CASE STUDY I – MESA TABLE
PROGRAM: Mesa Table for Vitra
MATERIALS: Polyurethane base, Fiberglass top, Metallic paint finish
The Mesa table has evolved from an architectural experiment by Zaha Hadid which was to do with creating connections. The ideology goes back to the basic components of ground, structure, surface and creating a world with extruded connections between these two horizontal planes. These connections become the structure of the table. The outcome is a ski-fi like structure where the voids express the form as much as the solids. This sculptural creation appears elastic stretching out to form the supporting base of the table. It is an amorphous, fluid, flowing, delicate and at the same time tenacious base structure. While the top of the table is composed of four separate triangulated components, they are ably connected with the polyurethane ‘tentacles’ to form an organic composition. The chosen materials successfully achieve in the realisation of the envisaged flowing form and concept. (Source for images & reference of text: http://www.design-art-book.com/2008/05/table-mesa-vitra-de-zaha-hadid.html, http://www.zaha-hadid.com/furniture-product-design/mesa )
CASE STUDY II – VILLA IN KITASAKU, NAGANO, JAPAN
ARCHITECTS: Kotaro Ide / ARTechnic architects
PROGRAM: Villa
MATERIAL: Concrete shell structure
The villa consists of a large shell shaped structure positioned in the middle of the woods. The shell enclosure forms the roof, floor and external wall of the house. Stemming from a desire to design a place that would be in sync with nature, the architects envisioned a large shell structure floating above ground. The use of concrete and lifting of the structure has effectively aided in dealing with the humidity in the area. The entire structure is composed of a two dimensional curved surface wherein the larger mass opens up higher along the convergence of the two masses. The J shaped structure consists of different size oval cylindrical masses cut with curves in the central portion of the structure. The straight part of J, a smaller mass is connected to the curved part of J, a larger mass. The concrete shell thickens and its width increases towards the side of the building to take care of the structural requirements. The floor is raised above the ground, with the lower half of the shell structure protruding greatly towards the outside, supporting the terrace at the same height. The curved shells have minimal openings consisting of two circular skylight punctures at the top to allow the flow of natural light, thus maintaining and emphasising the solidity of this main structural element. (Source for text and images: http://www.archdaily.com/11602/shell-artechnic-architects/ )
