Client-Preferred Architect Inspirations

Three of the client's preferred architects that I drew inspiration from were Carlo Scarpa, Sverre Fehn, and Tadao Ando. The areas of inspiration, respectively, were massing, material, and light expression.

The above building by Scarpa illustrates the beauty of a complex interlocking of geometric objects and acute angles. A few critics have suggested that my structure is too complex and relies too heavily on a variety of materials, but Scarpa's work demonstrates how a thoughtful ordering and placement of these massing objects, wall thicknesses, and glass can create a very strong sense of balance and interaction. While most angled corners of my building open up to circulation, there are some at the outermost edges of my structures that are difficult to inhabit, so I may use them as storage or an interesting expression of light.

The above building by Fehn illustrates the use of a powerful form of translucency on vertical walls. It is characterized by horizontal slits of glass which block vision into or out of the building, but allow a controlled amount of light through the plane, both during day and night. I plan to use a similar material and texture on my light boxes, which connect to all buildings and are the main channels of light into and out of the structure. A juxtaposition of this kind of translucent wall and clear glass panels will also allow for interested framing.

Finally, the above building by Tadao Ando illustrates the power of thin slits of light to create meaningful expression of light, in this case a vertical cross in the Chapel of Light. I plan to use a similar cross shape on the roofs of my tower. This has benefits over Ando's design because the direct light beam will not cause problems of glare in the long shaft of the roof, and the horizontal crosses will cast long crosses, either in light or shadow, on the vertical walls of the towers, moving from wall to wall during the course of the day.