The “Presentation” tab has my final thesis presentation drawings, models, and descriptions organized in the way that I present my project on pin-up days.  If you follow the pages in order, they build on top of each other and explain all aspects of the thesis project.  There are also some photo galleries for my individual models at the end following the presentation.

The “Adapting Prototype” tab addresses the way I would replicate my building onto other sites.  While this solution isn’t necessarily repeating the exact same building, it divides the first prototype into Guidelines and how each of these guidelines help to replicate this prototype into future buildings on other sites.

These final tabs conclude my Thesis Interactive Research Book!

One can see how the 3 building types (retail building, parking garage, and circulation vestibule) interact and connect.  There are visual paths through building types to break up the interior spaces and add complexities.  The model also shows how the vestibule material and location allow for building signage and branding.

Section in plan

Interior section 1

Interior section 2

Interior section 3

The ceiling system geometry is created where shelving tubes need to anchor.  This system is open between the perlins and creates a sort of boundary for where the room stops and ceiling starts, but also is visually penetrable where one can see all the layers behind it.

The interior of the retail building has many layers interacting at the same time.  The pathway and window layers are linked to each other by means of specific views.  The window layer is linked to both the wall and shelving system.  The location of the window in plan is closest to the exterior wall, adding more depth to the wall.

The windows’  link to the interior shelving system is far more complex.  The interior shelving system is comprised of vertical tubes that connect to wooden horizontal shelves.  The tubes attach to each end of the wooden shelves with no backing, and the shelves can be cut into any shape.  The tubes connect to the floor and a ceiling system of perlins.

Interior evelation

The perlin system geometry works with the shelving geometry to organize the shelves into regions.   These reflected ceiling plans show the system of perlins and the shapes they make.  The corresponding plan showing the shelving system is beneath it.

Ceiling Plan Level 2

Level 2

Ceiling Plan Level 1

Level 1

Ceiling Plan Level 0

Level 0

Ceiling Plan Level -1

Level -1

The shelving system also juxtaposes the windows by creating complex views.  There are moments when walking through the retail spaces when one can get penetrating views through the shelves and out the windows.

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The building structural system is a simple system of a column grid with a non-bearing facade system.  The column grid was determined during the design phase of the parking garage.  This same column grid is extended up through all building parts, with the only change being a material change when it penetrates the retail building.

Structural Plan Level 1

This is a basic structural plan of Level 1 showing how the structure hits the building.

Wall Section

The wall section is intended to do 2 things conceptually.  The exterior material is a corrugated metal cladding system that is industrial and prefabricated.  It will stand out amongst the brick and concrete buildings located on site, but also match the horizontality of material.

The interior material is a translucent polycarbonate.  The concept of the building’s interior is that within this large vast space are different systems that juxtapose each other and allows penetrable views throughout all the systems.  By using a translucent polycarbonate as the interior wall material, this concept is carried through as it can be visibly penetrated although it’s only a certain distance.  The material gives depth to the wall.  From the interior, the material has vertical lines that contrast the horizontal shelving system on the interior, creating another juxtaposing layer.

Axonometric Wall Section

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After working in plan for a long period of time, I decided to draw some sections.  These sections show how the vestibules become ‘anchors’ for keeping the levels together.

Sections

These sections also show the differences in interior circulation within the vestibule vs. within the retail building.

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After designing the pathways and windows, I compiled all information into one plan per level.  Now I can move forward finalizing pieces in plan and move into section and details.

Level 2 plan

Level 1 plan

Level 0 plan

Level -1 plan

Level -2 plan

The parking garage structure has been figured out so that it uses 2 different length T-beams, and the building structure will be laid out in the same grid.  My next steps are to make sure that this structure works (it will be a similar structure to that in Villa Savoiye with columns and a ‘free plan’), organize back spaces not shown in these drawings, and take closer looks at wall connections and facade connections.

Once these drawings were made, I was able to make some comparative pathway drawings showing the three building languages (garage, building, vestibules) and their respective pathway systems contrasted.

Level 1 comparative pathways

Level 0 comparative pathways

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After numerous iterations, the pathways have been designed for the building.  In laying out the escalators, I wanted them to be located differently than the ones above and below them.  By having a core interior vertical circulation that shifts instead of stacks, I’m creating a dynamic core.

All pathways

The pathways branch off of the escalators in all directions, creating a radial effect.  The paths were derived from angles from the escalators and vestibules.  The windows are integrated with these paths.  They are located at the end of pathways, and in specific positions to allow people to see through the whole building.  Here are some drawings that show the derivation of pathways and windows.

Level 1 pathways

Level 0 paths

Level -1 paths

By incorporating windows into the customer’s path, they add to this idea of deconstructing a big static interior space.  Views to the outside will help break up the interior space by adding viewing interest in all directions.  By creating views that can be made from the back of the parking garage through the front of the building, from building through vestibule to garage, etc., all the building types (garage, building, vestibules) get pulled and interlocked together.  In the next few weeks, I will be posting perspectives showing these views and how important they are to the dynamic architecture of the building.

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I have just finished a model that begins to explain the dynamics of the spaces better.  While it is still very diagrammatic, it shows how the levels fit together, the windows on all sides penetrating through the building, the entrance vestibules pieced throughout the building, and how the ground plane dramatically dictates the entrance locations.

The model begins to show how I plan to place interior vertical circulation.  The vestibules containing vertical circulation use escalators (and adjacent cart conveyors) sitting at angles, and I plan on the interior vertical circulation to follow the same rule.  However, the escalators will twist and turn a little more, and as the escalator cores stretches up, the space will also twist up.  For example, a department store typically has a vertical space where the escalators lay parallel to each other, and it continues perpendicularly up.  This building will rotate and twist these escalators and their spatial columns, creating a dynamic central vertical interior space.

See the Online Sketchbook, Return to the Main Page