AT THE JUNCTION OF A METRO LINE AND A MALL IN CULVER CITY, IMMERSION GALLERIES IS A STRUCTURE CREATED TO BRING TWO WORLDS TOGETHER. THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF LOS ANGELES HAS ALWAYS HAD A DIVISION IN CULTURAL REPRESENTATION. HERE, THE ARTWORKS OF SOL LEWITT AND ARTHUR GANSON ARE SHOWCASED IN A BUILDING ENCASED IN A “SKIN” THAT REACHES UP TOWARDS THE SKY, AKIN TO THE SKYSCRAPERS BELONGING TO THE CITY.
SPATIAL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN NATURE AND ARCHITECTURE
THE AREA WITHIN SAN DONNINO IS FULL OF DECAY AND ABANDONMENT. WHOLE PLOTS OF LAND NEIGHBORING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROPERTIES ARE LITTERED WITH TRASH AND ARE USED AS DUMPING SITES.
THE INITIAL STRATEGY FOR INTRODUCING A HEALTHIER TYPOLOGY OF LIVING WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN DONNINO AND THE SURROUNDING AREA IS TO REJUVINATE THE LAND. THE TOXIC WASTE OF THE INCINERATOR DURING ITS YEARS OF OPERATION HAVE TAKEN A TOLL ON THE ENVIRONMENT. ONE STRATEGY IS TO PURIFY THE LAND BY PLANTING MORE TREES AND FLORA IN ORDER TO JUMPSTART THE GROWTH OF ECOLOGY. LASTLY, BRINING IN NEW JOBS FOR PEOPLE TAKING CARE OF THE SITE WOULD ALSO JUMPSTART THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
WITH THE NEW PROGRAMMING BEING INTEGRATED WITH THE SITE, THE WHOLE AREA WILL BE TRANSFORMED TO SOMETHING NEW. IN THE END, THE ECOLOGY OF THE SITE WILL BE HEALTHIER FOR ALL TO ENJOY.
GREYWATER TREATMENT:
IN THE AGRICOLA SITE, A FILTRATION POND SERVES AS A WAY TO REUSE TOXIC WATER WITH THE PROCESS OF PURIFICATION.
A FILTRATION POND OR ARTIFICIAL GREYWATER WETLAND IS BENFICIAL IN REDUCING TOXIN LEVELS IN THE WATER, PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL NUTRIENT POLLUTION IN THE WATERWAY.
THE POND ALSO CREATES A CLOSED-LOOP SYSTEM IN WHICH THE RECYCLED WATER CAN BE USED TO IRRIGATE THE CROPS IN THE GREEN CONSERVATORY.
COLLEGE OF THE DESERT MASTER PLAN FUNDED BY HMC ARCHITECTS
IN THIS HIGHER EDUCATION STUDIO, THE CLASS WAS INSTRUCTED TO VISUALIZE AND CREATE A MASTER PLAN FOR THE COLLEGE OF THE DESERT’S CAMPUS EXTENSION. PROJECTED TO BE A NEW HIGHLIGHT AND ATTRACTION FOR THE PALM SPRINGS AREA, THE NEW CAMPUS’ INTENTION IS TO PROVIDE INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING AND ENTERTAINMENT THAT IS OPEN TO STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND THE PUBLIC.
ONE OF THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S FACE IS THAT THERE IS A TENDANCY TO LEAVE THE CAMPUS WHEN CLASSES ARE NO LONGER IN SESSION. MY SOLUTION IS TO UTILIZE THE TYPOLOGY OF COURTYARDS AS A WAY TO PROMOTE CENTRALIZED SPACES FOR LARGE GATHERINGS. IN CALIFORNIA, IT IS IMPORTANT TO INCORPORATE THE “INDOOR/OUTDOOR” AREAS IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE SPACE AND TO EMPHASIZE THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE.
I CREATED A LINEAR SHAPE THAT INTERTWINES LIKE A SHOELACE, CREATING SMALLER COURTYARDS THAT FACILITATE BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING. THE UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMING ITSELF WILL BE ORGANIZED IN AN INDEXICAL APPROACH IN WHICH PUBLIC SPACES ARE TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN END OF THE CAMPUS WHILST PRIVATE SPACES ARE TOWARDS THE NORTHEN END. AKIN TO SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY’S “BOOK SPIRAL” CREATED BY OMA AND INSPIRED BY THE DEWEY DECIBEL SYSTEM, THE DEPARTMENTS ARE ORGANIZED BY RELATED FUNCTION.
FOR THE COURTYARD OF THE SUSTAINABILITY AND ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT “LOOP” THAT WAS FURTHER DESIGNED, INSPIRATION WAS TAKEN FROM LAWRENCE HALPRIN’S “FREEWAY PARK” IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. COVERED IN LUSH GROVES OF DESERT TREES AND SHRUBBERY, TIERED STEPS THAT LOOK LIKE SHIFTING TECTONIC PLATES ARE WHERE PEOPLE STAY TO RELAX, STUDY, AND SOCIALIZE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THE INDOOR PROGRAMMING IS SIMPLISTIC WITH SINGLE-LOADED COORIDORS PEERING INTO THE COURTYARD DEDICATED FOR FORMAL SPACES SUCH AS CLASSROOMS AND LECTURE HALLS AND INFORMAL ONES, AKA “STICKY SPACES” COINED BY HMC ARCHITECTS, ARE SOCIAL GATHERING AREAS DESIGNED BETWEEN AREAS WHERE STUDENTS CAN RELAX OR STUDY.
IN THE END, THE INTENTION IS TO CREATE THIS FREE-FLOWING, RIVER-LIKE CAMPUS THAT IS INTERCONNECTED WITH ONE ANOTHER. IT IS A CAMPUS THAT CAN EASILY BE INTEGRATED BY BRIDGES AND GROUND-LEVEL PATHWAYS THAT ENTERS UNIQUE COURTYARDS THAT HOUSE SMALL COMMUNITIES OF DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INTERCONNECTED.
COMPLETE PRECEDENT LIST:
Paul Rudolph’s Masterplan for the Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute (University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, 1963).
OMA’s Seattle Public Library (2004).
Herzog and de Meuron’s “Master Plan of District 3” for the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (2018).
3XN’s “Segerstedthuset” for the Uppsala University (2017).
Aalvaro Siza’s Carlos Ramos Pavilion (1986).
THE INTERNSHIP DURATION FOCUSES ON EXHIBITING THREE HIGH-END RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS CREATED BY ANDERS AND HIS TEAM FOR THE 2019 AIA ORANGE COUNTY DESIGN COMPETITION. CONCENTRATION CENTERS AROUND GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION UTILIZING BIM AND RENDERING TOOLS SUCH AS: REVIT, ENSCAPE, PHOTOSHOP, ILLUSTRATOR, AND INDESIGN.
ALL RIGHTS TO PROJECT IMAGES AND PHOTOS ARE OWNED BY ANDERS LASATER ARCHITECTS, LTD.
