The discussion of producing a new type of form, formalistic ideas and architectural diagrams, along with serving the community and an interdisciplinary approach to architecture's discipline, led us to the idea of this plan. We approached the project considering the "art for art's sake" movement as the main mindset along with a multidisciplinary approach while maintaining the interaction with other related topics that together, imply to the concept of a city. This was our most vital concern. Serving architecture along with serving the people.
Creating a dialectic between the disjunction of elements and the connection of elements has been our most important approach in designing this complex. Our effort was put towards listening to this dialectic dialogue between both side's interaction and meeting their demands, and through a synthesis between these two discourses, coming up with a new presentation of architecture.
Here, architecture is neither for "the people" nor for "me". Architecture finds meaning in "us".
Detachment of elements can cause several different events. It's example can be seen in the policies of liberalism. An opportunity for anyone or anything to be able to have an unmediated presence in the field of existence has a significant impact on that matter being easier to gain knowledge and awareness about, and makes it more available to conduct a survey relatable to the subject. In other words, when a subject matter acts self-oriented, it has a better opportunity to introduce itself.
In this project, the approach of disjunction or detachment has been studied in two different aspects. In addition to the fact that each usage and each subject holds a specific position for itself without the interference of other usages, we also implemented the separation approach in our own architectural details. The ceiling was separated from the wall, the wall from the window and the floor from the wall.
In addition to the visual appeal created in the exterior and interior and the subject of creating style and belonging, it helped us find a special way to use the light.
The separation approach created gaps between our building volumes. These gaps, which turned into winding urban alleys, allowed us to expose our building volumes more. So we used this opportunity and created various perspectives by rotating the volumes. The separation approach was used both in the discussion of aesthetics and in the design of the plan and its accessibility.
For interior design, the same design strategy of volumes and exterior elevation was used. The volume view from the outside, which was created with 3-part divisions, continues inside. The windows with an independent identity are placed between the two sections of the upper wall and the lower wall and can be introduced independently on their own. As the ceilings are raised, they provide users a more spacious atmosphere. A window is placed on top of each ceiling to help bringing in as much natural light as possible and it also provides a great view of the sky. In fact, in this project, to be roofed does not mean to be disconnected from the sky above your head.
Disjunction can be seen in the detail provided for the connection between the ceiling and the wall. By using metal frames and small columns that are covered by glass, the wall is connected to the ceiling -but with an emphasis on the clear border between them- which is very transparent, as if they are separated from each other and the ceiling is suspended. We can see the same detail in some parts of the connection between the floor and the wall. The lighting of each room is designed according to the slope of each side of the ceiling, and without any kind of pendants(such as chandeliers), they are completely a part of the space itself.
Our most important approach in designing the site plan has been to connect with the street and the city as much as possible. Not having a prominent entrance and having multiple entrances, widening the sidewalk and increasing the public space are some of the things that we can mention in this regard. The paths that leads to a square, create a space for pause, rest and social interactions . Gardens and trees have been planted in specific places that both people who are inside the buildings and those who are outside, can use them. In addition, creating green spaces in various parts of the site has helped the overall urban greenness.
In conclusion, the open door policy and not having a specific border is directly related to the overall theme of the plan, which is to improve people's health and hygiene. This project is trying to invite people to the importance of mental and physical health in its own way.
Typical construction design diagram
Step No. 1: Plan design according to the intended use and employer's needs.
Step No. 2: Adding walls and creating the initial volume of the building.
Step No. 3: Creating three-part divisions on the facade.
Step No. 4: creating windows, detailing the separation of the floor and ceiling and adding entrance doors.
Step No. 5: designing the ceilings according to the plan and creating the final volume.
Connection and unity was our approach in this design. The dialogue between disjunction and connection was a great challenge. Volumes are designed with the same logic and they also follow the principles we mentioned about disjunction. That's why they are a unity. In fact, we presented a type of construction that is flexible. The volumes have a clear logic in their exterior elevation. The exterior of the buildings is divided equally into three, and the middle is either a window, a green wall, or left blank. The same logic of dividing the facade into 3 can be seen inside.
The design of roofs and its colors has the same logic for all sections, but it is noticeably flexible. We tried to show that all volumes are a subset for the same entirety by providing a design language for all sections.