Sculpting The Void: Thresholds in Between Sculpting the void: This means considering the spatial networks that connect the buildings, thinking in terms of relationships not just objects. Architecture can become the ‘background’, a stage where diverse groups can become the ‘foreground’ and create their own meanings.

Threshold: a point of entry or beginning; the point at which a stimulus is of sufficient intensity to begin to produce an effect.

Concept: Our concept is about merging the two buildings to create a juxtaposition of thresholds so that they house a mix of public, communal and private functions. Our understanding of the brief calls for a continuous relationship between the various dedicated spaces of the foundation, to welcome external events and exhibitions, create communal spaces for the residents and visitors, provide private and shared spaces for the residents and accommodate administration facilities.

Our design will deliver the new Delfina Foundation within budget and compliant with code regulations, accessibility and planning within this conservation area.

We will keep the shared wall (party wall) between the two houses as an internal façade with a series of openings as thresholds of spaces ‘in between’ – across, below/above, private/public - and bring the light in laterally and from above.

First FloorGround Floor

Lower Floor

East - West Longitudinal Section, Showing the In-between Wall

Public EntranceThresholdsSculpting The VoidParty Wall

SCULPTING THE VOID THRESHOLDS IN BETWEEN

Collaboration:We are collaborating with Pascal Hachem, conceptual artist and interior architect from Beirut (Lebanon), to realize the thresholds. Pivot doors in the shared wall will rotate to close off the private spaces on one side and open up the public spaces on the other. Thus the interaction between public and private is made at once theatrical and subtle: the art is the mediator, creating a play of moving doors that open up a variety of spaces and uses.

RoofThird FloorSecond Floor

Gallery / Project Space Space In-between Communal Residents Area

Public Communal Private

Floorplates:The Floorplates are informed by the idea of flexibility and multi-functionality, as defined in the brief. Although in both the ground and lower ground levels the functionality requires a division between public and private areas, the project always fosters the visual relationships between them through the conceptual wall and its thresholds.

On the other hand, on the private floors (2nd and 3rd floors), we propose a natural and simple flexible division between the several bedrooms (6-8) and studios (2-4) by utilizing movable plasterboard walls. By doing so, the building is flexible enough to host a variety of residents and their requirements.

We are also proposing to provide a ‘Black Box’ space on half of the outdoor terrace at the back of the house, by creating a double height space. This is for artists to use with no constraints: a large volume to allow for three dimensional installations and performance. A party wall agreement would have to be made with the neighbouring properties, should this idea be carried through.

The roof is made accessible for residents only, with a small enclosed ‘tea room’ that has operable windows around the enclosure shed. We cannot make provision for general public access to the tea room because of structural load, fire exit strategy, planning consent in the conservation area and neighbours.

1m0 2m 5min collaboration with Pascal Hachem

Threshold Types