//site and program analysis

_Atmospheric Collage

After visiting the site and analyzing both the site and program, we decided to create an image that embodied what we agreed were the most important features of the site and feeling we wanted to create with the program and how it engages the site. We were looking for a design that plays with natural light, views and connections, circulation, and program to create a building that remains sensitive to the site and creates a place with engaging spatial qualities.

_Form Diagrams

We then split the program into six major areas: indoor pools, Olympic pool, lobby, spa, hotel, and parking. This allows for multiple access points through each side of the site. We were also concerned with remaining sensitive to the scale of existing residential neighborhood, so we tilted the design to bring the scale down. This also helps to provide the desired view of the bridge from the Olympic pool and the hotel. The edges of each section of the design are curved to open the center up, provide multiple access points, and views to the railroad. The design also incorporates a curved roof system that plays with daylight and shading.

//building design

The building plays with natural light, existing site features, views, connections, circulation, and program. The form of the building is designed to adapt to the predicted circulation routes. It is also divided into sections that peel out at the edges to bring the site in, and the views to the Claiborne Bridge and railroad tracks are highlighted in the design. The center remains sensitive to the site and creates a place with engaging spatial qualities.

_Interior Rendering

Olympic Pool Area

_Exterior Rendering

//models

_Early Process Models

These are images of six (6) early explorations on how we were trying to achieve the feeling of the collage while providing the views and connections desired. Here we also played with general program elements and their approximate sizes.

_Schematic Design Review

At this time, we narrowed down to one design from the process models. We liked that it had a great view of the bridge, had an interesting relationship with the site, and wasn’t as tall as some of the others, but this design did have it’s problems. It wasn’t very engaging with the neighborhood as we would have liked, natural light was going to be an issue with such a monolithic design, and it was much too large.

_Midterm Review

After thinking more about the program elements and the site features required, major form changes had to occur. We were wanting to stay true to our initial vision and collage, and so we decided to break up the program and get the building down to a more reasonable size. This change solved a lot of daylight and circulation issues, provided the views and connections desired, and became more sensitive to the existing neighborhood.

_Design Development Review

After developing that design from the midterm review, the roof of the building began to take shape and really inform the design. The model below was 3d printed on a powder printer.

_3d Model

Views of the 3d model in Rhino.

_In-Progress Final Model

The final model was much too large to 3d-print, so the tricky part was figuring how to build the roof structure because it curves. We decided that we could layer laser-cut museum board and bend it to create the roof. We laser-cut the outline of the walls below the roof so we could make sure they ended up in the right place and the curve would be accurate. The floors and the roof are made of museum board, the opaque walls are made of white lexan, and the glass walls are made of clear lexan. The pools are made of clear lexan, but the bottom side has the blue plastic protecting sheet left on to indicate that it is water. We also etched in the lines of the olympic pool on the blue plastic side of the lexan. For entourage we added laser cut silhouette of people out of black museum board and we also included a few trees. The model is built on an mdf base that fits into the large site model that the class shared.

_Final Model

//final board