Kelly Douglas

How might a space combine opposites to create a sanctuary within the interstitial?

Flourish

(of a person, animal, or other living organism) grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way as the result of a particularly favorable environment.

Size minimum: 8’ x 8’ x 6’ per animal +2sf / additional animal

Size minimum: 16’ x 90’ x 16’ Perching structure

Size minimum: 6’ x 12’ x 6’ +2sf / additional animal 6’ pond deeper than 2’

Size minimum: 8x8x6 or 3x3x3 injured Shelter structure

Size minimum: 15x15x6 or 8x8x8 injured Shelter structure

Size minimum: 4’ x 8’ x 8’ +1sf / additional animal

Size minimum: Caging depth 3x shell width, 5x length & width

INTERIOR

NATURE

BUILT ENV.

EXTERIOR

INTERSTITIALITY How might a space combine opposites to create a sanctuary within the interstitial?

ANIMAL

HUMAN

ANIMAL

HUMAN

STUDIES

a

Olafur Eliasson: Riverbed

Designed specifically for the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark, the artist filled the entire wing with a rocky landscape and a stream that threads through the gallery spaces. This idea of constructed nature fills an interior space with natural elements, creating a playful and curious atmosphere.

b

BIG: Copenhagen Zoo

The enclosures have been designed to feel like humans are the visitors in the pandas’ home, rather than pandas being the exotic guests from faraway lands.

The interior resembles the natural terrain for the animals. This design thinks of architecture as portraiture. “To design a home for someone is like capturing their essence, their character and personality in built form.”

Cong Sinh Architects: Symbiosis

In the southern region of Huế, Vietnam, urbanization is rapidly expanding. In order to maintain the essence of the natural landscape, this office building is friendly and harmonious with nature. The symbiotic relationship that this building creates helps heal the wounds caused by the urbanization process on the street.

c

BURNET WOODS: TRAILSIDE NATURE CENTER Trailside Nature Center, the chosen site for this design, sits in one of the largest green spaces in the city, an 89-acre city park called Burnet Woods. It is considered to be the geographical center of the Uptown area combining green space network, commercial areas, residential zones and institutional sites. In the heart of it all, this building divides yet conjoins urban and rural landscape.

FINDING THE INTERSTITIAL

Second Level: Street

Second Level: Street

First Level: Ground

First Level: Ground

Section View

Section View

Can the combination of opposites create a sanctuary?

Every day, a wild animal is injured as a direct result of human activity and seeks healing for survival. This sanctuary is designed specifically to serve both humans and animals equal, blurring the lines that divide the two yet ensuring that the human-animal contact remains minimal. By having a place to heal and release these creatures, we can begin to recompense the damage that humans have done to wildlife. This design combines nature with the built environment in a new and unique way as the human spaces help define yet separate the animal spaces. As the natural environment encroaches on the built, wildlife is given a second chance to thrive in a favorable environment and safely regain their independence.

Section View

Interior & exterior Nature & built environment Rural & urban landscape Humans & wildlife

Isometric View

HUMAN - HUMAN INTERACTION: Research Room Within the building, there are different areas dedicated to each type of user. While the concept of the space is to work within the interstitial, it is important for humans and animals to have their individual spaces, separate enough to maintain coexistence and respect the animal-fear response. This space allows humans to operate behind the scenes and help to maintain the wellbeing of their patients.

HUMAN - ANIMAL INTERACTION: Operation Room The operation rooms behave as the interstitial space within the building. These sterile rooms include adjustable operating tables that expand and contract to best suit a full range of animal sizes. To the left is a viewing area for guests to oversee the examination of their injured animal. To the right, one-way dotted glass allows viewing that is unintrusive to the animals and brings in natural light.

ANIMAL - ANIMAL INTERACTION: Shelter Beyond the interstitial of the building houses recovering animals from post-operation to pre-release. Whether it be a plethora of trees to perch on, ponds to bathe in or earth to burrow, each enclosure is unique to its tenant and mimics their natural habitats. One-way dotted glass and screening systems prevent future injury and invites natural light and fresh air into each enclosure.