studio [in]complete
university of michigan
Proposition Studio, Fall 2015
instructor: John McMorrough
Studio [IN] Complete takes on Richard Wagner’s idea of the “total work of art” (Gesamtkunstwerk). The project’s ambition is to shift the emphasis of architecture from a singular building to encompass a framework of “total design” at a variety of scales, including landscape, furnishings and ornamentation.
In addition, a brief opera of the work is filmed as a culmination of Wagner’s Gesamtkunstwerk. Loosely based on Adolf Loos’ short story, “The Poor Little Rich Man”, the opera functions as a mediating practice of design within the logic of completeness and incompleteness; in the space between real and fake, multiplicity and singularity, control and happenstance. The extended field of production in the studio includes: diagrams , drawings, models, images, furniture, scripts and videos, starting and culminating in the design of a “Dream House”
The [sub]Urban Dream
The design of the house started as an entry to the “Design a Beautiful House” competition. Given an opulent site and ambiguous quotes, entrants are encouraged to use their creativity to interpret new domestic programs. The house, entitled “The [sub]Urban Dream” brings the ideology and typology of urbanism into a suburban home.
The exterior is comprised of a row house typology. An alleyway and green spaces are added to promote density and walkability. Bringing this type of urbanity to the opulent, pastoral life style, home owners are able to enjoy both the tranquility of a rustic getaway and the beauty of the city scape Social rooms and bedrooms are arranged to take full advantage of the great backyard view, while double height ceilings are implemented in the social rooms. A separate guest house is also added to ensure privacy for both the guests and home owners.