2 minute read
Site Analysis
from Design Studio 3.1
by Faith Muir
SITE CONSIDERATIONS
11th Avenue is a street exposed to a lot of traffic, meaning that the East end of the building will be exposed to higher noise pollution. 59th West is quieter but currently bordered by large scale construction sites.
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Design Response
- Make East entrance engaging with the public - Shift noisier spaces in the building towards the East end, and more quiet places towards the West
EXISTING ENTRANCES AND ACCESS
Site is easily accessible by car or by foot.
Design Response
- Have more than one entrance on the East side to engage with public - Keep the main entrance on the North end, opening up multiple 'doors' in the facade to make the building more accessible
SUNPATH
Site receives good amounts of natural light. However, due to its relatively low height it suffers from overshadowing, in particular the lower levels.
Design Response
- Re-glaze the roof and work with the same materiality in order to maximise solar gains - Open up windows in facade to allow natural light in
SURROUNDING GREEN AREAS
The site is currently only bordered by 12 trees on the North facade. There are a number of public parks and green spaces in the immediate neighbourhood.
Design Response
- Preserve existing trees - Develop a design which incorporates sustainability without green washing - Aim at reducing embodied carbon energy within the building
VIEWS
At the time of its construction the IRT Powerhouse was far larger than anything around it, so the facades were designed in great detail and the roof was given little attnention. Nowadays the surrounding developments are much higher and from which the roof is easily visible.
Design Response
- Reglaze existing steelwork to make the roof views nicer
RED Vehicle entrances BLUE Pedestrian entrances
- Respect the existing facade but open windows to make building more permeable 7
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Well connected with Subway, Railway and Bus stops which means the IRT Powerhouse is easily accessible from any part of the city through public transport.
Design Response
- As the building is already well serviced there are no restrictions for the kinds of spaces we want to include within our design or how the space can be accessed by all - In contrast with these temporary halts we want to create a space within the neighbourhood where people can stay for extended amounts of time