SECTION 09-DESIGN FOR WELLNESS

DESIGN FOR WELLNESS

Because the site is located on Boston Harbor, there are many opportunities for views. To the north, the ocean and marina are visible, and to the South and East, Boston’s city skyline can be viewed from multiple locations from within the building. Several windows have been included to maintain these views, making the space feel light and airy even in the freezing winter months. Choosing sustainable materials was a key factor in designing for wellness, and everything from furniture to infrastructure systems within the building have been sourced with regards to their certification status. This helps to negate the effects of the buildings large size and cost to run.

WELLNESS TAB

WELLNESS TAB

NARRATIVE ON RESOURCES

Choosing materials located close to the site was an integral part of keeping project costs and carbon emissions down. Initial research into this area showed that Massachusetts has plenty of quarries to source stone from and lots of unused buildings that contain valuable wood to be reused within my project. Additional materials included are certified by EPD and work together with locally sourced steel to reduce on site waste, which is sorted and recycled as necessary in order to be diverted from landfill areas. Most wood is FSC certified, although some wood had to be purchased new as it was used for larger structural areas, whereas the recycled wood was mainly used for smaller, nonload bearing walls.

NARRATIVE ON CHANGE

Designing in the city of Boston requires extensive knowledge of both weather ans social conditions in and around the area. Both can help to define the building’s story and the way that it can pull on these local factors to more effectively incorporate the humane aspects of design.

By using these factors as a starting point in my design, I was also able to identify how I could make a resilient space; which I did by including barriers for sea level rise, adding systems to divert runoff from problem areas and toward water tanks where it can be reused for drinkable water, and by adding areas of native landscaping.

NARRATIVE ON DISCOVERY

After completing the design and construction of this project, my team and I did our best to stay engaged with both the building owners and community that it serves. We frequently visit to collect data so that we may present it to the community and use it as lessons learned for projects that are still in their infant stages. This is important because t has allowed us to identify elements of the design that could be improved for the future, such as condensing square footage of spaces to include only necessary circulation and adding more room for native plantings.