Just A Little

Academic | MIT, instructor William O’Brien Jr. 2022


This studio explores the concept of “vessel” for architectural space through an act of subtraction -  removing, carving, excavating, sculpting, etc. - instead of a process of addition. It borrows imagination from noncanonical architectural precedents, such as industrial design and land art to inspire the design of the void. This project is composed with two parts - a “vessel” at the scale of objects, the concept of which is then carried to inform a “vessel” at the scale of subterranean architecture.

Story I.  « Level »


I WAS BORN
A THOUSAND YEARS AGO
I LIVED
AFTER THE DEATH OF A PLUM
GIVE ME TWO ARMS
AND A LITTLE FOOT
GRAVITY
GRAVITY, MY LOVE

WATER, ALCHOLOLL, SPIRIT
BUBBLE BECOMES ME NOW
SO, NICE TO MEET YOU




STANDING ON MY FEET
I WANT TO GET CLOSER
FEEL
MEASURE THE CURVES YOU HAVE








GRAVITY
I USED TO CHASE YOU 
WHENEVER, WHEREVER, HOWEVER 
BUT IT’S TIME FOR ME TO FLY  
AWAY FROM YOUR TIES






FLOATING 
ROTATING 
BALANCING 



 
TRAVELLING
NOT KNOWING WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME
YET ALWAYS REMEMBER WHERE I HAVE BEEN 






Story II.  « Just A Little »



WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GROUND SLITS
 A LITTLE RUPTURE
  WHAT IS UNDERNEATH



HERE WE ARE 
NEXT TO THIS LITTLE CHASM OF THE LAND








SLOWLY DESCENDING INTO THE UNKNOWN
FIND THE SPACE
AGAINST THE GEOLOGICAL MEMORY OF THE LAND





SEEDS FALL AND GROW
CONCRETE STAINS
ANIMALS VISIT AND LEAVE
SEASONS ALTER





WE GET TO TOUCH TIME
AGE
AND THE WRINKLES OF NATURE 





THE SILHOUETTE OF SKY WILL GUIDE YOUR WAY




IT’S RIGHT THERE 
BUT WE COULD ONLY KNOW WHAT’S HIDDEN
ONCE WE BOW DOWN AND TAKE A STEP






© 2022 Daisy Zhang