Equus
Based on my client’s brief, I’ve deigned four concepts
tailored to suit his lifestyle. My first concept encompasses Richard’s love for
nature. The façade has been designed to incorporate the silhouettes of the
surrounding landscape. The main space is elevated above the ground to enhance
the surrounding views. The design features an open floor plan, with small walls
to divide the space. In the centre of the building’s core is a floating
bathroom, supported by a cross beam which is fixed to the walls. There is a
fire pole, which provides fast access from the bedroom down to the garage in case
of an emergency.
This design uses a similar form to my first concept,
incorporating the key elements the client requested. The treatment of the façade is far less organic,
offering a more linear approach to the surrounding ‘shell’. This building sits
on four large columns, raising the building to an appropriate height. These columns
are treated with a reflective glass, mirroring the landscape. This provides the
manifestation that the building is floating within its natural context. This
idea of ‘floating’ is explored further in the design of the bathroom. The
layout is similar to my first concept, with no doors dividing the spaces.
The idea for this concept came from a standard fire escape
staircase. The staircase is semi-detached from the main building, which towers
up three storeys. The linear shapes on the façade complement the stairs, helping
celebrate the journey up or down the stairs. Vertical circulation is achieved via a series
of fireman poles, allowing quick movement to the lower levels. The floor plan
is evenly split over the three levels. The top floor is a bedroom and office,
which has a wall-to-wall curtain wall. The level below houses the bathroom, fit
out with all the basics. The ground floor houses a kitchen, dining and lounge
area. The garage space is located directly beneath the building, accessed by the
fireman pole or an external staircase.
My last concept came from the idea of climbing a tree. This
symbolises a connection between humans, nature and architecture. I have incorporated
this into the form a staircase wrapping around the core of the building. This
is then further expressed with the silhouette of the tree branches. The
entrance point is at the top of the stairs, entering into a bedroom and office
space. The middle floor is a bathroom and the ground floor is a multi-purpose
space cooking, eating and relaxing. The lower levels are accessed through the
use of the fireman poles, eventually leading to the garage.
