Undergraduate architecture studio Winter 2020

Infinitely Insulated Interior

Taubman College Courtyard

Isometric view of the courtyard with the labyrinth of pink-topped insulated walls
Type
Undergraduate architecture studio
Term
Winter 2020
Team
Wud Aldulaimy, Demetrius Ford and Dominica Kusmierczyk
Overview

Creating a wall design that challenges the idea of an enclosed space. We were mostly inspired by the idea of a labyrinth or maze-like pattern for the entirety of the courtyard. What we are attempting to do with our final design is to challenge the idea of what an enclosure truly is.

One important point to reiterate is that these walls are constructed with insulation, so when inside some of these spaces the heat is retained and therefore feels more like an enclosure, since you’re experiencing warmth. Also, when inside the small workspace within these walls, or when walking through corridor spaces where you are enclosed by walls, it may feel like you are in an enclosure or interior, but the mirrors challenge this notion by causing an infinite reflectivity that in turn creates an infinite space.

Ultimately this design of the courtyard using these walls creates a contradictory experience. We decided to create this orientation of walls that is offset, or ripples, from this center space so that there’s a unique but clear pattern for circulation. However, we wanted to include two larger distinct features, the collective space and the center space, so that people can still orient themselves and are not completely lost.

Courtyard views

Plans and sections

Views

Wall rendering mock-up

Model mock-up