In the 21st century, timber have been gaining more attention by architects due to its sustainability, quality and the vast spatial potential that it can provide. In my final year of architecture degree, I had a chance to experiment with timber as I was designated in materiality group in the Advanced Practice atelier. I have always been fascinated by timber structures, especially waffle system, cage structure and other construction which use performative patterns to create a quality in a space.
‘The Waffle Pavilion’ is my first project in studio 3.1, in which I used a direct approach on how to apply waffle system on a structure. In the beginning, I experimented some patterns of timber structures through the use of physical and digital models, and how it forms patterns . From these tests, I found out the potential to create a cantilevered timber structure which forms patterns under or inside it when light shines through it. I decided to use this opportunity to design a waffle structure which imitates the feeling of being inside a forest, surrounded by large trees.
‘The Coppice Hotel’ is a 30-storey hotel that I designed for studio 3.2 project. At the start of the project, I further experimented the possibility of timber and waffle structure and how it can be applied on larger scale. Through various testings with the help of digital softwares, I discovered multiple ways to utilise the waffle system and the use of patterns to create unique interior spaces. The hotel is also named after the the ‘coppicing’ process, as the structure imitates the shape of a large tree trunks which are cut back to stimulate growth. The structure symbolises the need of nature and plants, as the building stands in the middle of contemporary buildings.
