PAM talk_Between Definite & Infinite
Charlie Sutherland a London architect, studied Architecture at Mackintosh School in Glasgow. He established Sutherland Hussey Architects with his long term colleague in 1997. He is one of the five international participants in “Archiprix”, an internatinoal student workshop. Charlie currently an external examiner at Greenwich and Newcastle Universities. In 2011, He was elected as a fellow to the Royal Scottish Academy for Art and Architecture. He famous with Small scaled building and also large scaled building.
During the public lecture by PAM, Charlie mostly talk about the projects that he has done. He claimed that there is always reason and meaning behind every design, which is relate back to either site context or human behavior. Besides, He believes that the relationship between academic and practice are both inseparable which has been both evolving. This can be explain by the following case studies that present by Charlie.
AN TURAS
“It is both a building and also an art work, a landmark and a symbol.”
A structure that located for the island of Tiree. With the consideration the weather of the site, the structure itself located near to the pier and act as a ‘”Shelter” whilst waiting for the ferry. He tried to implant some qualities of the island and reflect back to the structure.
As shown, the big sky and horizon, the white beaches, the monochromatic black houses dotted over the land, all distilled as a line in the landscape. As we know that he appreciate the site context, he constructed the structure follows the contour and also he apply the materials from the site which is whitewash walls, the relationship of wall to groundscape, and the black-felt roof of the bridge.
The structure has 3 parts spatial experienced,
The White Walls: open to the sky but sheltered from the wind. ( experience the different sky condition as the building “ceiling”)
The Bridge: Protected from the weather, closed to the sky and the horizon but open to the rock and sand of the beach below. (The building is complete)
The Glass Box: a complete panorama, looking out along Gott Bay and beyond. (no limitation between users and surrounding.)
In my own words, by the study the site analysis, Charlie has successfully provide the structure with different feeling and diverse vision pleasure for the users by provide infinity view and also the connection to the sky.
THE LOVE SHACK - ARTIST HOUSE
The house is designed for the owner which is an artist and film-maker and director of Grizedale Arts. The building sits over three levels on a steep slope. In order to deal with the slope, the accommodation is split into two levels which it provide a compact retreat for two people.
As shown, Charlie integrated the building with site context and also apply the materials which are amiability with the surrounding woodland.
Another case study is LA BEACH HOUSE.
Located at the sea front in the narrow lanes of Venice Beach. The house is organized with a full height courtyard void over a pool, which it allows light to penetrating into the plan inside. He emphasize the intersection in between user and site by apply the timber screen which can is operable for users to enjoy the view of beach and also penetrate the wind into the building. From the analysis, He design some carved out and replace with open area or glass, because of he think the building scale is too large for the site.
In conclusion, Charlie tells us that every building have a soul. It is depending on the site background which is not create by human, the only thing he can do is transfer the design idea into a reality building form. The projects that he have done are all diverse and unique, which all the result of the project are strongly maintain back the initial design idea and also the site context. He has teach us the important of the building integrate with the site context.
