Thesis 501(Nov 7)

THESIS

Architecture, a field that encompasses most if not all of the arts has fallen victim to the highest bidder and the quickest buck. It is time for a new movement that will not only re-energize the field of architecture but also breathe new life into the way we live and interact with our surroundings. I propose buildings that just like humans start to convey the concept of emotions and change. They no longer exist as static structures but entities with personality, motive and above all life. Just as humans are able to have intimate relations with one another, humans must also be able to experience these types of emotions with their homes, their schools the built environment. Architecture has begun stagnating somewhat and change is no longer a choice but an imperative.

Case Studies

Case Studies: The Philosophy of Architecture

 Case Studies: The Arts

Contextual Site Studies 

Los Angeles(pop=9.8 mil, 4,700 sm) is riddled with many prominent cities. LA is Inglewood, LA is Long Beach, LA is Santa Monica LA is Hollywood. LA is any and many identities. San Diego(pop=1.4 mil, 4,500 sm) at the southern most end of CA is one identity one name not tarnished and not in competition. I feel it the perfect location to create an icon. A beacon if you will that not only anchors SoCal but also other architectural institutions by its beliefs and ideals. A reference for future thinking.

San Diego is surrounded by 3 major entities. The Pacific Ocean to the West, Mexico to the South and the Cleveland National Forest to the East. With the variety of edge conditions that are created by these unique characters I see the opportunity to portray downtown SD as the main actor and the audience is waiting to be thrilled by how this actor will interact with them and how my project will take a piece of each and incorporate it into the “act”, my final design. A study on how transitions occur and how to make them work successfully.

The downtown area is bisected 5, 163 and 94 freeways. These major circulation pieces start to distinguish areas apart from one another.

The site of my future school is embraced on all four corners by up and coming and established neighborhoods. The historic Gaslamp Quarter to the south, the Business District to the west, Cortez Hill and Little Italy to the north and East Village to the east. This environment will put students in the midst of the urban activity which they will study and eventually help form and influence.

The obvious first choice for my future school was the current location of NSAD appointed by the blue question mark. Consequently as more time was spent understanding the feasibility  of going on that site and proposing to knock down the entire structure it became clear there would be many hurdles to clear to get the green light on such a venture. Conveniently the lot to the east was open and lent itself perfectly to my vision.

The site is surrounded by many ways of foot and road transportation. The artery of the 5 fwy to the east provides a major way in to the campus while the smaller veins of the roads, sidewalks and trolly stations provide ample opportunity to access this site with comfort and ease.

There are very few if any open spaces near my site. I see this as the perfect opportunity to incorporate some landscaping within my site to provide this type of area.

 The Northern views of the downtown skyline are views that i intend to keep and maximize, not only for "eye candy" but also to give the students at this new institution a grounding to the field they are studying and its ever-changing conditions.

 To the South of the site we have more skyline views but we also have a new character, the Coronado Bay Bridge. This is a true work of art and is essential to maximize views of this object from the new School of Architecture.

On the human scale the site offers many peculiarities that could be used to further the design of my project and make it a truly unique experience for all would-be users.

 Programming

Performing Arts/Cultural Center(2008)

Site:
Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

Objective:
Design a theater for a culturalcenter that would serve theimmediate downtown area

Direction of Design:
A cultural center is a place forwith people with differentbackgrounds and of distinct ethnic origins to meet, join andcelebrate that which is life. i felt it necessary to design a structure that was not only provocative but
that spoke to each and every individual

Concept:
intermingle of languages. Languages exist in abundance, they all differ, but they are all one in the same; they are all composed of a basic structure and all work for the same purpose, to communicate.

Site Analysis/Conditions:

Textures Found On-site:

Programming:

Skeleton:

Floor Plan:

Sections:

Master Plan/Site Plan:

 

To be able to evoke emotion in people with a design is a goal that every architect should aspire to achieve. Life and experiences are all about given events and the way you are left feeling after. Some are positive while others are negative. This idea of trying to incorporate "neuroscience" in the field of architecture is a definite foot forward in trying to maximize this idea. Therefore i felt it necessary to apply these ideals in my final design. Exploitation in the apparent use of color and intersecting geometries proved to be useful in creating specific points of interest, while also creating spaces and interactions that would intrigue an individual to further explore these areas.

Elemental Breakdown Of Building:

ENCLOSURE

STRUCTURE

MENTAL STIMULI

Renderings Showing Spatial Qualities/Interactions:

Overall Renderings:

A place where memories are made, where experience is composed of both a mental and physical aspect. That is what i inteded to accomplish with this project. In the end designing a structure that would appeal to anyone and everyone would be far from possible but that was something that was accepted early on. My deeper purpose was to provide an intervention in which both positive and negative emotions would be evoked. Why negative emotion you may ask? Simple, both are equally important in my eyes, because
you see wether positive or negative, emotion is emotion, and to exract one or the other from you is my end goal

Multi-Use Structure(2008)

Site:
Hollenbeck Park, Boyle Heights, CA

Objective:
Create a multi-use structure on an existing site that would house current functions

Concept:
Learn to extract points of interest from site analysisand incorporate them to influence a final design

Displacement was to be our main focus with an emphasis on existing overlaps, edges and boundaries on the site. After extensive research on the word displacement i honed in on the idea of motion displacement and how it was practiced in the art of “Parkour”. With this research and site analysis in mind i proceeded to extract specific lines  edges and boundaries from the streets and roads in the surrounding area around the park. These in turn influenced my final design.


Site/City Studies:

Project Skeleton:

Plan:

The programmatic vision for my project entailed a very active daytime phase, with a surprising nightlife. Activities and amenities that varied from a dance studio to an art gallery would provide entertainment for various crowds. At night a chic ultra lounge would come to life, fully loaded with an outdoor heated pool. No doubt making my intervention a definite point of interest for locals and foreigners alike. In all i wanted to provide a sleek and modern center that would appeal and attract all ages.       


Site Plan:

My end goal was to breathe new life into a somewhat complacent location. With my investigation of the
edges and boundaries, there was soon a redfinition and relocation of these major role players. eventually,
these were devised into a final design that would soon prove to be a diamond in the rough. amongst all the
hustle and bustle of the ordinary life found in this area, my character would soon make a name for itself.
Furthermore, it would show that influences oustide of the immediate environment would and could be used in
an eloquent way to demonstrate this concept of displacement.