The Modern Domus: An Exploration of Roman Brick

Kelsey Nicole Bixler

Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Architecturein Architecture

Hans Rott, ChairLaura McGuireWilliam Galloway

May 5, 2015Blacksburg, VA

KeywordsRoman Brick, Flemish Bond,Barrel Vault, Tripartite, Golden Ratio

The Modern Domus: An Exploration of Roman Brick

Kelsey Nicole Bixler

AbstractMy thesis explores the potential manipulation of Roman brick using a Flemish bond, corner quoining, and barrel vaulting. The design uses this brick module to re-interpret the Ancient Roman domus, an urban residence embedded within the heart of the city. This classical inspiration is apparent in the tripartite plan and elevation as well as the use of the Golden Ratio, a classical proportioning system, incorporated throughout the design and revealed on both large and small scales. Despite this classical inspiration, however, the design emphasis is on true brick construction, a process irrelevant to historical allusion.

Contents

Title Page iAbstract iiContents iiiList of Figures ivIntroduction 1Roman Brick 3Barrel Vaults 5Ground Floor 7Upper Floor 9Front Elevation 11Back Elevation 13Garden Elevation 15Staircase Elevation 17Hearth Details 19Window Details 21Sliding Doors 23Front Door 25

Figure 2 (left)

iii

List of Figures

1. Early Sketch of Brick Arch i 23. Early Stair and Runoff Sketch 172. Early Sketch of Arched Front Entrance iii 24. Final Longitudinal Stair Section 183. Golden Rectangle + Construction 1 25. Final Latitudinal Stair Section 184. Roman Brick Dimensions Detail 3 26. Early Brick Hearth Sketch 195. Roman Brick Flemish Bond Axonmetric 4 27. Final Hearth Section Drawing 206. Flemish Bond Corner Condition 4 28. Final Hearth Chimney Section 20 7. Flemish Bond Quoin Condition 4 29. Final Hearth Elevation Drawing 208. Early Interior Axonometric Drawing 5 30. Final Hearth Chimney Plan Sections 209. Structural Axonometric Drawings 6 31. Final Hearth Plan Section Drawing 20 10. Ground Floor Plan, Iteration 1 7 32. Early Window Shutter Mechanism 2111. Ground Floor Plan, Iteration 2 7 33. Final Window Section Drawing 2212. Final Ground Floor Plan Drawing 8 34. Final Window Elevation Drawing 2213. Upper Floor Plan, Iteration 1 9 35. Final Window Shutter Mechanism 2214. Upper Floor Plan, Iteration 2 9 36. Final Window Plan Section Drawing 2215. Final Upper Floor Plan Drawing 10 37. Early Window Elevation Drawing 2316. Early Front Elevation Drawing 11 38. Early Window Plan Drawing 2317. Early Latitudinal Section Drawing 11 39. Garage Door Section Drawing 2418. Final Front Elevation Drawing 12 40. Sliding Door Plan Detail Drawing 2419. Early Back Elevation Drawing 13 41. Sliding Door Elevation Drawing 2420. Final Back Elevation Drawing 14 42. Early Front Door Elevation Drawing 2521. Early Back Elevation Detail Drawing 15 43. Early Front Door Plan Drawing 2522. Final Garden Wing Elevation Drawing 16 44. Final Front Door Plan Drawing 26

iv

Introduction

The use of the Golden Ratio defines an ordering system founded in classical proportioning principles. Its geometry is made tangible in the Golden Rectangle, derived from the application of the Fibonnacci Sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc).

This geometry and numerological sequence sets up a proportioning system that is incorporated into every aspect of the design. The classical proportions are made evident not only in the dimensions of the building and broader structural gestures but also in the smaller details of the design.

Figure 3 (left)

1

Roman Brick

Roman brick was chosen as an allusion to Ancient Rome; however, a Flemish bond was incorporated to allow for a natural cavity wall without the use of metal ties.

Corner quoining was implemented to emphasize the visual strength of the brick as well as to offer further opportunities to manipulate the Roman brick module.

Figure 4 (left)Figures 5, 6, 7 (right)

3

Barrel Vaults

The use of Roman brick inevitably led to the implementation of barrel vaulting as the primary structural system.

Two long barrel vaults are intersected by a shorter, yet proportional, vault; this forms the tripartite organization in both plan and elevation.

Figure 8 (left)Figure 9 (right)

5

Ground FloorClassically-Inspired Tripartite Plan

Figures 10, 11 (left)Figure 12 (right)

N

7

v1

v2

14’

14’

7’

14’21’ 21’

Upper FloorClassically-Inspired Tripartite Plan

Figures 13, 14 (left)Figure 15 (right)

N

9

v1

v2

14’

14’

7’

14’21’ 21’

Front ElevationClassically-Inspired Tripartite Facade

Figures 16, 17 (left)Figure 18 (right)

11

Back ElevationClassically-Inspired Tripartite Facade

Figures 19, 17 (left)Figure 20 (right)

13

Garden ElevationClassically-Inspired Brick Facade

Figure 21 (left)Figure 22 (right)

15

Staircase ElevationMetal Lightweight Staircase

Figure 23 (left)Figures 24, 25 (right)

17

Hearth DetailsClassically-Inspired Brick Hearth

Figure 26 (left)Figures 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 (right)

19

Window DetailsWindow Shutter Mechanism

Figure 32 (left)Figures 33, 34, 35, 36 (right)

21

Sliding Doors+ Garage Door Details

Figures 37, 38 (left)Figures 39, 40, 41 (right)

23

Front DoorSolid Metal Door Detail

Figures 42, 43 (left)Figure 44 (right)

25