thesis: to dwell
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLOR
INQUIRY
THEORETICAL STATEMENT
LOCATION
An investigation and theoretical study of the relationship between the natural landscape and the technological advancements within the built environment. The question being asked, Is how can one build in a way that is truly one with the land? And is it even possi-ble to build this way? How can a person in modern society even survive without using the land, sea, and air for ‘their’ purpose or benefi t? What are the requirements for such a life-style? The intent is not to discover a new vision of ‘living’ but more so to dissect the ques-tion of “How can we build in a way that is one with Earth? And what is Architecture’s role in this contextual struggle?
To Dwell is to experience conditions that support and reaffi rm ones sense of who and what one is. This study looks at how technology can be applied to intensify the encoun-ters between humans and their immediate contexts. The study looks at modes of living and making that area applicable to a broad range of morphological conditions that connect humans to the earth rather than “subduing” it.
The site is located at the intersection of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The site is surrounded by residential, commercial, education, and hospi-tality locally. Much focus has gone into studying the Potomac river that runs directly through the site. Since the beginning of man, we have fl ocked towards running water. It provides transportation, signs of vegetation, and security from unwanted guests. As we can see today, the metropolitan area in its earliest stages were formed this way.
The borders of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia all meet along the terrain of the Potomac River. This site will offer a varying degree of terrain, a rising and powerful tide, and the open vista like landscape of the enclosing mountainsides; which are exposed to the elements of all four seasons. These three alone, preliminary, already provide enough discussion to achieve the goal at hand.
MARYLAND
DISCTRICTOF
COLUMBIAVIRGINIA
CHAIN BRIDGE
LITTLE FALLSDAM
TO | DWELL
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLOR
FLOOD ZONE
ACCESSIBILITY
VEGETATION
SITE MORPHOLOGY
SITE PHOTOS
12
3
3
4
4
1 HIGH VEGETATION2 LOW VEGETATION3 POTOMAC RIVER4 MOUNTAINSIDE
TO | DWELL
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLOR
APPARENTLY REINFORCING APPARENTLY NEUTRAL APPARENTLY NON-REINFORCING
OBSERVANCE DECKCOMMON AREA (EXT.)GARDEN (IN. & EXT.)EXTENSION OF MAN*M. BEDROOM2nd BEDROOMCOMMON AREA (IN.)KITCHENBATHROOMSLAUNDRY SPACESTORAGEMOUNTAINSIDEVISUAL CONNECTION:
PROGRAM:
RIVERVEGETATION (HIGH & LOW)
NATURAL LIGHTFLOWING WATERNON-VISUAL CONNECTION:FAUNA & FLORACHANGING ENV.TOWARDS DWELLINGJOUNERY:
ACCESS:
SMELL:
OTHER STRUCTURES
ACENSION INTO DWELLING
PERSONAL DWELLINGS
COOKING AREAOTHER ACTIVITIES:
VIS
UAL
CO
NN
ECTIO
N:
PRO
GRA
M:
NO
N-V
ISUA
L C
ON
NEC
TION
:
JOUN
ERY:
AC
CES
S:
SMEL
L:O
THER
AC
TIVITI
ES:
SUNSRISE AND SUNSETSFISHINGKAYAKINGDESCENING DOWN AND TOUCHING THE WATER
FROM THE GROUND PLANE
OBS
ERV
AN
CE
DEC
KC
OM
MO
N A
REA
(EXT
.)G
ARD
EN (I
N. &
EXT
.)EX
TEN
SIO
N O
F M
AN
*M
. BED
ROO
M2n
d B
EDRO
OM
CO
MM
ON
ARE
A (I
N.)
KITC
HEN
BATH
ROO
MS
LAUN
DRY
SPA
CE
STO
RAG
EM
OUN
TAIN
SID
ERI
VER
VEG
ETA
TION
(HIG
H &
LO
W)
NA
TURA
L LI
GHT
FLO
WIN
G W
ATE
RFA
UNA
& F
LORA
CHA
NG
ING
EN
V.
TOW
ARD
SD
WEL
LIN
GO
THER
STR
UCTU
RES
AC
ENSI
ON
INTO
DW
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PERS
ON
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DW
ELLI
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S
CO
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NG
ARE
ASU
NSR
ISE
AN
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UNSE
TSFI
SHIN
GKA
YAKI
NG
DES
CEN
ING
DO
WN
AN
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TOUC
HIN
G T
HE W
ATE
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FRO
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HE G
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E
1
3
1.5
DIAGRAMS
TO | DWELL
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLOR
PRELIMINARY SKETCHES
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MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLOR
SITE PLAN
SITE SECTION
100 YEAR FLOOD PLANE
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EXTERIOR DECKA-A
B-B
C-C
D-D
EXTERIOR DECK
FIRE STOVE
KITCHEN
DINING
LIVING
MECH.ROOM
BEDROOMM. BEDROOM
BATH
EXTERIOR DECK
GROUND LEVEL PLANS
PRIVATE STUDY
1/4” = 1’-0”MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL
STORAGEOBSERVANCEAREA
MEZZANINE LEVEL PLANS 1/4” = 1’-0”MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL
PRIVATE STUDY
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLOR
WEST ELEVATION 1/16”=1’-0”
EAST ELEVATION 1/16”=1’-0”
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL
MARCELL SNDOGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLOR
SOUTHERN ELEVATION 1/16”=1’-0”
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL
SECTION A-A 1/2”=1’-0”
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL
SECTION B-B 1/2”=1’-0”
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL
SECTION C-C 1/2”=1’-0”
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL
SOUTHERN ELEVATION 1/2”=1’-0” SECTION D-D 1/2”=1’-0”
MARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL
PRIVATE STUDY
AXONOMETRIC STRUCTURAL DIAGRAM
COMPOSITE WOOD BEAMS
COMPOSITE WOOD TRUSS SYSTEM
STEEL BLOCKING MEMBER
MONOCOQUE PANELING SYSTEM
CONCRETE BEARING PILES
STEEL FASTENERS
AXONOMETRIC STRUCTURAL DIAGRAMMARCELL SNODGRASS | DESIGN VIII | HOWARD UNIVERSITY | PROF. WILLIAM TAYLORTO | DWELL