Maison à Bordeaux - UMass...
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Architect: OMA/Rem Koolhaas Location: Bordeaux, France Year: 1994-1998 Maison à Bordeaux “Contrary to what you would expect,” he told the architect, “I do not want a simple house. I want a complex house, because the house will define my world...” This quote, from the wheelchair-bound client, sums up the goals of the space and the building in relation to the typical narratives of accessible architecture. The design features many complicated nuances and built-in furnishings that help define the space. Critical to the success of the space is its central elevator, which facilitates movement in a wheelchair; and the unique structural choices by Koolhaas and engineer Cecil Balmond that allow the concrete block of the third floor to soar weightlessly above Bordeaux. North exterior. Two circles, one a door and the other a window, look out over Bordeaux.
Transcript of Maison à Bordeaux - UMass...
Architect: OMA/Rem KoolhaasLocation: Bordeaux, FranceYear: 1994-1998
Maison à Bordeaux “Contrary to what you would expect,” he told the architect, “I do not want a simple house. I want a complex house, because the house will define my world...” This quote, from the wheelchair-bound client, sums up the goals of the space and the building in relation to the typical narratives of accessible architecture. The design features many complicated nuances and built-in furnishings that help define the space. Critical to the success of the space is its central elevator, which facilitates movement in a wheelchair; and the unique structural choices by Koolhaas and engineer Cecil Balmond that allow the concrete block of the third floor to soar weightlessly above Bordeaux.
North exterior. Two circles, one a door and the other a window, look out over Bordeaux.
Third floor, with elevator absent.
South facade, showing panorama, inhabitance and structure.
Second floor, with elevator in position.
West-facing view into courtyard showing the full elevation, including the first floor, which is invisible from the South side.
Second floor, with elevator in movement.
The openness of the program is closely tied to the visual openness of the space. The first floor is set into a hill and gets relatively little light.
The first floor is used for the necessities of daily life, especially cooking and cleaning. It is essential for family living, but does not provide space to gather or relax.
PROGRAM: PUBLIC > PERSONAL > PRIVATE
The second floor is completely open. Movement from inside to outside is encouraged by the lack of walls.
A wide variety of furniture makes the space ideal for many uses, including communal meals and casual lounging.
The third floor is completely private. The heavy walls and small windows block views both in and out.
Bedrooms and bathrooms for the parents and two children are located on this floor. The children’s rooms are in the front, and the parents’ rooms are in the rear.
Central to the building is a 3m x 3.5m elevator. Accessible space stretches out from this central axis.
The first floor features a variety of rooms along a single floor plane. Access from the concrete parking loop outside is very easy.
ACCESSIBILITY: EASY > DIFFICULT
The rear part of the second floor is completely accessible.
The patio on the north half of the building is not accessible. To reach it, one must take the circular stairs or step outside the building’s envelope and walk across the grass to reach it.
The third floor, like the second floor, is split into two. The bedroom in the rear can be reached by both stairs and elevator, but the bedrooms in the front can only be reached by circular stair.
The structure of the building’s accessible and inaccessible spaces are clearly illustrated in section; the front is inaccessible, and the rear is accessible.
CIRCULATION: EASY > DIFFICULT
Central to the building is a 3m x 3.5m elevator. Accessible space stretches out from this central axis.
The first floor features a variety of rooms along a single floor plane. Access from the concrete parking loop outside is very easy.
The rear part of the second floor is completely accessible.
The patio on the north half of the building is not accessible. To reach it, one must take the circular stairs or step outside the building’s envelope and walk across the grass to reach it.
The third floor, like the second floor, is split into two. The bedroom in the rear can be reached by both stairs and elevator, but the bedrooms in the front can only be reached by circular stair.
The structure of the building’s accessible and inaccessible spaces are clearly illustrated in section; the front is inaccessible, and the rear is accessible.
ENCLOSUREOpenings in the envelope are very limited on the second and third floors, but on the first floor, there are many exits between building, courtyard and outside.
SUNLIGHT
Sunlight strikes the building differently on each floor.
The bottom floor gets the least light, because it faces north and it goes into the hill. Artificial lights are most useful here.
On the middle floor, the presence of the concrete box overhead restricts light greatly. However, the total lack of obstacles means the space is often well lit, despite the low ceiling.
On the top floor, sunlight in the children’s bedrooms is very limited. The only windows are small portholes in the concrete box, and a large window at the front of the building.
In the back, however, there is a large skylight that illuminates the space. In addition to this, the south face of the box features a balcony with glass walls that further opens up the space to light.
Bordeaux House has many elements of imbalance and tension. These miscellaneous elements of stress and mystery help complicate of the building.
The massing of the building shows a massive block that is both cantilievered and supported by nothing. This effect is achieved via creative engineering.
BALANCE
In the massing section, the assymetry of the building is particulary visible. The blocks appear randomly piled rather than carefully stacked, a vast departure from typical architectural practice.
The grid illustrates the orientation of the boxes on top of each other, and the distances between each edge.
The main supports of the building are set off center. as well. Rather than forming a square, they are each offset and contribute to the asymmetry of the design.
Bordeaux House has many elements of imbalance and tension. These miscellaneous elements of stress and mystery help complicate of the building.
The massing of the building shows a massive block that is both cantilievered and supported by nothing. This effect is achieved via creative engineering.
STRUCTURE + PROPORTION
The structure is created by two horizontal beams: one holds the box up, the other ties the box down. These diagonal counter-forces provide the strength needed to keep the building stable.
The structural elements create even proprtions relative to the second floor plan.
The interior spaces are characterized by a wide variety of shapes that are grouped together.
In the first floor, the rooms grow off of the line of the exterior wall.
INTERIOR VOLUMES
In the second floor, interior spaces are defined by the boxes above and below, as well as the site.
The rooms at the top floor are organized around the central movement columns; these are the stairs and the elevator, respectively.
