Studio: Concept Statement

Studio Final: Site Analysis

Studio Final: Research & Exploration

Studio Final: Model

Studio Final: Model

Studio Final: Perspectives

Studio Final: Site Plan

Studio Final: First Floor Plan

Studio Final: Second Floor Plan

Studio Final: Third Floor & Roof Deck Plan

Studio Final: Elevations

Studio Final: Sections

Floor Plans

Just for you Enno.....































Street Level

















Plaza Level















Roof Deck Level

Elevation

Elevation from Boylston Street. Glass tower now should appear to be an extension of the Pru Tower behind it. Tree-like columns help to support the grassy roof deck. Both buildings clad with a glass skin - a series of panels that are joined together by metal brackets. Ramp leading to plaza park now extends across the park (in order to fulfill ADA requirements).



Happy Valentines Day everyone! What a *cough* great day it is, right?!

SECTIONS

Completing these sections, with the help of the model I created, are enabling me to look at the massings together and to analyze the overall scale, movement throughout, correlation of spaces (as well as levels) and material selections.

I am hoping that through these sections, my overall plan will become more clear to the reader. I am hoping, especially, that the pool element can be read clearly enough - particularly the for the fact that the element runs through the entire building.

Any suggestions on building materials would be much appreciated. I was thinking of using a combination of concrete, glass walls (skin), and stone to clad the facades. But I am most certainly open to suggestions!

Model & Section

While drawing my section, I thought it would be helpful to construct a physical model to compare and contrast my plans, sections and my schematic elevations. I wanted to get a grasp on the overall plan, rather than a 2D elevation, which wasnt helping me solve any problems.

The result is my new massing model and partial section, which I drew at the same scale as the model to compare the two side by side. The following photos are my attempt at making some sense out of this building and how the masses relate to one another.

I was thinking of constructing the building with angled glass walls (angled to match the optical illusion of the perspective angle of the Prudential Tower behind the site) - but as you will see from the model, it is not as readily recognized, so it might be something to reconsider.

I also wanted to see what the perspective from the Prudential Tower is - I am thinking about creating a glass roof above the pool area (as seen on model) which would emphasize the long element of the pool, stretching throughout the building (from the food court wall to the overhanging waterfall).

Now, I can cut/paste (basically destroy) the model to help develop the concept further.

PLANS

Lets take a walk through my project.....

First Floor: Apple Retail Store/ Outdoor Fitness Area
I decided to switch the entry location from the second floor fitness area and the Apple Retail area. I wanted to emphasize the retail store by using the overhanging waterfall as a formal, eye-catching entrance. Also, by relocating the entry to the fitness area, it creates a larger retail space on the first level.
The outdoor ramp is a bit more aggressive - twisting and turning through the climbing wall - creating an interaction between the climbers and the walkers.

Second Floor: Fitness Area/Upper Plaza
The Fitness Area encompasses the entire second floor. The pool is one long element - starting from the Pru Center food court wall to the "infinity pool" tip. I wanted to emphasize the fact that the pool mirrors the Pru Tower by extending and elongating it through the building.
I created a ramp which encompasses the indoor pool area, which leads to a third floor balcony/diving area.
A new outdoor ramp, also twisting and turning, leads to the green roof deck area.

Third Floor/Roof Deck:
This area will be a green roof, which can be accessed and used by the public.

Brainstorm!

After posting my floor plans last night (see post below) I woke up this morning with a new outlook on my project and a (what I think is) great idea! I got out of bed, drank my coffee and drove to the office (where I left my trace and markers) and sketched this idea.

I was trying to think of how to combine the 3 levels of space (1st - retail, 2nd - fitness, 3rd - green space). I was also trying to figure out to implement the concept of "fitness" into the design of the building and tie that in with my element of water.

Essentially, I would like to carry the element of water through the building (2nd floor). I would like to implement a ramp on the west (right) side to have outdoor access to the green space on the rooftop. I would also like to incorporate a stairway (inside the pool area) to a balcony above the pool for diving. (I loved Ennos early comment on "falling bodies in front of a tall skyscraper." )

Although these sketches are not well developed, I wanted to share and express my ideas on paper while I was still excited about them!

Looking forward to developing this plan this week!















These are just schematic designs - Please see the post below for the original floor plans ( I posted on Wednesday 1/30). Thanks!

Schematic Street & Mezzanine Plan

Goals for first floor plan:
-Design exterior ramp/stair to coordinate with outdoor fitness area (tie climbing wall into stair)
- Plan outdoor fitness area and climbing wall
- Examine lobby space and transition from waterfall canopy entry to fitness area/apple store entry
- Develop interior pool wall (aka human aquarium)
- Develop Apple Retail space (tables, cash wrap, etc.)
-Fitness entry on first level
- Apple Retail on first level
- Outdoor Fitness Park (tie in to second level park via climbing wall)
- Detail waterfall/overhang entry














Goals for Mezzanine Plan:

-Incorporate Ramp with Climbing Wall
- Focus on making a correlation between the pool and the Pru Tower
(perhaps pool continues through building)
- Complete Fitness Area plan (stations, locker rooms)
- Incorporate Pru Food Court exit with Plaza Park area
(tie in with pool perhaps?)
- Look at waterfall/pool cantilevered entryway
- Materials? Glass? Concrete?
- Sustainable Design
- Green Roof

STRIVE: Site Analysis & Conceptual Ideas

STRIVE:

1.	to exert oneself vigorously; try hard: He strove to make himself understood.

2.	to make strenuous efforts toward any goal: to strive for success.

3.	to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete.

4.	to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or resistance: to strive against fate.

5.	to rival; vie.

Tiny URL

Just wanted to pass on some information to you all - when posting, I've found that occasionally, because the address is so long, that the URL name does not fit into the post. Theres a site called Tiny URL, which converts long addresses into short ones - great for blogs! Heres the site:

http://tinyurl.com/

Happy Posting & looking forward to seeing you all this weekend!

Meaning in Architecture

Please see description below before clicking on images. Thanks!

Meaning in Architecture

Captains Log: Stardate - January 5, 2008: I think I have been sitting at my desk for several hours now...with my stack of photos, trying to make sense of the mess I have created. I was getting frustrated when I couldn't put my elements into "collections" or categories because they all had so many emotional aspects I could not separate them from one another. I kept asking myself "What makes each of these places meaningful to me? How can something have meaning for you, if you haven't experienced and dont have an emotional connection to it?" And then I realized...it was the emotions that I experienced at each of these places that created meaning for me. But how would I make "collections" of emotions? The answer came to me when I realized that I experienced different kinds of emotions - and that is how I grouped my collections. I grouped the photos together, then selected the overwhelming emotion I felt when I observed the photos - the birth of the categories: LOVE, PRIDE, CONNECTIVITY. (Now I know "connectivity is not really an "emotion" per say, but that is why this is called the preliminary posting - and I'm asking all of my fellow students to please comment and help me be a bit more eloquent!) Looking forward to your comments!

White Bird Reading

I don't know if any of you have read it yet, but I thought the selected reading was eloquently written and captivating. I especially took interest in the section on nature. "Nature is energy and struggle." The sentimental view, on the part of the observer, is one I can associate with.

Living near the ocean I have seen the sun rise while sitting on my surfboard during a morning surf session, the skies pink and blue, seagulls sweetly flying overhead - the absolute calm of the ocean -its my perfect moment of zen. And on the contrast, I have seen that same ocean during a storm, the black-gray waters churning, tearing at the dunes, destroying everything in its path.

The article was an expressive way of telling the reader that different perspectives from different observers can produce a much different effect in terms of the emotional experience that one might have.