Architecture

STEREOTOMIC/TECTONIC OBJECTS

Design Studio I – Fall 2020

Project Description

Stereotomic and tectonic explorations in form making as an introduction to woodworking and modeling techniques.

The stereotomic object is a mass of steps, cutouts, windows and nooks which take inspiration from brutalist monuments such as the Panorama resort, and Habitat 67. When rotated, the large masses can become disorienting and hard to follow, with the idea of exploring this object as a room it becomes a twisting maze of different paths and spatial qualities. These subtractive gestures carefully pull apart the thick shell of wood to create an interlocking mass. This approach to creating space results in a curious assortment of paths, inviting exploration of each gesture.

The tectonic object takes the notion of steps in a different direction, calling to the acrobatic dragon dances of China as inspiration, poles which could be traversed by careful jumping. This motif of jumping poles is done through the use of 8 poles, starting at 1″ and increasing in equal measurement. These steps may be at the same elevations as the stereotomic object, but the open nature allows the object to become a stage for performance or measured movement as opposed to the accommodating nooks of the stereotomic object