Chiaroscuro - Study - Lift

Working within strict spatial constraints and a focus on vertical circulation, this project was driven by the prompts chiaroscuro, study, and lift. Designed for an imagined architecture professor, the scheme explored spatial hierarchy and tailored functionality—balancing contemplative workspaces with private retreat areas. The lift became a central feature, serving as both a practical and conceptual element, regulating access and emphasizing transitions between light and shadow. The play of chiaroscuro informed materiality and lighting, creating contrast and depth throughout the vertical sections of the compact structure.

The design process began with an exploration of how light and shadow could define space, leading to a series of volumetric studies that informed the final architectural language. The vertical circulation became not just a means of movement, but a choreographed experience that revealed different aspects of the building as one ascended.