Fall 2013, UC Berkeley | Instructor: Raveevarn Choksombatchai

This project called for a cinematheque and an artist's residence with working studio in Point Bonita, San Francisco. ADA accessibility is a major drive for the project.

The idea of Self-Similarity, an aspect of fractal methodology, is applied to the design, aiming to create a smooth transition between spaces while evoking an explicit spatial understanding regarding the relationship between public and private programs.

Human intervention on the site is analyzed with a formal grid. The intensity of grid disruption represents level of human traffic. Distributions of programs are based on the pattern of stronger to weaker human disruption of the site. Public programs are closer to the existing path while more private ones are further away. The building starts from the path, deviation from this path is the first separation between the public and the more private zones. With self-similar repetition as the base, each subdivision, or deviation from the main path indicates a deeper level of privacy.

In order to distribute the require programs, the programs are first analyzed based on their required square footage, they are then sliced and split according to their functions in terms of public or private uses.

Even without vertical walls, the indication of change in both of programs and degree of privacy is explicit through the branching out of circulation path and self-similar spaces for different programs. Each deviation from the main path leads to a different and more private program.

Other than being distributed horizontally, the programs are also placed at different elevations to emphasize on the idea of subdivision and transition of privacy. Paths going downward are progressions of privacy.