Project Overview
Client: Young Family
Location: Station Road, Wythall, Birmingham, UK
Site area: 645.492 m²
Building footprint: 36 m²
Year: 2012 (2nd Year University project)
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This project is influenced by the concept of the 9 Tsubo House, originally designed and constructed by the Japanese architect Masuzawa Makoto; which has a total area of no more than 6m x 6m x 6m, yet is still fully functional as a living space.
The scheme is intended as a starter home for a young family, with a master bedroom and a smaller room for a child, in addition to a livivng room, kitchen and bathroom.
Site Context
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The design brief required me to choose a site near my home, the site I chose was an area of land located between an existing house and the entrance of Bleak House Farm on Station Road, Wythall. I chose this location because the unused land offered more than enough space for the required 6m x 6m floor plate, a driveway and a reasonably sized garden area.
In terms of the surrounding context, this is an ideal site for a young family; to the north-east end of Station Road there is a row of shops (approx. 400m from the site) and Wythall railway station at the end of the road, with direct services into Birmingham town centre as well as Stratford-Upon-Avon. Station Road joins the A435 to the south-west, where Beckett's Farm, which sells local produce, and SIMA, a retail warehouse, are located (approx. 1.3km from the site). To the south the A435 connects with the M42 motorway (approx. 3.7km from the site) allowing easy access to the boroughs of Shirley and Solihull and connects with the M5 and M6 to the north and south respectively.
SITE CONTEXT
HOME FOR
YOUNG FAMILY
Design
My initial concept designs were based on breaking down and arranging the 2m x 2m x 2m cubes which composed the buildings frame.
In terms of precedents I researched buildings which had limited floor space, in particular the Rietveld Schröder house by the architect Gerrit Rietveld and its De Stijl style was a primary influence on the schemes aesthetic, with its predominant use of green and yellow panels, in addition to use of brick and plaster as components of the buildings facade.
Sketches showing different uses of space within the 6m x 6m x 6m frame.
Sketches showing different uses of space within the 6m x 6m x 6m frame. Sketches showing facades of design forms.
Sketches showing facades of design forms.
Design 01 Left: Plans. Right: Elevation + Section.
Plans
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04 Master bedroom
05 Small bedroom
06 Bathroom
01 Living room
02 Kitchen
03 Storage
Sections
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Perspectives
