ALEXANDER DAVIS ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO 2009
CONTENTS
2 GAINESVILLE, FL code-generated city
16 CHARLESTON, SC new public library
26 SAVANAH, GA two homes in the historic district
32 ATACAMA, CHILE desert research center
20 ROME, ITALY lungo tevere commercial center
project location map
CODE-GENERATED CITY GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
CRITICS: GREGG PAQUARELLI/ JONATHAN MALLIE/ NANCY CLARK DESIGN 8
SPRING09
Traditional building codes, often viewed as restraints on architectual design, are one of the biggest influences on an urban landscape. Existing cities grapple with quality of living, infrastructural needs, sense of place and architectural style by creating detailed sets of rules for building. By inventing a unique, calculus-based building code, a sort of DNA for the generation of a new urban environment and using it create growth instead of restrict it, a new form of urban development arises. Design the inputs ( the size, footprint, spatial generation, facade treatment, etc.) and the equation, and the product is the desired urban environment.
The University of Florida athletic program is in a period of national recognition. Excelling in almost every sport, and pulling in $ 60M+ in yearly revenue, UF teams have used their success on the field to grow an empire large enough to sustain itself completely detached from the actually University. UAA, University Athletic Association, actually accounts for one of the largest funding sources for the entire school. The next step in the progression is a large physical entity, a mecca, that serves as the capitol of an empire within the University and the city of Gainesville. Designing a UF/city building code can create the ideal enviroment for athletes and spectators.
EXISTING CONDITION
UF AUTONOMIZES
site cam ampus pus// city pus downtown Ga nes Gai nesvil ville vil le
3
PROGRAM TRACKING/ CREATING THE RULES DOWNTOWN GAINESVILLE PROGRAM ANALYSIS government office
downtown bars
city transit
city entertainment
downtown gainesville
government office, city transit, downtown bars and city entertainment use versus time
daily use
0
6
12
18
24
weekly use T
M
monthly use
yearly use
1
J
M
A
M
J
S
S
28
21
14
7
F
F
R
W
J
A
S
O
N
D
STADIUM VOLUME ANALYSIS ISOLATION BY FUNCTION
circulation
seating
playing surface
classroom/offices
program use circulation, classroom, surface and seating vs time
daily
18
12
6
0
24
weekly S
T
M
W
R
S
F
seasonally S
A
yearly
J
F
M
O
A
M
J
D
N
J
A
S
O
N
D
NODE FINDING: incorporating city function into a sporting topography stadium circulation - city recreation peak stadium offices - city transit city entertainment-stadium seating moderate use minimum stadium circulation - city office peak city entertainment - field minimum city transit - stadium circulation minimum
circulation - office class changes consistent decline in event space use
circulation - seating running stadiums office -recreation minimal use
office - transit peak use
CRITICAL RELATIONSHIPS
governing - marketing - dining - commerce DEFINING PRINCIPLE
city recreation - stadium circulation minimal use sporting - governing
tailgating - dining - public space - housing
stadium circulation- city transit congruent use community - public space - housing - athletes
transit - entertainment moderate use
office - seating - field coincidental use office - entertainment 5 o’clock seating - field use spectating
all entertainment peak use transit - entertainment peak use
CREATING THE RULES: GATOR CITY ZONING CODE ZONE SPECIFIC RESTRICTIONS
PROGRAMATIC RESTRICTIONS
zone 1
zone 2
zone 3
zone 4
private
collaborative
community
public
10%
10%
30%
50%
80%
70%
80%
60%
40%
10%
500 sqft
1000 sqft
2500 sqft
2500 sqft
1000 sqft
Percentage of site able to support gameday programs Percentage of site able to support education programs
zone 5 spectacle
FORM RESTRICTIONS maximum continuous facade
FACADE WITH RESPECT TO PROGRAM
fenestration (% glazed) projection beyond planar facade (% of sqft. extended)
public
private
public
private
public
private
public
private
public
private
50%
10%
70%
10%
70%
20%
90%
--
90%
20%
10%
-30%
30%
-20%
30%
-20%
30%
--
30%
-10%
TAR ratio
--
.5
1
1.5
2
min. % area exposed to sky
--
100%
50%
50%
75%
CODE B.3: DENSITY n1 + n2 + n3 + n4 + n5 = nsite Site occupation (%)
DENSITY DESIGN GUIDELINES 75
Accentuate multi-use, high density, diverse program distribution
50
at zone scale at site scale at building scale
50
35
Flexible allocation of space Emphasis on circulation/linkages between structures/zones
FAR 1.5
Unobtrusive ground planes
1
Maintain continuity of itinerate programs across the site, connections between zones
.75
.5
OVERLAY HEXAGON GRID - Manipulate to visualize results of equations and delineate zones: Code B.2 density map derivation - analytical equations lim x field
density(x) = “D�
where
3D representation of limit equation density(x) = {x-1 + zone (x) }
density vs proximity to field
asymptote at field boundary
DENSITY MAP DERIVATION: APPLICATION TO THE SITE
lim density(x) x field
n(site) = 5
wave addition - waves in phase produce greater amplitudes
red wave + blue wave = purple wave field density addition - fields in proximity yield greater densities = density is maximaxed adjacent and between sporting centers n1 + n2 + n3 + n4 + n5 = nsite
where
density (x) = { . [1/xn + zone(n)] } n=0
TAR: TAILGATING - AREA RATIO and
n = number of proximate fields
Gator City Zoning Code D.1 FAR - 1
TAR - 1
100% site occupation
100% allocated to roof
50% site occupation
50% allocated to roof
25% site occupation
25% allocated to roof
conventional tailgating
site
EXAMPLE PERMUTATIONS
TAR -- 1.5 -- 66% open FAR -- .5
TAR -- 1.5 -- 50% open FAR -- 1.5
TAR -- 1.5 -- 50% open FAR -- 1
TAR -- 1.5 -- 66% open FAR -- .75
INJECTING CITY PROGRAM INTO THE ATHLETICS SITE STUDENT HOUSING
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
ATHLETE HOUSING FACULTY/STAFF HOUSING PUBLIC/ OPEN SPACE
INFRASTRUCTURE OFFICIALS MARKETING GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY UF DINING
COMMERCE TAILGATE AREA
housing - dining housing - housing public space - housing public space - tailgating tailgating - marketing community - tailgating UF - tailgating dining - tailgating dining - commerce commerce - tailgating commerce - marketing commerce - community community - public space
COACHING ATHLETES
EXPLOIT Hexagonal node populated with program
TRAINING
LEARNING/ TEACHING
PROGRAM LIST/ COLOR SCHEME Program linkages developed from program tracking inform the clusters with their rogrammatic possibilites. Selected nodes expand to clusters of program based on logical site placement. Large massings of clusters start to become “zones” (shown by predominance of a certain color), which stay loosely defined through urban development and expand and contract with age.
Clusters now become the basis for sites and for building footprints.
POPULATING THE GRID WITH TOWER VERSIONS Because the clusters are linkages in program, the tower comes embedded with the information needed to insert program in it. The programmatic implications of the cluster twist upward and populate the available space. The structural skin pulls its form from the same hexagon grid, but shifts size and scale to suggest different scales of inhabitation within. The tower is an expression of the zone it is located in.
POPULATING TOWERS
VERSIONING TOWERS: PULLING FORM FROM THE BUILDING CODE
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
=
=
=
=
GAME DAY, GATOR CITY
NEW CHARLESTON LIBRARY CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
CRITIC: ALFONSO PEREZ- MENDEZ
DESIGN 6
SPRING08
A new cultural center in the heart of Charleston has the task of preserving significant artistic and historic resources as well as providing much-needed passive and active public space. Libraries are one of the last “free” indoor places in 21st century society and have the ability to satisfy a need for cultural gathering space. The project consists of two main elements. A large urban beach slopes from above the street level, complimented by a overlooking meandering platform. Central to the focus of the open space and the entire site is a 4 level digital and printed media library housing book storage, computer stations, furnished gathering spaces and a cafe. The project’s varied program aims to encompass the many possible activities of a potential user. The building skin, comprised of two interlocking gestures, services the programatic and environmental needs of the building. A perforated grid of white metal panels shields the printed media storage from the sun, preserving the integrity of physical media. A large steel glass structure is wrapped across the rest the building providing structural support, ventilation louvres and ample daylighting. The glass skin pulls up from the ground and bends over front facade providing a lense for observing the activity inside.
16
NEW CHARLESTON LIBRARY 6
5
4
1
1
3
3
1
3
2
1 2
level 1
level 1 1 entry lobby 2 group function
4 staff only 5 lounge/ cafe
1 printed media 2 digital media stations
3 general media
6 tilted plaza
3 study boxes
2
level 1 1 printed media 2 digital media stations 3 study boxes
The observation of human activity is a critical idea to the project. Libraries are social places, and the building aims to embed the idea of social interaction. The inside and outside of the building become both stage and audience, an obersvation of work and relaxation, movement and rest.
3
1
3
2
level 1 1 printed media 2 digital media stations 3 study boxes
LUNGOTEVERE COMMERCIAL CENTER ROME, ITALY
CRITIC: ALFONSO PEREZ-MENDEZ
DESIGN 7
FALL08
A walk through a Roman piazza tells volumes about the nature of Italian culture. The pedestrian street is the critical place for social interaction and commerce just as it is for movement. Important to the vibrant Roman streetscape are large amounts of open free space and plenty of connection through the dense urban makeup. Lungo-Tevere Commercial Center is a largley transparent complex of buildings bisected by a wide, meandering promenade that connects a busy intersection and pedestrian bridge to open piazza. The project cradles the open space inside and provides a social environment not unlike many public places around the city.
20
PONTE SISTO, FACING CITY CENTER
The occurrence of green glass, appearing as bridges for movement throughout the site, emphasizes the intersection of paths through the complex. The green tubes imply direction and efficiency, while the urban plaza underneath is wide open for repose and exploratory wandering.
GROUND
GlASS BRIDGES
SITE PLAN
RECREATING THE PIAZZA
TWO HOMES
IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
CRITIC: ALFONSO PEREZ-MENDEZ
DESIGN 6 SPR08
Savannah’s city plan is distinguished from those of previous colonial towns by its repeated pattern of connected neighborhoods. Multiple squares, streets, are designed in a expand into lands held by the city (the common). The city’s design is unique in the history of urban planning in a number of respects, not the least of which is that the squares concept allowed for more open space in Savannah than in most previous city layouts. Each square contained two different types of lots: trustee lots or large estate lots with street frontage on three sides, and tything lots with narrow porportions just wide enough for a home. The homes which sit on these lots speak of suppositions of antiquated southern wealth and social status. Rebuilding on one of these sites will speak less of the cultural political formation and more on how a modern building can contribute to a richly historic city fabric. This project concentrates on the idea of building skin as the negotiator of context and intervention. Establishing a basic formal outline of an appropriate scale sets the groundwork for a series of investigations on how the design of the facade can convey contextual relationship, intrinsic musicality. 26
CALHOUN SQUARE TYTHING HOME TRUSTEE HOME
VISUAL INVESTIGATION: MUSICALITY IN HISTORIC SAVANNAH
Musicality refers to fitting a dance to the music being played, with the goal of relating the dance to the music’s rythym, melody and mood. Dancers usually step on the beats of the music, and vary the size of their movements with the volume of the music. This is especially true in choreography, where dancers plan a routine of dance moves with a specific musical pattern in mind. Musicality is the response, functional or stylized, to the prevailing rythym in an environment.
TRUSTEE LOT
An architectural form placed in a sensitive urban environment must not just reflect a set of spatial constraints but respond to a preestablished dialouge in form and facade. In a dense urban setting, appropriate contextual response can be more important than design for interior logistics.
TYTHING LOT
DESERT RESEARCH FACILITY ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE
CRITIC: CHARLEY HAILEY
DESIGN 4
SPRING07
The ability to inject life into a barren desert relies on the process of archaeology, not only as a precedent for building on a particular site, but as an architectural tool for endurance. Astrological research has revealed an unusually large amount of eclipses that occurred in the Atacama desert region within a 300 year period of the ancient Nazca culture. Cross-study of ancient Nazca culture with modern astrology, especially focused on the viewing of an upcoming solar eclipse, allows for a unique perspective on a mysterious people, known for their desert drawings (the Nazca lines). The aim of this desert project is two blend the strengths of the fields of science, archaeology and architecture for the creation of a viable desert research center.
32
While the desert can provde an excellent environment for viewing solar events and nighttime star gazing, inhabiting an area of land there lends itself to harsh climatic conditions.
The research center is situated in a large dune near the location of the famed Nazca lines. The approach pierces through the valley of a dune, preserving it’s natural formation, and into the subterranean region formed by archeological excavation of the site. The slope of the dune suggests the continuity of the landscape while the hypodermal quality of the site maintains elemental protection.
Alexander Davis 252 Saint George Street Saint Augustine, FL 32084 alexhdavis@gmail.com (904) 377-4205