Drawings of Cabin Tolo

Working Drawing of Cabin with notes

Floor Plan, Section, Elevation   1:100

Isometric Exterior 1:100

Part 3: Application

CABIN TOLO

Site Analysis

The site for the proposed cabin shares only one similarity with the exemplar, that is the narrow width of the site, and is very different in every other way. This is evident most obviously in the gradient, but also the close proximity to other residential structures which blocks afternoon sunlight and impedes on privacy. These two aspects along with the glimpses of nature on a few facades provides the site with a vastly different set of constraints and opportunities.

Site Plan

Site Analysis

House as an Environmental Filter

I have identified and attempted to incorporate to key elements of Casa Tolo in terms of its relationship with the environment. Firstly the placement of sleeping modules to gain full effect of natural morning sunlight, a concept that I adapted to the sleeping and cooking/living components of my design. The second element was the way in which house is slightly set into the land as it flows down the hill. Alvaro stated that this choice was made due to economic reasons as it is a cheap way to heat and cool the house. In my design I have done the exact opposite by elevating the house above ground, however I believe this to be the most obvious solution as it in turn will provide an economic solution to cooling the house, which in Brisbane climate serves as the main challenge.

House as a container of Human Activity

The special organization of Casa Tolo is very clearly defined both in plan and section. This was difficult to achieve in Cabin Tolo due to the site itself, the limit of only two stories and a maximum interior floor space of 75 square meters, however I tried to replicate this through the division made by the geometric pattern in plan and by separating the work space entirely from the living unit.

The idea of mirrored interior and exterior stairways was a concept that pleased me in Alvaro’s design that I wished to implement. This was done by making ablution, living and eating spaces available on the exterior and interior of the building which can be seen as an almost mirror reflection in plan.

Spacial Study

The inclusion of a reflective space in our brief was one that isn’t readily visible in Casa Tolo,  I thought that the pool located at the bottom of the building would be the ideal place for reflection. Unobstructed views across the park with only nature surrounding was what lead myself to the inclusion of a pool space within my design.

House as a Delightful Experience

The unique nature of Casa Tolo is derived from its form. The stair that runs the length of the building taking the user on a journey was Alvaro’s attempt to replicate the stair drawings of M.C Escher that he loved. In creating Cabin Tolo, I researched some Escher drawings and chanced upon a grid that he drew, which I in turn used as the inspiration for my design, implementing it in plan as the essential factor in dividing up spaces/functions and driving the design to completion

Explanatory Diagramming

Drawings of Casa Tolo

FLOOR PLANS 1:200

SECTION 1:100

SITE PLAN 1:500

ELEVATION 1:200

Exterior Sketch

Interior Sketch

Bibliography

Broadhurst, Ron. 2009. NEXT HOUSES: architecture for the twenty firtst century. P44-48. Abrams, New York

CCAA-C+A.Casa Tolo Lugar das Carvalanhinhas http://www.concrete.net.au/CplusA/issue5/casa.php 

2006. Casa Tóló by Alvaro Leite Siza Vieira. http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/3668/casa-tolo-by-alvaro-leite-siza-vieira.html

Phaidon Press Inc. The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture. New York, NY: Phaidon Press Inc., 2005. p14.

Pearson, Clifford. 2006.  Architectural Record: Casa Tolo. http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/residential/archives/0604RHg-1.asp

Saieh, N. 2008. Tolo House / Alvaro Leite Siza. http://www.archdaily.com/893/tolo-house-alvaro-leite-siza/

Ridell, Robert. 2004. Significant Queensland 20th century architecture www.architecture.com.au/i-cms_file?page=14626/20C_arch_final...

Tonkin, Peter. 2011.The Domestic Ideal http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/aaissue.php?article=4&issueid=199905&typeon=2

Part 2: Analysis

As a result of the initial research, I have decided to further explore the design of Alvaro Liete Size Alto; Casa Tolo.

CASA TOLO: A house as a step

Architects: Alvaro Leite Siza

Location: Vila Real, Portugal

Site Area: 1000 sqm

Constructed Area: 180 sqm

Project Start: 2000

Project Complete: 2005

House as an Environmental Filter

The two restraints Alvaro dealt with in designing this house were the budget that was issued to him by his cousin and the challenges of the site itself. With a minimal budget of $150,000 US (design boom) and a very steep narrow site (33 degree incline) the architect was forced to to be highly resourceful with his design. These restraints however, were turned into opportunities (CC+A) and forced the design into a unique relationship with the environment.

 A rock appearing amongst nature

Alvaro described the stepped design as “practically inevitable” (Pearson) to both save money during construction and to reduce heating and cooling costs. Although the site receives frontal exposure from the sun, it receives insulation from the earth on three façades. Insulation on the exposed side is supported by an extra layer of 1 meter square pre-cast concrete slabs on most exposed roofs, some being covered in small stones or laid with grass.

The impact of the structure on the site itself was also taken into account, as attempts to preserve all pre-existing trees were made. Alvaro also took into account the aesthetic of the structure’s exterior, by implementing the use of simple concrete he hoped to provoke the imagery of stones appearing amongst nature (CCA). Furthermore the house tries to connect with the surrounding environment by acting as a connecting route between the pre-existing foot path and road, located at the bottom and top of the site.

House as a Container of Human Activity

Alvaro was commissioned by his cousin to design this house as a vacation home for himself, his wife, and their two children. With the aforementioned restraints of economic means, Alvaro used the steep slope to create a series of private and public spaces that tumbles down the hill. As such, the special relationship between each space is defined by the narrow stair that runs down the length of the structure with each major function allocated to one of the four levels. This narrow stair is mirrored by an exterior path that runs the length of the roof with access to the indoors via the roof of the consequent structure below. When speaking about these traits Alvaro explained “the terrain’s instability together with modest economic resources gave rise to a house with triple function: the home itself and its interior space; the organization of outdoor leveled patios corresponding to the roofs of various levels which permit the outdoor use of the garden; and finally, the creation of a pedestrian link between the paths of the upper and lower levels that border this lot” (Saieh).

The flow of activity is also quite unconventional, with the entrance being located at the top of the building. The roof of the office acts as a car port and one descends into the house through a narrow stair case. One then proceeds through the office before making their way slowly down into the kitchen/living/dining and then down further on to each of the bedroom levels.

 Dramatic Entrance

House as a Delightful Experience

The delight that the user finds in this structure is derived from two aspects: the harmonious design that is so perfectly arranged for the site and moves very fluid, and the way in which the house unfolds its mystery to the user as they keep moving further through the house.

"Playing games with the stair"

The element of mystery is essentially a result of the narrow stair that functions as the main thoroughfare. Alvaro explains this saying he was very influenced by the Escher and Piranesi drawings that he loved as a child when designing this house and he wanted to “make games of the stairs”(CCA). Other elements that support this are the entrance, a dark narrow stair opening from the ground submerges you into the house without revealing anything until  one is securely indoors (Pearson). This is also evident in the use of lighting in the house, particularly in the living room where the light source is obscured also giving the space a “touch of mystery”. The harmonious design is a sum of the previously mentioned aspects and how the work together to fulfill the functions of a home that make it feel like the inevitable solution to the constraints of the site and requirements of the user.

Part 1: Research

The first part of this project required us to select three exemplar houses and begin researching around three topics. These included house as an environmental filter, house as a container of human activity and house as a delightful experience or as Vitruvius put it quite simply: Firmness, Comoddity and Delight.

My Selection:

 Lake Weyba House - Gabrielle Poole

• Built in 1996 on the sunshine coast hinterland.
• Designed for Architect and his wife. 
• Centered around three separate pavillions emphasis on "prefabrication as a means to design and build houses appropriate to sub-tropical and / or rural environments within the
  constraints of modest budgets, minimal construction works and short time frames" (Ridell)

 Casa Tolo - Alvaro Leite Siza Vieira

•  Northern Portugal
• Constructed on a very tight budget. Completed in 2004.
• Designed for family of four

C House - Donovan Hill

• Constructed in 1998 in south suburbs of Brisbane
• Was one of the first major projects for Donovan Hill
• Centralized around large outdoor living area and complemented by fine woodwork throughout