DESA1002 'Nine Quarter City' - <Vi Le>

Abstract

"As one walks along, one can see how the architectural arrangement unfolds … a real promenade architecture which continuously opens up changing, unexpected & sometimes astonishing views." (Le Corbusier on Villa Savoye, Complete Works, 1921-34) A building designed with its rooms opening onto a central courtyard has been a traditional design of both public and residential Islamic architecture throughout Islamic history. This courtyard-based design has not escaped the city of Isfahan - for its many successes in combating the Iran climate and sustaining a defensive building for its inhabitants, it has remained timeless. It was my intention to design this courtyard-based building in the context of a residential home and explore and exploit its traditional foundations, yet still ensure a consistency and coherency throughout the entire site. Taking inspiration from courtyard house architecture all around the world, architects such as Le Corbusier and urban designers such as Gorden Cullen, I sought out a design that would make circulation throughout my courtyard house an experience of levels, vision, light, scale, texture and colour. With a luscious, earthy courtyard in the centre of the house, rooms and spaces are positioned as if growing out from this courtyard heart. With a staircase and a ramp, inhabitants experience going up levels in two completely separate ways with different exposure to views and light.