SO Excited!

I don't know about you but I am getting so Excited about are Cube Project. Which for those who don't know what I am talking about it are term project in which we have to fit a sleeping area, sitting area, and storage into a space that is no larger than an 8x8x8 cube!

So I have been looking around and here is some inspiration that I have found.

The wonderful camper was designed by Caravanolic, which is a Spanish company that is creating a new spin on the traditional RV.

I love the use of the Louis Ghost Chairs and the use of white to make this small area seem so much larger.

Also, I have discovered a company that creates exactly what I had envisioned in my head, as a solution for my sleeping area. Bonbon is a British company that creates these space designs for small areas. I espically love the Lollipop bed as it will allow me to use the bottom bunk as a sitting area/day bed.

Organizie Your Life and Space

In design, organization of elements and features in to a unified whole is essential to creating spaces that are both functional and beautiful. Within the classification of design organization there are two basic parts, spatial relationships and spatial organization.


Spatial Relationships:

The first spatial organization deals with the connection/relationship between two spaces. This can be looked at in several fundamental ways, such as inter locking spaces, adjacent spaces, or space within a space. Space within a space is probably the most basic of these and it simply is the placement or containment of one volume of space within a larger volume of space.

Spaces within a Space

This hotel lobby, in Spain, shows how one space (the atrium) can be totally encapsulated withing the larger space (the lobby) and how a relationship is formed between the placement and connection of the two individual areas.

Spatial Organization:

The second part of spatical organization deals with the arrangement, configuration and/or circulation of elements or parts with in a given area or space. Within this there are several types of organization that can be used such as centralized organization, linear organization, grid organization, and clustered organization.

Centralized Organization

Centralized organization is defined by a central element or void about which many elements are grouped. An example of this would be Vincent Wolfe's selection of a round dinning room table as the focal point around which he has placed two different types of chairs.

Linear Organization

Linear Organization is simply the linear sequence of items in a given space. One of the easiest way to think of this is as a implied line where there is a clear path, yet each element is not strictly touching.
This Napa Valley restaurant, called the Farmstead,  with its long linear tables and the repetition of chairs shows a deliberate use of linear organization.

Clustered Organization

"Spaces grouped by proximity or the sharing of a common visual trait or relationship." Many times this is called groupings.

By clustering and positioning the direction of these furniture pieces, within this London living room, there is a clear organization that is created. It is further defined by the ceiling detail and the rug placement.

Grid Organization

Grid Organization is where spaces are organized within a grid or framework, most of the time with a clear y and x-axis. This restaurant dinning area by Spanish designer, Lazaro Rosa-Violan, has a prominent grid organization, which is created by the use of square tables that are lined up in rows and columns.

How to Make Form

Form and Space: The Unity of Opposites

These two elements are interconnected and can not truly be separated from each other. Form is the clearly defined (such as a wall planes) while space is the enterinal area that is created by form. 

The Hollywood Bowl amphitheater is a great example of both form and space. As the back drop of the acustic walls create a clearly defined area that contains a void or space.

 

Defining Space with Horizontal Elements: The Overhead Plane 

Space can be defined by many types of forms, such as a ground plane, wall plane or overhead plane. An overhead plane, which is commonly called a ceiling in architectural design, can define and enclose a space.

This house has a great example of an overhead plane with its large overhang roof that encompasses this living area.

Defining Space with Vertical Linear Elements: Single Vertical Plane

Space can also be divided and created by the use of horizontal or vertical planes. This single vertical plane in the center of this facade creates a visual break to this horizontal house and as a result be comes an emphases.

Qualities of Architectural Space: Light

Within space there three main qualities, view, enclosure, and light. Each one of these elements helps to create atmosphere and experience. Light can come in many forms such as natural light from a window, overhead lighting or ground lighting.

This California home has all three of these types of lighting represented. The is the natural light form the setting sun, then there is the overhead lighting from the deck, and then there is the pool side lighting.

Openings in Space-Defining Elements: With in Planes 

Another way to define a space is to create openings with in the planes themselves. Like the idea of a window in a wall. This creates an openness that creates a better atmosphere. 

Stonehenge is has this element. The planes created by the post and lintels form openings that create and frame views.

What about Form?

Primary Solids

What are primary solids? They are simply shapes in three dimensional form, such as a circle is to a cylinder or a square is to cubes. These solid forms are the building blocks of architecture and design. And just like anything in design they have special meaning associated with there use. An example of this would be the unstable feel of a cylinder if it is not resting on one of its circular ends, almost as if it is about to roll off of a table.

This cabin design is a great example of a primary solid used in architecture. The designer of this project worked to create a space that is totally created and defined by a cylinder, aka a primary solid.

Dimensional Transformation 

Dimensional transformation is when one part of an form is changed, such as the orientation, size, and/or shape, which alters the co-ordinate axis of an object. Yet it still directly relates to its original forms.

To show this I choose a house that has been transformed form a traditoinal cube by a change in the size and texture of the wall plane.

Subtractive Forms

Subtractive forms are when a portion of a forms volume has been striped away or subtracted from the form. One of the most basic examples of this idea is the subtraction of area from a cube, such as in this chair by Le Corbusier, who was a well know architect and furniture designer.

Another example of subtractive form would be this roof overhang on this house. The interior of this form has been subtracted and all that remains is the outline of the form to show volume and mass.

   

Additive

Additive forms are forms that can be transformed or changed by the addition of different elements to enlarge the total form. In architecture we use this principle quite often it is the same idea as an addition made onto a house or structure.

This addition of a cube, or primary solid, onto this traditional apartment building is very straight forward example of addition of one form to another. Because it is one form clustered unto another form it is considered a clustered form.

Formal Collision of Geometry 

Formal collision of geometry is simply, when two form with different geometry used in the same area to create interest in the space. A basic example of this would be combining a circle and a square to form a new shape or form.

 This bookstore uses this idea of geometric collision, with its rounded shaped aisle of bookcases and the addition of square pass thoughts and walkways.