Site plan development

I have pretty much clear what is what I want for my site development.

• My access plaza:
  I want to make a clean entrance (not sure about trees and / or landscape)
  I want to be a invitation to both streets and particularly to the “corner”
  It will reflect some of my original concepts thru texture and material (simple ??!!)
  It is to be very energetic and supported by many visual elements (my “spectaculars”)
• Boylston Street:
  I want to respect the set back of the west building as well as some of the elements of it (very symbolic)
  I want to give my interpretation of the “living” in Boston with my new interpretation of the “bay window” (we’ll see if possible) and I might elevate the dorm building to give a “water table – basement” feel to it)
  I want to be very energetic and have a great deal of interaction with the business side of the street with my “spectaculars” (I am struggling with the landscape and trees)
  I want to incorporate some elements of traditional Boston in my details (maybe windows, etc) in a contemporary interpretation (yet to happen)
• Inside court:
  I want it t be a dynamic element of the place (like adding an all year round “river rock” ) and will serve for my sustainable strategies
  I wan to make it an “extension” of the west building” but add plenty of ever green trees on that side to give a sense of privacy. (in communion with the louvers at the exit stair)
• On the track side I just want to provide a “soldier” line of trees to buffer the sound, limit some visuals and to give the train a entry side wall to the tunnel.

Gus

The schedule

My acknowledgment of the schedule
=)

Gus

Considerations to my project

Next steps in my project
These are the next steps in my project in order to accomplish my intentions and to fulfill the goals and schedule of the studio:

1. Environmental strategies:
   I need to define all the most important ones (by performance and cost) and work out the details, implications, consequences and other factors to asset them and smoothly incorporate them in to the final project
   Light and solar radiation gain / protection
   Wind use / protection
   Material use
   Sustainable elements
   Waterless urinals
   Water capture / dispersion
   Concrete prefabrication (insulating panels)
2. Building sections.
   This is the next step to achieve better project understanding and start specific solutions to scenarios, elements or potential situations not considered yet.
   Give solution to my stairs
   Solution to my elevator
   Incorporate mechanical, electrical and HVAC elements
   Understanding of the structure
   Sustainable strategies solutions
3. Details
   Directly related to the section part of my plan
   On sections
   On elevations
   In the site
   On the floors
   Any other
4. Mechanical systems
   Directly related to the section part of my plan
   On sections
   On elevations
   In the site
   On the floors
   Any other
5. Site plan
   Oversee the project as a whole and make sure is a cohesive element accordingly to the context, landscape and the specific urban site.
   
   Gus
   

Summarizing my project

Summarizing my strong aspects of the project and the elements I need to work on:

• I need to make sure the way I develop the site plan an I address the corner in order to get all the benefits of my initial intention of making a strong corner element that creates a strong access point.
• 
  I need to address the issues that my inner plaza might be creating (I have a 4 story building in front of my studios south elevation, and the potential of not getting enough direct light in winter in that specific area.
• 
  I need to make sure that the dialog between my building and the existing building in the west side is as smooth and simple as possible creating an harmonious relationship and avoiding “black holes”
• 
  I need to work intensively in the details that I want for the project in order to make them “buildable” and “lawsuit” exempt and at the same time a strong support to the sustainable strategies that I want to incorporate in my design

Gus

Comments to Jacklyn, David and Matt

Not sure how to add images to your blogs, so at this moment I will do my comments to you in my blog. Here are my comments to you guys:

David:
I think the roof garden is a very important element and can add a lot of value to the building; I am just want to see you are going to incorporate it to the visual part of the project
Regarding your green areas, are you planning to "connect" them or they are to be separate elements? This might provide you with the possibility of creating different “feels” to each one” or to create a unifying concept for the project (including the roof top)
I think something to add to your formal - visual side of the project is the emphasis you should have for your entry and how you can use the element of the plaza and "birth" the entrance from it!

Jaclyn:
I think you have some interesting ideas of respecting the adjacent building height and adding the color to your elevation ( I agree with Kara, I think your color scheme is good just need to relate with the context and carry on all the project or just become an accent of it as a whole like in your second scheme)
I like the bold element at the corners side of the lot, I just think you should create more dialog with that corner (a good try with your second scheme!)
In your first scheme, you project feels like two buildings, but in your second scheme you gave it some consistent elements that provided it with smooth transitions


Matt: I think the over all flow of the parti is great, the creation of the plaza is a good urban and contextual gift, but my concern is that you are "forgetting" the corner. It might not be important for you (I am not saying is or in not) but do you think is important for Boston? –Rhetorical question- (I think your gestures of connection with the corner - windows- are not as strong as they can be)
I like the way you give the flow to the side of the freeway and still you provide an important dialog with your great window curtain.
As much as I like the flow of your floor plan, I am not sure you are achieving that flow with your form. It feels a little bit broken and in pieces. This might be ok for now and is just something you are to address later on. I will look for it

Sincerely

Gus

INTENSIVE 4TH POST FINAL CRIT

4th

The final product where I bring to light the final understanding of Change = Specific urban response, motion = site / landscape , tolerance = context and place

All this will be compressed and simplified in my final video I will be posting of my Saturday crit (Jan 19th 2008 at the BAC), but for the purpose of showing a more detailed work and to give the opportunity for anyone to see any specific image or design process I do all this image posting.

Gus

INTENSIVE 3RD POST

3rd.


The final refinement in my parti, volume and form for the project trying to capture the original statement