Centennial District Master Plan and Horticultural Center Joseph Deimler Professor Don Jones
Thesis Statement
Research 1 Manayunk
Fairmont Park West, site of the former 1876 Centennial Exhibi on, is an under served, under u lized por on of municipal park-land at the fringes of West Philadelphia bordering Montgomery County. The parks large expanses of open lawn, dense trees are spliced with winding boulevard and remnants of the exhibi ons eing together old and new recrea onal structures. Much of the existing structures are inaccessible and unattrac ve to visitors and local residents alike.
Urban, Dense Rowhouse, Attached
Suburban, Single Family Development, Detached with Yards
The Main Line
Bala
East Falls
Condos, Multi-Family Complexes, "Park tower modernism"
Strawberry Mansion
Overbrook
Urban, Dense Rowhouse, Attached
Parkside
West Philadelphia
džŝƐƟŶŐ
Brewerytown
Fairmont
University City
Demolished
Urban, Dense Rowhouse, Attached
Center City
Master Plan/ Program
Research 2
II. Educational Component A. 5,000 SF Learning Annex A - 3,000 SF Seed and Horticultural Library - 2,000 SF Offices A. 5,000 SF Learning Annex B - (5) SF Workshop/ Educational Spaces
III. Horticultural Component A. 25,000 SF Exhibition Greenhouse - 3,000 SF Ballroom/ Event Space - 7,000 SF Seasonal Display/ Event Space - 2,000 SF Catering Kitchen - 13,000 SF Botanical and Water Displays B. 10,000 SF Typical Greenhouse (60,000 SF total) - 6,000 SF - Public Displays and Plantings - 4,000 SF - Cultivation & Back of House C. 5,000 SF Maintenance Shed D. 13 acres of food cultivation fields E. 7 acres of orchards
III. Community Enrichment Component A. 2,000 S.F. - Transporation Hub B. 6,000 S.F. - Seasonal Farmer’s Market - 3,000 S.F. all season, enclosed space - 3,000 S.F. open air market C. (2-3)1,500 S.F. Cafe D. (1-2) 2,500 S.F. Restaurants E. 1,000 S.F. Outdoor Equip Rental, Type TBD
Case Studies
Research 3
Longwood Gardens Kenne Square, PA DuPont Family
Thorncrown Chapel Eureka Springs, AR E. Fay Jones
Central Park New York, NY Olmstead and Vaux
Culture Dine
Meander
Play
Meander
Relax
Meander
Sunbathe
Play Softball
Relax
Meander
Sit
Skate Spectate (Zoo)
Be Seen
Meander
Perform
Play Tennis
Explore
Sunbathe
Listen
Play Softball
Meander
Dine
Boat Race
Play Baseball Swim
Shoot Hoops Meander
Culture
Skate
Meander
Sunbathe
Play
Play
Site Studies
Research 4
e nu
ve Arterial Routes eA
Zoning
Lin ty Ci
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yM
ansio n Br
idge
nu Ave ont Belm
Lanc aster
Density
Ave.
Amt rak/ Sept a
uto e-A
Parks ide A ve.
Schuykill
Ex pr es s
wa y
Stra w
ve rd A Gira
Transporta on
10
M
in
Bala Station
Bus tes Rou 40
38 |
10 Min
Bus 38 | 4 Routes 0 | 43 | 52 | 64
5 Min
Girard Trolley
Development Sketches
Process 5
Horticultural Center Aerial View
Mid-term 6
The new hor cultural center became the focus of the Centennial District. Buildings of various educa onal and hor cultural programs are located along the sites historic axis, while breaking away from it in unique ways. The grounds were designed to create dierent outdoor experiences and ways that landscape is designed; the ideas of meadow, forest, ornamental plan ngs and cul vated ďŹ elds and orchards all present learning opportuni es and explora on.
Horticultural Center Site Plan
Mid-term 7
Section and Plan Details of Sunken Gardens
Mid-term 8
Exterior Views
Mid-term 9
Cri cs overall felt the site planning created a real des na on for the site, though there were some gripes with how the buildings treated the historic axis. The exhibi on greenhouse was chosen as an area of advanced study.
Site Sustainability
Structure/ MEP 10 Solar field Single Pole Mounted Solar Array Rooftop Mounted Solar Array Articulated Fin Solar Panels
http://southeasternureporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/photo-51.jpg
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Retention Pond for Agricultural Runoff Ground Filtration Retention Pond for Rainwater Harvest Buried Cistern for Water Storage Rooftop Water Collection
https://phys.org/news/2014-06-rainwater-harvesting -texas-resources.html
Detail Views of Structure The structure is comprised of steel Tmembers bent into a pseudo Gothic arch, ďŹ rming the main mass of the building. Members are kept thin and close together to give the appearance of an great skeleton embedded in the ground.
Structure/ MEP 11
Building MEP
Structure/ MEP 12
The building sec on was designed to allow for unobstructed vantages and facilitate material stack ven la on. Occupant comfort on the light ďŹ lled mezzanine is ensures by the large fan to cool and draw away hot air, and by loca ng ducts at human level in the exaggerated slab of the oor below. Fans above the entry would facilitate air movement and could be programmed as heat/cooling exchange units.
Development Sketches
Process 13
Axial View
Final 14
Exterior Elevations and Details
Final 15
The all glass curved steel structure would be shaded by ver cal ďŹ ns which would be located at every structural bay. These would not only cool the building as needed, but also collect solar energy. Solar Panel Double Pane Glass Applied Ar culated Mullion Structural Member
Frame/ Pivot Point
View of Interior Wing
Final 16
Floor Plans
Final 17
The interior is designed as a radial plan with a centre court and greenhouse wings that extend out. The centre court has a mezzanine level above which could be rented for par es or used as extra oor space for educa onal ac vi es. The lower level has a gro o and kitchen for refreshments/ food service.
Principal Floor Plan
Mezzanine Plan
Lower Level Plan
View of Centre Court
Final 18
Narrow, closely spaced columns would give the appearance that the mezzanine is oa ng overhead. Circular skylight located around the columns would bring sha s of light below and give the appearance of trees disappearing into a canopy
Section Perspective View
Final 19
Final Model/ Reflection Cri cs overall commented that the site and building program did not facilitate the educa onal/ community component enough and instead focused too much on aesthe cs. This problem could be solved by including more thought into ac vi es which a child or average adult would beneďŹ t from, and tying dierent experiences on the site to how they would personally enrich a visitor. They also commented the ver cal ďŹ ns felt unnecessary, and would have been more func onal and s ll evoca ve of an animal skeleton if they were horizontal, to look like rep lian scales.
Research 20