The Living Wall project began with a solid block volume of 6’x6’x8’. We were asked to design and fabricate a structure that shelters users with a basic and minimal dwelling unit. Inside it needs to only accommodate sleeping areas, an entrance as well as circulation throughout the structure. We had to develop strategies for shared walls with neighboring units. Individual units must be adjacent to one another and share boundaries. Each unit needed a parti-wall with adjoining structures, where unique structural and programmatic interlocking situations begin to evolve. We had to accomplish all programs while using a maximum of two shifts, transforming the volume while always registering the implication of the original volume.

 

The form of Eileen is a direct result of the ergonomics of the three basic positions of the human body: the body at rest, the body reclined, and the body standing up. Each position requires a different space, and the shifts made in the massing model creates a separate defined space for each. The spaces for sleep are on the bottom floor along the sides, while the path for circulation runs through the center of the structure. The lounging area is elevated with an open back to enjoy the outdoor views.