Assignment 3

After consultation with my tutor it was clear that I was not utilizing the site enough and wasting a lot of space. By this stage in the development process, I had come up with an architecture that displayed many different levels allowing for multiple roof top gardens. By extending the rear of the house I was able to fill in the 'empty space' and create a more useful, and aesthetically pleasing, house.

During the final stages of development I had decided to draw the residents to the back of the house by using a long corridor which displayed an unobstructed view of the city from the moment you walked in the door. By tucking the stairs in behind the bathroom I was able to ensure that this view wasn't obstructed.

By keeping the front façade of this house similar to the terraces next to it I intend to create an architecture that at first glance looks very plain, just like a normal house. Only upon examining it further will it be discovered that it holds a gallery of wonderful art. This idea will create a mystery about to house and make the gallery seem a little bit secret while invoking a homely and intimate atmosphere while browsing the art works.

As the residents move further down the house, there are faced with different stairs which can lead them to roof top gardens, the living room/ kitchen, or their private bedrooms. The house was designed so that the front half is all business and private use, while the rear of the house boasts large areas that can be used as a more sociable place where the two residents can come together and enjoy the view.

From looking at how the house interacts with the neighbouring properties it can be seen that the residents will receive unobstructed views, and will receive a large portion of sun at the rear of the property. By using various glass panels I have created a structure that will capture a large amount of natural sunlight.

Rather than having one large garden, I have opted to create three smaller gardens (two of which are roof top gardens). All gardens are public access, however, they have been positioned in a way that each resident (the artist and his daughter) have their own garden which is much easier to access. The artist's garden gives him the beautiful view of the old arches from the adjacent terrace houses, which would be a perfect place for him to create his art works. The daughter's garden (which can be accessed by an external staircase, or her private staircase from the attic level) is to provide her with a semi private out door area where she can socialize with friends without bothering her father. However, it is possible for him to use that garden, creating the homely feel.

(The view from the Artist's garden)

By keeping the front façade plain and similar to the neighbouring terrace houses I hope to recreate a traditional home with a modern twist. From the front it appears to be a simple terrace house, but upon entering the premise it can be seen that there is a lot going on inside, with the different rooftop gardens, the multiple levels and the strategically placed public areas