Continuity and Discontinuity

We started our process with drawing various curvilinear lines with or without any meaning. We then tried to derive meanings out of those lines; how those lines (as a whole) portray an image in our mind. This was further intensified by making several iterations of these curvilinear lines and each one of us had a thought to the drawings which we were working with. The words that we had in our mind were: Chaos, Everyday Repetition, Continuity, Layering, Hide & Seek.

Later, with these thoughts we started making drawings using softwares, where we were allowed to use only the 'spline' command at first and the 'arc' command later.

Chaos

Everyday Repetition

Hide and Seek

Continuity Discontinuity

Layering

Case Studies

Lumm Temple (Mexico) is a center for Yoga, Meditation, Workshops and Community Gatherings.

The triangular pattern is formed due to the layers of tightly woven bamboo lattice, which were placed in opposite directions over one another.



Wind Pavilion (China). The structural elements here are string supported bamboo beams and lateral loads. The string supported bamboo helps in getting a wider span(around 14 m).



Site Analysis

Gandhi Museum, Kora Kendra, Borivali west.

A few years ago, the space around the museum was used for several activities like Khadi making, Pottery, Honey making, Soap making, Agarbatti making and many other Handicraft activities. But now it is all in a dilapidated condition and the Gandhi Museum has no visitors now. So, in order to revive those activities we decided to intervene a part of it.

It is a gated linear area with a central road, with small structures on either side. The entire area is densely covered with trees. The site has a well and a nursery, with shops & warehouses on the opposite side, which are all shut now. As you move further, you can see the Gandhi Museum and an office opposite to it. There is a soap manufacturing unit beside the museum, which is in dilapidated condition.

We decided to redesign the space next to Gandhi Museum, where there were a series of shops & warehouses earlier, and were now shut.

Design Conceptualization

We started placing our programs and started sketching curvilinear forms around the existing structure relating it to the words we derived in the earlier exercise.combining our words and iterating through design sketches was our initial process, we also started exploring ideas through conceptual models.

After iterating with each word we decided to work with the idea of continuity discontinuity.Before starting to design we were first analyzing the meaning of continuity and discontinuity and in what ways can we imply them in our design.Continuity is Uninterrupted connection, Succession, or Union.it means without stopping or staying the same.Discontinuity means having intervals or gaps in between.

Design Iterations

Iteration 1

A building designed in such a way that the parts of the building continue and merge into each other.

For Example: The roof of the exhibition space or the yoga center can continue to become the tables for the cafe.


Iteration 2

Iteration 3

Final Design

Design Plan

Design Section

We started collecting ideas of in what ways can we bring the idea of continuity and discontinuity into our design. We thought of making different pathways each of which will have an idea of continuity or discontinuity of space through different senses

Here the workshop for khadi workers is placed at the entrance. This place can also serve as an exhibition space allowing the visitors to interact with the machines and the weavers' working process while viewing their final products. Then the ramp forms an intermediate level to create height differences to keep a visual connection but the space disconnects in a physical sense. This ramp leads to the cafeteria. The roof of the cafeteria is a further extension of the intermediate mezzanine floor of the yoga and meditation center. The roof merges with the ramp with a steep slope hence again physically disconnecting The space even when it is structurally connected. The yoga and meditation center is a form comprising two intersecting trusses forming a void. This void placed facing the North East direction helps to break the closed space through means of a calm soothing light.

Thus the whole structure plays with the differences in stiffness, thickness of walls/tables, varying heights of the structure, visual and physical discontinuities, and continuities.

Construction Details

Thus the whole structure plays with the differences in stiffness, thickness of walls/tables, varying heights of the structure, visual and physical discontinuities and continuities.