Final Micro Dwelling- Whistler BC

After working for a week on my Micro Dwelling project I can finally say it's finished!! not that I believe my design is at its finest point but at the moment it is the best I can do...

My setting is in Whistler, BC, Canada. A place where the highest temperature is 80ºF for only two months and the lowest being 23ºF for most of the year. Wind direction from South-West, wih high preciptation and snow.

So my design had to incorporate a way to take advantaje of this elements while also protecting it, Prospect and Refuge, I think someone called it.

I figured that since it is so cold during most of the year I would want to take advantage of the sun, therefore having openings for light was necessary . The posittion is not so much important since the sun would be doing a 180º and it would never be very hot. If rain, snow or wind come from any direction, my windows would close up and become covered by pieces that when not in use, they integrate with the façade.

Since Whistler is in the Blackcomb Mountain are, the view is the most important aspect of my design. It all about the destination. Coming in from a narrow, dimly lit corridor, the destination would be a living/dinning are with a 2-floor height, and since it faces North- West, it would have a great view of the sunset.

A rain collection system was crucial also. I cannot depend of solar power since the days are very muggy and dim. My energey would come from the rain water collected as well as the snow, which would be transformed into water by a special geothermal system connected with the house.
This system would not only keep the water from freezing, but also would serve as the main source of heat for the house. Its power would come from the water system, so the water system is autosufficient. As they say "Energy is not created, it transforms", well my energy tranforms from hidraulic to thermal and back to hidraulic to create a cycle.

Pictures posted soon...

Micro Dwelling sketches!

Having started the Micro dwelling project I personally encountered a problem. How can I decide what amenities are essential in order for my design to be self sufficient yet minimal?
I also had to design things according to the standard measurements of circulation space in living, kitchen and bathroom areas. It has been an interesting project so far. I have still to decide where in the wrold are my designs going to be, but I think that once I have the 3D models of my sketches it would be a lot easier to see...

Here are my preliminary sketches, Enjoy!

Micro Dwellings!!

After doing our first Industrial design models we are now going to move into "Micro Dwelling". First of, What is Micro Dwelling? in a short answer, micro dwelling is having a limited amount of space but at the same time having all amenities a normal sized dwelling would have.

Dr. Hill showed us a clip of Gary Chang, a Chinese architect, who in his Hong Kong apartment, had everything he needed in 344 sq. ft. All he needs to do is move a wall and he'll have a kitchen, or a TV room. If he wanted to sleep, all he did was pull his bed down from another wall. When it was daytime, he transformed the bed into a sofa. He did many other amazing things with such little space. Link to Gary Chang's "Domestic Transformer" : http://www.flixxy.com/apartment-transformation.htm

I once found an article, not of the same house/apartment, in which they talked about a prefabricated house which can also be mentioned as a Micro Dwelling example.  I'm not a big fan of micro Dwelling. Maybe because I have it in my head that in order to live in something of the like it is necessary to be organized, something which I'm not! I have also been a huge fan of space. You can never go wrong with to much space in my eyes. However, I do admire and understand the practicality of having everything one needs and wants in a small area. I also believe that it may even be the future in architecture. Now and in the future, the population of Earth is going to increase and the construction space would become very limited. Therefore many would resort into becoming "Micro Dwellers".

Exterior of a Micro Dwelling example. It consists of 3 floors.

Interior. You can also see the way the floors connect by a ladder.

I like this example because it embodies what micro dwelling can be. This design has great use of space and at the same time is unusual and unique. It reminds me if Lincoln Log houses I built as a child.  It is a loft styled design which allows the control of temperature and the façade permits a great amount of light into the dwelling. Another thing I enjoy is the how the exterior contradicts the interior. 

The façade is metal and glass. Metal is a material known to be cold but in extreme heats it expands and can be molded into any form. I believe that the metal isn't intimate. It is a material that doesnt create that "homey" feeling. On the other hand, Wood is a very cozy material. It is more natural and closer to the earth than metal, and being near raw materials helps us feel grounded and secure, it creates that "home" fealling we are searching. That is whay I like this house. On the outside it isn't very inviting except for its unsual design. While on the inside it's the exact opposite it almost invites you to explore the area while keeping you connected to yourself.

Industrial Design

“All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space.” - Phillip Johnson

As we begin our journey into the world of architecture and design, one of our first projects is to design a piece (furniture, sculpture, fixture, etc) that at the end of the semester we are to design in full scale. The quote above kinda makes sense with how we are supposed to make our designs. It has to be something that is needed, some thing that stimulates the person to either use it or to expose it to the world. It also can contain his/her world. In the case of a bookcase, if the person enjoys books, it will help contain, cherish these prized possessions.
We had to respond to the question: "What do I need?" . As soon as we began, most of the studio realized that we are in need of bookcases! I guess we made this realization after buying a lot of books this semester.

We had to design several pieces. We had to have sketches of  10 different pieces. Here are some of mine:

Left hand design is a coffee table/ chair that also has a shelf for books. The design to the right is still to be worked on. Essentially, it's a chair which, when folded, is a box. It also has a drawer to the side. Needs a lot of work.

Everyone is an Artist

Even my Mom used this book while studing for Interior Design

So, its been awhile since I last opened this book but now that I'm an architecture student I guess I'll have to open its yellowing pages once more.

Why am I posting about "Drawing from the Artist Within" by Betty Edwards? Well, as studio mates were being introduced to a world of measurements and artistry, one of the exercises we did reminded me of this book. The exercise was to draw a portrait of one or two of our fellow studio mates. Sounds simple enough but here is the catch: We weren't supposed to look at what we were drawing! In the end I believe everyone had a portrait made in true Picasso style.

To see what I'm talking about, check out these links to some of my classmates drawings:


http://loveablecorie.blogspot.com/2010/08/first-day-of-class.html
http://richiearch.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post.html

http://tylernagai.blogspot.com/2010/08/day-one-august-30-2010.html
http://caseyreanne.blogspot.com/2010/08/funny-continuous-line-drawings-haha.html

One of the exercises from class

From A Student's Point of View

Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life. - Henry L. Doherty

This blog is started as a project in my ENDS studio. I am required to post a blog every Monday with photos of my sketch journal. In the beginning I was very hesitant with this project. For instance, I have never been one to express my thoughts to the public, yet here I am.


Calling my blog "From a Student's Point of View" originated from this quote. I do believe that we are students throughout our lives and that we are continuously learning something.


I heard someone once say "Life is the best teacher", and now that I am in Texas A&M (WHOOP!!), I will use my time here to expand my horizons and learn from my surroundings and from classes. Sure my life is changing. I am no longer surrounded by my family but instead by my future peers. There are so many new people, experiences and opportunities waiting for me here and everywhere, and hopefully I get to enjoy everyone of them.