Through Phototropism, plants naturally grow towards the light to maximize their nutrient potential.
“PhotoActive” attempts to apply this same concept on a building to maximize the building’s program and function potential. The program is a small social gardener club for like-minded members. The design concept was inspired by one of the biological systems from the plants – Phototropism, which is the growth of a plant responds to a light stimulus.
The program for the club is required to put reception, meeting and exhibit space, dining facilities, and guest rooms, which put the project squarely in the realm of hospitality and exhibition design. The site, 60 Ships, is a four sorties high rectangular building. The challenge of the space planning is to fit all the required programs in the limited existing structure.
To achieve that goal, I apply the integrated design strategy approach to the project during the planning and programming phases. I use rotating greenhouse to gain extra footage when necessary: During the daytime, the greenhouse will rotate 90 degrees toward the outdoor area to get the maximum sunlight for a plant in the Greenhouse, at the same time, it generates another multifunction space.
An open kitchen is provided on the second floor with a large dining/ workshop table and a private lecture/ meeting room beside. Guestrooms are on the third floor to estrange from the public area. The basement level is open to outdoor and there is a small fire gathering place beside for members to enjoy when the weather is nice.
Due to the space limitation, I designed a mechanical complex cabinetry with the glass material for the members to store their work after a workshop. All the window are consist of the same rotating concept, and mot of furniture and lighting are sharing the same idea too.
In order to preserve the building, wood, brick, exposed beam, glass, and steel..etc, those architectural elements were being used to match with is original characteristic. By using a clean line, metal, and leather fabric in furniture gives the building a sophisticated edge.
Working on the mechanical system through a scaled model.
Feel free to scroll up to see the finished video
