Comprehensive Studio
Marissa DiLoreto . Aaron Peter Clemson University
[04] concept Good architecture must be thoughtfully designed and technically sound. It must be both functional and experiential and find the beauty in the balance. The River Arts Center design celebrates honest architecture by conceptualizing the functional aspects of the architecture.
[10] site design [12] plans + elevations + sections [20] structural system [22] mechanical system
content 02
river arts district
04
major roads
french broad river
train
existing parks
breweries
existing theaters
urban farm organizations
site analysis
site boundary
06
art studios
abandoned buildings
restaurants
topography
sun path
wind direction
floodway
site analysis
Architecture must be responsive to its context. The design process must be mindful of the immediate environmental conditions and the broader urban context. The program and massing of the River Arts Center has been derived by influences of the French Broad River, the River Arts District culture, and the existing views in addition to many other factors.
site mass
08
floodway
green box
courtyards
Good architecture should give back to the community in which they exist. The society as a whole should be improved through the design of the architecture. The River Arts Center involves the Asheville community through the agriculture education program, the open shops, and exposed theater process.
shops
theaters
lift blackbox
agriculture offices
massing
18 17 2
3
13
16
site model
12
5 4
15
11 14
1 10
site model
6
After visiting the site and meeting with locals, we learned the River Arts District has a passion for locally grown food. The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) is an organization located half a mile from the River Arts Center that strives to build healthy communities through connection to local food. In an effort to encourage this connection, the River Arts Center includes 3,500 square feet of office and research space for ASAP. The Center also includes an experimental growing roof and 2 acres of urban farm space to showcase the initiative for locally grown food. In combination with the performing arts, ASAP’s presence will connect beautifully with the existing culture in the River Arts District.
9
7 1. parking [36 spaces] 2. parking [13 spaces + 7 handicap spaces] 3. loading dock 4. bike lane 5. street parking [28 spaces] 6. greenhouse
10
8 7. hydroponic growing 8. river access 9. river performance stage 10. riverwalk [porous clingstone] 11. great lawn 12. courtyard [board formed concrete]
13. greenroof 14. orchards 15. crop beds 16. wood deck 17. sound buffer 18. train tracks
site model
site design
The River Arts District in Asheville is an eclectic place where artisans have revitalized a once deserted mill district. The district has a free spirit and believes in the importance of the arts in everyday life. The River Arts Center provides a new outreach program to the local artist through an artist guild. The wood shop/material shop was purposefully oversized to allow for shared use by local artists. The shop is located adjacent to Riverside Dr. with an entry courtyard to encourage onlookers and interaction with the community. The exposed working spaces educate the public on the local craft while providing local artists with state of the art facilities to develop their craft.
floor one
12
mezzanine
floor two
plans + elevations
Good architecture should thoughtfully consider the human touch during the process from design to occupation. A great architect will use technology to create an encompassing experience for the occupant. The process for designing the River Arts Center has moved between hand drawing, modeling, and digital tools so that the human experience can be evaluated through many perspectives and tools. section model
section model
structural model
b
14
elevation + section
wall section model
wall section model
wall section model
The River Arts Center is home to a 300 seat proscenium theater, 90 person black box theater, and a performance focused lobby. Each performance space provides a unique experience for the performers and audience. The proscenium auditorium offers the opportunity for large productions while still serving as an intimate space. The black box, cantilevered above the lobby’s entrance, offers a flexible performance space with breathtaking views of the performance park and the French Broad River. Lastly, the performance lobby showcases the essence of the building through the performance stair and allows for an interaction between the interior and exterior. The mission of the River Arts Center is to celebrate the arts and provide a transparency between the act of performing and the joy of viewing. view of lobby
16
section
18
section
lateral force [concrete masonry unit + steel]
20
vertical forces [steel]
structural
7.1
6
VAV system
VAV system
CAV system
22
mechanical