-growing La Rioja region, Frank O. Gehry created an incredible piece of architecture in the form of a 5 star hotel.

"A series of rectilinear elements, clad in sandstone, combined with sweeping panels of gold and pink titanium, and mirror finish stainless steel."

The site for the building is approached along a road that leads through the vineyards and through existing wine production facilities that date primarily from the mid-nineteenth century. The site within the winery’s compound was challenging. Set behind the historic stone factories and backed by a steep hill, the new building does not nestle into the vineyards; instead, it stands over a paved plaza that covers a new bottle cave (accessible by direct elevators from the hotel). Gehry’s structure rises on three stone piers to capture views and assert its sculptural presence.

Structure

The overall structural view of the building below presents the many beams and columns that are used to hold the complex curved form in place.

The contrasting shots above and below present the curvilinear canopy from underneath and overhead. It portrays the 'skeleton' and the 'skin' of the structure.

Plans

Site Plan


Second Floor Plan

Third Floor Plan

Section

Model

This physical scaled model of the Marques de Riscal Hotel emphasises on the mirror aluminium finished, titanium panels. A suitable mixture of materials were chosen to portray this succesfully.

References

Websites:
http://www.arcspace.com/gehry_new/index.html?main=/gehry_new/prague/prag.htm
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1539
http://library.sl.nsw.gov.au/search~S2/?searchtype=X&searcharg=frank+gehry+complete+works&searchscope=2&sortdropdown=-&SORT=DZ&extended=1&searchlimits=&searchorigarg=Xfrank+gehry%26SORT%3DD
http://www.arcspace.com/architects/gehry/riscal_winery2/riscal2.html
http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/BTS/archives/hotels/06_Marques/

Books:
Adventurous wine architecture, By Michael Webb, Erhard Pfeiffer
Cool Hotels Spain, By Martin Nicholas Kunz
Luxury Winery Estates, By Christian Datz, Christof Kullmann

Images:
http://conceptanddesign.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/hotel-marques-de-riscal-01.jpg
http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/books/promos/Hotel_Marques_de_Riscal.jpg
http://claris.fr/slide/hotel/Diaporama_Canon1DsMk3_MarquesRiscal/images/_45R2059_LR.jpgy
http://claris.fr/slide/hotel/