The Raum Plan, originated by Adolf Loos, is an architectural planning strategy that relies on height differences to implied spatial boundaries. Loos's tactic leads to "fast circulation" between full stories as well as "slow circulation" through the varied floor heights within each story. Studying Loos's tactic, students were asked to design a single-family house on a sloped site.
West Elevation: provides a glimpse into the undulating floor levels
Inhabitants enter through the highest platform on the second floor and have the option to move downward into the kitchen space or eating area. The kitchen space contains stairs down to a lower level that leads to a public restroom and the set of stairs that serves as fast circulation up to the third floor. An additional point of entry is through said stairs, which come up from the garage and storage space on the first floor.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Floor Plans
The third floor contains two bedrooms, two small bathrooms, and private balcony space. Each bedroom contains windows that look into the double height living room and kitchen below. By placing both bedrooms on the third floor, I created a hierarchy of privacy.
Aerial View: looks into the third floor bedrooms and the living space below
North Elevation: the entrance from the higher point of the slope is pictured
South Elevation: shows the covered parking space on the first floor and the balcony terraces on each floor