Virginia Tech Bachelor of Architecture Thesis

A PLACE TO DREAM THE ANTITHESIS OF ORPHANAGE AS INSTITUTION

CHELSEA BRYANT UNDERGRADUATE THESIS BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE | 2016 VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE + STATE UNIVERSITY

“Funiverse, or our house is our first corner of the world. As has often been said, it is our first a real cosmos in every sense of the word. If we look at it intimately, the

humblest dwelling has beauty. Authors of books on “the humble home” often mention this feature of the poetics of space. But this mention is much too succinct.

Finding little to describe in the humble home, they spend little time there; so they describe it as it actually is, without really experiencing its primitiveness, a primitiveness which belongs to all, rich and poor alike, if they are willing to dream.”

Gaston Bachelard

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A PLACE TO DREAM THE ANTITHESIS OF ORPHANAGE AS INSTITUTION

table of contents i. origins ........................................ 05

ii. 35° 59' 28" N

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106° 4' 48" W ............... 19

iii. the unstitutionalized home

place - home - orphanage ..................... 35

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i. origins : SALT OF THE EARTH

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Aztec Ruins, top left; Mesa Verde, top right/ bottom

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~ espanola,

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collage

ARCHITECTURE & PARTICULARITY OF PLACE

WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS ESSENTIAL TO ALL HUMAN BEINGS // WHAT TYPE OF PLACE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL ROOT OF ALL ARCHITECTURE?

p l a c e

h o m e

o r p h a n a g e

typologies

SENSE OF PLACE “The character of a place is a function of time; it changes with the seasons, the course of a day and the weather...” (GENIUS LOCI, NORBERG-SCHULZ).

Place functions as a particular point in space. Space is comprised of a system of relationships between places. Character is therefore the “complex totality.”

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PROFESSOR MAX VAN MANEN REFERS TO FOUR ASPECTS OF PHENOMENOLOGY: corporeality relationality spatiality temporeality THESE RELATIONAL ASPECTS FRAME OUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE AS WE PERCEIVE THEM AND ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ARCHITECTURE.

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new mexico travels, august 2015

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Architecture is a world of phenomena that encloses man “by resting on the ground and rising towards the sky.�

norberg-schulz, genius loci

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The soil from the site is cast into the plaster molds. these masses are the beginning studies of carved form. through life, we realize time weathers all. it may distress or erode, but makes all the more beautiful and meaningful because of its honest expression.

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experiencing new mexico’s dramatic landscape providied plenty inspiration for form-making via natural processes such as weathering and erosion. the formal subtractive qualities and parts to whole relationship evoke a strong sensibility of place and time, thus emboldening the beauty and comprehension. one of the explorations induced a very prescriptive version of eroding mass to create form. it became contextless and object-like. in fact, one observation made while in new mexico was that many structures in this type of earth appear to be objects in the landscape.

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ii. 35° 59' 28" N

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106° 4' 48" W

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SITE:

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~ SITE: ESPANOLA, NEW MEXICO La Vega de los Vigiles population 10,495

Espanola, historically known as la vega De los Vigiles, is the oldest European-founded capital in the new world. Founded by spanish ~ conquistador Don Juan De Onate in 1598, the ~ history of espanola is rich and palpable.

Historically, the spanish and ancestrual puebloans inhabited these fertile valley lands along the rio grande river for hundreds of years prior to the introduction of the railroad. with the eventual decline of the railroad ~ industry, the economy of espanola has plummeted. Houses and lots became abandoned and all prior efforts for urban renewal have been unsubstantial. Today, many live in poverty and the need for revival is great. because of this, the large plot along the river has a large opportunity to function by giving back to the community.

downtown espanola, 1920

By UNM Digital Archives Library

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n railroad ave

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rio grande

m riverside dr

fairview ln

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summer solstice azimuth: 60 - 300 altitude: 77

winter solstice azimuth: 120 - 240 altitude: 30

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New Mexico has a climate of considerable flux. Pictured below is the site section during the summer solstice. On the opposite page is the winter solstice. It is most advantageous to examine this particular site within the two contrasting sets of circumstances and design accordingly. The fluctuations exist on a macro scale of summer and winter as well as day and night. While the summer day emits an inescapable dry heat, the night provides much needed cool relief. Massive earthen walls act as a resevoir of stability to provide thermal comfort during these drastic desert conditions.

When the sun lessens its glare and the river recedes, the site reveals a walking trail for its occupants along the calm water’s edge.

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threads of time

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iii. the unstitutionalized home place - home - orphanage

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“Home” means more than I can express, because it goes far beyond the physical care of a child. A home is a place where a kid should feel safe and not wonder every day, “Is this the last day?” Home is where a kid works on life plans and dreams, which slowly become real...

LETTERS MY MOTHER NEVER READ, Jerri Diane Sueck

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PROGRAM: THE UNSTITUTIONALIZED HOME place - home - orphanage

overview nestled between the Valles Caldera, a supervolcano to the west, and the Sangre De Cristo mountains to the east is the town of Espanola, New Mexico. It is located near the intersection of the Rio Grande, the Rio Chama, and the Rio Santa Cruz and is 30 minutes north of Santa Fe, the state capitol. despite its rich history and culture, the town has seen economic decline since the 1940’s with the decline of the rail infrastructure. The national poverty rate sits at 14.5%. New Mexico is currently the 4th most poverty-stricken state in the U.S. at 17.9% however, espanola is experiencing rates above 27%.

By Uncredited WPA photographer - Works Progress Administration St. Elizabeth's orphanage in New Orleans, 1940

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because the need to revive the community and its economy is so great, the program expanded to include a community center that employs a full time staff and librarian. adjacent to the community center is a large field fit for athetic courts to serve the area.

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The number twelve is rooted in many celestial interpretations. It is a symbol of cosmic order and a number of place and time. There are twelve months in a calendar year and two cycles of twelve hours in one day. Many celebrations occur at midnight, the turning of one day into another.

It symbolizes cyclical growth and rebirth.

Because of its nurturing demeanor, twelve was a appropriate number to base the modular composition of the housing units which can expand and contract to fit the needs of that particular point on the site.

Therefore each unit is 12’ x 12’ and comprises a 36’ x 36’ grid for each housing shelter.

Each housing unit has room for six children and one live in staff member. This relationship and size of structure closely resembles the family unit to provide comfort and familiarity.

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fairview ln

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n railroad ave 41

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site overview

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site axis community center wind shelter

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terra shelter fire shelter

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aqua shelter

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foot bridge to island

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PROGRAM: COMMUNITY CENTER FIRST FLOOR

1. community center, 20,700 sqft.

0. entry from upper parking 1. ampitheater stairs 2. kitchen 3. restrooms 4. admin/ offices 5. cafe seating

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PROGRAM: COMMUNITY CENTER SECOND FLOOR

1. community center, 20,700 sqft.

0. entry from upper parking 1. reflection pool 2. ampitheater stairs 3. restrooms 4. library 5. library seating 6. upper terrace

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PROGRAM: WIND SHELTER 864 sqft.

2. WIND SHELTER, OCCUPANCY 7 0. double bunkbed room 2

1. staff bedroom 2. double bed room 3. restrooms 4. roof terrace

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PROGRAM: TERRA SHELTER 1296 sqft.

2. TERRA SHELTER, OCCUPANCY 7 0. sunken courtyard 1. family room 3

2. double bunkbed room 3. restrooms 4. double bed room 5. staff bed room 6. roof terrace

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PROGRAM: FIRE SHELTER 760 sqft.

4. FIRE SHELTER, OCCUPANCY 7 0. sunken courtyard 1. double bunk bed room 2. double bed room 4

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3. restrooms 4. staff bedroom 5. roof terrace

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PROGRAM: AQUA SHELTER 1440 sqft.

5. AQUA SHELTER, OCCUPANCY 7 0. double bed room 1. staff bedroom 5

2. family room 3. restrooms 4. roof terrace

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Approx. 3:00 pm, July 19th, 2017 on this blistering summer day, i decide to wander over to the library. i walk past the reflection pool and a cool misty relief cuts through the parched air. i want to linger, but i descend towards the plaza. a constant set of airy screams travel from the children playing soccer in the fields below as the speckled shadows flicker on my eyes. i realize how intense the sun is today when brief bits of shade make all the difference. as i enter and head to the second floor, i pass through thick, colorful walls. they’re cool to the touch. when i reach the top of the stairs the entire room opens up to greet me. the light comes in from the height of the roof and trickles down the woodden trusses. i find my book in the library, pick a spot in the shade near the large column and relax for a bit.

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approx. 3:00 am, April 17th, 2018 i’m jolted awake with a sharp thud of my stomach.

I don’t recall falling asleep, just my mind drifting into the night. i must’ve had a bad dream again. thankfully i can’t recall the details other than her face, and her warmth. i hear soft pangs of metal clashing in the wind and i turn my gaze. a small bit of light peaks through from the moon and it eases me back into the folds of my bed.

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6:04 pm, June 1st, 2018 As i walk home from dinner, i notice how full my belly is. it kind of aches in the sharp summer heat, but soon it will be cool, for now i’m just happy to climb down into my cave. the younger ones stayed with the group after dinner but we get free time if we finished our chores. i’m glad i get time to finish my new copy of bridge to terabithia that ms. marianna gave me.

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approx. 9:00 pm, June 21st, 2018 “Ouch- The metal rail burned my hand! and it’s barely dark- i don’t even want to go to bed yet. Why do they make us go to sleep when it’s still bright outside?” my hands feel better on the cold concrete for a second as i reach up to grab my transformers, maybe i’ll ask ernesto to play since i’m not sleepy.

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3:00 pm December 24th, 2018 sometimes i like to come up here and look at the water and think of mom and dad. i miss them so muchbut i’m really glad i get to be with johnny. it’s been so long since our last real christmas dinner. i’m so excited because johnny and i get to go to mrs. ramona’s tomorrow. she’s a really nice lady. i’m starting to like her even though she always pinches my cheeks. maybe i’ll take her up to watch the birds with me some time.

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Our understanding of sense of place is fueled by human interaction and experience, natural phenomena of circumstance, and our memories. A sense of place can shape our sense of “home.” The study of phenomenology and sense of place guided the architectural intentions of this thesis. The orphanage is a place of transience for children. Yet the home is the child’s “first cosmos.” In a time of uncertainty, a sense of belonging and ownership becomes paramount. The individual shelters propose a way to find reprieve and once achieved, hopefully embolden a child’s ability to dream once more.

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wind shelter, glazing wind panels

aqua shelter,roof terrace

fire shelter, sunpath

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So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us.

Gaston Bachelard

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Bibliography

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a special thank you to my thoughtful advisors, Paul Emmons and Aki Ishida, as well as Jaan Holt for guiding me throughout the year. The pursuit of this degree has been the most trying and most rewarding venture. I was told ‘no’ more times than I could now count- without the support of many professors and loved ones along the way, none of this would be possible.