J.P. SANABRIA ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
jpsanabria.com josh@jpsanabria.com
PORT HOTEL ONE
PORT is a proposed premier hotel and innovation center that defines itself by providing guests with an environment of creativity and collaboration. Just as ships dock in order to replenish supplies, visitors will come to PORT to reinvigorate their bodies and minds. By weaving luxury and creativity PORT will attract companies pursuing invention to startups seeking an open forum, PORT frees new ideas by lifting guests from a climate of confinement and by engaging the beauty of Lake Michigan.
VIBRANT PORT is more than a luxury hotel, it is a vibrant hub of activity for the city. The main atrium looks out to the courtyard where volleyball can be played in the summer and ice skating in the winter. For guests seeking a tranquil atmosphere, the rooftop sculpture garden provides an elegant escape.
PENTHOUSE With floor-to-ceiling windows and luxurious details, the beautiful two-story penthouse at PORT invites guests into a world of stunning panoramic views and exclusivity.
PENTHOUSE: FL 17
ARGENTO Argento, Italian for silver, is a playful gesture to Silver Beach Park and the premier restaurant of the city. Located on the top floor, patrons have stunning views of Lake Michigan and Warren Dunes National Park. Warren Dunes provided the inspiration for the undulating sculptural ceiling which calmly glows during the evening dining hours.
ARGENTO: FL 19
PENTHOUSE: FL 18
STRUCTURE Acting much like a rower’s body, the tower is supported by a powerful core, shoulders, arms, and legs. Acting together to reign in the weight, the core performs like a rower’s abdomen, stabilizing the movements while the deltoids and shoulders deliver the power. The tower itself is slightly ajar to the core, creating a dynamic interaction.
LOBBY The beautiful three story lobby is an interplay of light and material. The tower’s structure dramatically appears to lean over the lobby while the glass roof frees the space with light and cool fresh air.
SITE PORT creates spaces that encourage interaction and tourism. Terraced tennis courts become venues for heated matches and engage the community through sportsmanship and fitness. The terrace also serves as a front door to PORT for guests strolling along Silver Beach Pier.
PROCESS PORT was a unique foray into integrated design. From the HVAC system to the green roof, every detail had to meet the standards that I created for the ethos of the building. Though challenges arose, PORT was a driving force to learn more about the systems of a building; moving beyond sketches to determine realistic solutions.
MATERIAL Creating a unified palette that expresses the character of PORT required me to learn about hundreds of materials and how they interact. The spandrels glow in the warm sunset while the ultraclear glass offers a subtle sheen. Inside the hotel, travertine walls and deep blue details provide warmth; drawing from the hues of Lake Michigan.
SECTIONS Mastering the art of section details with complex geometries is a lifelong journey. With PORT, I made the first major step in learning how modern buildings come together and function.
PORT HOTEL TWO
PORT is a proposed premier hotel and innovation center that defines itself by providing guests with an environment of creativity and collaboration. Just as ships dock in order to replenish supplies, visitors will come to PORT to reinvigorate their bodies and minds. By weaving luxury and creativity PORT will attract companies pursuing invention to startups seeking an open forum, PORT frees new ideas by lifting guests from a climate of confinement and by engaging the beauty of Lake Michigan.
INNOVATION PORT fulfills its goal as an innovation center by providing clients with engaging environments for collaboration and networking. Each of these spaces will seek to lighten the mental load by freeing clients from a sense of confinement and blandness.
LOUNGE The glowing gold and pink sunset over Lake Michigan is a beautiful moment in St. Joseph. The PORT restaurant is on the Penthouse floor of the tower in order to completely immerse guests in the surrounding ambiance.
RESTAURANT: FL 17
RESTAURANT: FL 17
REJUVENATION PORT defines itself as a retreat center by providing clients with luxury guest rooms that seek to rejuvenate and refresh. Each room uses light to awaken the senses, color to engage the imagination, and panoramic views to stir the mind.
SPA: FL 4
GUEST ROOMS: FL 7-16
ATRIUM At the core of the PORT tower is a stunning 230 foot atrium that opens up the building to light and ventilation while providing a visual connection between floors. Guests experience this firsthand as the glass elevator glides upwards into the light.
ACTIVITY The heart and sole of PORT is bringing together creativity and interaction. PORT welcomes the public to stroll the grounds, eat in the deli, shop at the boutiques, and even play a round of volleyball. The winter season replaces the volleyball courts with an ice rink and brings joy to the winter cold.
DIAGRID The dynamic curve and diagrid of the structure speaks to PORT’s role as an innovation center while simultaneously exploring the opportunity to reduce the amount of required structural steel.
PROCESS Buildings are complex art forms; they require clear direction and vision to reach their potential. When beginning a design, I write about what the building should accomplish, who it will serve, and distinct elements that it should incorporate. After this, I sketch dozens of ideas that build upon my written goals and elements, beginning the process of interpreting the building in plan, elevation, and 3D.
PROCESS: HAND Working through a building quickly by hand facilitates a cerebral connection between my mind and my drawings. I can respond to problems quickly and provide various solutions on the fly.
PROCESS: TECH Tools like Revit, SketchUp, and Rhino are a key part of my arsenal. They enable a level of precision, order, and design that allows me to translate my words and drawings into high quality models that are invaluable for design development.
KINECT ARCHITECTURE Kinect Architecture is investigating how the Microsoft XBOX Kinect camera may be used to create real-time 3D point-cloud models of interior spaces. The goal is to investigate the Kinect’s potential as a cost effective alternative to traditional laser scanning, its integration into BIM design development, and to determine areas of improvement for associated open-source software. The project was underwritten by Andrews University and the School of Architecture, Art & Design.
RESEARCH Many advancements with the Kinect are being made within augmented reality, gaming, and home brew robotics. I wanted to explore its application within the AEC industry. Its ability to capture dimensionally accurate 3D models has potential for remodeling projects, visualization, and surveying.
SOFTWARE One of the current limitations facing the Kinect is the lack of plug and play software. Kinect Architecture focused on open-source programs that could be run by the “average� user without programing experience. This choice greatly affected the project and exposed some of the current limitations.
BIM The ability to import Kinect scanned point clouds into Revit is essential. It sets the groundwork for future integration and exploration. The experiment was successful and reasonably accurate, despite the ghosting and missing surfaces.
300 LAKE Offering 20 luxurious lake view flats and boutique retail, 300 Lake is the premier living address in St. Joseph, MI. Its design ethos draws strongly from Lake Michigan and the experience of living in a lakeside community. Situated on a bluff overlooking Silver Beach, residents have stunning views and quick access to Whirlpool Fountain and the pier. The street level shopping invites passerby to interact with the building, making 300 Lake a vibrant addition to the already bustling downtown scene.
COMMUNITY 300 Lake integrates itself into the community by providing new retail venues for local boutiques and recognized brands. This strategy simultaneously strengthens the local economy and provides an opportunity for a wider spectrum of retail options.
TECHNOLOGY Integrating green technology into the fabric of the building was a primary design challenge. By using building-integrated photovoltaics as an aesthetic element, 300 Lake challenges convention and ventures to discover beautiful solutions for BIPV utilities. The BIPV sail on the corner mast is the most stunning example.
LIFESTYLE Each unit of 300 Lake is entirely focused on Lake Michigan. Residents enjoy their own private balcony and a spacious open plan. Glowing pink sunsets and storms settling over the lake are two of the majestic sights residents will experience at 300 Lake.
J.P. SANABRIA ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
jpsanabria.com josh@jpsanabria.com