Conceptual Design

Moving forward from our individual models, we have continued our conceptual work as a team. As the site group, we have developed a concept that blurs the line between the site and the building. We have developed this gesture of the opposing arcs which direct attention towards a central core of the building. The idea of the central core is something we are still developing, but envision it being an interactive space that speaks to the building as a whole, rather than a single element in the building. We are also playing with the idea of the building being partially underground and having the site slope below grade to create opportunities for natural light and also incorporate the surrounding site into the building form.

model charrette

For the design concept charrette, I tried to get away from the programmatic elements and try to be more conceptual. I started out building models and then I looked at them and tried to make sense of them and decide what they could be. I think I could have taken this a step back, because even though it isn't clear where doors or floor planes are, they still have an element to them that feels very much like a building. For the next exercise, I would like to break these down further and get to the basic concept of them, rather than trying to analyze each of them and try to form them into a shape that could possibly be a building. Also I was trying to get a general idea of the site area around the building, but didn't take into consideration the interaction of the site with the building. That is one of our goals in the site/ground plane group, to incorporate the site and the building together rather than being two separate entities.

Circulation Patterns in Precedents

One of the things we looked at in our precedent research was circulation throughout the building. We found similarities and differences amongst all of the buildings.

In the Glasgow School, there is a long corridor on one side that runs the length of the building, with stairways at either end. This is basically the same for all levels of the building.

The Yale School of Architecture has many different levels, all with different circulation patterns. For the most part, there are two main corridors on either side of the building with smaller branching corridors leading to other areas, with stairways in the corners of the building.

The Knowlton School has a central corridor with many branching and secondary corridors, with stairways dispersed in the center of the building. Each level is different, but still have the same kind of pattern

In Crown Hall, the first floor is entirely open, with movable partition walls, so the circulation depends on the location of the walls. The lower floor has a U-shaped corridor with stairways in the middle and on the ends of the corridor.

Gund Hall has an L-shaped corridor on most of the floors, with stairways on the ends and in the center. All areas in the building are accessed from these primary corridors.

Precedent Conclusion

Over the past few weeks, all of us in the precedent group have researched one particular building and found things in each that might be helpful in designing the Lee Street Studios.

In Crown Hall, I have found some things that might be good to incorporate into our design:
-Open studio spaces, both vertical and horizontal
-Flexible use space, movable partition walls
-Division of classrooms, offices, workshops by floors
-Making the School of Architecture stand as a focal point for the campus
-Exposed exterior structure to keep interior space open
-Varying transparencies of floor to ceiling windows
-Central public gallery space
-Centralization of mechanical and plumbing areas

Other things we saw across the board in our group:
-large gathering spaces
-auditorium
-roof terraces and green space around building
-multi-level studios
-dining hall/cafeteria
-easy circulation through building
-open areas/multi-use spaces

UNCC facilities

The facilities at UNC-Charlotte are much different from ours at UNCG. It was good to actually visit another architecture school and see first hand the differences from our school.

Some things I liked about the Storr Building ( the architecture building) :
-the central atrium space- I liked the windows to the faculty offices and the natural lighting.
-large gathering spaces- We have to move to other buildings for certain classes and departmental meetings and lectures
-lounge area in hallway- this would be a good break-out space to work, or just relax
-eating/vending area- I liked that they had tables and more vending machines. I sometimes have so many papers and models on my desk, I have to clear off a spot to eat and it would be nice to have another place to go (and have a coffee machine!)
-printing lab- I always have trouble printing large scale and end up going to University Graphics, it would be easier to have it in the same building
-model-making shops- we have never really had a model-making class or workshop, so we just learn as we go, it would be nice to have the laser cutters to make them more precise
-patio areas at upper level studios - sometimes we all just need a breath of fresh air and it would be nice to be able to just walk outside instead of having to go down all those stairs and come back up

Things I didn't like about the Storr Building:
-studios on the first floor. i get distracted easily, and having people just be able to walk through who aren't in the department would be distracting
-long hallways of offices. Long hallways are depressing anyway, and it seemed to make the layout of the rooms long and narrow
-atrium for critique spaces. I would imagine that space would get very loud during critiques and probably be distracting to the presentor to be able to hear people in other critiques

The building at UNCC had a lot of things that we don't that maybe could be incorporated in our Lee Street project. It will be interested to see it take shape and interpret all the information we has so far into the design for the building

UNCC visit

Here are some photos of models from the School of Architecture at UNC-Charlotte. Wish we had the equipment to make models this perfect!