This will accomplish a few things: Visually it will further the illusion that a force from within is distending the facade. Functionally, it will block the high summer sun, while the peeling up at the edge will allow more winter rays. Given this consideration, the mesh will thicken as it climbs higher on the facade, obscuring more summer sun. I'm thinking that, since the roof will be achieving some large spans, that a simple spaceframe system might be the best structure (it'd be supported by the atrium service shaft structure). Above the structure there would be a fairly typical roof arrangement. This way, the structure would be visible from below, similar to the rest of the expressive structural elements in the building. (Perhaps the spaceframe structure could even flow continuously into a few vertical supports... I'm not sure).
Rather then the shading system staying at a depth of 200mm, this system will now vary in thickness throughout the facade, transitioning gradually to the same thickness of the roof overhang. As I mentioned before, this is motivated by both the aesthetic and light control considerations.
The second issue, (which I have yet to draw) is an attempt to deal with the atrium floor: the restaurant seating. Since no one enjoys an intimate dinner amongst an unbroken sea of tables I have had to think about how I will break up that space. I've considered incorporating small changes in elevation within the space, a terracing of sorts. The other technique available to me, given my shading system, is that I carry one or two "ribbons" of the mesh from the entrance and allow them to flow into and about the restaurant floor. These "ribbons" of the mesh system can then divide the space, covering some sections and perhaps work in conjunction with the terracing I spoke of.
Since I already am employing the mesh in a sculptural gesture in the vertical cores, this language would not be out of place in the restaurant.
Finally, there is the issue of further resolving the expression of the kitchen related services. Despite the discussion during my critique (and our fearless leader's distaste) I have not ruled out the use of colour as a method of organization for the various vents and pipes. The other solution would be to look to the inherent differences in materiality of the conduits. This way the distinction would be the difference between insulated and uninsulated water pipes, aluminium vents, waste water pipes and (most likely) braided flexible natural gas lines. Either way, rather than surround these pipes with a structure like I had done for the interim submission, I will reverse the hierarchy and allow a single structural core to be surrounded by the pipes, highlighting their expression.
On that note, I'll leave you all with a photo, created and photographed surreptitiously at the Mandalay Bay spa.
As discussed afterwards, I would recommend that you find ways to break up the roof and wall condition potentially using vertical separators. The vertical structure that would have to go up anyways can support the roof but at the same time break the monotony of the cladding system along the primary event wall. It might also allow you to carry through the verticals to the top and offer supporting roof structure that could once again allow for slices of opacity/structure to go through the roof and wall. This option would break away from the direct wall-versus-roof condition that I suspect you do not wish to leave underdeveloped.
ReplyDeletePeeling away could also work with the aforementioned strategies so I think we are all on the same page here. The peeling will have to be tested a bit to see if the sun-shading conditions you have anticipated actually work. I think steel 3D trusses will be employed at the very least - a spaceframe may only need to emerge as the roof condition may require generous spans and your depth will not be too restricted.
I am quite interested in seeing the resolution of the cable truss system as it could really draw greater attention to the tech-quality of your project. I would keep in mind the comments made at Scott's review in order to prevent an overly dense condition.
It is also good to hear that you are admitting the need to look at breaking up the restaurant spaces. I feel that most students have not really thought this through despite the fact that nearly everyone has anticipated an active restaurant in the atrium space. This must be sorted out as soon as possible. Terracing might help, but I think it will require more as the scale of space is quite overwhelming and you likely don't want to make something that looks like a dinner theatre setup. Perhaps partitions and discrete rooms may be required. The drop down and integration of structural/tech bits might be interesting... it could at the very least be used as a device to change the intimacy of space. Obviously the continuity will be a very critical thing to engage.
Colour as a means of ordering is fine so long as it is done in a clear and practical manner. I would hate to think that you would approach this as though each conduit/stack would be a distinct Mondrian-esque gesture. As raised in the comment/reviews, the colour palette could remain subdued if from the same family. I agree that all white would seem a bit too muted given the program and the context, however I do not think an educational facility needs to be mired in colour fads and decorative goals. The inevitable option that you will have to follow through with is still going to be an exaggeration of scale for these infrastructural elements; but colour would definitely be on the agenda.
Thanks for the input. As far as exaggerating the scale of each service conduit is concerned, I've been operating on the premises that each teaching kitchen would be sharing the same vertical pipe as would the case in a typical mechanical stack. However, it occurs to me that I could provide a separate and distinct loop for each kitchen for each service. This would take the number of vertical conduits from 6 to 36. This may be an extreme (overly complicated) solution, but perhaps this would be the best way to exaggerate the services, rather than just increasing the diameter of the smaller pipes (potable water for instance).
DeleteI am now thinking that, taking your recommendations for the atrium roof/wall condition, the scheme would be best served by switching the primary glazing structure form horizontal to vertical. I would then break up the facade in, say, 6 sections with a vertical 3D truss along the interior glazing, the two surface chords would be linked by opaque panels rather than glass. These slices of opacity would reverse as the trusses met the roof, becoming glazed strips in the opaque overhead condition as the trusses spanned back horizontally to the edge of the atrium.
Lastly, as far as breaking up the restaurant area, I will model a scheme and post/show it to you, hopefully on Monday.
I believe multiple stacks actually serve to follow the model set out in Pompidou as an exaggeration effect. Looking forward to seeing something sooner than later - however Monday will be a busy day...
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