​P2 | MICRO HOME OFFICE STUDIO

3 weeks

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

You have started your own design practice and need a home office studio on your property that will allow you to effectively work from home, yet still maintain some separation of home and work.

This design type fits into the codex of pied-à-terre or accessory dwelling unit (ADU), and will be an intimate show piece to your clients of your distinctive design language, and signature ability.

Due to your property site, there are a few constraints:

• Modern design, or design inspired by specific important contemporary designer. Present for Instructor's approval to proceed
• Site is a petite property in a dense neighborhood of Santa Monica/Redondo Beach-ish area with a modest amount of outdoor space.
  No ocean or mountain views, just neighbors
• Single pitched roof, referred to as a Lean-to style, high wall on N side, low wall on S wall
• High ceiling will help the small space feel much larger, and you may be able to incorporate overhead storage, hang a commuter bike, etc.
• Lots of light-windows, yet wall space will be needed for both an extensive library collection, and for pinup of ideas
• 8'-3" x 10'-6" footprint
• Views to garden (16' w x 50'L) from N wall
• Views to main house and a paved outdoor patio (20' w x 50'L) extending from the W wall
• S and E walls should be solid, possible clerestory windows
• Include solar power using Tesla's roofing tiles and battery storage system
• Consider if a micro-half bath can be included

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PROCESS / METHODOLOGY

1. IDEATION

Do research. Find out what already exists in this design space. Although the building type is small, it can still be expressive and thoughtfully detailed.

Print out images and paste them into your ideation sketches.

Your design may be a pre-fab or on-site construction. If pre-fab, be sure to include which company you're planning to work with. Consider any highwayr/roadway height restrictions during transport.

2. RAPID VISUALIZATION SKETCHES

At least 30 ideation sketches which include interior/exterior perspective views, detail studies, plan studies, elevation studies, parti studies, etc.

3. MODEL

Model your design using SketchUp (or 3D modeling software alternate you're more comfortable with, such as StudioMax).

4. RENDERINGS

Use your model as a base/underlay drawing and then render with marker, ink, pencils. Stay loose.

or

For more photo-realistic rendering use Podium (in labs free), V-Ray, or Enscape (in lab free) or a rendering plug-in of your preference.

NOTE: The rendering tool DOES NOT make the design.

Use Photoshop for additional refinement, touch-up of sketches for presentation.

We may consider utilizing Adobe Illustrator for rendering elevations/plan.
This is a good, small project in which to introduce Illustrator.

5. PRESENTATION

Use InDesign to organize your design into a complete presentation "deck" on 11”x17” (US Tabloid) paper to present your design vision:

​DELIVERABLES

• Concept from initial sketches
• Include materials and furnishings images which support your renderings
• 2 Perspective views (min), fully rendered
• 2 Exterior Elevations (min), rendered
• 2 Interior Section-Elevations, rendered—1-longitudinal, 1-cross section
• Floor plan, rendered, with site analysis conditions/relationships
• Include annotations, captions, titles, headings accordingly
• Model. 1" = 1'-0" Foamcore (or similar) physical model, with neighbor walls, and some garden-patio inclusion, with materials applied (use papers, etc. to replicate material library. Removable roof
• A total of 400 words—may include narrative description, captions, headings, annotations, etc.

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REFERENCES AND INSPIRATION

Video Tutorial: Creating a Small House in SketchUp

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EXAMPLES

TUTORIALS & HOW-TO GUIDES