2021
Shortlisted: Home for the Blind Competition, Bee Breeders
Touch House explores the roles of humans’ sense of touch in architecture on a residential scale. The semi-detached house is located in Old Oakland, a historic district in downtown Oakland, California. The unique historical background of the district has styled the blocks with Italianate architecture and brick pavers. The pavement is laid in the basketweave pattern which differentiates its texture from that of the standard concrete pavement adopted in the rest of the city. Being largely inspired by the tactile quality of the site, The project utilizes textures as part of the mechanism to inform the occupant of locations, orientations, and transitions, transforming the idea of home into a series of recognizable textures.
Entering the house on the ground floor, the inhabitant descends into the underground level with a slope that encircles a garden. The garden enriches the movement with its textures, scents, and sounds. Curved edges gently guide the inhabitant to transfer between the more public and more private spaces. While the subterranean condition helps avoid glare and noises, the clerestories bring sufficient daylight into the interior space. The height of the opening is set to make sure that the indoor activities would not be seen from the street level. The interior walls are not touching the ceiling so that in the bedroom one can still hear the events happening in the living room and the kitchen. Sliding doors are chosen over swinging doors to minimize unexpected obstacles.
Transition Clues
Changes in railings’ texture serve as reminders of upcoming transitions such as the end of the staircase, the beginning of the slope, or the intersection with a doorway. Sometimes, these hints are accompanied by vertical light hints.
See with the Feet
Different spaces are finished with floorings distinct from one another in texture to notify the inhabitant of where they are. The grooves on multiple materials running in the same direction inform the person of the orientation.
All on One Line
The west-facing wall is turned into a linear storage system that can be customized to cater to the inhabitant’s needs. The design is to allow the inhabitant to easily locate the items they are looking for by moving along the wall.
Secluded Garden
The garden sits at the bottom of the slope, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the street. It is a place to let go of the guidance and simply enjoy the pleasure and tranquility given by the plants, soil, and sunlight.
Not Just Sight
Conversations in architecture are commonly dominated by topics related to visual qualities; we talk about what we see in a project, but we seldom discuss the experiences in terms of other senses such as sound, smell, and touch. What if a design is not to be seen but felt? What would it be like and how can it be represented? Intrigued by these questions, the project became not only to accommodate a blind individual’s needs but also to seek architectural and representational experiences that are not visually oriented. Touch Model was created in an early stage of the design to test out the concept and to develop a tactile representation of plans and sections.
