Thesis Booklet - Program Description Thesis Project - spring semester 2013

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Thesis Project - spring semester 2013

Teodor Åström

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Academic Background

I first started my studies in architecture at the School of Architecture in Lund (Lunds Tekniska Högskola) in 2007 where I did my first three years of studies and achieved my Bachelor of Science in Architecture. In the spring 2011 I studied on exchange on master level at École Speciale d’Architecture in Paris.

In the fall 2012 I was accepted at the international master program in architecture at Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan. After one year of studies with Ulrika Karlsson as my professor in Performative Design Studio and with my semester in Paris taken into consideration I wish to take on my thesis project in the spring 2013.

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Objectives: Thesis / Aims

Main References

Title:

“Conic Intersections - Art Centre in Solna”

Ambition (Thesis)

The cone in architecture has often been used to shape and

generate space with a cellular structural logic. This project

reconsiders the use of the cone for organizing space, in this

case applied on an Art Centre in Solna, going beyond the mere

repetitive logic of conic modules, to allow for a variety of

scales and directions, ranging from large span horizontal conic

spaces to more intimate smaller scaled vertical conic rooms.

The spaces are created through an additive process of

intersecting cones with planar elements added into the

operation, thus allowing the coexistence of two spatial logics,

leading towards a manifold and allowing architecture able to

handle the requirements of the program and that reinforces the

perception of the shape.

The project also explores the possibilities of the cone as a single

curved developable surface and it’s implications on digital

model making, drawing and construction.

Silkeborg Museum, Silkeborg, Denmark, Jørn Utzon, 1961.

- Free architectural shapes and planar elements - The relationship between the planar figures and the section

- Roof lights

Drawing- Imaginary Landscape, Lebbeus Woods (1940-2012).

- The direction of the structure

- The relationship between the architecture and the landscape

Muqarnas Ceiling, Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain, 13-14th century. - The muqarnas that composes the ceiling makes the whole geometry dissolve Santa Ana, Madrid, Spain, Miguel Fisac, 1966.

- Planar figures, intersected domes - Light effects on the surfaces of the intersected components

Santa Caterina Market Renovation, Barcelona, Spain, EMBT, 2005.

- Beautifully curved roof surface covered by ceramic tiling in many colours

- Wooden construction

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Thesis/question:

Illustrative quote:

“In the work with the curved shapes in the opera house, I have developed a great desire to go further with free architectural shapes, but at the same time to control the free shape with a geometry that makes it possible to construct the building from mass produced components. I am quite aware of the danger in the curved shapes in contrast to the relative safety of quadrilateral shapes. But the world of the curved form can give something that cannot ever be achieved by means of rectangular architecture. The hulls of ships, caves and sculpture demonstrate this.” (Jørn Utzon on his unbuilt project for Silkeborg Museum in Denmark)

In my thesis project I wish to investigate geometric figures and how the simple geometry of the cone as a basic element can be used as a tool to make up a higher architectural complexity.

Thesis:

1) Firstly, the main focus of investigation of the project is on how the simple geometry of the cone can be used as a tool to produce space with a higher degree of complexity attaining other qualities than the ones most evidently found in the cone itself.

2) Secondly, the project is about the concept of single curved/developable surfaces and how such geometries can facilitate the step from blueprint to production.

3) Thirdly, the project aims at doing research into the geometry of developable surfaces and the cone is chosen as it’s main subject and medium in the design process due to it’s simplicity and many-sided qualities.

In order to investigate this question I intend to design a cultural center for the visual arts with exhibition spaces, book corner and café for Solna municipality, north-west of the city center of Stockholm.

Method:

The cone as a tool

- The main method and strategy is to use the simple geometry of the cone as a tool to produce space with a higher degree of complexity and various qualities.

Qualities:

Verticality/horizontality

- The project aims at working with different directions and movement in the composition in a way that helps attain the dissolving of the cone. The cone is a tool and is not meant to be directly readable in neither the exterior nor the interior. Poché space/the thickness of the envelope

- The project should investigate the concept of poché space through a more loose/ non-linear attitude towards the relationship between the exterior and the interior of the building.

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The meaning of the attitudes to be developed for the project is to add qualities and a language to the project as a whole beyond the pure shape of it. The attitudes can inform the choice of materials, building techniques, tectonics and the essence and sensibilities of the project as a whole.

Architecturally

The project should add something substancial to the character of the municipality, which is right now largely built on and dominated by million program era

neighbourhoods built between 1960-75, the old Råsunda stadium and the newly built arena and it’s future adjoining city district which will be dominated by the enourmous “Mall of Scandinavia”.

The building should create a spot of high interest, both visually and

programatically, for visitors and people passing by. It should possess a richness in form as well as in colour and material qualities.

Ideas for starting to formulate an overall attitude of the project

- Some kind of roughness - the rigidity in materials and form of the million program era neighbourhoods

- Hard tiling and concrete surfaces - reference: the concrete, colour and ceramics of Stockholm’s subway stations

- Desire for experimentation - playfulness and art! - like the subway, why not create something on the surface, something divided from and substantially different from the nature of the surface itself?

- Manifoldness - the building should reflect the variety and richness of the municipality in it’s citizens, it’s appearence and it’s past.

To be communicated visually (representation)

The presentation should communicate the richness of the building proposal itself as well as the substance of the area.

Attitudes of the Project

What is Solna?

sports - old Råsunda Arena

Hagalund - the old...

...and the new...

Råsunda district

Solna C - Tube Station

nature - Råstasjön

... and royal palaces manor houses...

historical heritage...

the medical university

the old hospital

and the new one...

Solna Centrum - modernitety? Råsunda old

movie studios

...Blåkulla Arenastaden...

...a place for future commerce... Friends Arena

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Further References

Sant Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Rome, Italy, Francesco Borromini, 1641, - Planar figures and it’s relationship to section

- Poché spaces fitting into each other

Santa Ana, Madrid, Spain, Miguel Fisac, 1966. - Planar figures, intersected domes

- Light effects on the surfaces of the intersected components

Muqarnas Ceiling, Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain, 13-14th century. - The muqarnas that composes the ceiling makes the whole geometry dissolve by the play of light and shadow

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Neues Museum, Berlin, Germany, David Chipperfield Architects, 1997-2009.

- Rebuilt cupola, cone shaped double curved geometry - Light spreading in the space down through the ocular - An amazing backdrop for displaying art

Santa Caterina Market Renovation, Barcelona, Spain, EMBT, 2005.

- Beautifully curved roof surface covered by ceramic tiling in many colours

- Wooden construction

- An effective eyecatcher within the community

St Petri Church, Klippan, Sweden, Sigurd Lewerentz, 1962-66.

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Silkeborg Museum, Silkeborg, Denmark, Jørn Utzon, 1961. - Free architectural shapes

- The relationship between the planar figures and the section - Roof lights

Sidney Opera House, Sidney, Australia, Jørn Utzon, 1959-73. - Free architectural shapes

- The relationship between the planar figures and the section

- Roof lights São Paulo Museum of Art, São Paulo, Brazil, Lina Bo Bardi, 1968

- An unconventional way of staging art as a continous field within a space that would work also for non orthogonal spaces

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French Communist Party Headquarters, Paris, Oscar Niemayer, 1967-81. - Planar figures, dome

Soheil Abedian School of Architecture, Queensland, Australia, CRAB-Studio, 2012-2013. - Single curved and radial geometries

Drawings- Imaginary Landscapes, Lebbeus Woods (1940-2012).

- The relation between different components in a scattered surface geometry - The relationship between the architecture and the landscape

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Paper Scupltures, Richard Sweeney (artist), 2010?.

- Complex geometry made up by single curved surfaces, in this case paper

TU Delft Library, Delft, Netherlands, Mecanoo Architecten, 1996-97.

- Cone shape separated from the geometry of the roof

House of Culture and Movement, Copenhagen, Denmark, MVRDV, 2012. - Cone shape combined with orthogonal geometries

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1) Cylindrically Developable Surfaces 2) Conically Developable Surfaces 3) Poly-Conically Developable Surfaces

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Perpendicular Cone + Plane

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Perpendicular Cone + Plane

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Vertical Poly-Conical Bend Vertical Cylindrical Regular Bend Vertical Cylindrical Irregular Bend

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Cone 3 Cones Rotated around a Centre

4 Cones Rotated around a Centre

8 Cones Rotated around a Centre - Convex

8 Cones Rotated around a Centre - Concave

16 Cones Rotated around a Centre - Convex

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16 Cones Rotated around

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Cones Horizontally Intersected Regular Repetition

Cones Horizontally Intersected Irregular Repetition

Cones Horizontally Intersected Free Composition

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1. Cone Intersected

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4.1. Multiple Cones

Intersected within a Block Intersected within a Block4.2. Multiple Cones Intersected within a Block4.3. Multiple Cones

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5. Cone with Square Base Intersected within a Block

6. Cone with Square Base Intersected within a Block

7.1. Cones with Geometric Bases Intersected within a Block

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10.1. Intersected Cones Two Layers with a

Poché Space

10.2. Intersected Cones Two Layers with a

Poché Space Further Developed

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Physical Models - Cones

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Models - Studies using the cone

Side

(+) clear and dramatic vertical movement in the composition

(-) looks very much like a cone

Bottom / Plan

(+) the dissolving of the surface, muqarnas, light/ shadow

(+) multiple light apertures (+) the cone is not readable in plan

B

C

D A

Side

(+) vertical movement in the composition, slightly different directions

(-) the cone is very dominant, more a combination of cones than a whole

Bottom / Plan

(+) a mix of curved and straight surfaces, more simple than A, figures not readable in plan (-) a few volumes that are readable from the inside

Side

(-) the cone and the vertical direction are very dominant, reads as a cone

Bottom / Plan

(+) the dissolving of the surface, muqarnas, light/ shadow

(+) multiple light apertures

Side

(+) a primarily horizontal direction with a dramatic movement and slight change of direction

(+) openings towards the sides and members reaching the ground might work as structural support

Bottom / Plan

(+) a patchwork of surfaces, a high level of complexity with it’s own logic

(+) seams might work as boundaries for partition walls

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Entrance/Seating area - ca 180 m2

- Floor area - ca 160 m2

- Counter - ca 20 m2

Cafe/restaurant - total ca 130 m2

- Service area - ca 10 m2

- Kitchen and storage - ca 20 m2

- Seating area - ca 100 m2

“Open stage” - ca 10 m2

Book corner - ca 40 m2

- Books having to do with the exhibitions and for sale - Floor area - ca 30 m2

- Storage - ca 10 m2

Auditorium/Stage - ca 300 m2

- ca 100-200 p

Exhibition spaces - “consumption” - ca 1200 m2

- For visual arts such as: images, painting, photo, video, sculpture, architecture, design etc...

TOTAL AREA: ca 2360 m2

Open Studio/Workshop - ca 120 m2

- For workshops and activities connected to the exhibitions in the art gallery

Administration/Office - ca 100 m2

- Office - ca 10 people x 8 m2_{/person = ca 80 m}2

- Kitchen and paus area - 10 m2

- Toilet and storage - ca 10 m2

Other/storage - ca 280 m2

- Toilets - 2 x 15 m2_{= ca 30 m}2

- Art storage - ca 150 m2

- General storage - ca 100 m2

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1 SOLNA CITY - Program för utveckling av centrala Solna Stadsbyggnadsförvaltningen Solna stad oktober 2007 centre areas developed areas Solna tube system highway /roads rail site Stockholm Bromma Sundbyberg Danderyd Sollentuna Solna Vasastan Råsunda _Haga Bergshamra Solna Centrum Kungsholmen centre areas developed areas Solna tube system highway /roads rail site Stockholm Bromma Sundbyberg Danderyd Sollentuna Solna Vasastan Råsunda _Haga Bergshamra Solna Centrum Kungsholmen

Solna Centrum

housing

roads

parks / green areas

sports facilities

tube station

square

tube system

The Area

possible location for

an art centre

Solna Centrum housing roads

parks / green areas sports facilities tube station square

tube system

The Area

possible location for an art centre

Context / Site

In a master plan/investigation carried out by the municipality of Solna and published in 2007 a suitable site is pointed out for the construction of a culture centre. A lot of other projects for urban development has been carried out since and more are being undertaken right now, but there is no plan for when and how the culture centre-project will continue. However the site has many interesting assets.

Solna is situated north-west of and just outside of the city center of Stockholm. The area is crisscrossed by highways, big roads, railways and also there are several tube stations on the blue line that is crossing the municipality. The intended site is situated between Solna Centrum and it’s tube station and on the border between a square and a hill with a park. The

Solna Municipality with Stockholm city centre to the south-east

Plan for the area surrounding Solna Centrum - “SOLNA CITY - program för utveckling av centrala Solna”, Solna Stadsbyggnadskontor, 2007

park is often referred to as Skytteholmsparken, after the park on the other side of Huvudstagatan next to the sports facilities, or simply “Slaktarbacken”.

The mall is a big complex and there are also some residential areas next to the site to the south and the east. According to the program for urban development from 2007 the whole area will be transformed by adding a lot of new residential buildings and some office buildings in order to make the area more densely exploited and make it more urban. I think that in this situation a cultural center would be a great addition to the area that could help revitalize it and bring culture into it alongside the already existing commercial functions.

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0 50 100 m

Solnaplan

the bus station

descending the hill towards the stairs

Solna Centrum

the busstation and the tube station entrance

Skytteholmsparken

Centralvägen

the stair upp the hill from Solnaplan

the top of the hill

The area around the site has a suburban feel to it with generous spaces between the buildings, a lot of space is reserved for roads and traffic and there is a lot of greenness that appears as almost wild nature. The park on the hill also seems to be left quiet much to run itself. The landscape of the hill with rock surfaces appearing in the grass is a great asset and there are a lot of trees of various age of which some are quiet tall.

The mall and community centre building gives a dull and scattered impression. It was first inaugurated in 1965, in 1989 the shopping street was covered by a glass roof and 2010 a new renovation was begun that will be finished in 2013.

Photographs of the Site

Skytteholmsfältet

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the site looking north - Slaktarbacken in the background

the site looking south - from the top of Slaktarbacken looking down

Photographs of the Site

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tube system

The Area

tube system

The Area

Today there is a small square in front of the tube station which is flanked by a big buss station to the west. The park on the hill has a lot of paths running all over it towards the top, but it is not that well spatially connected to the square. The square and the open space around it incorporating Centralvägen lacks a focus. The place is quiet small and is separated from the bus station by a pavilion.

Urban Space / Circulation - Today

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Urban Space / Circulation / Possible location for a new building

ideas and possibilities for a transformation of the place - plan 1:4000

In the municipality’s plan document from 2007 (“SOLNA CITY - program för utveckling av centrala Solna”, Solna Stadsbyggnadskontor, 2007) it’s proposed that the bus station will be moved north-west of it’s present location, which will release a lot of space in front of the tube station. This opens up for many new possibilities for this urban space. In the program it’s also stated that this could allow the park on the hill to be extended south-wards towards the square.

parks / green areas sports facilities tube station square / parking

tube system

Solna Centrum

parks / green areas sports facilities tube station square / parking

tube system

Solna Centrum

The thesis project will not enthrall in all of these transformations in detail, but I think that it gives good reason to rethink the space in front of the proposed site for the culture centre. The building should clearly display itself, it’s identity and function to the square to welcome and invite people to have a look inside. Maybe there could be an interesting relationship between the tube station and the new building. It could act as a spacial mediator between the park/nature the hill and

the square. Maybe there could be a path (either exterior or interior) that would take visitors from the square through the building and to the top of the hill. It will be important how the part of the building facing the park negotiates the meeting between architecture, nature, culture and human.

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3000 m2 2000 m2 1500 m2 3000 m2 2000 m2 1500 m2 tube station Solnaplan bus station

Solna Centrum

“Slaktarbacken”

Huvudstaleden

The size of the Programme

the size of the proposed program is ca 2200-2800 m2

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Solna Centrum

“Slaktarbacken”

tube station

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Solna Centrum

“Slaktarbacken”

tube station

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Massing Strategies

Program - volume study

Volume study - vertical cylinders

Volume study - lying rolled paper, south east-north west direction

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Volume study - mixed techniques cardboard model Volume study - intersected cones analog paper model

Volume study - cut paper Volume study - intersected cones analog paper model

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w. 2 w. 3 w. 4 w. 5 w. 6 w. 7 w. 8 w. 9 w. 10 w. 11 Start of Course

- Program - Site investigations - Physical models try-outs

- Form finding - develop techniques and spacial qualities - physical modelling / 3D Rhino

- Finish Form Finding (physical modelling and 3D-Rhino) and start Site investigation and Massing

- Site investigation and Massing

- Work out building - Massing + Program - Work out building - Massing + Program

- Sketchy presentation material - Finish for Mid Crit!

Mid Crit - Show enough material to give a whole picture of the project

- Rethinking Stage - BUILT MODEL 1:50

Time Plan - spring semester 2013 - p. 1

for m finding stage massing str at egy w or k out the ar chit ec tur al pr oposal Mid Crit pr es . ma ter ial

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w. 12 w. 13 w. 14 w. 15 w. 16 w. 17 w. 18 w. 19 w. 20 w. 21 - SKETCHING IN PLAN

- SKETCHING IN PLAN / MODELLING IN RHINO

- Redo / Refine

- 3D modelling Maya/Rhino - Physical models - Draft - Presentation Material

- Drawings - Renderings - Models - Draft - Presentation Material - Drawings - Renderings - Models - Draft - Presentation Material - Drawings - Renderings - Models

Final Crit - Draft of All Presentation Material

- Retouch / Revise - Final Presentation Material

Deadline thursday night - Finish Final Presentation Material

Final Presentation Week

rethink / r edo / r efine dr af t all pr esen ta tion ma ter ial DR AWINGS

RESHAPING & REMODELING

IM AGES PRINT PRESENT ATION PRINT PRES. PR OJ . PRES. M ASSING MOD . 1:500 NE W SEC TION MODEL 1:50 final pr esen ta tion ma ter ial Final Presentation Week Final Crit - HANDLEDNING 10 - tors HANDLEDNING 11 - tors HANDLEDNING 12 - tors HANDLEDNING 13

- tors FINAL SEMINAR

- mån HANDLEDNING 14

PÅSK

- PIN-UP Kiwi 18 el 19/4?