Fall Intensive – Final Review Drawings & Comments

Sorry I haven’t posted until today. Our IT people at work are in the process of upgrading our computers with new Windows software, so I didn’t have access to the scanner.

I appreciated the constructive criticism from all of the reviewers last Saturday. There were several comments made that would significantly enhance my design. Three that really came to the forefront were:

1. Make the building “interactive” so that the metaphorical Digital Gateway idea has more depth and interest to people passing by the store.
   
   This could be addressed by change in materials or opening the exterior form of the building at the ground level.
   
   
2. There are “multiple experiences” (driving, walking, pedestrian stopping, etc.) that must be addressed.
   
   A corner entrance will be designed to more inviting and this area can also act as a “collector” of potential customers, responding to the collector at the northwest corner of Copley Square.
   
   
3. The Gateway concept is a good beginning, however, The Digital Gateway could be more interesting than the Physical Gateway.
   
   The Physical Gateway will be the primary focus to bring vehicular traffic from the South End towards the Back Bay area. The Digital Gateway will be designed to focus attention to the store.

Viewshed Analysis

Study Diagrams

Matrix

Bubble Diagrams

Block Diagrams - Plans

Block Diagrams - Sections

Looking North on Dartmouth

From Southwest
at Dartmouth and Boylston

From corner at Copley Square

Section at Boylston Street through Copley Square

Section at Dartmouth and New Old South Church

Object - Fabric "Incompatible Infill"

Postcard of Lincoln Institute

As my case study for compatible (or incompatible) infill I chose to study the quadrangle at Lincoln University, a historically black college in Jefferson City, Missouri. This was the first school named for President Abraham Lincoln and was created from the donations of black and white Civil War soldiers. The only institution in America founded by black American Civil War veterans. The school was founded in 1866; however, the buildings that form the nucleus of the campus were not built until the 1920’s and 1930’s after the institute became a university in 1921. The university is located just to the south of Highway 50 at the corner of Lafayette Street and Dunklin Street. The Lincoln University Hilltop Campus presents a remarkably unified appearance. The Georgian style buildings were designed and built over a period of a quarter of a century. Built in 1895, historic Memorial Hall was one of the most widely recognized buildings on the Jefferson City landscape. It was designed by Charles Opel, a self-taught local architect. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, historic Memorial Hall was the dominant academic building on the Lincoln campus. I housed both classrooms and faculty offices. Arguably, the most distinguishing feature of Memorial Hall was an auditorium named for Inman E. Page, the Lincoln president under whose administration the building was erected. Page Auditorium contained a ‘perspective’ stage. Perspective stages were “raked”, or slanted downward toward the audience rather than being flat like contemporary stages. The raked stage emerged during the middle ages but was rare by the beginning of the twentieth century. Distinguished speakers to appear in the auditorium were the great historian W.E.B. DuBois, and writer Carl Sandburg. The building fell into a state of disrepair in the 1960’s and was condemned in 1969. Despite efforts by faculty, students and alumni to save it, Memorial Hall was razed in August of 1972.

Stamper Hall

Schweich Hall

Stamper, Schweich and Foster Halls

Foster Hall

Historic Memorial Hall, razed 1972

New Memorial Hall

Founders Hall

Site Plan

Sketches

Diagrams

Building Location/Alignments

Historic vs Non-Historic

Massing

Fenestration/Style

Questions of Perception & Maeght Foundation

The phenomenology of architecture allows us to begin to experience architecture in a broader sense. Not only do we see, feel and hear as we experience architecture but we also begin to touch, embrace and caress it. I have always felt that architecture is a result of ideas and ideals that manifest themselves from within. When I see structures that are of the ‘design/build’ variety, it saddens me. It’s as if the designer responsible for this structure has no spirit, hence the structure has no spirit. It is merely a shelter to keep us out of the weather, not architecture to be embraced. During my reading of “Questions of Perception Phenomenology of Architecture” Holl states, “ As our technology means multiply, are we growing – or becoming stunted – perceptually?” This leads us to ask “Does technology help us or hurt us in our philosophical approach to architecture?” If we interpret our technological advances at face value they will most likely hurt us in this respect. However, if we reflect inward, through our solitude we can begin to discover how our technological advances can help us. I am in total agreement with Holl that architecture should stimulate our inner and outer perceptions. It should satisfy our physical experience while elevating us spiritually to a higher level.

The second reading by Birksted ties in with the philosophy of phenomenal architecture. It was intriguing how elements and spaces were in contrast with each other. Designed to relate to several artists’ concept of space and materials. Sirt used interior and exterior spaces to develop pockets of spatial and physical experiences to enlighten our spirits. His use of different materials and fenestration techniques help to strengthen his intent to bring us to spiritual enlightenment. He uses these contrasting techniques (i.e. design features, materials) to create distinct areas of purity and harmony, or divine places.

Observation and Analysis - A Public Garden

I chose to study the garden in the State of Missouri Capitol Complex located just to the west of the State of Missouri’s Governor Mansion. Formerly called the Governor’s Garden, in 2001 it was renamed the Carnahan Memorial Garden. This garden was started in the late 1930'’ as a WPA project. However, the project was put on hold due to lack of funding. Year’s later Missouri first Lady Juanita ‘Flower’ Donnelly personally took it upon herself to restore the gardens. Through her efforts and supervision, the garden came to life with a goldfish pool, terraces and walkways, and a sunken garden.

The site also includes a pergola constructed of Missouri limestone and wood. The garden itself is rather flat. Grand steps made of stone allow pedestrians to navigate up to the pergola on the east portion of the site. The pergola and stairs are key architectural features in the garden, and before entering the site, this is typically, what passersby would visually be drawn to. As part of the State of Missouri Governmental Complex Due to there is a high volume of vehicular traffic along Capitol Avenue, which runs east to west. Using plant features such as trees on the south end of the site, and 4’ to 5’ tall shrubs on the west side of the site, along Jefferson Street, the garden is visually shielded from vehicular traffic along these streets. The natural topography along the south end of the site, which helps to form the sunken garden, provides a sound buffer for those enjoying the garden. The drastic topography change on the east side of the site, containing the pergola and the stair, provides a visual shield and sound buffer from the Governor’s Mansion. The site is inviting to pedestrians being located off two major streets, while simultaneously providing tranquil, semi-private areas with visually stimulating plant-life. It was amazing to me how quiet the garden was when I walked through it. The site is often the location for weddings, fund raising events or just a fun place for school children to gather for their lunch break during school visits to the state’s capitol.

Sketch 1
View across garden, from west looking towards pergola


Sketch 2
View from north end of garden looking southeast towards pergola


Sketch 3
View from soutwest side of pergola looking northeast


Sketch 4
View looking southwest from inside of pergola


Sketch 5
View from southeast side of pergola looking northwest


Sketch 6
View from south end of garden at Capitol Avenue facing northeast




DiagramsThis diagram shows buildings and structures that are a part of the Capitol Complex. The Carnahan Memorial Garden is most often visited by those visiting other sites in the Capitol Complex or those doing business at one of the government office buildings.



The visual connection between the garden and surrounding streets and buildings is not strong. Additionally, there are natural buffers shielding te garden from distracting noise.



The site plan simply illustrates the adjacency to public walks and streets.


Architectural features include the pergola to the east of the garden, trees along the south end, bushes along the west side, and a symetrically designed landscaped garden. The focal point of the garden is a goldfish pond.


This cross-section diagrams the topography of the site and how the sunken garden is visually shielded from the grounds of the Governor's Mansion by that topography and the pergola.


This longitudinal-section diagrams the topography on the south end of the sunken garden. It illustrates how larger trees are used to visually and audibly sheild the garden from direct visual contact and noise from traffic along Capitol Avenue.


This sketch diagrams traffic flow of vehicular traffic along Capitol Avenue and Jefferson Street. And flow of pedstrian traffic into, through and out of the garden area and pergola.

Please, respond with comments and suggestions.

A Work In Progress.......

I too feel that my freehand sketching skills have diminished. Additionally, we've also had unbearable temps and humidity here in Mid-Missouri. I was able to get out and sketch on Tuesday. And I've finished several sketches and diagrams and should be posting them Friday night or Saturday for critique.

In re-reading the assignment several times I came to the understanding that we're allow, even encouraged, to digitally enhance our sketches. And that we can used photographs as long as they have been digitally abstracted.

Hello, Everyone

Looking forward to working with and meeting everyone.