Tucson Barrio

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MARK STEVEN KNUTSON KNUTSON A r c h i tAercc thui treec taunr ed aUnrdb U a nr b D a ne s Diegsni g n

TUCSON BARRIO COMMUNITY CENTER MARK STEVEN mknutson@umich.edu 303.895.9115

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BARRIO CENTRO COMUNITARIO

Tuscan Barrio Neighborhood, AZ Community Center Barrio Neighborhood means free zone, and in earlier times was allowed to remain without legal restraints or the presence of a policeman. Here, the mescalian could imbibe his fill, and either male of female could, in peaceful intoxication, sleep on the sidewalk or in the middle of the streets, with all their ancient rights respected.

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City Directory, 1881

arrio Centro is focused on a historical and cultural sensitivity to place. The site chosen in a vacant lot in Tuscan’s Barrio neighborhood and has played significant role in the development of the city and the southwest region. The programming centers on community service and cultural celebration.

The Barrio neighborhood in Tuscan was one if the first settlements in the region. Throughout its history, the neighborhood has undergone significant changes as populations moved and Tuscan grew. The area sits in relative disrepair although recent interest has sparked redevelopment; primarily renovation and restoration.

During the latter part of the 20th c. the neighborhood became neglected and many of the original structures fell into disrepair. Unfortunately, due to the predominant use of adobe, most damaged structures are not able to be salvaged.

The goal of Centro is to embrace this neighborhood and celebrate its colorful past. The project strives to provide a design solution that is considerate of the cultural legacy of its place, while expressing, formally, excitement and optimism toward the continued evolution of the Barrio.

Because of the unique location of the site, a robust collection of research was compiled in order to accurately represent the cultural, demographic, environmental and aesthetic character of the Tuscan Barrio. The City of Tuscan as well as the Arizona Department of Urban Planning were instrumental in providing historic data on growth and development. Fire insurance maps, produced in 5 year intervals at the turn of the 19th century showed clearly gradual decline in neighborhood residency and later, the vanishing of structures due to lack of upkeep.

Photos taken of the area during the early 1900’s show a dirt road with adobe buildings set just off the street – a unique strategy for maximizing private courtyard space.

The goal was to achieve a dynamic dialogue with the street edge, a characteristic endemic to the older structures in the area.

Walking through the Barrio, one catches glimpses – through and open door, window, a hole in a fence, of the world beyond the street. A shared courtyard.

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Above Rendering , Artist Studio Space

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a. Winter Gallery b. Print Admin c. Theatre Admin d. Lobby e. Classroom f. Spring Morning Gallery g. Morning Gallery Reception

h. Fall Morning Gallery i. Student Studio Space j. Classrooms k. Receiving l. Back of House (R) m. Stage/Theatre n. Back of House (L)

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Massing and Program The project grew from a manipulation of the unique architectural identity of the Barrio. A courtyard strategy was deconstructed in order to reinforce programming relationships and loosely define interior spaces, while maintaining an open, unobstructed courtyard that plays host to a myriad of evolving activities.

The architecture maintains calculated view corridors to within the courtyard from the street. This provides a playful dialogue between the building, its users and the passerby – feeling connected was key. Each program element shares a direct and intentional connection with one another; art studios are across from the gallery, classrooms are oriented toward the southeast to maximize morning light, the gallery is transparent, providing a filtered visual relationship between the courtyard and the street.

The primary dimensions of the building’s plan and elevations are derivative of those found in surrounding historic structure. The building height, openings, passages are a designed in a way that preserves this unique urban “grain”.

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a. Winter Gallery b. Print Admin c. Theatre Admin d. Lobby e. Classroom f. Spring Morning Gallery g. Morning Gallery Reception

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h. Fall Morning Gallery i. Student Studio Space j. Classrooms k. Receiving l. Back of House (R) m. Stage/Theatre n. Back of House (L)

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Expression Summer/Sunrise

The goal is to connect the building to its neighbors, to have dynamic expression; one that would constantly change effect and be affected. That, both, remembers the architectural legacy of Barrio and excites ambitions for the future. The architecture exhibits its character through the folded, expressive structure of the roof. The folding strategy is both structurally efficient and allows for a careful calibration of environmental factors within interior spaces. The form modulates and regulates light in the interior during the day, providing a soft, indirect light that varies in exposure depending on program. During dark hours, light spills out from the building expressing it’s geometry in the building’s elevation.

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Program

Top: Pueblo Bonita.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexcio

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North/South Section

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Program

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Facing Each program space was planned with special consideration of light and atmospheric factors. Each program element [classroom, gallery, performance space] utilizes light differently. The building’s mass responds to this by orienting itself in response to daily and seasonal solar patterns.

Shaping The masses are split at the roofline and voids are created where the space will accept light. In some areas, like studio space, ample diffused natural light is desirable, in others like offices, a consistent low level light is provided. The voids provide a diagram to inform the structural layout and formal development of the roof system.

Forming The solar data gathered from Climate Consultant™, and the BIM model are synthesized and overlaid onto the structural grid produced from the program requirements. A python script then generates appropriate geometry based on a series of operations that incorporate structural constraints and area considerations.

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2.1 Program Orientation

derrived curves from roof manipulations solar considerations

Right Top to Bottom 2.2 Program Orientation

solar considerations

2.3 Roof manipulations

void diagram scripted design operations

2.4 Formal Development

Formal Operation 1 Geo-specific solar patterns are generated in Climate Consultant™ then analyzed within the BIM model. A series of curves are derrived and modeled in Rhino™ to guide the later scripted process.

Formal Operation 2 A Python script generates rough geometry based on a regular structural grid and a single curve (in plan) derrived from the solar exercise

Formal Operation 3 A second Python script manipulates the rough form based on a series of curves (in elevation) derrived from the solar exercise. The resulting mass is exported to Revit where the mass is translated into building structure with apropriate parameters.

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The Street

The building presents a strong visual presence in its eclectic context. It is playful and engaging. Variations in porosity and transparency, mass and void provide a multiplicity of momentary experiences from the street. The proportioned, rectilinear masses (echoing the architectural language of the Barrio) juxtaposed with the aggressive dynamism of the roof convey an ethos of energy, activity and optimism. Notions of heritage, creativity, and ambition are filtered (figuratively and literally) through the architectural medium, connecting inside to outside, public to private, past, present and future.

A Above Environmental Concept diagram Left The entrance to the site is announced to the street in a dramatic upheval of the faceted roof system. layers of transparency modulate interior/ exterion communication

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A mknutson: issuu.com