The intent of this studio was to focus on materiality and how it can be used to effect space and form. The site was located within the historic Warehouse District in Minneapolis, MN.

 

This material studio focus was learning how to use different material characteristics to shape the form and space of a building. The initial process involved doing spatial examinations with wood boxes which then transferred into using concrete boxes; and thinking about them as occupiable spaces for a ceramics showroom. The ability of the different elements to be modular in nature was also highly encouraged for the project.

 

The next step of the project, involved using steel trusses as a way to create a factory space for making the ceramics. The rhythm of truss spacing and cladding was also highly encouraged in order to utilize the characteristics of trusses. Likewise, the opacity of the walls influences visibility both into and out of the space while providing quality natural light simultaneously.  Lastly, I combined the different elements and integrated the modular concrete elements into the truss portion of the project to create a single integrated design solution.