Design II Spring 2012 - The Prehistoric Door

This slideshow is part of: Selected Undergraduate Design Studio Projects--Design II, Spring 2012

The Prehistoric Door

Tyler Froelich

Man inhabits space, a space that is all one–free, public, accessible space. The first act of architecture is when the man takes an object–one that can be fixed and unfixed–and seals off the space of a cave relative to the space outside of a cave. This is the creation of exterior and interior. With the placement of the door, man decrees, "That is outside, this is my bedroom."

The placement of the door was an act of creation of great magnitude. At that moment, the door began the process of its evolution. The door gave birth to program as it filled its first function: creating two spaces while simultaneously defining the relationship between them–not as same / same or other / other, but as two spaces that relate to each other in a specific regulatory fashion. The door decides who comes and goes, and who will use the space.

Prehistoric man leaves the exterior to retire to his space. His door, created by his hand–a representation of his will and creativity–is the mark of his space. An outsider is physically able to enter, but understands that in doing so, he is entering a claimed, foreign space.

This ability to physically enter the cave changes, however, as the door evolves. At moments along the evolution of the prehistoric door, the door begins to regulate temperature and airflow as man discovers ways to eliminate gaps around the door. The door becomes more sturdy and secure to exclude wild animals, and the invention of a locking mechanism can exclude other human beings. The door is made more aesthetically pleasing to mark the importance of transitioning between the two spaces regulated by the door. The door is made of lightweight materials and the hinge is constantly improved upon in order to increase the ease of using the door. The door eventually anticipates visitors, both welcome and unwelcome, and a knocking etiquette and knocking mechanisms come into existence. At a certain point it becomes important to view the exterior from within the interior, and the door takes on some qualities of a window as peep holes or panes of glass are inserted into it.

 

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  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

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