Entropy Residences
PennDesign | Arch 601 | Hina Jamelle | Fall 2014
The entropy residences located in Tribeca, New York, take two distinct programs of residential and gallery spaces to create an interesting duality in program. This is directly reflected in the exterior facade of the building as it gradients from a truly regular facade to a completely unwound and explosive facade.
The study of crystals was introduced at the very beginning of the creation of this project for its trend of systematizing architecture into a series cause and effect relationships. The programmatic relationship of the building is seen directly in the facade treatment as gallery spaces become more and more reserved and hidden, the residental become more and more expressive and apparent.
Architecturally, the building’s interior spaces also move along in a gradient way as they expand and grow. The interior gallery spaces begin to pull back and create more interior space while facade length begins to lessen and tighten. Can the architecture begin to express more motion and dynamism, looking to always remain in motion and ever changing? The comprehensive studio assignment asks for a building that is expressive, forward thinking and yet rational so the battle between subversion and explosion begin to create an entropic relationship.
As a technique in design, the ideas of unit, aggregation, and whole are expressed as individual systems using the same rules. The entropic overpowering of the building’s facade comes directly from each element and is expressed as a series of clear rulesets and exponential multiplications.
The interrelationship or aggregation show on the left is the defining factor in the buildings tectonic build-up. From a single glazed plane to a completely refracted and bifurcated object, the building’s relationships are found as similar to the ice crystal. An organic and ever changing system that is frozen into an architectural expression.
The tilt of the facade's glazing also shows a minor relationship of the interior spaces. The glazing angled downward is created because of the more public programming of the space, eg: living spaces or kitchens, while the upward tilted facade is more private spaces, eg: bedrooms.
