Above 10

Undergraduate Architecture Design Studio IV

Fall 2019 - Arch Critic: Kae Donahue - Design Partner: Brian Hirsch

We all know the statistic…

On average, people spend 90% of their lives inside buildings. Above 10 is a conceptual design challenge to create residences that promote a lifestyle with a greater percentage of time spent outside.

An early exploration of species that inhabit the site led to an in-depth study of the bluejay. The result was a conceptual narrative depicting the bluejay as a symbol of humans’ desire to be free from the burdens of our reality. The most exciting fruit of this psychologically curious approach was the understanding that most of the burdens we carry aren’t absolutely necessary. The fewer things you are responsible for, the lighter your burden. Put simply, minimalism.

The development was designed to emphasize a central hub that would provide public transportation to many popular local outdoor areas. If the objective is to get people outside as much as possible, it will need to be as convenient as possible for them to do so.

Today, our unit design concept would most closely be described as “micro-housing”. The Above 10 design challenge and bluejay research came together to create an unconventional home experience. The units only provide shelter from the elements, a place to rest, and a place to store food. This is consistent with the lifestyle of a bluejay, an animal that spends most of its time away from home. For human compatibility, we included bathing as a necessary function of the home. The design provides so little at home that the tenants must leave their residence for the rest of their wants and needs.