MIT boathouse proposal : a study of referential components

Abstract

The guiding proposition of this thesis is that components in a place can equal more than the sum of their parts. Through interactions among a range of sizes, the physical elements in a design are perceived as defining experiences beyond their locale. For example, in a larger context, views and direction of movement may be expressed in the physical form of a particular detail. Smaller elements may be deployed on several levels, being sensed as a discrete unit, complete in itself, while also referring to the "whole" through a shared geology of forms. The design of a new MIT Boathouse, as well as a study of Carlo Scarpa's use of details, investigate this dynamic of size relationships.