Pathways in Pittsburgh “Tectonic motion of the City”
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CURTAIN WALL
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South Elevation
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AXONOMETRIC
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Pittsburgh evolved on the Allegany Plateau tucked in between a complex topography. Many of the city's neighborhoods are steeply sloped. The names of more than a quarter of these neighborhoods make reference to “hills” or “heights” of the city. Many times hills could be seen as a barrier, but in Pittsburgh’s case, the hills create a unique entry experience into the city. The pathway into Pittsburgh seems to naturally be formed by the processes of tectonic motion. Weaving in and out between the hills creates a journey towards the city which seems to naturally draw people in. The design for the new Contemporary Craft and Entrepreneur Design Center relates symbolically to the journey one experiences on the arrival sequence as well as exploring Pittsburgh. Two dimensional strips spawning from the grid were manipulated, pushed, cut, and pulled to create a unique three dimensional approach towards the contrasting cube structure. Ideas such as varying degrees of view, city grid extension, natural looking materials, and integrating the landscape enhance the experience and create an interaction between the building and site. The large rotational split within the main cube structure directly relates back towards the city of Pittsburgh and creates an element of surprise for the visitors. The large outdoor public realm space and elongated windows provide the viewer with a panoramic view of the scenery around Pittsburgh. The narrow windows also control the light within the structure to accommodate the art work within.
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West Elevation
1. Vestibule 2. Lobby Area 3. Elevator 4. Exhibition area 5. Cafe 6. Administration Area 7. Office 8. Conference Room 10. Bookstore 11. Classroom 12. Presentation Area 13. Men 14. Women 15. Mechanical 16. Storage 17. Studio