1. 1
Activating The Landscape
Thomas Lee
Arch 213 Architecture Design Core Studio III- Fall 2015
Roger Williams University, School of Architecture
Leonard Yui, Greg Laramie, Andrea Adams, Mauricio Barreto, Ginette Castro, Noel Clarke
3. 3
Conclusion
The leap from first to second year studio shifts the focus from the conceptual and abstract
to conventional and realistic. The projects experienced in second year studio has put emphasis
on buildings and their relationships to their sites and surroundings. The development experience
throughout the first semester of second year of Architecture studio has allowed me to consider how
one’s design and construction cannot simply be placed on top of the site, but rather incorporated with
it. It is to understand how the building is placed, where it is, and why on the specific site. I discovered
that it is important to consider the individual site and proposed building as a whole rather than two
separate entities. Before taking the course, our minds were pressed to believe that every idea and
design had to be based off from a physical concept. However, this year’s architectural process has
opened our mind towards more specific qualities and elements that make up a building.
My project creates and adds spaces and elements that helps enhance the experience of the
surrounding environment. I took this approach because throughout the semester, we have learned
not to neglect the site we are building our installation and projects on. The wetland site that I had
specifically chosen had been one of the more barren and unappealing sites. With this in mind, I
wanted to work on designing ways to give more life and appeal to the surrounding area. Although the
site may not have trees or much context compared to the grasslands and woodlands, it does offer open
views and an opportunity for more light to any spaces created on it. Designing ways to incorporate
more of the environment to the project being built within it is always a challenging aspect to consider.
The Wetlands specifically gave me the challenge of working with changing tide levels throughout the
day. Also because the site is so flat with little context like trees and other details, it was difficult finding
a point of interest to focus on. Despite challenges I faced during the design and construction process,
I enjoyed being able to work on projects that included actual inhabitable spaces and buildings rather
than simple pavilions and conceptual models. The studio process and assignments this semester
helped me understand more concrete and conventional buildings. It opened up new ways and focuses
on how to design for elements like paths, views, light, and other details.
6. 6
Digging & Mounding
Organizing Spaces
Just like creating a foundation for a building, the “Digging and
Mounding” project set the premise to how to build into and on top of
the site while maintaining a spatial relationship throughout the entire
form. Rather than focusing on more physical aspects of an immediate
building, this project concentrated on how to create a separate space
that is still associated with the original. I decided to design spaces that
would carve and wrap intself around the block. The design almost flows
through and off the sides then under and around the block. This would
later allow me to mound bridges on top of it.
8. 8
Artful Intervention
Bridging the Landscape
In order to create a structure, it is important to have a clear
understanding of the surrounding site. Progressing further into the
semester, we narrowed our focus into more specific aspects of an
instillation and its purpose on a site, whether a wetland, grassland, or
woodland. This project allowed us to dwell further into one or several
specific elements that modify an establishment. This later helped me
understand that certain aspects may have to be sacrificed in order
to accommodate for another. For example, light may be sacrificed to
enhance views.
9. 9
My design focused on the views and one’s experience with the varying tide of the wetland during
different hours of the day. The focus was to create a journey and path through the wetland that differs
at different times of the day.
10. 10
Documenting Opportunities
Attention to Detail
The assignment had allowed me to focus specifically on one element
and the relationship it has within each individual site. This project
taught me the importance of understanding the site and the numerous
elements that make it. In relation to assignment two, assignment three
allowed me to more directly analyze the physical characteristics of the
site. Spaces, paths, edges, foci, threshold, and detail all play direct roles
into the experience when considering elements to a site. The attention
to these details all define what creates a space and setting.
11. 11
Given Paths as my element, I could analyze the relationship between each of the sites and understand the connection
between the people and their circulation throughout the wetland, grassland, and woodland. Questions like, how can path
ways distinguish spaces and edges? Are there easier ways to connect each site and space?And what is the importance of
each path within a site?
12. 12
Vertical Planes
Creation of a Façade
Finally shifting the focus from the site to specifically just the
installation, assignment four emphasized the façade of a building.
Unlike the other projects, where a site was involved, this one was
solely just three different structures consisting of different yet relating
facades. This assignment helped us understand how buildings
are constructed in order to adapt more easily to the surrounding
environments. Elements such as view, light, and details continued to
play a role in the design process of this project.
14. 14
Sheltering: An Artist Colony
To Establish an Enclosure
Throughout the semester, I have developed my understanding of an installa-
tion and its relationship to a site. From assignment one, “Digging and Mound-
ing” to the final project, “Shelter: An Artists Colony,” we were encouraged to
focus on different aspects of the specific project and what and why certain parts
were done in the way they were done. The past four assignments have led me
to design an building complex within the Wetlands that housed both a danc-
er and musician. Tasked to focus on elements and lessons learned from the
whole semester, my design pays attention to the open views that the Wetlands
offer. The installation expresses an outside experience, while also maintaining
private spaces within itself. I wanted to create spaces that allow self-expression
and individual thought as well as encourage creative collaboration
