3
Zuhair Hussaini Professor Martin Kropac Design
“Ultimate Getaway”
SANAA Rolex Center Switzerland Precedent Study
Materials
Building Layers
Landscape Although the building was designed on a flat plane, it takes an unusual shape above the ground. The building is elevated and extruded in certain points allowing inhabitants to flow from program to program both within the building and outside of it. This method reinforces the circulation aspect of the building by breaking barriers.
Isometric View
Circulation Diagram
Program Diagram
Circulation The most interesting thing about the Rolex Learning Center is the way inhabitants travel from space to space. The building was designed with no partitions or barriers to make it all seem as one. This intention breaks off the conventional private/public sector of programmed spaces.
Rolex Center Elevation
Building Layers
Light The Rolex Learning Center is designed in a way which resembles a thin slice of cheese. Despite being a thin container, the entire building is wrapped around with glass. Natural sunlight still manages to get through the building by the openings throughout the building as well as the glass enclosure.
Transportation There are numerous ways one can travel from different points of New York City to Greenpoint at the school site. Transportation is available in the form of bus, subway, and ferry and driving. By having numerous access points, this increases the value and position of the school in such a community. Traffic Direction This diagram represents a zoomed in version of the first one which shows the traffic direction close by the school. This is important because it represents in what direction traffic will be coming and how it will affect pedestrians crossing as well as possible areas of congestion from the new complex being built. Dining and Institutions Dining and eating will not be a major issue in the program of this school since there are many places one can grab a cup of coffee or even lunch outside. All the areas highlighted represent 5-7 minute walking distance from the school. This also makes the school the only major school in the area aside from the public school.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn Analysis
Transportation Diagram
Neighboring Institutions and Dining
Traffic Direction and Bike Routes
Mystery Box
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed. Albert Einstein
Inspirational Sketches
Facade Design
Corner Street View
Natural Light Diagrams
Program Relationship Diagram
Program Distribution Diagram
Inspirational/Concept Sketches
Concept Massing Models Concept Models
Site Plan
Final Street View
East Elevation
North Elevation
The school is designed to give the visitor from the street an impression that raises their eyebrow. The school is located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn where wood is nowhere to be found. There aren’t any buildings or houses which feature wood as their main façade or even a component.While the school follows the conventional silhouette of any other building in the area,the façade marks the real question mark. It maintains its image of a wooden façade while still providing transparency in areas where it’s needed most, for example classrooms.
Transverse Section
The horizontal wooden plates tilt up 45 degrees providing a louver system for classroom and library spaces. The second approach taken when designing the school was to incorporate the park environment within the interior realm of the school. Atriums placed throughout the building provide open space for light and a zone for regulating circulation and social interaction. These openings spread and become wider as you progress higher up the building. This was done in order to let maximum light into the building. This idea was extracted from the Ford Foundation building located in New York City, but inverted inside out. The shape of the openings takes a second step in changing the dynamics of the building. This is done in order to change the environment of visitors as they make their way around the building. Greenpoint is based on a grid system and the buildings around follow such a footprint. By switching up the interior, it gives the school its own way of expression and its own opportunity to mold its footprint. Longitudinal Section
Natural Light Diagrams
Facade Design
p Diagram
Natural Light Diagrams
Inspirational/Concept Sketches
NaturalRelationship Light Diagrams Program Diagram
Program Distribution Diagram
Program Distribution Diagram
Con
Program Relationship Diagram
Concept Models
Program Relationship Diagram
GYMNASIUM
ART GALLERY
Ground Floor (0'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
CUSTODIAL STOREROOM
MECHANICAL
CUSTODIAN'S OFFICE
RECEIVING/STORAGE/ DOCK
STORAGE
GYMNASIUM
AUDITORIUM LOCKERS
Basement Floor Plan Basement (-10'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
PRIVATE OFFICE WAITING AREA
GUIDANCE OFFICE LOBBY OFFICES
AUDITORIUM
GYMNASIUM
ART GALLERY
Ground Floor Plan Ground Floor (0'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
MECHANICAL
CUSTODIAL STOREROOM
CUSTODIAN'S OFFICE
RECEIVING/STORAGE/ DOCK
STORAGE
LIBRARY
Third Floor Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
KITCHEN
M
CAFE
GYMNASIUM
OFFICES
MEDICAL OFFICE
Second Plan Second Floor Floor (+10'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
W
MAIN CLASSROOM
W
COMPUTER LAB
M
Fifth Floor (+30'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
LIBRARY OFFICE
M
W
FLEX SPACE
LIBRARY
Third Third Floor Floor Plan Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
KITCHEN
M
CAFE
W
PLAYGROUND
MAIN CLASSROOM
W
COMPUTER LAB
M
Sixth Floor (+40'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
LIBRARY STUDY AREA ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
COMPUTER LAB
MAIN CLASSROOM
W
COMPUTER LAB
M
Fourth Floor Plan Fifth Floor (+30'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
LIBRARY OFFICE
W
FLEX SPACE
LIBRARY
M
Roof (+50'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
COMPUTER LAB
PLAYGROUND
MAIN CLASSROOM
COMPUTER LAB
W
M
Fifth Plan SixthFloor Floor (+40'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
LIBRARY STUDY AREA ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
COMPUTER LAB
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
Roof Roof Plan (+50'-0") Scale = 3 32 "=1'-0"
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
COMPUTER LAB
PLAYGROUND
Classroom View
Street View