ARCH 209 Community College of Philadelphia

Studio Design III Architecture, Design & Construction

Department
Paula J. Behrens,
professor

Project 2: Space Exploration

The reality of a room is to be found in the space enclosed by the

roof and walls, not by the roof and walls themselves
Lao Tzu
China, 600 BC

Imagine a rectangular prism, 5 x 5 x 8 high. Imagine it as a space sitting on a 10 x 10 base

of fomcor. Without building the container, you are to consider the geometry of this form, and the
space contained within. Using the set of parts listed below, you are to explore ways that both
reveal the exterior faces of the space and create a sense of spatial flow within that form.
Reveals something more about the form that would have been apparent without your
intervention and creation.

Kit:
RODS: From x basswood (not balsa wood)
- 7 8 long square rods;
- Note: the rods can be cut into shorter pieces; ALL pieces must be used.
PLANES: From white 2-ply museum or Bristol board (must be white all the way through)

- 15 pieces sized 2.5 x 2.5

- 12 pieces sized 4 x 1
- Note: All pieces DO NOT need to be used.
-
Parameters:
No element can extend beyond the prism edges as set.
Rods can be cut, but all pieces must be used.
Rods can be recessed into the fomcor for stability, but, if full-height, exposed
height must be full 8". Also applies to planes.
Matboard planes sizes cannot be changed, but not all need to be used. They
can overlap each other and overlap the rods. They can be cut and folded as long
as the overall sizes remain the same. Parts of the center of planes can be cut
away.
For preliminary model exploration, you can use balsa wood and poster board (if
you need to save money).

Craft:
Use care when cutting the kit pieces and assembling the final prism Draft the
dimensions carefully, cut neatly, sand the ends of the basswood. Score the edges
that are folded carefully.
Use rubber cement (one side)for preliminary tacking. Rubber cement (two sides)
or wood glue can be used for final.