Editor’s Note: Aiden undertook this journey as part of a Mission X project. At Woodlawn School the Mission X program provides a framework to for students to explore and develop their interests with the support of the faculty, family and other students. 

From Aiden:

Here you will join my architectural journey and watch as I struggle to build and refine my skills upon two polar opposite mediums. Before beginning Mission X, I already knew that I wanted/needed to work on a topic that I was interested in. For me this would be my urge to make or build something. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that researching and committing to my chosen career path (residential architecture) would be the only way to create a thoroughly refined project that I would enjoy from beginning to end.

Mission X quickly became an outlet for me to research, practice, conceive, design, experiment, and finally construct things that I would ordinarily not be able to fit into my schedule. My project consists of two segments: (1) Wabi-sabi, in which I research and attempt to portray an untranslatable term/feeling through construction, and another; and (2) An Architect’s Home, where I endeavor to venture as close as possible to my ideal home of work.

An Architect’s Home

After completing the wabi-sabi construction, I decided that I wanted to begin a second project in the complete opposite direction. Instead of trying to portray a feeling or term through conceptual architecture, I wanted to capture the true nature of an architect’s line of work from point A to point B. A modern house was the perfect direction to take, but not just any modern house. I wanted to create something more personal, to my own taste. I also knew that It needed to be something that I would truly love to live/work in. And so I began by practicing drawing in full perspective illustrations until I was satisfied with my skills.

Floor Plans

Elevation

Exterior

Interior

Nighttime

Activity

If we want to build a place for us to live, or to hang out, or do eat dinner with our friends, we’re going to need a special kind of engineering called architecture. In this episode of Crash Course Kids, Sabrina gets us to help her build a place where she can have some alone time and rock out to Taylor Swift.

Now it’s your turn! Use your imagination and design a place for some alone time. Draw a picture, write a story or build a model for you place. Use whatever materials you have available.

Explore Further

What does an architect do?