In response to the current housing crisis, the Timber Nest maximizes the number of residential units while maintaining healthy, productive, and enjoyable living/working environments through a massing strategy of super-imposition. Hovering over both the metro line and bus stations, the Timber Nest celebrates downtown Atlanta’s urban dynamics. By overlaying dwelling units onto the existing transit hubs, the design explores a new high-density and mixed-use typology for a more sustainable urban living condition. The Urban Corridor and Community Corridor bridge the residential tower above and transit hubs below through a composite bridge structural system and programmatic intervention. An elevated green park at the Urban Corridor level provides public amenities including adaptive urban market spaces. Additionally, a public swimming pool is integrated into the train station’s roof top structure that not only mitigates noise pollution and vibrations of the passing trains but also anchors the site as a unique urban feature for the entire community. We use Passive Design Strategy to overcome the complex site constraints imposed onto the linear “L” shape plot area. By placing residential units along the 360-feet long-narrow-band, we maximize the naturally ventilated spaces between units and reduce excessive heat gain through minimizing west façade exposure. Residents not only enjoy their private balconies but also benefit from shared communal spaces between units with a design that promotes collective and engaging social activities through the layered vertical neighborhood. Six timber structural prototypes were developed in residential, commercial, and public areas to address the demands of a mixed-use building complex. The tall structures utilize modular timber construction systems to allow the building to grow for future expansion. The Timber Nest, rooted in one of Atlanta’s transit hubs, transforms a complex transportation site into an adaptive home as a sustainable building model for the city.
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Roof terraces provide diversified public space
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Superimposed residential tower onto public transportation infrastructure
Angular urban edge defines public entrance
Bending façade optimizes surface area and volume of apartments and provides opportunity for fenestration
Plaza
Entrance
Plaza
Rigid timber frame structure system provides flexibility for residential unit arrangement
Entrance
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In response to the current housing crisis the Timber Nest accommodates 100 units (24 x 2 BD, 52 x 1 BD, 24 x Studio) with additional shared community open space for healthy living
Future expansion through infill could add 50 units increasing current occupancy by 50% to accommodate 150 units in total
Future expansion through increased building height (FAR) could add 50 units increasing current occupancy by 50% while maintaining shared community open spaces
101 Lobby 102 Retail 103 Commercial Kitchen 104 Urban Market Space 105 Changing Rooms For Pool
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201 Locker Rooms 202 Gym 203 Restaurant 204 Classrooms 205 Residential Lobby
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Typical Residential Foor Plan + Winter Solar Gain Diagram
301 Incubator / Admin 302 Terrace Restuarant 303 Neighborhood Nests / Exercise Areas
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Typical Residential Foor Plan + Summer Solar Shading Diagram 15
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Residential Elevators
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Commercial Elevators
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Natural Ventilation 301
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Summer Solstice: passive solar design prevents excess heat gain in units
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Natural Ventilation
Commercial Elevators
Elevators to Bus
m C om Elevators to Subway
Residential Elevators
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Residential Elevators
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Winter Solstice: passive solar design optimizes the amount of sunlight to enter the apartment units
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Natural Ventilation
Typical Residential Section 10
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Structural cavity between two vertical units provides naturally vented MEP and duct workspaces
CLT Panel Wall / Floor / Roof Semi-Monocoque System
Rigid Frame w/ Diagonal Bracing Reinforcement System
Truss Bridge System
(Urban Corridor + Community Corridor)
Wall-Frame (Dual System) w/ Reinforced Bracing Frame System
Continuous V-Column w/ CrossBracing Beam Framing System
V-Column w/ Cross-Bracing Beam Framing System
Restuarant Terrace
Public Entrance Plaza
Restuarant
Community Corridor
Commercial Kitchen
Urban Corridor
Lower Level For MEP / Storage
Section Perspective 20
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