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Contextual Fit

The main objective of this project is to create an addition to Richard Meier's "Smith House", a contemporary work designed in 1965. This project challenged me to focus on the incorporation of new three dimensional massing and ordering systems with respect to the original design of the building. 

Narrative

Dr. Chelsea Bennice is a famous marine biologist who, upon accumulating a large sum of money throughout her career, has decided to move with her family into the Smith House. Dr. Bennice is most renowned for her scientific breakthroughs in cephalopod research, dedicating hundreds of hours to studying, photographing, and videographing the natural environments, schedules, and habits of octopuses. She has requested that she would like to have a personal aquarium installed in the new addition to her house so that she can more closely and actively observe a variety of tropical fish and sea creatures in her free time. Additionally, she wants the aquarium to duly act as a calming area for her family and guests alike to alleviate stress and have a quiet place to relax.

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Meta Idea & Hierarchy

The meta-idea of the octopus was chosen due to Dr. Bennice’s adoration for octopuses, which happen to be her favorite cephalopod. She requested that the aquarium be the most important space in the new addition to her home. Dr. Bennice firmly believes that sea creatures are oftentimes severely misunderstood, and she wants to share her passion with other people by showing them the beauty that can exist in the ocean.

Sorting of Spaces

Public:

Aquarium

Family Room

Exercise Room

Private:

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Loud:

Family Room

Exercise Room

Quiet:

Aquarium

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Group:

Family Room

Exercise Room

Aquarium

Individual:

Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Hierarchy: Aquarium

Meta-Idea: Octopus

Contextual Analysis

Existing Floor Plans

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Existing Floor Plan Analysis

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Conceptual Plan Analysis

Circulation

Enclosures

Circulation

Indoor

Outdoor

Hierarchy

Structure

Hierarchy

Girder

Bearing Wall

Beam

Preliminary Designs

Final Design

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Interactions With Existing Systems

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Window
Openings

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Curtain Wall

Railing

Columns & Girders

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Final Floor Plans

First Floor

Second Floor

Third Floor

Final Elevations

North Elevation

South Elevation

East Elevation

West Elevation

Final Section Views

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Final Section & Interior Renderings

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Final Project Renderings

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