Six Steps to a House
Architect Peter Eisenman designed House VI as an exploration and deconstruction of the grid. After the construction of this experimental house, he created a series of drawings that explain the evolution of the design.
Step I: Imitation
My own exploratory deconstruction of an archetypal form (the monopoly house) began by first replicating Eisenman's original drawings in a digital format, using AutoCAD and Illustrator.
Step II: Innovation
The CAD drawings were then used to create a 3D model in Rhino, which focused on the edge condition of Eisenman's forms. Axonometric views of the 3D models were exported to Illustrator to maintain the visual style of the original drawings.
To further understand the physical qualities of these diagrams, wire models of one diagram from each set were built. (Piano wire and copper.)
Step III: Improvisation
Taxonomy
Step IV: Animation
The edge line of the archetypal monopoly house is moved and warped through time and space. Using animation software, the path of the line is recorded as a trace, creating the form.
Step V: Perforation
Step VI: Rationalization
Just as Eisenman created post-construction diagrammatic explanations of his House VI exploration, these drawings were created after the house design was finalized, as a post hoc rationalization of the evolution of the design.
