The Interpretive Center: Interactive Education at the Monteverde Institute

Monteverde Institute INTERPRETIVE CENTER Sustainable Futures 2009 Oriane Daley

THE INTERPRETIVE CENTER An interactive educational space that embodies the philosophy of the Monteverde Institute in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

THE GARDENS

INTERPRETIVE CENTER

MONTEVERDE INSTITUTE

OBSERVATION TOWER

EXIT INTO GARDENS

ENTRANCE TO INTERPRETIVE CENTER

INTERPRETIVE CENTER’s relationships to site

GEOMETRY indivdual volumes and overall form ACCESS connections to Monteverde Institute and gardens EDUCATION sustainable school and community

GEOMETRY The building is composed of two overlapping rectangles one runs with the contours of the site, the other against it and perpendicular to MVI. The position and proportions of the volumes have been considered in relation to the other buildings on site.

Direct relationship between sub volumes within larger rectangle and site topography – floor levels, although stepping down slightly, are relatively flat to grow space underneath the building for water catchment facilities.

Moving from one side of the building to the other, there is a contrast in material use and aperture sizes. The greenhouse, far left, is most opened to outdoors, while services, far right, are more enclosed, leaving everything in between a delicate balance of indoor/outdoor space.

ACCESS The volume situated along the contours marks the circulation into and out of the other volume which it intersects. A breeze way along this volume creates a path which connects the front entrance to the back, and marks the beginning of the trail in the Educational Garden.

The entrance is a front deck that continues through the building as a breezeway. This essentially begins the trail as the back deck enters the gardens.

Within the second volume, the breezeway divides the space so that services are on one side: kitchen, bathroom, and front desk; and education is on the other.

The center space, accessible is most easily accessible and is therefore mixed-use, serving as dining, exhibition, and lecture space. The dining space is also opened to the outdoor front porch when the front wall displays rotate 90 degrees.

An indoor garden of small shade-loving trees is a subtle step up towards the green house. The Green house is viewed from this layer within the building, and access is limited to maintenance. Access into the green house is provided for the public along the educational garden trail from the very back of the building.

EDUCATION The Interpretive Center begins the trail into the gardens and overlaps the trail with its greenhouse.

The mixed use space for lectures, presentations and artwork/information displays or dining allows the educational center the flexibility to serve the MVI and Monteverde community in many ways.

An indoor garden of small identified trees allows individuals to explore and experience possibilities with integrating the outdoors into interior building spaces.

A roof garden also illustrates the relationship between nature and structure, and demonstrates one of many sustainable rain water catchment systems (the cisterns under the deck also demonstrating an efficient use of the site elevations).

The idea of re-use is also demontrated with the building’s use of wood and other on-site materials.

PROGRAM AND BUILDING ELEMENTS FRONT DECK GREENHOUSE INDOOR GARDENS MULTIPURPOSE SPACE - DINING, LECTURES, EXHIBITS FRONT DESK BATHROOMS (GREY WATER TOILETS) BREEZEWAY STORAGE KITCHEN BACK DECK

PITCHED ROOF WITH RAIN HARVESTING CISTERNS IN CRAWL SPACE FOR WATER RE-USE

CLERESTORY WINDOWS ROOF GARDEN

Designing to the site.

Experiencing our relationship with the environment.

Improving awareness of global issues related to sustainability.

PORTFOLIO BY ORIANE DALEY SUSTAINABLE FUTURES SUMMER 2009 MVI, MONTEVERDE, COSTA RICA