shifting planes

These models are where the fun really happened for me- to work out site features this way is so much more powerful in my own mind- hopefully they communicate well.

The lawn area I'm envisioning for the northeast quadrant of the site has many possibilities. What this shows is a raised edge on the east side, maybe 3' with a long gradual slope to the west- because this would be quite long, maybe 60' or so strong edge. I thought about what spaces and experiences might happen were I to intersect that tilted plane with another plane but with an inverse relationship- i see this as a walkway, a way to enter, as well as a fairly dramatic (given the context) shift in perception- even 3' off the ground would allow users to see from a different vantage. 

An exaggerated protrusion.... 

And a shift in planes, creating opportunities for other spaces to emerge around it. 

STILL working out concepts

It's getting rather tiring, I must say- a small breakthrough of sorts after these drawings were made- I've been focusing so long on "what the space needs to be" and have been totally stumped- yes, the site tells me a few things, but the creative end is obviously on me to decide and propose. I feel like i've been leaving the creative out of it, or have not been approaching it from my true self- i know, i know. that's a bit silly, but i've really been letting what i assume the client is expecting (which exists totally in my mind) to shape my concept, so it's really no wonder that this figment of my imagination has not been producing anything...

so these drawings are just still basic things i've been thinking about the site- and then the models are where i've begun to allow my sculptural side out a bit- very preliminary, but i had fun with them, which afterall is the point. more fun is to be had in coming days, and hopefully this will lead to true inspiration. it usually does for me.

Sketchup Stills

Just a few images of my sketchup model and pedestrian analysis... more later.

Materiality

These are some images I've found in magazines lately- some intruiging ideas and forms-

Permeable pavers that could possibly meet code and be consistent with the landscape guidelines for downtown

A gorgeous night-lighting option for the space...

Might be a water feature that the city could agree on- the sound and sight of water with very little surface area with which to get wet- could appease kids' desire to touch the water and not have them enter the buildings dripping wet...

The materials on this Herzog + De Muron rennovation are stunning- might post more on this later, but its simply an exquisite example of honoring historic architecture with a very contemporary treatment and celebration of materials

Bell and Layout ideas

The current bell. trapped in a crude black-painted steel contraption.... what else could this be?

Some ideas for the layout of the space- major elements such as lawn, visual breaks/barriers, belltower, *very* basic plant massing ideas

Parking megolith

These are the 90% drawings for the parking garage that will be bordering my site to the east- the third elevation down will be the one facing my site, with bus drop-off areas in front of it. the lower portion of it will be a 'terminal' of sorts, though this is not a greyhound station or anything- the busses will be city busses, downtown trolleys, and A&M busses. The bottom elevation on the picture is facing south, which is somewhat unfortunate- why not embellish this side with the exterior stairs and facade as they have the second elevation?

latest sketches