Tectonic Assembly Study | Materials & Methods | Fall 2023
This project reconstructs a sectional fragment of The Dune House by Archispektras, a coastal vacation residence situated along the Baltic Sea. The model analyzes the relationship between dune-like topography, structure, and enclosure through a layered physical assembly. The building’s tectonic systems—ground, foundation, armature, and enclosure—were translated into a crafted ½" = 1'-0" sectional model over the course of the semester.
Each material was carefully selected to represent real architectural systems at model scale: chipboard for topography, laminated wood for structural ribs, fiber and cork for insulation, and acrylic for glazing. The final cut section highlights how natural materials—such as thatch and timber—create a lightweight envelope over a strong, rhythmic wood armature anchored to the ground. This sectional model reinterprets The Dune House by Archispektras through a layered exploration of its material, structural, and environmental systems. Developed over five phases—Research, Mock-up, Ground/Foundation, Armature, and Enclosure—the project translates tectonic relationships into a crafted physical model at ½" = 1'-0" scale.
“To cut through architecture is to understand it.”
The final model integrates all four tectonic layers into a unified sectional assembly. A faceted laminated timber frame supports a thatched roof profile and translucent openings. Below, the foundation system embeds into stacked chipboard dunes, simulating coastal interaction. Interior cladding and insulation layers express the project’s thermal strategy and material atmosphere. Cut-through of the Dune House reveals its laminated timber ribs, layered thatched roofing, warm interior cladding, and dune-integrated foundations. The model captures the building’s response to site conditions and the interplay between ground, structure, and enclosure.
Scale: ½" = 1'-0"
Case Study: The Dune House, Archispektras
Materials: Wood, chipboard, cork, fiber insulation, acrylic
Focus:
—— Ground and foundation relation to topography
— Laminated timber structural ribs
— Thatched roof and timber cladding
— Enclosure with insulation layers and light control
— Joinery, layering, and material transitions
The semester-long construction process was divided into five phases:
- Research & Documentation
A visual essay gathered tectonic, spatial, and climatic data from sources including ArchDaily, Living Architecture, and Manual of Biogenic House Sections. Architectural drawings were scaled and annotated to identify section cuts. - Mock-Up & Massing Models
Early mock-ups tested the geometry of the section cut using chipboard and foamcore. A small massing model helped to understand the overall form. - Ground & Foundation
Layered chipboard was used to express the shifting dune landscape and embed the structural base. - Armature
The laminated timber structure was modeled in wood to replicate the glulam ribs used in the real building. - Enclosure
Fiber insulation and pale cladding represented the layered roof build-up, while acrylic sheets acted as translucent facade openings. The interior space was designed to reflect the building’s warm, minimal atmosphere.