LIQUID COLOR

CAITLIN ALEV
REN DAVIDS + RENEE CHOW
LIQUID COLOR is an exploration of
the complex relationship between
color, water, and light. If used in
conjunction, this trio of elements
forms a compound system that has
immense potential for architectural
skin. While the faade has
traditionally been static in its use
of color and material, the buildings
interior functions and surrounding
context have continued to evolve
over time. A flexible system of color
and water would allow architecture
to resituate itself within this variable
environment, transforming the skin
into a dynamic two-way interface.
This thesis explores how an external,
secondary skin system can craft
a new relationship between the
interior and exterior of an existing
building. This system exploits the
material properties of water in order
to create visual effects like reflection,
refraction, diffusion, and distortion.
These effects have a dual purpose:
to bring color and light into the
otherwise dark, monotonous rooms,
and to mediate the disjunction
between the stylized Tudor Revival
library and its vibrant Temescal
community.

TO

WATER

UC BERKELEYS MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE THESIS 2013

the potential of water + color

relationship between color + place

existing temescal building colors

unfolded skin
[existing]

NORTH

READING
ROOM

STAGE

WEST

ELEV.

SOUTH

EAST

READING
ROOM

STAFF OFFICES CHILDRENS READING ROOM ENTRY / VESTIBULE READING ROOM

CORRIDOR

EQUIPMENT ROOMS

BATHROOM

TOOL LENDING LIBRARY

C O M P U T E R L A B

SECONDARY FACADE

JANITOR

BATHROOM

MEETING ROOM STAGE

PRIMARY PUBLIC FACADE

REFLECTION

T R

D I
FILT

DISTOR
VACANT

YARD

RESIDENTIAL

52ND ST

TELEGRAPH AVE

BLUE -

NORTH

WEST

REFLECTION

REFLECTION

REFLECTION

DISTORT
V I E W REFLECTION

SOUTH

REFLECTION

REFLECTION TRANSPARENCY REFLECTION

T R A N S P A R E N C Y
T R A N S P A R E N C Y
D I S T O R T V I E W E N L I V E N S P A C E F I LT E R E D REFLECTION F I L
FILTERED REFLECTION

DISTORT VIEW

BLUE - ELEVATED VIEW OF SKY

FILTERED
DISTORT
VIEW

REFLECTION

SOUND BUFFER R E F L E C T I O N

TRANSPARENCY DISTORT VIEW

GREEN - NATURAL FOLIAGE + RESIDENTIAL COLOR PALETTE

TRANSPARENCY

F I L T E R E D

YELLOW - RETAIL COLOR PALETTE + DIRECT SUN

unfolded skin
[proposed]

EAST

ENLIVEN SPACE
TRANS- DISTORT
T E R E D PARENCY
V I E W
TRANSPARENCY

TRANSPARENCY

ENLIVEN
S P A C E

REFLECTION

TRANSPARENCY

DISTORT VIEW

RED - TELEGRAPH AVENUE STREET ART + EXISTING BRICK COLOR

ground floor plan

UP

UP
DN

DN

UP

DN

DN
UP

DN

UP

UP

DN

UP

cross section through library