AD6 Bachelor Project: The Architectural Research Center

architectural

research

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STUDIO NASADIL - DUBA // SUMMER 2017/18

HEDY lEMUS BIRD/ AD6

150m of culture

Prague 7, Czech Republic Studio brief A slim green belt in front of the Park Hotel and the Police Headquarters, near the Vystaviste Fair Grounds. A prominent and limited site. 150m refers to the length of the parcel predetermining a large longitudinal building.

The site is prominent due to its location and exposure to the adjacent National Gallery, alongside frequented car, tram and pedestrian routes. Limitations of the site are imbedded in the parcel proportions and the fact there are large existing buildings adjacent.

Students will be designing a cultural institution of national significance. The project will be dealing with a cultural typology and its adjustment to difficult site conditions, with complex urban setting, and will be negotiating with scale and architectural language appropriate for a cultural institution of 21st century. Challenging conditions will result in unique approaches and strong concepts being able to withstand the building’s strong neighbours, particularly the National Gallery (Veletrzni Palac) Typologies to be selected: 1.. Czech Architecture Centre 2.. Film Archive 3.. Annex to Veletrzi Palace National Gallery 4.. Centre for Czech Photography 5.. Centre for Czech Design (new home for Designblok) P. Nasadil, M. Duba, 01/2018

RESEARCH Prague is a city that was founded more that 12th centuries ago.

Throughout the years, the city has developed tremendously in architecture and design, passing by almost all centuries. We can see that development when we scroll around the city and find several buildings from many differnet styles. Additionally, the city has gone through some harsh times such as floads, where it was needed to rethink urbanistically and redesign for the new era. This creates a mixture of architecture and styles, where anybody that loves design would be fascinated to explore. But, what happen when the people want to access that information? Is it available? Is there a place were we can research, learn, develop, explore, and experiment.

This is where the idea of RESEARCH came into mind.

Research is an architectural center created for the exploration of design. Each space is made so that the user can spend their time either studying, doing some research, developing a new product, a new material, reading, etc. The building is packed with libraries, workshops, classrooms, working spaces, exhibition spaces, lounge areas, and many other corners that help a person develop their ideas, as well as learning and getting informed from the past.

Hedy Lemus Bird, May 25th, 2018

what is research in architecture? research does not only mean emerging into books and readings, it can also mean experimentation, creation, thinking, learning, and collaboration.

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research by getting informed, studying, reading.

research by designing, co-working, analysing.

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research by showcasting, getting feedback, inspiring others

research by experimenting, creating, making.

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location advantage?

150+ m of more culture! veletržní palác Výstaviště Praha art district location - Prague 7 train/metro/tram station close by

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150meters of culture 12

First challenge?

Building footprint

how to allocate the following programs and functions in such a narrow building?

Library Core study area workstation structural elements starts and ramps exhibition space reading room coffee shop

circulation co-working space workshop/fablab core views within building research center

by grouping them and creating multi-fuction elements and spaces. circulation library structural elements starts and ramps core views within building study area workstation reading room co-working space coffee shop exhibition spaces workshop/fab-lab

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the core as the staircase, circulation, and library.

the front coffee shop as a reception, entry, and mingle space.

the “office� spaces as working areas, research, experimentation, and study spaces.

by grouping these elements, new spaces are created that correspond to several functions, making the architectural center functional for every type of research.

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a workshop that merges the learning, research, and experimentation.

Basement level - workshop/fablab ground floor level - cafe/library/working space/ exhibition second level - library third level - working space/research/library/study fourth level - research/working/study

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the form-design process

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the concept idea starts with the division of the site into 9 main elements (library, workshop, office, classroom, research, open space, exhibition, coffee shop, and auditorium)

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out of the elements mentions, the two that are the most relevant (library & workshop) get extruded in opposite directions.

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the rest of the elements get merge together creating multiuse spaces that flow throughout the entire building

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building develops from that idea *the image represents and older concept.

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work space exhibition workshop

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the building is in constant activity in all floors, promoting design learning, education and experience.

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stairs A+B stairs A connect the ground floor with all floors above. Thought the process of circulation, people walk between a library of informative books that they can take on their way up.

Stairs B, similarly, connect all floors . the difference in function is that people can experience a complete material library on their way up. The landings are strategically designed wider than usual, so that the library dynamic does not disturb the flow and traffic circulation.

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building sequence at the entry of the building, you will find the reception and public cafe, to give a friendly welcome to the center, accessible to everybody. following up, the first library core is found, giving accesibility to the rest of the floors, and introducting the information area. central co-working spaces the second core includes more research information such as a material library. the exhibition space is next, where designers can showcase their work. another workshop is found, wrapping the building sequence.

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loft floor the loft floor is a short space designed to connect the two main features of the buildings: the library cores. It merges both libraries and creates a natural circulation and mingling path.

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here is where the “office� work-flow starts. The library cores are used, not only to store books, but also to keep material samples and other textures for experimentation.

The third floor is designed for the studies and research of materials and analysis of it. It is also where more design professions merge with architecture, such as fashion and product design.

UP

third floor

fourth floor this floor is the highest, hence the most private. It is intended for more details research, study, and concentration.

a constant workflow collaboration.

This can be seen in every section of the building.

Designers work at the workshop testing and creating products to then build up at the work spaces upstairs, and then showcase in the exhibition space.

Learners upstairs inform themselves about various topics to then discuss it with their pals downstairs and exhibit their results. The work-flow circle.

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the building is an experience from the, as in one side the library cores can be found, and in the other side, the innovated screen attracts the views attention.

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Bit mapping facade

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The facade is made of a double skin structure, where the first skin is a full curtain glass wall and the second skin is a metal sheet bit map cut facade. Together, they create the facade structure, filter the light, and add a character to the building.

The two facades are separated by 1.1m gap. This distance allows the possibility for a person to access the area. This is intended so that the guests feel a full experience with the facade and that they can see the technology behind it, as well as understanding how the structure functions.

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1 50 mm Perforated metal 2 100mm exterior floor slab 3 joint grip connecting facades 4 curtain wall system 5 grip 6 100mm Rigid Mineral wool insulation 7 concrete deck- 100mm 8 wool insulation 9 hollow core slab - 200mm 10 suspended ceiling - 50mm 11 lighting fixure

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roof and skylights

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the skylights are an important feature in the building because they bring light and ventilation into the heighest floors. They are possitioned over the working zones for maximun lighting, but not over the cores, to respect the reading areas and keep the dimmed lights, when possible.

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20 mm Roof Deck 200mm rigid mineral wool insulation plywood deck - 21mm insulated tempered glass I-beam support structure 580mm curtain wall system I-Joist grip

relating to the site the building merges nicely into the site by respecting the surrounding buildings and “communicating� with them. The highest area, for instance, is around 18m, and located in front of park hotel, whom height is taller.

The police headquarters is respected and not overshadowed.

+ 43m

+ 26m + 18 m

+ 23 m + 18 m

a public coffee shop/bistro welcomes the public into the center. its intriguing open plan, creates curiosity for, not only desiners, but everybody else as well.

the workshop is the place of creativity and hands-on projects. It is equiped with machinery to build, test, and experiment. The indooroutdoor feature contradicts the fact that it is located in the basement, and adds more light and life to the space.

RESEARCH technical report The architectural research center is an institution where designers, scientists, creators, curious, and people alike can gather and get all the information they need about architecture and design.

When it comes to researching about architecture, a couple of books or hours on the internet is not enough anymore. There need to be some experimentation, testing, talk, showcase, exhibition, etc. In this building, the guest will be able to go through a timelapse of learning and experience, and get all hands on into architecture and desing. to describe the building better, we need to go step by step through the design process.

Structure For starters, the site located in Prague 7, has the dimensions of 150 meters long by 12 meters wide. This can be both positive and negative things. It is a good thing to have such a narrow building as it can help solving structural issues. This was exactly the case for the structure in this building. The building is entirely supported mostly by the two main cores located in the centrical part of it. They, besides being used as the library, also support most of the weight. They are made out of pre-cast concrete materiall with steel bars in the interior of it. The load is transfered when there is a change of direction (due to the bookshelf openings) and it travels down to the base.

Besides the cores, there are other small structural elements that help to keep up the building together.

Beams: Beams played one the top roof, right under the skylights also serve as structure as they run in a crossectional direction and are separated about 5m away from each other. They mainly support the roof and the slylights, but also serve as support for the rest of the building.

Back concrete solid wall - the back concrete wall is a thick slab that carries the support of the floors. It helps transfering the load from other points of the building. curtain wall - the curtain wall is wrapped with metal mullions that serve as support on the longitudinal direction.

All these elements help the building to stand together and to work independently.

Additionally, to keep the weight of the floor plates light, they are made out of hollow shaped concrete sheets that minimize the weight and are efficient and affordable.

Once the building stands up, is where the fun part beggings, the allocation of spaces.

Layouts Starting off by the entry, the guest can experience a long overhanging roof that welcomes you into the building. Once inside, there is the coffee shop and the reception, and inmediately you can see the open plan, and see and feel the architecture of the inside. This is done in such way so that the building can be used by anybody, not only architectural or design oriented people.

Following the open space, people can enter into the main liibrary and working spaces, where the idea of “categorizing� functions goes away as one space can have several posibilties. The ground floor can be a working space, a study area, a library. an exhibition space, etc. Here is where the bathrooms are also located, accessible to everybody. The following floors, 2 and up, are mixed use spaces for the practice of reseraching, learning, and experimenting with information, materials, and content. The basement level is the same idea but in a more hands on experience.

You experiment by doing and by creating things.

Facade All of these functions are nicely wraped up into the iconic facade that identifies the building from within out. The facade is made out of a double skin. The first one is a glazed skin that covers all floors. Over that, a steel perforated panel material is put 1.1m away from the glazing. This dimention is important because it is wide enough for a person to stand between the two facades. This was purposly made so that the experience of the building gets enhance more, and so that people can see how the structural elements work and how things get togehter.

The double facade, besides being a estetical statement for the building, it also helps it functionally but filtering the lights and controlly thermal issues. When the light hits the facade, it creates images and forms that can be left up to imagination and creativity. Additionally, the bitmap perforated facade can be also seen from outside, giving a “sneakpeak� effect to the public walking by, and inviting them the come in and explore.

Safety One of the main features of the building is the library cores. They not only serve as circulation and stair cores, but also a libraries and gathering hubs. This is a good use of the space, however, it can be highly flamabe and very unsafe in case of a fire. Because of that, and taking a good use of the double facade at the other side of the building, touching the police headquarters, emergency exits were designed in each floor so that there is always a way out from the building. The distance between facades in the back side is also 1.1 m, allowing a person to scape down the stairs without any problem.

Additionally, several ramps and access elevators have been placed around the building for it to be 100% ADA accesible.

Material In terms of the materials, mostly concrete was used for the cores, the floors, walls, and other details in the buildilng. Glass panels were used for groundfloor and facade purposes. Metal sheeting for the perfoated facade, as well as for some other small details in the buiding.

the building is around 3,400 square meters, including basement and loft levels

Hedy M. Lemus Bird Feb 20th, 1994 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

(+420) 776 247 046 Na Výšinách 903/2, 170 00 Praha 7-Bubeneč, Czech Republic hedy2ml@gmail.com @hedy.l12 Design work:

issuu.com/hedym.lemusbird behance.net/hedylb