Aggregated Triad

A vertical housing project in Chinatown that explores the formation of spaces through the actions of stacking and interlocking

Animation, Drawing

Medium

Blender, Rhinoceros 3D, After Effects

Software

animation

To represent spatial configurations related to notions of overlap and interlock, two primary operations were dissected within the multi‐unit housing project:

The transformation of two‐dimensional, tessellated figures in order to generate a series of distinct, three‐dimensional forms through the actions of hinging and as rotating. Two types are produced that interlock in a repetitive and definitive manner, and further variations occur by challenging their orientation.

The second operation, the intersection of self‐similar figures, utilizes the actions of hinging and rotating to produce an aggregated triad that represents an idea of tension and monolithicity. `

Unit stack and interlock

204 units are stacked three-dimensionally, conforming to the outline of the massing triad. By packing the units to the perimeter, maximizing sunlight, a large void is created throughout the aggregate. The void is most significant around the intersections of the 3 towers, where the selective subtraction of units extends it to the exterior. The stack builds a total of 24 stories, with large openings in the last few floors to fill the void with sunlight. The complete aggregate becomes a hollow mass, densely packed at its perimeter but extending exterior space to the very center of the building.