April 5, 2012

Re-Working Forms and Excavation

Even though this model isn't finished, it starts to show the sectional push and pull or excavation and building up that I want to accomplish in my final design. As on now you only see the excavated portion so hopefully by tomorrow night I will be able to show you the built up portions.

The built up portions will be in the spaces that are not cut out in the "checker-board" pattern you see at the bottom portion of the picture.

These two pictures show the underside of the model.  Essentially what you see is the ceiling plan. What you can't see in this picture (but you can in the photo below) is that there will be a light-well running from the entrance, through the excavated space, through the elevated tomb space, and out to the drop off at the back of the site.  This will be a "guiding light" that follows the circulation path that I want to create without actually creating that will lead visitors to a panorama of the drop off where they can scatter ashes, think, relax, or be alone with nature.  

The line that is lighter than the surrounding area shows the light-well that will direct people through the site to the drop-off meditation area.  Based on the lines created in the "checker-board" and the line created by the light-well you can see a triangle forming.  This triangle is the same triangle of the chapel but inverted.  The excavated space that I created will have a similar experience as the chapel.  The ceiling will also have lightwells of varying quality light, size, and shape similarly to the chapel.  

After studying the chapel I grew even more fond of the design, quality, and experience of the space and really want to continue this idea and feeling throughout my addition to the cemetery.