Sited on the eastern shoreline, the hostel explores the concept of reflection both as an emotional response to the site as well as a design element. The form is defined by a folding wall stretched around cantilevered floors, reaching the top of the truss and wrapping around the pylon. The wall directs light through the hostel and onto the observation decks below, which hover just above the river. Situated at the edge of the riparian buffer, fluctuating tides allow the lower decks of the hostel to serve as direct access points to the Chouteau Island nature trail during the low-tide season, typically in winter and early spring, and occasionally during the summer and fall. Shadow projections and a solar analysis of the site informed the position of the observation decks, so that at particular times throughout the day, viewers are immersed in the reflection of caustic networks.
W A T E R D E V I C E
Fascinated by the ephemeral patterns formed by caustic reflections, I began the design process by building a device to capture them. A wooden box with a vertical sliding door and built-in shelf acts as both a projector, when the door is open, and a camera obscura, when closed. The shelf supports a watertight plexiglass basin lined with mirrors, and stirring the water triggers the caustic effect. Similar to the process of exposing a negative, the device is placed under an enlarger inside of the darkroom, and photo paper is slipped inside.
Caustic Mapping
Through experimentation with various elements of the developing process, each print revealed a unique composition, successfully documenting the reflections of a particular moment in time. Nine repeating geometries were identified and mapped across each print. Throughout the subsequent design process, these maps inspired form as well as how light interacts with each space.
D W E L L I N G
a place for one
The 300 square foot dwelling is a further exploration of the caustic geometry found in the projections, prints, and maps, focusing on the ways in which light can be manipulated and distorted by forms, and creating a captivating effect in a space that is both efficient and livable.
