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THE HOME DEPOT HERMITAGE – 2020

This project was an exploration of the sacred vs mundane dichotomy. I began by exploring aluminum, a material that is not considered precious today, but was once worth more than gold. I attempted to bring it back to its former glory in a conceptual artifact.

I thereafter explored how a similar transformation of something mundane could be achieved through architecture. I proposed a hermitage for a hermit in a mundane site next to a Home Depot store. By distorting and abstracting elements of this site such as Home Depot signs, this dwelling creates a unique, contemplative residence for a monk in a mundane context. The project ultimately questions how architecture affects the ways we find value in a place.

The artifact was constructed by separating pure aluminum from aluminum scrap in a process of heating at 660.3 °C.
Front and Side elevations of the aluminum artifact (with a black, steel stand).
Projected image onto the aluminum artifact. The mundane site of the residence suddenly became mysterious and beautiful when abstracted by the artifact.
I developed a series of windows that would distort and draw attention to the site’s commercial signage – effectively altering the their meaning.
These windows were oriented to distort and draw attention to specific elements of the site – transforming these everyday elements into mysterious, transcendental focal points within the residence.
The orientation of the windows determined the spatial layout of the dwelling
Full section of the residence.
Plan of the ground level, where outsiders can stand and look out onto the creek.
Plan of the main level containing the hermit’s bedroom and dayroom.
Plan of the top level, where the hermit does his work.
Section detail of a window
A 3/4″=1′ scaled model of a window
Looking through the window model at a sign

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