studio final: concept statement

studio final: site analysis

studio final: research & exploration

studio final: site & roof plan

studio final: plan

studio final: section

studio final: elevations

studio final: model & perspectives

possible exterior perspective views

possible interior perspective views

Possible building section cuts

plaza section - energy spa & apple music cafe elevation













energy spa & apple music cafe section














restaurant, night club & yoga studio section














restaurant, nightclub, apple store & apple music cafe cross-section














energy spa & yoga studio cross-section

The power of a mid-day lunch

I took a break over lunch today to think about my project and lay out all of the drawings that I had in mind to use for our final. Below is the outcome of a one hour brainstorming session between myself, yes I talk to myself a lot, and a co-worker of mine that took some time to sit down with me and evaluate my design thus far. We also discussed what he saw from a "first glance" as being some of my stronger view points and drawings. I think that below is a good illustration of the direction that I will be taking over the next 13 days.

Studio Draft: Section

I am planning on posting my building section views within the next couple of days. I have 5 at this point and one of them doubles as an elevation. I'll be looking for feedback as to which view points are the strongest so check my blog out in a couple of days and drop me a comment. Also, just as a note, these are not my "final" site sections but just the view points of them. Once I select my final images I will be using photoshop and hand renderings to "bring them to life"

Sections never lie...

The Problem
Well, after sketching these out quickly several issues became rather apparent. Number one, I need to spend a lot more time studying my design in section. Number two, the floor to floor height of my buildings is a problem. I have always known that it was going to be an issue, but I kept hoping that it would just go away and surprise!!! it didn't. Once I placed scaled people in my section the massing of the building seems gigantic and overwhelming for the pedestrians and retail clientel. I currently have only two levels in my project. The first, from street to plaza level is 16'8" in height and the second, from plaza level to the green roofs is 25'6" in height. I like the way that the massing of the building sits in the existing space, however, I do not like how it feels from a pedestrian point of view on the interior and on the plaza level.

Where to go from here
I am going to focus on scaling down some spaces that are adjacent to the walkway on the plaza level for a more welcoming pedestrian feel. I am also going to look at adding a mezzanine level inside the upper level restaurant for dining and inside the apple music cafe for viewing live performances. Wow, do I have a lot of work to do!

Studio Draft: Plan

Plaza Level Plan - Draft

Decrease size of restaurant/night club
~allow for active daytime businesses
~upper restaurant: breakfast, lunch & dinner; convert to night club around 10 pm
Apple store upper floor is a music cafe
~people play music off ipod
~live evening performances in cantileverd space over the sidewalk
Locate public spaces adjacent to main circulation path; street to existing foodcourt
~not intended to look entirely paved
~adjacent storefront displays for all spaces
Locate private spaces (storage/office) to rear of all stores
Create other retail spaces
~Spa for people to get re-energized
~Boutique for clothing/accesssories
~Any thoughts? Bookstore? Greenhouse?

Street Level Plan - Draft

Move vertical circulation elements (stair & elevators) to the street front of the buildings
~express motion from within
~create interaction between people in buildings and on street/sidewalk.
Public spaces of program (entrances & commons) adjacent to the street
~keep buildings street front active and engaging.
Circulation paths dictate location of grass lounge areas on grade.
Recess street front building face of the restaurant
~allow for street side dining
Locate private spaces in the rear of the building; storage, offices, etc.
Locate kitchen along side of restaurant to face dining area;
~open view through kitchen; create ener-action
~separate entry directly into kitchen for deliveries
Use existing adjacency to parking garage
~encorporate an entry from garage into commons area
Locate Genius Bar to the rear
~circulate service customers throughout the store
~maintain adjacency to rear storage/work room
Locate kid's area opposite of the restaurant; keep secluded

Crit Comments~January 19, 2008

Curt: What is your thought about the color? The power of your presentation is in the color, which should lead into research of materials. Right now the color is kind of quiet. If it was a disco ball is would lose its beauty.

Amy: You haven't looked at the nature of those boundaries between shared spaces. How do you engage ener-action between plaza and watching a movie? Your presentation is set up graphically beautiful.

Enno: Look at the two strategies between day and night. Don't hide the "sparkle" of the building form behing the tree.

Tom: I am not understanding the relationship between the street and upper level.

Herb: Look into way in which the glass can translate admirably. Look into transitions of treating the storefront glass. Jean Duvelle - 2 story glass wall into park (Paris)-good example of glazing.

Transparency: Talk about how it relates

Colors: Research motivation of thought and how it related to the color; daytime vs. nighttime

Interactions: What to they get you? Nature of boundaries that separate spaces

Program: Look at shared spaces; possible reconsider the night club program (empty during day)

Levels: Look at the plaza coming all the way to the street front

Diagramatic facade section would help

Pick 3 key moments

Interaction from sidewalk at Boylston

Animate the void between spaces on the second floor

What is the strategy to bring people through there - absence of design

What is occurring between building and sidewalk?

NEXT STEPS:

1. clarify my design ideas and pick 3 key moments.
2. study the program; its adjacencies & shared spaces
3. study the relationship between my building and Boylston as well as the interaction between my building and the sidewalk along Boylston with some quick sketch overlays.
4. build on what I envision the character of my design to be; dig into possible materials with some quick sketch overlays; study at daytime and night.

board one

board two

board three

board four

board five

Component One; Meaningful Architecture

Component Two; Meaningful Architecture

Component Three; Meaningful Architecture