After considering drawings of the Seattle Central Library and Thammasat University's Urban Rooftop Farm, geometric analysis is performed to discover hidden geometries through the development of a 2.5 layered model. Specifically, by looking at plans, and sections, different geometry is extrapolated and placed strategically in certain layers. As the process continues, the interaction between straight lines meeting a radius, spirals and overlapping curves, circles, ellipses, conic sections, and even spandrels begin to form an architectural language. Themes surrounding scale, organic vs non-organic geometries, and filled vs volumetric forms also emerge.
The 2.5 layered model is translated to 3D in the form of 2 plaster casts and 2 material swatches. Plaster cast 1 aims to form curves at different scales in the horizontal direction while more rectangular forms rise in the vertical direction. Organic shapes also emerge as a direct translation from the 2.5d layered model. Interestingly, both casts examine the idea of the "slit" and offsetting as a method of creating hypothetical cantilevers and letting light and shadow interact with the plaster. Cast 2 is three circles in plan that are connected by "bridges". Clearly, curved become a driving motive. I also consider different scales of relief, playing with small scale relief as seen in the center of the floorplan collage below but also large scale relief in offsets along the entire mass. The material swatch on the left, interprets the circulation pattern of the Seattle Central Library (red and acrylic), but then aims to develop an almost facade like structure out of clear pla filament that transforms the more organic forms of the thammasat rooftop into a more traditional, helix geometry. This material swatch determines the hypothetical wall section below.Â
