Explorations in additive, associative design : an assemblage of collective use of forms for part of the M.I.T. West Campus

Abstract

My thesis is an attempt at synthesizing a series of observations of built and unbuilt environments which exemplify the elusive physical qualities of harmonic diversity - unity with variety. This synthesis will be the basis for a workable language with which a diverse harmonic order may be constructed. The projective design involves reorganizing part of the M.I.T. nearer west campus into a supportive institutional environment. Each exercise was treated as a process to construct the vocabulary (generating ranges of definition, thematic form and variations) and to delineate the syntactical rules (specifying a process of assemblage and generating continuity) for that operative architectural language. Though structural expression was part of the vocabulary explorations, the scope of this thesis does not include detailed or extensive building technology studies. The first part of this thesis - "WORDS" represents a brief look at associative additive environments and their generative principles respectively . The second part - "WORK", in the form of form- making exercises, is a documentation of my investigative explorations, toward the building of a language of continuity and reciprocity.