Spring of 2008, I took the class Introduction to Design Computing (4.500) at MIT. Our goal for the class was to design a small beach cottage for an artist at Cape Cod. Over the course of the semester, we learned how to use various software to represent and analyze our designs, which we refined according to our findings.

My cottage is divided into two spaces, two separate buildings separated by an open corridor and connected by a soaring roof. The two spaces correspond to the inhabitant's daily needs and recreation, a private space and a public space. The public space, or recreational space, is where the artist paints, reads, and entertains guests. It has large windows facing the sea for a panoramic view and ample daylight. The overhanging roof and the orientation of the space ensures diffuse light so that the painter can work without glare. The private space contains a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a lofted bed. The smaller windows ensure more privacy for the inhabitant, and the layout of the space takes advantage of the small area.

Rendering of an older version of the design