This design phase builds on research, personal experience, and insights gathered during
our field trip to Bangladesh. Especially the homestay in Ekduaria gave me a deep understanding of how people in rural Bangladesh live, how they use space, value community, and adapt their homes to daily needs. These experiences shaped the foundation of the project. The research focused on finding affordable, adaptable, and community-oriented housing for rural-urban migrants in Sylhet. What became clear is that affordability is the top priority, but just as important are familiar qualities like green space, open low-rise layouts, a strong sense of community, and a clear transition from public to private spaces. To respond to these needs, I chose to work with the Open Building approach. This method allows for flexible, long-term housing solutions where residents can adapt their living spaces over time. A clear structure provides stability, while the interiors remain open for change. A minimum floor height of 3.5 meters, smart placement of service cores, and layered construction all support this flexibility. Smaller studies on climate, material choice, and construction techniques helped refine the design. Local materials, passive cooling, and rainwater collection are integrated to make the project more sustainable and context-specific. This project is not a fixed solution, but a flexible framework designed to grow and change with its users. It offers a future-proof way of living that connects the memory of the village with the possibilities of the city, and aims to reduce the affordable housing shortage in Sylhet in a way that feels both practical and personal. ... Read more

This thesis focuses on villa E-1027 by Eileen Gray. To be more precise, this thesis will research the design philosophy of Eileen Gray, Villa E-1027 and the development of the modern European Movement. Therefore the main research question that will be answered is how has Eileen Gray's design philosophy shaped Villa E-1027, and what is the contribution of the villa to the development of the modern European movement? This thesis, following the introduction, is divided into 3 chapters based on literature review

Gray viewed Villa E-1027 as a prototype, a model for other architects to build upon and refine her ideas (Goff, 2015). In doing so, she designed a villa that made significant contributions to the development of the modern movement. For example, Gray achieved a remarkable cohesion between furniture, interior, and exterior, a concept later echoed in Villa Tugendhat. Moreover, as previously noted, Gray blurred the barrier between interior and exterior spaces, expanding the unity of the building to include the garden and terraces (Pitiot & Stritzler-Levine, 2020). This architectural innovation can also be observed in later works such as Villa Savoye, Villa Tugendhat, and the Homewood House. Consequently, it is evident that Gray not only furthered the ideas and designs of her contemporaries but also influenced subsequent architectural developments with her innovations implemented in Villa E-1027. In conclusion, Villa E-1027 played a role in the development of the modern European movement by exemplifying how to achieve coherence between furniture, interior, and exterior spaces.

Unfortunately, pinpointing the exact origin of certain architectural solutions or design principles is challenging. It is also difficult to establish who influenced whom and how those influences manifested in the buildings. However, it is evident that modern architects learned from one another, although they often held different perspectives, leading them to approach certain aspects in diverse ways.
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