The project of Habitat

After more than six weeks' work, finally we have finished the Habitat design. The process is long and busy. At the beginning I have got two different ideas, and then chose one and development it. I have learned from the precedents that tutor gave me, and try to combine these good aspects with my own design, drawing the diagrams, like the images below, making the developmental models; tutorial-correct-development-tutorial-correct-development....at last I have improved a lot and got my final design. I am very happy with it and I have realized many things about design.

 

In my own opinion, I think the most important thing for a building is suiting the environment around. The exterior of my design is learned from the house style in this small village - trigonal roof, simple and triditional appearance, black and white colour...these can give peple peaceful and friendly feelings.

My inspiration has come from the village's house style, like the image shown in my fourth post, and from the contrast of the colour-black and white, I chose the contrast as the main concept of my design. Such as contrast of quiet and noisy, public and private, open and narrow, vertical and horizontal.

 

This is my model, I chose timber as my main materials. The shape of the house is regular, so the structure is simple, due to this, the cost of the building can be reduced. On this side of the model, there are many big windows, in order to bring the west view which is the best view of this site for these rooms.

My project looks very normal on this site, unlike many modern buildings with amazing apprance, and can attract many people's attention, but I like my design very much.

The first day of the first snow in Dundee in 2010

On 28th November, nearly one month before Christmas, the first snow visited Dundee. It was very big, the whole city had been covered by it in a short time. First snow always brings the exciting feeling for us, and without hesitation, my friends and I went outside.



outside my flat



It was cold, white, wind was very big,  we could not use the umbrella. I haven't seen snow for 2 years. We started an international "snow war", which was peaceful, unpainful, and reminiscent. It seemed that we forgot all of the assignments at that time, like a child.   

Snow was a good drawing board as well, I drawed a face on a roadside car. I hoped the owner wouldn't be very angry...

Yuntong Mu was a clever girl, she found a small slope on the way to Tesco, and she had come up with an interesting idea: drawing a big architect on the big snow board. We work together, some people who passed by took photos of it. On the right image, I was trying to open the door of this building.( Actually I was lying on the ground...and I was failed to open the door...)

There was a family playing the skiing with self-made sled. A harmonious and wonderful family~

The train bridge went into the dark,quiet, cold, and unknow. Like the moive “The Polar Express".

Finally we had arrived the beach Tesco, no cars, no umbrellas, we walked here and we had to go back on foot as well... however we were very happy. In front of us was a big white square, it seemed that we were far from city. It was almost 3 o'clock in the morning when we back home, it was an unforgetable experience, we had a big relax, hard work was waiting for us,go! 

The trip to Kenmore for investigation

Before the beginning of the last project of this semester, we went to Kenmore for investigation. This was my first site investigation, and as an international student, this was also a very exciting trip.



small island

 It took us 2 hours to get Kenmore from Dundee. It was a small village near the Loch Tay, quiet, peaceful, beautiful, and surrounded by mountains. Left image is a small island in the Loch Tay, the reflection in water is lovely (although the weather was bad that day ..... :( ).



inside Crannog

 There was a place for visiting opposite the site.  It was an old house called Crannog. It was made of wood and the straws consisted of the roof and the wall. The straws could defense the wind and water. It was very cold inside the house, and very dark. like the image on the right. In the past people who lived here must make fire to warm the house and light the room.



site



west view



 After the visit we went to the site. It was a big place and extended into the water. The total area was more than 1000 square meter, we could see the whole Tay from this site, and the west view was terrific; blue sky, cloud, snow mountains and their reflections in the water. This was an important aspect, so I think big windows must be put on this side in order to bring this terrific view for the clients.



house style



At last, I took the photos of other houses in this village, I have found that the colour of almost all the buildings are black and white, and with trigonal roofs, like the image shown. This was also a necessary aspect which should be considered, suiting the vernacular was important for a building. I have learned a lot in this site investigation, and I am looking forward to next "site trip".