INTRODUCTION
Essentially Architecture deals with space, construction is just the medium. That being said, Architecture is taught and developed in a space: workshops. A workshop is essentially a big space where ideas are allowed flow, where we have the means to materialize them.
EDUCATIONAL BUILDING (BLOCÃO)
With that in mind, our main educational block was taught to accommodate the workshops, classes and exhibition spaces distributed organically under the same roof. This disposition allows for a variety of events that would not happen if these spaces were segregated.
Imagine yourself working freely on a personal project in the carpentry when you hear an interesting lecture happening nearby, and you decide to go listen. You find your friend who is working on a glass sculpture on the way and call him too, suddenly you’re discussing vernacular south african construction and both of you, inspired by the lecture, come to a conception of a piece of furniture in glass and wood. The aim of the project is to propitiate spontaneous moments that would not happen with formal and space interruptions.
These ideals dictated all of the design decisions made, from the largest to the smallest item. The furniture on the block was designed as easy to assemble building pieces looking to inspire discovery and flexibility.
With the strong belief that architecture must also embark the construction of the city, the surroundings of the building were thought out to reflect the same principles as the educational block but at a bigger scale, the park is meant to be Dessau’s workshop. That’s where the two slants that lead into the park come into play, they are the anchors that pull people inside.
WALKWAY
The walkway creates a physical connection between the blocks, yet also a metaphysical between the original Bauhaus and its museum, the old and the new, just like architecture constantly builds itself on its own history.
DORMS
_confort and individuality
Given the communal nature of the campus, we chose to give each resident an individual and spacious en suite bedroom for some quality alone time after a busy day
_coletivity
On the other hand, communal kitchens turn meal time into an opportunity for encounter and chitchat. The clear block right in the middle of the building unveils the liveliness of the dorms to the rest of the campus and also provides a multi use space that facilitates gatherings.
_modulation
We created a 3×4 module composed of steel beams and columns. These were filled with translucent panels to allow good insolation and disclosure of two contrasting sceneries; the calming train rail and the crystal clear yet hectic educational block.
Prioritizing privacy, the metal and glass superstructure is covered by a rotating metal brise soleil that creates a heavy rhythmic facade, contrasting with the light parallel building.
-lightness
We counter the heavy appearance of the building by elevating it with V shaped metal columns. This makes the ground floor a permeable space that merges with the linear park that lies besides the train rail.
