Windward Influence Cap Studio: Spring 2013 Location: Santa Monica, CA Critic: Erich Shoenenburger
logo designed by Benjamin Wells This studio required an automobile museum of alternative energy in California, adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier. As a group-oriented project, we designated ourselves as BAD Architects and put forth various perspectives and precedent studies. Finalizing on my concept of using the forces of coastal winds as inspiration (taken directly from the naturally warped Monterey Cyprus trees unique to the California coast line) we looked to ways in which not only the wind patterns and currents themselves could influence our project, but how the sculpted residue of the wind paths could ultimately develop our formal approach.
Creating wind study models such as this, I developed a formal strategy that would later influence the programmatic relationships and circulation patterns that would traverse the site.
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Santa Monica Pier
alluminum strip panel siding glazing with exposed steel tube structure benhind
Our external forms were heavily influenced by wind study patterns performed in Maya, and by examining spatial possibilities formed within our three-dimensional physical models. The wind flow starts from the pier and makes its way northward. The program inside determined where the openings would occur to allow natural lighting inside the museum spaces.
Car Showroom
Cafe
Car Service/Repair
Car Showroom
Conceirge
Internal Organization Elevator Core Theatre
To Santa Monica Pier
Car Charging Stations
Ground Floor
First Floor
Second Floor