Firmness, Commodity and Delight

House as an Environmental Filter

The proposed cabin design utilises natural lighting and ventilation to create a suitable environment for its users. The west elevation is covered with glass louvered windows so as to allow light to penetrate the structure and allow air to circulate within the building.

House as a container for Human Activities

The house has been designed around human function. While the house is only 75 square meters it is still considered spacious due to the adaptability of space. The house can be effortlessly rearranged depending on what facilities are needed at the time; a bedroom becomes an office, a dinning room hides under the main living space and a sliding wall converts the quiet living area into a home theatre. The manipulation of space gives endless permutations of living.

House is a Delightful Experience

The windows frame the picturesque view of the mountains descent, overlooking the distant township, perhaps the most alluring feature to the design. Due to the slope of the land the house seems like it is cantilevering over the side of the mountain, hovering in place. The setting sun can be observed from any room within the house, and can be enjoyed by sitting out on the secluded deck, eating at the dinning table under the window framing the view, relaxing on the lounge with a book in hand or in the large bath cantilevering off the side of the house to the north. The house creates a soothing environment, a perfect holiday/weekend retreat.

Key Design Concepts

Ventilation

In order to allow for natural ventilation, Gary Chang designed the suitcase house so the entire exterior of the house was wrapped with folding windows (with only a few small exceptions). While I have not ‘wrapped’ my cabin design with these folding windows, I have come up with a similar solution but on a lesser scale. My ventilation concept consists of a louver design, but in a vertical orientation, which can then be adjusted to control the direction of the ventilation:



These vertical louvers cover the entire west elevation of the building, while there is only one section on the east elevation. Depending on the direction of the wind these louvers can be adjusted to ‘funnel’ the wind into the house to create a more comfortable environment.

Natural light

Much like Chang’s Suitcase House design, the proposed cabin design is quite long and narrow. Being only 4.5 meters wide – in most sections – and the entire west elevation of the house covered in glass, it’s not hard for natural light to find its way into and illuminate the structure.

Multi-functional Spaces

Gary Chang’s use of multi-functional spaces was perhaps the main concept behind his design of the Suitcase house. I have attempted to recreate a space with multiple functions in my cabin design by using similar ideas including Gary’s use of sliding walls and folding floor panels.

Sliding walls



Situated in the living area; the wall slides across the room creating a multifunctional living space. The space can be used as a library, a place to relax and reflect, and a space to watch moves (one of Chang’s hobbies).

Folding floor panels

Bedroom/office


Dinning Room


With the use of folding floor panels I have been able to create more multifunctional spaces including an office/bedroom, and a hidden dinning room situated in the living area.

Public and Private Spaces

In order to separate private from public spaces I have used walls to separate the areas. There are no doors within the cabin – other than to enter and exit the structure – so the house is quite open. The main living space is open plan, and is taller than other sections of the house to make it seem more spacious, while the private areas of the house are at human scale (height wise). Curtains are used to create a more private/intimate environment within the cabin (not just windows, but for more privacy in the bedroom/office and bathroom where there are ‘half-height’ walls separating spaces).

Proposed Cabin Design

CHANG RESIDENCE

Cabin Placement on Site

The cabin is situated further back on the site so as to create a more private experience for the users. The rear of the house is facing the west and frames the view of the descending mountain.

Drawing Panels

Diagramming

Spatial Planning

The Chang Residence is a cabin located on Mt Methodology and is designed for Gary Chang and his partner. The cabin - in order to follow project 1 guidelines - must consist of a 'space' for the following:

- Living
- Dining
- Preparing food
- Sleeping
- Working
- Reflecting
- Abluting

In order to design the best possible cabin for Chang, some spacial analysis diagrams have been used to best sepparate the private spaces from the publlic spaces and observe the importance of room placement to best fit human activities.

Part C - Site Location + Context

Location

An imaginary ideal architectural location and urban utopia – Mount Methodology in Charette City – is the chosen location for the cabin we are required to design for our architect based on our exemplar house.

Our cabin’s ‘site’ is to be located within the green zone shown on the map and is to be a maximum size of 500m²

After extensive research on the Suitcase House, I have decided that the ideal location for my suggested cabin design would be on the west side of the mountain at Cantilever Cliffs:

Context

By using the three exemplar houses researched for part A (The Suitcase House, Isaacson-Davis Beach House and Samford House), I have created site locations and consequently an immediate neighbourhood for the location of my Cabin which will be designed following the design strategy on the chosen exemplar house (Suitcase House). These house sites are located immediately adjacent to the site chosen for my cabin.

:: Enlarged site Plan ::

:: Topographic Site Plan ::

:: Site Section ::

While drawing the section of the site, I considered the name of the area - Cantilever Cliffs – and thought it reasonable to include aspects of the name in the section design. The name Cantilever Cliffs implies that the area is, in some areas quite steep; where natural or man made structures/elements cantilever over the edge.

Part B - Analysis of Archetype

Gary Chang -

"Limitless variation can only emerge from simplicity. I planned for the Suitcase House to be more than a residence. Its character is not limited to space for living and working, it is a transformative environment. From the most complex partitioning, to the most minimal space, it is defined by how people use it. Its life is bound up in perpetual resonance and interaction with people whose lifestyles are constantly changing." (SOHO China, 2004)

:: Why did I choose to further research the Suitcase House? ::

While all three exemplar houses are unique in their own ways (all are evidence of strong design and inherit unique adaptions to their background), I chose to do further research on the suitcase house due to its distinctive design and use of space. No other architect has been able to manipulate the space within a building like Gary Chang. This manipulation of space and endless possibilities of design layout is what drew me to this innovative design.

At first glance, Chang’s cantilevered Suitcase House - which measures nearly 350 square meters - looks like a giant timber shoebox with modern furnishings dotted around. However a series of hidden pneumatic trapdoors can be pulled up to reveal the functional elements of a house below. (Leece, S. 2007)

Chang’s guiding concepts are spontaneity and flexibility. In addition to the sunken chambers, a series of sliding panels in the main space can be effortlessly rearranged to allow the free flowing house to be transformed into different types of spaces, whether intimate or expansive, to suit the user. The design is playful yet practical allowing endless options for contemporary living. (Leece, S. 2007)


Gary Chang :: The Architect

Born in Hong Kong in 1962, Gary Chang graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1987 with a degree in architecture. Chang founded his company EDGE in 1994, and quickly gained a reputation for his dedication to work and award-winning multi-disciplinary designs. Chang has won many awards in Asia and across the globe for his architectural, interior and product designs.

Chang’s key projects include:

The Suitcase House - at the commune by the Great Wall
Gary’s own apartment - in Hong Kong
The Broadway Cinematheque - in Hong Kong,
Recalibration of the Hong Kong Arts Centre - in Hong Kong
The Mega-iAdvantage Data Centre - in Hong Kong
And many other projects in China, Hong Kong, Japan, middle East, Europe and others, including designing apartments and houses for an international list of private clients.

Though inescapably urban, Gary’s portfolio is not one of soaring office towers for big corporate clients, but concentrates on the quality of space.

:: Analysis Drawings ::

Panel 1 - Floor Plans + Topographic Plan

Panel 2 - Left Elevation + Section

Panel 3 - Isometric View + Vignettes



The Judging Panel -

"The Suitcase House (is) more than just a suitcase-a plane of sensual leisure and pleasure, intimacy privacy, spontaneity and flexibility, breaking the mundane rituals of every day life, arousing public interest and rethinking the use of limited space with maximum flexibility, Suitcase House combines architecture with interior design and revisits the issue of space utilization in a simple way." (SOHO China, 2004)

REFERENCES
- Chang, G. (2000, October) Elsewhere. Dwell. pp37-38.
- Leece, S. (2007) China Living. Singapore: Periplus Editions.
- MIOMA. (2010). Suitcase House. Retrieved 10 March, 2010, from http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/China/Beijing/Suitcase%20House
- ARTBOOK&, (2004). Gary Chang: Suitcase House. Retrieved 10 March, 2010, from http://www.artbook.com/9628681699.html
- ArChiTecTure. (2009). Suitcase House hotel by Gary Chang, The Edge. Retrieved 10 March, 2010 http://phayung.blogspot.com/2009/03/suitcase-house-hotel-by-gary-chang-edge.html
- Arcspace. (2001). EDGE The Suitcase House. Retrieved 10 March, 2010, from http://www.arcspace.com/architects/Edge/SuitCase/
- Minnet, E., Zhang, K. (n/a). SUITCASE HOUSE. Retrieved 10 March 2010, from http://www.ejmartdesign.com/sh.html
- ArChiTecTure. (2009). Suitcase House Hotel by Gary Chang, The Edge. Retrieved 10 March, 2010, from http://phayung.blogspot.com/2009/03/suitcase-house-hotel-by-gary-chang-edge.html
- SOHO China. (2004). Soho China Wins. Retrieved 10 March, 2010, from http://soho-city.com/en/news/details.asp?id=21849&cid=11

IMAGE REFERENCES
- Trapdoors
Gridskipper. (2006). Hotel As Home. Retrieved 11 March, 2010, from http://gridskipper.com/archives/categories/photography.php?page=5
- Gary Chang
Philips. (2004). Gary Chang, Architect, Edge. Retrieved 11 March 2010, from http://www.newscenter.philips.com/main/standard/about/news/news/archive/news2004/article-14701.wpd

Part A - Archetype research

Each of the following buildings present qualities that enable them to be labelled ‘quality architecture‘. In order to understand what these qualities are, one must consider the following three interrelated and critical House Design concepts:

• A house is an environmental filter
• A house is a container of human activities
• A house is a delightful experience

The three exemplar houses selected for research include:

Suitcase House :: Gary Chang :: EDGE Design



The suitcase house was designed and built as part of the experimental development ‘The Commune By the Great wall in Beijing’ along with 11 other developments. The dwelling is located at the head of the Nangou Valley. Although the building is only 350 square meters, the space within the structure is used quite creatively. “A metamorphic volume, it slides effortlessly from an open space to a sequence of rooms, depending on the inhabitants specific requirements” (G. Chang, 2002).

:: A house is an environmental filter ::
The outer skin of Suitcase House is constructed of full height double-glazed folding doors to create a sense of openness and allow no walls to obstruct the views of the Great Wall. In order to take advantage of the continental temperate climate solar exposure, the house has been constructed with a north south aspect.

:: A house is a container of human activities ::
“It is a simple demonstration of the desire for ultimate adaptability” (G. Chang, 2002). With the use of fifty hinged floor panels, Chang has created a house with endless permutations of living. A lounge, dinning room, study, kitchen, four bedrooms and bathrooms, storage space and other chambers for specific use are concealed beneath the main living area. The houses function changes throughout the day, based on what facilities are needed. By effortlessly re-arranging the floor panels, the house transforms itself from an open space to a sequence of chambers according to the nature of the activities, number of inhabitants, and personal preferences. While the house is very open and exposed, a series of sliding walls, curtains and floor panels (that double as room dividers) help to provide the user with privacy.

:: A house is a delightful experience ::
With the innovative design, light and open spaces and perfectly framed views, how could one not consider the Suitcase House a delightful experience. The house caters for the individual rather than the group. Being able to control spatial quality gives the user a sense of power and control.

Isaacson-Davis Beach House :: John Wardle Architects



Also known as the Balnarring Bungalow, this house was designed for clients Tony Isaacson and Megan Davis as a weekend/beach house. The house is intended as a retreat, a place to relax.

:: A house is an environmental filter ::
Leaving the landscape practically undisturbed, the house ‘floats’ above the site. Interior spaces are spanned with a structural efficiency that allows for maximum interplay between inside and out. Located near the coast this house utilises natural ventilation with large sliding windows/doors, which opens the house to nature.

:: A house is a container of human activities ::
In planning terms, the house is both long, where living areas are situated at one end, services in the middle and bedrooms at the far end, and binuclear, where sleeping and living areas are more forcefully separated. The planning reflects clients’ pattern of living, the bedroom provides the first glimpses of the sun rising while the living area heralds the evening by addressing the setting sun.

:: A house is a delightful experience ::
As described by John Wardle, the house can be “unpacked on arrival and repacked on departure, as though the house itself reflects the joy of happily unpacking the tote bag, thrown in the back of the car for a weekend away”. The site is nestled amongst coastal Ti trees and is tucked behind the fore-dune creating a tranquil environment.

Samford House :: Bligh Graham Architects



The clients were a semi-retired couple determined to make this the last home they live in. With budget no obstacle to design freedom or material selection, funds for this project were generously allocated to high quality craftsmanship durable construction, and a timeless palette of finishes, rather than overwhelming size or ‘wilful structural gymnastics’.

:: A house is an environmental filter ::
In the true spirit of environmentally sustainable development and intergenerational equity, the clients insisted that their home have an extremely passive, indeed negative, impact on the environment. The environmental strategies include:
• Optimum ventilation through the house with motorised high level louvers monitored by BMS.
• External insulation fixed to the core filled blockwork which has the hardest plaster finish internally for excellent thermal mass performance
• Extensive use of low power light
• 10kw solar power station with both battery storage and grid interaction which will result in the house given more power than it uses
• Recycled ironbark cladding
• Sophisticated mechanical plant with heat harvesting for pool heating and other performance enhancing features. (Bligh Graham Architects. n/d)

:: A house is a container of human activities ::
The planning strategy was to distribute the house over three levels, a basement with two upper levels. The form of the upper levels is an L-shape which creates a north-east facing external courtyard with a small pool and outdoor entertainment. The design reflects the clients interests, from the ample space reserved for an extensive artwork collection, large toy room-meets workshop and equally large craft room; to the small pool, large caravan/boat store, outdoor kitchen with teppanyaki bar, and three bedrooms for family (when they visit).

:: A house is a delightful experience ::
The design is a beautiful display of architectural elegance and fine detailing. The Samford house possesses zen-like qualities of a Japanese ryokan with a wraparound pebble courtyard and external timber batten screens, while inside the glamour days of 1950 modernism is shown through the use of timber panelling. The recycled ironbark cladding and overlay of living ficus adds to the sense of an overgrown oriental palace.

REFERENCES
- Chang, G. (2002) Suitcase House Hotel. Retrieved March 3, 2010, from http://www.archphoto.it/IMAGES/garychang/chang.htm
- Arcspace (2001) EDGE The Suitcase House. Retrieved March 3, 2010, from http://www.arcspace.com/architects/Edge/SuitCase/
- Timber (n/d) Isaacson/Davis beach House. Retrieved March 3, 2010, from http://www.timberbuilding.arch.utas.edu.au/projects/aus/459/
- John Wardle Architects (2006) Balnarring Beach House. Retrieved March 3, 2010, from http://www.johnwardle.com/projects/default.htm?ProjectId=16&ProjectCategoryId=3&ProjectKindId=0&pageNo=1&Featured=0&Archived=0&AllProjects=0
IMAGE REFERENCES
- The Suitcase House
Flickr. (n/d). commune by the great wall 04. Retrieved 12 March, 2010, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/12581780@N04/2360573331
- Isaacson-Davis Beach House
John Wardle Architects. (2006). Balnarring Beach House. Retrieved March 12, 2010, from http://www.johnwardle.com/projects/default.htm?i_PageNo=5&ProjectId=16&pageNo=1&ProjectCategoryId=3&ProjectKindId=0&Featured=0&Archived=0&AllProjects=0
- Samford House
The Australian Institute of Architects. (2009). Samford House. Retrieved March 3, 2010, from http://architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=2008047173