Assignment 4

Here are some sketched images of the revised Floor Plans and some schematic section drawings. I have changed couple of things around, for example the elevator was moved to the east, the lecture hall/studio area was integrated into the scheme better, new monumental stair located closer to the "core" area with the bathrooms and elevator, etc. I have been pondering about integrating the building with the atrium in a better way. I decided to have a bridge that connects across the atrium both sides of the building. This way engaging the atrium in a better way from just having it there to look at. I also took a look at the elevations since I was having some trouble to decipher the north elevation, this is one shot at it. It was very challenging to articulate with fenestrations such of big and blank wall. Other options could be shifting floor plates to create something more interesting. I have to play a little more in 3d to get rid of the "Hilton Hotel" look and explore materials a little more in depht. So far I have been thinking of some kind of rain screen wall possibly of terra-cota and insulated metal panels.

Distance Center for Design, Intensive Week

These are the Intensive's "Final" Presentation Slides from the power point presentation.

Here are some design development sketches and models from the Intensive Week in Boston.

The first few were from site visits, trying to observe what was around, the qualities, etc.

These are more conceptual, exploring ideas for parti and design.

Here the building starts to take shape from the diagram to the Floor Plans. These are the first iterations of the building. From the beginning the main idea of the building was to incorporate indoor/outdoor spaces within the building program.

This is the second iteration where I start to spread the green spaces throughout the building creating a sense of balance within the angular plan.

This was the last of the iterations created during the Intensive week, just before the "final" design. The building was "U" shape this way creating a centered atrium which would connect all spaces visually and physically. Also the building shape creates a wall protecting the site from the noise and air pollution coming from I90.

Here is a diagram showing my green strategy in the the building. The use of high performance double-skin glass wall allows to thermally isolate the space from the outside, also to use it for natural ventilation via stack effect. Also there will be an integrated shading device regulating the amount of natural light coming into space. The atrium area would also be naturally ventilated and naturally lit. The idea was to have a space that interconnects all spaces and becomes a central gathering space for social interaction. The use of Building ntegrated Photo Voltaics and wind turbines will also take part of the building to offset the energy demand especially from computer usage. After my presentation I realized that more should've been done with diagrams than black line drawings. I intend to address that on the next step and also need to develop more this atrium space. and its relationship with the rest of the building.

Distance Learning Center Pre-Design

These are some preliminary "bubble diagrams" showing the program relationship within the building. I will probably take couple of them and merge them into one cohesive layout that works well with the plan.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

Diagram 5

Diagram 6

Here is an axonometric drawing showing the building area in context with the site. The building will likely be more than 3 stories high to fit in with the profiles of the surrounding buildings. I do not show the program within the building yet since the program is not set. I located the building in that particular area of the site to create a street edge with the adjacent building. On the other hand I feel that the other corner of the site should be addressed, maybe with a vertical element. This is obviously not the building "shape" I will pursue but it shows the minimum amount of area I have envisioned.

Building Area Axon.

Precedent Analysis

The Renzo Piano Building Workshop is Piano’s architecture office/laboratory of research in Genoa, Italy. The Workshop was built around 1989-1991, it works in conjunction with UNESCO in the research of several construction materials such as indigenous trees, stone, brick and the research of new materials. In addition there is research of lightning, insulation and acoustic techniques.
The building is located on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea blending with the slope and looking more like a big greenhouse. The building is composed of a system of glass terraces gradually sloping towards the sea. The roof is composed of photosensitive skylights regulating the amount of natural light inside of the building. The structure consists of laminated-lumber beams laid over thin steel. The wall facing the hill is built of indigenous stone and earth construction. The rest of the building’s skin is primarily glass, to take advantage of the natural sun light. From the information I could find, I can tell that Piano raised the floor plates probabaly to used them for heating/cooling purposes.