A House on Saint Croix

There is an undefinable order in the universe. In our solar system, nine planets revolve around one sun. The earths’ orbit around the sun takes 365 days. The moons’ orbit about the earth take 30 days. The earths’ revolution about its own axis takes 24 hours. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. This is how man begins to define his portion of the universe, to distinguish limits. There is much more to explore, learn and explain. As humans we subconsciously desire a harmony and balance around us. Order. It is a physical, tangible presence that we can see, label and understand, which is evident throughout the human existence. We have a need to define, regulate and establish rules, to create order. Order permeates our lives on a daily basis.

This thesis seeks to give order to a structure, a House. It is the study of grids, columns and walls in relation to the structure that it supports. A sixteen square grid is a constant of this project. It is the controlling element that gives rise to the placement of the walls and columns. Walls and columns are placed with in the house according to an order that is defined by the grid. Materials are also used to distinguish boundaries of the grid establishing its influence throughout the house.