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Virginia Tech

"Cellules": Social Structuring at Casa Maderni

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

How can architecture encourage and intensify a limited period of life? I examine this by composing an austere cell for living, focused on the interaction of materials, natural light, and human movement through specific distinct sequences. Casa Maderni in Riva San Vitale Switzerland serves as the starting point to receive the concequences of my design with: a new dining room, library, renovation of existing structures, but primarily a new living wing created at the rear of the property. I focus on the juxtaposition between the introverted private realm of the living cell and the public realm of the dining room. A series of spatial sequences through new and existing building parts is conceived as material manipulations to mediate connections at different scales, combined with the light and color to emphasize important architectural moments in sequence. This sequence of architectural momentss of public and private are choreographed at a larger scale in a master plan. Although silently assumed here, the role of architecture as a pedagogical tool can ultimately only be gauged through reality and human reaction. The architecture of Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Carlos Scarpa assisted greatly through precedence in my architectural descisions.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Architecture
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Architecture
Department dc:contributor.department
Architecture
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2004

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Werner, Nathan Paul
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Schnoedt, Heinrich
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Gubler, Jacques
  • Daniel, Ronald W.
  • Galloway, William U.

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-12032004-105509
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35925

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Werner, Nathan Paul. "Cellules": Social Structuring at Casa Maderni. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35925