Project 2 Exercise: Precedent Study

PRECEDENT STUDY, Due 21st September 2012

1. Brief Outline of Project 1: 

In Project 1, I had chosen to study the Architecture of Zaha Hadid. For my reference/inspiration building, Ihad chosen the 21st Century MAXXI Museum in Rome, Italy. 
MY CONCEPTS - Concepts commonly seen in Zaha Hadid's work and the MAXXI Museum include: 

• Overlapping
• Repetition 
• Directional Movement of Lines

I had kept the same concepts throughout Project 1. 

My Project 1 Concept Model showed the overlapping, repetition and the directional changes in structure throughout the model. 

For the materials, I had originally intended to keep everything black and grey to express the inspirations gathered from Zaha's forms. I had changed the colour and texture of different parts of the model to differentiate between levels and directions using shadows and lighting. 

One of the distinct concepts I wanted to express was the continual change of directional structure. It would enable viewers to think of not a normal building, but a maze. I wanted to create one or more paths of different directions to allow the viewer to get thinking about the structure of the building. 

Below - Left: MAXXI Museum, Right: Project 1 Concept Model 

2. Visual Analysis of 2x Precedent Studies as a Pair: 

My chosen Architect is Zaha Hadid:

• BMW Showroom (with Patrik Schumacher), Leipzig, Germany

The BMW Showroom consists of two function areas: the exhibition showroom and distribution) and the workshop (mechanical repairs and after sales training).

The print used on the car park is also used on the building facade, this enables the boarders between the parking lot and the building to blur out. Furthermore, large areas of glazed glass reveals a view of exposed cars. 

Another Architect I have chosen is UN Studio: 

• Mercedes Benz Museum, Stuttgart, Germany 

In this museum, you can see cars alternately from higher, lower, closer and more distant, frontal and more oblique points of view as you move around the museum.. In the collection rooms, you gain access to the car displays via a large staircase and find yourself at equal levels with the cars. 

The leaf shaped structural space of the museum allows the generation of panoramic overviews from varying heights. The building also reflects the effect of free, unobstructed spaces flowing into each other.

VISUAL ANALYSIS OF BMW SHOWROOM AND MERCEDES BENZ MUSEUM 

• Left images are of the BMW Showroom and the Right images are of the Mercedes Benz Museum

Concept 1. Overlapping 

BMW Showroom: The workshop part of the museum is seen as a black volume pulled out of the car park. The difference in levels creates an image of overlapping and interlocking. 
Mercedes Benz Museum: The effect of overlapping is seen throughout the building. The museum consists of 6 levels, all which are not uniform.

Concept 2: Repetition 

BMW Showroom: The repetition lays in the structure. The linear structure of the car park leading into the showroom is uniformly repeated beside each other. 
Mercedes Benz Museum: Repetition is seen throughout the building. It occurs on all levels of the museum. There is a continuous and repetitive loop occurring within the museum. 

Concept 3: Directional Movement of Lines

BMW Showroom: Similar to the concept of repetition, the continuous array of lines are distinct. The lines change direction at one point and continue uniformly. 
Mercedes Benz Museum: Again, similar to the concept of repetition, the continuous flowing loops up and down the entire building creates the effect of directional movement. 

3. Design Proposal, Design Draft for Assignment 3: 

3 Possible Building Types:

• Bar, Nightclub 
• Skyscraper, Office Building 
• Theatre, Opera House 

The concepts and ideas looked at in Project 1 are as follows: Overlapping, Repetition and the Directional Movement of Lines. These concepts have been derived from building types such as museums and showrooms. 

Difference:

• Building types such as museums and showrooms do not have a continuously fast paced circulation. However, in Project 2, I am planning to create an architecture which will function for a fast paced circulation; whether it be a nightclub, an office building or a theatre. 

Design Drafts: 

 (Will be uploaded later) 

4. Short Description on Prescribed Additional Representation: 

Considering: 

1. Laser Cutting, 3DS Max, Interactive Media (Video and/or PDF) and maybe BuildAR
A high quality render and a 3D prototype of the building.
I am planning to create a piece of architecture with a variety of levels; in this case, levels are best shown when it can be viewed at any angle. Thus, I have chosen a laser cut model for this. 
For the overall presentation, there will/might be: 

• 3DS Renders
• Real time photographs 
• 3D Laser cut model 
• Interactive media of the model in 360 degrees 

References: 

1. UN Studio: Mercedes Benz Museum Stuttgart Germany, GA Document 2006 May n.90 
2. Architecture on Speed: Mercedes Benz Museum Germany, Blueprint 2006 July n.244
3. Musee Mercedes Benz, Stuttgart, Architecture D' Aujourd' Hui 2006 July Aug n.365
4. UN Studio 2006, A + U 2007 July n.7(442) 
5. Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher, BMW Showroom, Leipzig Germany 2003-2005, A + U 2007 July n.7(442) 

6. UN Studio, Mercedes Benz Museum (http://www.unstudio.com/projects/mercedes-benz-museum)
7. Arch Daily, Mercedes Benz Museum (http://www.archdaily.com/72802/mercedes-benz-museum-un-studio-photos-by-michael-schnell/)
8. Zaha Hadid Architects, BMW Showroom (http://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/bmw-showroom/)
9. Arthitectural, BMW Showroom (http://www.arthitectural.com/zaha-hadid-architects-bmw-showroom/)