Critique Paper on

Existing Wood
Structures

Submitted to: Engr. Larry Rocela

Submitted by: Alexie Marinela N. Ramos
BS Arch 5-1
Semi-Permanent Wood Nest Balances Unaided in
Czech Republic Treetop
Over the course of two days,
architect Jan Tyrpekl created
The Nest, an experimental
structure built without any
investors, sponsors, assignment,
or project documentation
in Strančice, in the Czech
Republic. Made of about $120
USD worth of Osier Willow
wood, The Nest perches in a
park in the designer’s
hometown, interlaced
between tree branches, so as not to damage or affect the tree.

The project began as a sphere

of a diameter of three meters,
but evolved into an organic
shape to adapt to the specific
tree’s structure. No joints,
ropes, tapes, or nails were
used to support the 80-
kilogram creation.

The Nest is currently used as a

play structure for local
children, and can bear a
loading capacity of 250 kilograms, or roughly three adults.
Over time, the project will
deteriorate into biological
waste, leaving the tree around it
unchanged.

Critique:

As you can see in the picture the

wood nest is quite not very
presentable outside. It is also
quite hard to enter and to exit in
the structure. The movement of
those who would enter here is
limit because so much
movement could cause
deformation or breakage of the
structure. This structure is also
weak against rain and wind due
to its material.
Pop up Box: A Customizable Retail Space in Germany
DITTEL | ARCHITEKTEN GmbH has created Pop up Box, a convertible retail
space located in a shopping center in Stuttgart, Germany. With its cube
design, the Box serves as a self-contained, customizable presentation area,
where retailers can move three of the four pieces to create his or her own sales
space.

Moving these pieces allows the Pop up Box to range from about 20 to 30
square meters when open, and nine square meters when completely closed.

The materials of
the Box itself blend
with the outer
surroundings, while
still taking on their
own professional
look— walnut
finishes, natural
stone tiles, bright
concrete, and
black plating work together to provide a cohesive background for displayed
products.
Critique:

This structure is convenient for sellers but it cause several problems for those
who would use it, first of all it takes time to arrange, second the safety of the
customers and the sellers is questionable because it’s so open, third the security
in this structure is weak to because of its form, fourth if this structure would be
used in a open space the weather condition outside would have an effect on
the wood while if it is placed inside a mall or convention center the air
condition would also have an effect on the wood because the moisture
content of the wood could rise if there’s too much exposure.

Nikolay Polissky Unveils His Latest Wood Installation in

Russia
Russian artist Nikolay Polissky has
completed yet another of his
impressive, handcrafted
installations. Located in Zvizzhi
Village, in the Ugra National Park
in Russia, Polissky’s newest
creation—called SELPO, which
stands for The Rural Consumer
Association, in Russian—wraps
around an abandoned soviet
building, which used to house
the village shop.
The project utilizes off-cut
materials from Polissky’s previous
work, which has ranged “from
temporary pieces of landscape
proportions, collectively created
[…] to public art works in city
parks or sculpture parks […] in
Europe and in Russia, as well as
museum installations.”
 Over the past 20 years, Polissky has worked in
the nearby village of Nikola-Lenivets, creating
what he considers, “a technology for the
cultural resuscitation of the village”—by
involving locals in his building processes, Polissky
has helped to transform the community by
reducing unemployment.

Polissky has additionally helped to

launch the Nikola-Lenivets Park’s
artists’ community, which has brought in architecture festivals like
the Archstoyanie, and the biennial New Media Night festival for digital arts.
Critique:

Critique:

The formations of wood

blocks are beautiful but it
is also dangerous
especially if natural
calamities would occur for
example an earthquake.
There are chances the
some wood blocks would
fall off if the installation is
not well made. The
structure is also weak
against rain because it has holes or openings.
Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum / Kengo Kuma &
Associates
From the
architect. This is a
plan to link two
public buildings with
a bridge-typed
facility, which had
been long
separated by the
road in between.
The museum
technically bridges
communications in
this area. It functions
not only as a passage between the two facilities but also as an
accommodation and workshop, ideal location for artist-in-residence programs.
In this project, we challenged a structural system which composes of small
parts, referring to cantilever structure often employed in traditional architecture
in Japan and China. It is a great example of sustainable design, as you can
achieve a big cantilever even without large-sized materials.

Critique:
The Wood Bridge is made up of wood so the weight capacity that the bridge
can handle would be minimal compare to steel because wood is weaker than
steel specially in carrying loads. The weather condition can also affect the
wood that could cause some deformation or fracture.
Wood Studio House / Dom Arquitectura

Sustainable Concepts
- Orientation and compactness

The orientation and position of the

house/studio have been studied in
order to take the greatest advantage
of the site’s available resources and
climatic conditions, reducing its
environmental impact, energetic
consumption and improving its interior
comfort. The house has a rectangular
plan. Its longer side is oriented south,
and has the biggest openings to
capture radiation during winter
months while protected from the sun
during summer.

The other 3 elevations are rather

opaque, with few openings on the northern façade, which will create natural
cross ventilation during summer. The
compact rectangular volume is only
perforated at the terrace and porch,
which allow for those two spaces to
be covered and protected by the
roof overhang. The compactness
contributes to the energy reduction
demands.
- Sun protection and natural cross ventilation:

The south elevation possesses the biggest and best-protected openings against
summer sunrays. The studio opening is protected by 2mts of roof overhang that
prevent direct radiation during the hottest season. The big opening at the living
room is designed in line with the outer wall; therefore, a 1mt deep sunshade
overhang designed in wood is placed above it, to protect it from direct sunlight
during summer. The overhangs’ design and placement, allow the winter
sunrays to enter the interior spaces helping the heating of the same.

Critique:
This structure’s biggest problem would be termites that could damage this
structure, because it is located on a forest there is a big chance that termites
would eat up the wood if it is not well maintained by the owner.