The thesis of this project is to develop a language of architecture for the design of a rural house. Parameters for this language are specified through program, ideas about living in a country home, and the importance of integrating the building with its site. The parameters are reaffirmed through the materials and elements of architecture. In order to develop a cohesive language, four houses have been designed for four different sites. Each house implements the specified parameters in a manner appropriate to the setting of the surrounding landscape. The houses themselves become a transition between the inside and the outside and between the natural and the man-made. Thus this thesis is: Four Houses - A Language of Transition from Earth to Sky. Our experience-space is necessarily in conflict with the space of nature. The space that nature offers us rises above the ground and is oriented entirely towards the earth's surface. The contrast between the mass of the earth below and the space of the air above, which meet at the surface of the earth, is the primary datum of this (experience) space. Dom H. Van Der Laan, "Architectonic Space" (E.J. Brill, 1983), p. 5 / Master of Architecture

This is a project about reconciling the rational world of architecture with the empirical world of nature. A small retreat on the Appalachian Trail near Dragon's Tooth, this project employs two elements belonging to each of those entities. The retreat is composed of a double envelope. The exterior envelope is a wooden screen and dry stacked stone wall relating to the natural world. In contrast, the second envelope is a glass and steel box, analogous to the rationality of man. Dimensional 2x4 lumber models are employed to study the light conditions, patterns, and construction of the wooden screen. / Master of Architecture

L’histoire des sites légionnaires de l’Empire romain connaît aujourd’hui un important renouveau grâce aux nombreuses recherches réalisées en Europe. C’est dans ce cadre que s’insère ce travail qui explore la présence militaire romaine à Strasbourg-Argentorate, en examinant tout particulièrement le camp de la VIIIe légion selon une perspective à la fois archéologique et historique. Cette étude se fonde sur l’analyse des sources littéraires et épigraphiques, l’interprétation de la documentation publiée et sur les résultats issus de deux récentes fouilles préventives (« Grenier d’Abondance » et « 4 rue Brûlée »). Elle révèle que l’occupation romaine débutant vers 15 ap. J.-C. coïncide en fait avec l’arrivée de la legio II Augusta dont la présence est attestée par plusieurs monuments funéraires. Entre 43 ap. J.-C. et l’arrivée de la legio VIII Augusta dans les années 90 ap. J.-C., Strasbourg n’est pas un lieu de garnison légionnaire, mais pourrait plutôt être celui de troupe(s) d’auxiliaires. Le camp de la VIIIe légion est d’abord protégé par un rempart en terre et en bois, avant d’être doté d’une enceinte en pierre (IIe s. ap. J.-C.) qui sera renforcée vers 300 ap. J.-C. Les baraquements dans le latus praetorii dextrum sont occupés jusqu’à la fin du premier quart du IVe s. ap. J.-C. Avec l’installation de civils à partir du deuxième tiers du IVe s. ap. J.-C., le camp légionnaire se transforme progressivement en site urbain fortifié qui inclut une présence militaire réduite jusqu’au début du Ve s. ap. J.-C. au moins. Ce travail permet de mieux connaître l’aspect du camp de la VIIIe légion et de réviser la chronologie de la présence militaire romaine de ce site rhénan majeur. / The history of legionary sites in the Roman Empire is undergoing a significant revival today thanks to numerous research projects being conducted in Europe. Within this context, the present study explores the Roman military presence in Strasbourg - Argentorate, and more particularly the 8th Legion’s camp, from an archaeological and historical viewpoint. This study is based on the analysis of literary and epigraphic sources, on the interpretation of published documentation and on the results of two recent rescue excavations (“Grenier d’Abondance” and “4 rue Brûlée”). It shows that the Roman occupation, beginning around 15 AD, coincides with the arrival of the legio II Augusta whose presence is attested by several funerary monuments. Between 43 AD and the settlement of the legio VIII Augusta around 90 AD, Strasbourg was not a legionary garrison, but mostly one of auxiliary troops. In its early form, the camp of the 8th Legion was protected by an earth rampart with layers of timber before being superimposed with the first stone defensive circuit around the mid-2nd century AD; that wall was reinforced around 300 AD. The barracks in the latus praetorii dextrum remained occupied until the end of the first quarter of 4th century AD. With the settlement of civilians from the second third of 4th century AD, the legionary camp gradually turned into an urban fortified site with a limited military presence, at least until the beginning of 5th century AD. This study provides detailed insight into aspects of the 8th Legion’s camp and reviews the chronology of the Roman military presence of this major Rhineland site.