The building is broken up into 3 types: a parking garage, retail building, and vestibules. This creates a variety of architectural types, but these types flow together and need each other. All of these building types were designed around circulation for an individual. There are four vestibule entrances, and they serve as key anchors for pedestrian flow and movement through the building. One functions as an entrance from the garage to the building, one functions as an entrance from the garage to the site, one functions as a pedestrian entrance from the site to the retail building, and the last one functions as a pedestrian entrance from the site to the grocery section. By having multiple vestibules, I allow for these multiple important movements, and have the ability to separate them into exclusive pedestrian access, vs. pedestrian access from vehicles. The vestibules locations and shapes are created by a line drawn between the 4 corners showing their connectivity. There are moments when entering the vestibules, walking around the building, and walking through the building spaces that you get a glimpse of the multiple vestibule alignments and it draws the eye back showing the depth they carry through the building. These vestibules are self-supporting structures, independent from the garage and retail building systems.
The garage was the first element that I chose to structure, and it utilizes a simple column grid using only two different length T-beams. The retail building uses the same column grid, and is layered easily on top of the garage. By having a simple column grid for both building types, it allows for variability in the floor shapes, and allows for the shifts in the exterior of the building that I want.
The retail building is divided into four shopping levels. The grocery store is the bottom level, separated from the other merchandise and having its own street entrance for pedestrians. The next level has the main pedestrian street entrance, and includes the season section, cashiers, and daily living needs. By putting the season, daily needs, and grocery sections near the pedestrian entrances, it allows people to enter and quickly pick up things as they would for a market. This is an important aspect considering the building is sandwiched between apartments and a hotel. The electronics and book/music section is also on this main level, since it is flashy and would quickly get a customer’s attention. If a customer is coming to the store to search for something substantial for themselves or their house, the housewares sections is the next level up. Finally, the clothing section is on the highest level, allowing for a more personal setting for trying things on. The vestibules penetrate sectionally through the building, and are designed to hold signs which can describe what merchandise is available on each level. They are visible from all sides and levels of the building.
Building entrances
Vestibule Plan
Basic Structural System
Level -2
Level -1
Level 0
Level 1
Level 2
Program plans
