studio muse
center of fashion in the chelsea meatpacking district elizabeth meyer | arch 807 | prof. bob condia | 1-24-12
executive summary The Greeks believed if you prayed to a muse, you would find inspiration. In mythology, the muses were goddesses who inspired the creation of literature and art. Fashion is one expression of art. The designer creates through fabric. As artists, designers seek inspiration. In ancient times, people went to a temple to pray for inspiration. While it can come in many forms, architecture (aesthetic space) can inspire other artists to create. Architects look to archetypes for inspiration. One archetype I looked to is the Roman Forum. This was the center of life in ancient times. Many temples or baasilicas were located around the Forum. It was a civic center for the ancient Romans. "When possession by the muses seized upon a gentle and virgin soul, it rouses it to inspired expression in lyric and other sorts of poetry, and glorifies countless deeds of the heroes of old for the instruction of posterity. But if a man comes to the door of poetry untouched by the madness of the muses, believing that technique alone will make him a good poet, he and his sane compositions never reach perfection, but are utterly eclipsed by the performances of the inspired madman." -Socrates, in Plato’s Phaedrus
Basillicas were designed to inspire people to think about their place in the universe. The temples were created to honor gods and demonstrate their role in ancient societies. Likewise Studio Muse would evoke a sense of wonder and curiousity spurring creative thought. Studio Muse would be a mixed-use building and serves as a civic center similar to the Forum. The business use would be as the corporate headquarters for Rodarte fashion label. The commercial aspect would be the market or shopping mall. The residential would be the living suites. The industrial would be the mass production of Rodarte’s designs. All these spaces surround an urban stiar that connects the street level and the High Line. The facade has a metal mesh curtain wall hung to look like a piece of fabric has been draped. This would let in some light but limit views out. The metal mesh would unify the facade.
the site The Chelsea district in New York City was primarily industrial buildings in the 1930’s. Around this time, the need arose for an elevated train line because there were too many accidents with trains at the same level as automobiles and pedestrians. The project is now referred to as the High Line. The plan included elevating train traffic 30 feet in the air. Chelsea used to be the largest industrial district in Manhattan. Today, most buildings have been converted to artist studios (at least at the ground level), restaurants, and housing. The area is revitalized and quickly becoming the new SoHo. Trains stopped running on the High Line around 1980. In 1999, the High Line was saved from demolition and is being turned into an elevated parkway with vegetation and walking paths.
thesis statement Studio Muse is a place for creating, producing, and marketing fashion. The technology of the digital age makes it possible to live and work under one roof. S t u d i o M u s e would c o n n e c t t h e s t r e e t l e v e l a nd the H i g h L i n e t h r o u g h a p u b l i c stair. E v e r y o n e w h o e n g a g e s t he stair a n d s p a c e s a r o u n d i t will be i n s p i r e d t o t h i n k c r e a t i vely.
space list market: dressing rooms (54) retail (9 units) live (40 @ 500 sf each):
24,300 sf
open studio:
8,100 sf
corporate headquarters: Executive Office Office (4 @ 150 sf) Building Manager Office Reception desk Reception Seating Conference Room Library Printer/Copier/Fax Center Supply Center File Area Documents Room Server Room design pin-up space break room
320 sf 600 sf 200 sf 100 sf 100 sf 150 sf 150 sf 100 sf 50 sf 150 sf 250 sf 200 sf 900 sf 100 sf 3,450 sf
café
1,000 sf
urban stair:
2,700 sf
circulation:
13,650 sf
restrooms:
1,500 sf
1,300 sf 6,800 sf 8,100 sf
mechanical 5,325 sf ≈ 60,300 sf $230.79 per sf in New York City
= $13,916,637