Plans & Sections

In the ground floor plan I wanted to create an inviting, open space to allow pedestrians, and customers to easily flow into the 'digital store'. I utilized the undulating wall to convey a less rigid flow to the entrance. The remainder of the open exterior space on the ground floor is the Entry Plaza and Outdoor Seating for the Internet Cafe'.

The Entrance to the 'Digital Store' is angled off of the axis of the physical gateway, also a more inviting gesture. I decided to use round columns at the Entrance to further differentiate it from the rectalinear physical gateway. The round columns at the entrance will be a modern material (i.e. stainless steel) to mark customer's entrance into the "Gateway to the Future". Once inside customers can freely flow from area to area, and vertically move up the scultural stair to the second floor.


On the second floor of the 'Digital Store' customers will be able to continue to enjoy the pleasures of the digital future. At this same level there will be a Restuarant which is accessible from the elevator at the Cafe' Vestibule. At the second floor portion of the Restuarant diners will have the opportunity to visually interact with activities on the first floor of the 'Digital Store', which is a triple height space. Patrons of the Restuarant will also have access to an exterior Deck, or Balcony. No dining will occur on the Balcony since this feature was designed to visually 'bridge' users of this building with pedestrians at the 'collector space' at Copley Square.


The third floor contains additional Restuarant seating, Kitchen, and operational functions for the 'Digital Store'. The diners at this level have limited space to experience the the triple height space. And the walls in the Offices and Conference Room facing the triple height space are full height glazing to allow visual access of the store operations to mangers and store personnel.


The South Elevation includes the taller element constructed of puddlestone panels to tie into the 'gateway' theme. This element also includes a skylight which symbolizes the infinite opportunities of our digital future' and also allows natural light into the building. The undulating wall is a butt glass system, to allow floor to ceiling unabstructed viewing into the 'Digital Store'. The major portion of the facade is a curtain wall system which utilizes smart glass as the glazing material to allow the the option of visual interaction of the 'Digital Store' with it's customers. The store can run promotions and "alter the smart glass whenever a sale is made, or when repeat customers enter the store". Fenestration at the vertical break directly behind the Balconies is a clear storefront system.
The major space is the triple height volume the houses the Laptop and Desktop Areas. The Kid's Room is a place where children can safely explore educational digital devices while their parents freely browse the store.

All ow the support functions are at the back of the store adjacent to the rear alley.

Site Analysis

I have included this site analysis of the viewsheds directed towards the building.

This view shows the site looking north up Dartmouth.




The vehicular traffic flowing from the South End is visually directed towards the building. And Copley Square serves as a transition space between the South End and the Back Bay area to the northwest. The building will play off of the Old South Church to form a gateway to the Back Bay area.