Experiment3

Architect: Ieoh Mei Pei

Article: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/articles/profiling-ieoh-ming-pei-china-s-best-known-architect/

The East Building of the National Gallery of Art

Louvre Pyramid

Dallas City Hall

Philosophy

Although he is remembered for his buildings, I. M. Pei’s greatest influence on the architectural world is his philosophy of design. Just as his designs integrate aesthetics with functionality, Pei himself epitomizes the resolution of both an artist and engineer.
He believed that the only issue of contemporary concern was life itself; buildings should be created as living spaces — spaces of activity and thought – rather than static monuments.
An unusual dialogue between two very different and very important cultures: east and west.
The interplay between geometry and light
The relationship between the site and building design
Due to his reliance on abstract form and materials such as stone, concrete, glass, and steel, Pei has been considered a disciple of Walter Gropius.
To the architectural world, Pei legacy is his belief that architecture “is the mirror of life itself.”

Modern Localism

He advocated contextual development and variation in style, inspired by the locality and the purpose of the project.
“the important distinction is between a stylistic approach to the design; and an analytical approach giving the process of due consideration to time, place, and purpose.”
“I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity.”

THEORY

The building is designed for the architectural student, the idea is based on the relationship between the site and the connected architectures, the functionality with the simplicity, and the interplay between geometry and light of Pei's notions and the recombination words which I chose from Pei's article which are symmetry, variation (new into old) and balance.

In my design, the building chosen to be connected with Square House is Tyree Energy Technologies Building. As the former has the combination of arts and technology and architecture is full of questions and problems, more technique problems or answers may then be found in Tyree through discussion with the teachers or students who are studying various other areas there. In order to approach the goal of accepting different ideas and reaching the balance of dealing with problems with distinctive knowledge.

In addition, with the use of simple materials including concrete, glass and steel, Pei's idea of abstract aesthetics is stressed and the functionality of the architecture can also be emphasized. Within this bridging architecture, in order to address the simplicity of the building, zigzagging scaled trapezoids are applied for the facade with the symmetry reflection on the other side. Inside the architecture, it is divided into different zones for different functions, so as to the different types of shadings within.

The playfulness of the light and the geometry can also be seen in this architecture. The glazing rooftop with supporting steel bar which is one of the Pei's signatures is employed in the architecture according to the use of the room, showing the interplay between the geometry of the building and the sunlight. On the other hand, slits also take part in the manipulation of the light, providing ornaments for this simple adorned building in different hours and seasons. This can evoke the sense of the treasure of the time and serenity.

The plan

THE 18 SKETCH PERSPECTIVES

Visually weightless quality reflected by the cantilever construction

Visually weightless quality reflected by the cantilever construction

Zigzagging in a balance of symmetry and asymmetry

Growth pattern of plants

New into old

Open interior spaces

Geometry constructs a spatial order

Combination 1

Visually weightless quality reflected by the cantilever construction + Growth pattern of plants

Combination 2

Zigzagging in a balance of symmetry and asymmetry + New into old (developed one)

Combination 3

Geometry constructs a spatial order + Open interior spaces

THE 36 CUSTOM TEXTURES

Chosen textures:

Fluid - on the shading device of the glass roof (moving element)

Linear - on the louvers (moving element)

Rotational - On the stairs

THE MOVING ELEMENTS

THE IMAGES CAPTURES AND THE ARCHITECTURE

The overall view of the bridge.
The bridge retrieves Pei's notion of simplicity and represents it through a zigzagging geometrical form in a balance of symmetry and asymmetry.

The pedestrian view (perspective).

The site plan.
The bridging architecture connects Square house and Tyree Energy Technologies Building for exchanging the technical problems and finding answers from different minded people who are from various majors for engineering.

The entrance.
It shows the simplicity and the elegance of geometry.

The library.
In the library, the rooftop is glazing and the wall is cut by slits (new into old) purposely as to providing natural sunlight for reading and also projecting shadow patterns on the dull concrete wall to adorn it with ornaments, providing the sense of silence and contemplating the times.

The staircases.
The stair is designed from the concept - new into old, as I bring the new shape (lightning-liked) into the trapezoid architecture.
The texture ROTATIONAL is painted on the stairs as the way how the users going up and down is like a circulated rotation.

The lecture theatre.
(Mentioned in the moving element previously)

The mid-hallway.
The glazing is also retrieved from Pei's idea of the interplay between materials and light. From there, the sense of aesthetic is produced.
(In here, students can have a quick break after dealing with assignments and workshops or can breathe in some fresh air before going to doing the assignment.)