Inside-out : a design investigation of the exchange between the built elements and the natural elements

Abstract

A tent exposes the very direct relationship between man, shelter, and the natural elements (air, sun, water and earth) - a relationship that excites our minds and generates the memories by which we measure real time. How can a building realize this relationship? This thesis explores the exchange between the inside and the outside by considering the enclosure as an assemblage of systems - wall, structure, insulation - which perform different tasks. By deploying these systems "independently," transparent zones and spaces are generated between the inside and outside. This approach relies on the premise that space is generated through the definition of its limits, and exchange is achieved through the celebration of limits. These ideas are explored in the design of two projects: a family house situated in the countryside and a mixed-use infill building located in an urban setting.