Episode 3.2-Design of a mixed-use building in West Chelsea, NYC

Analysis: The buildings within the block

Your research continues on the analysis (transformations over time, traces of the past) of buildings contained in the project’s block.

You should focus on general dimensions of the buildings, on floor height (analyze the façade), on depth and width, and how they are related to other adjacent buildings in the same block, structurally, functionally, and formally.

- We will talk of ADJACENCY between buildings in one block.

- We will also look for urban or architectural EXCEPTIONS in the city of New York.

Program

Your mixed-use building will include:

Lot: Total LOT Area: 48’ x 75’

Max Building Height: 64’

Floors: 5

First floor: Commercial space.

You will design a Coffee shop with the following program:

Serving desk and equipment area, products display and refrigeration area, milk and sugar area, sitting area, small kitchen, storage, restrooms. Exit to back courtyard, exit/entrance from 11 Avenue.

Max interior Height: 13’ft.

Coffee shop area Max: 32’x32’ , including eventually outdoors decks/patios.

First floor: Entrance/lobby for Residential units.

Reserve enough space for entrance to the residential units. You should provide stairs, elevator, and mechanical space. Entrance/exit from 11 Avenue. Possible connection with courtyard.

Lobby Area Max. 32’x16’

Second, third, fourth, fifth floor: Residential units.

Area max for each floor-plan: 32’x32’

Option A:

Two-Bedroom Unit on one level of aprox. 1025/1050 sq.ft.

Three-Bedroom Unit, duplex on two levels, with a 2-story height space, of aprox. 1550/1600 sq.ft.

Option B:

One-Bedroom Unit on one level with working space for an artist, of aprox. 1025/1050 sq.ft.

Two-Bedroom Unit, duplex on two levels, with a 2-story height space, with working space for an artist, of aprox. 1550/1600 sq.ft.

Max interior Height: variable from 10’ (one level unit) to 20’ (duplex unit with double height).

Each unit must have main living/dining/cooking/sleeping places with bathroom and closet.

Each unit should also have an additional small bathroom serving the living area, and laundry/small storage spaces.

Each unit should have outdoor spaces and maximize adjacency to outdoor spaces.

Process

Reconsider your Site-diagrams as generators of the new spaces.

In your design, you must include:

Circulation systems. Consider paths and transitions spaces serving the units inside and outside.

Entrance/exit options that establish relationships between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Diagram of densities (unit/voids). Combinations and spatial variety of solids and voids. Voids could be considered as surfaces (ex. ground floor garden, outdoor paths, open terrace or deck), or volumes (covered terrace, space underneath or above the unit, patios, voids within the unit). You could involve the space below or above the unit, so that this communal space could pass underneath, flow into your unit, or be treated vertically.

Façade treatment. Skin and structure. Cladding or sunscreens. Think about differentiated materials. You must integrate the Patterns’ exercise.

Parameters

• Modular dimensions; hierarchy of parts; adjacency of spaces; organizational possibilities;
• Spatial flexibility over time with possible expansion of the unit, possible volumetric addition, and/or combinations of more units;
• Horizontal and vertical combinations of parts of the unit;
• Sectional interlocking possibilities;
• Spatial relationships.
• Commodity and delight — ease of entry into the house and circulation among the public and private zones; accommodation of natural light and airflow; generosity and sufficiency of space; surprises; unusual use of materials; surface manipulation.

Requirements

Process drawings using Autocad 2008

3d Investigations and modeling using 3D studio Max

Study Physical Model and Final Physical Model (see further Instructions).

Final presentation

Due Mon, April 28/2008

Episode 3.1- Site Diagrams

You should represent 3 diagrams with AutoCAD or 3D-Studio, related to the project-site.

Some suggestions for your analysis:

Circulation north-south-east-west, linear voids, hierarchy of infrastructural systems, vertical and horizontal connections, access-exit to the site, paths of specific destinations, views from the building lot, views towards the building lot, existing green spaces, congestion, densification, rarefaction, events, programmatic bands-stripes, layering of activities or of traces, grids, use of the site, people flow, cars, movement, in different hours, during the day, at night, presence of nearby buildings, use of buildings next to our block, courtyards, open spaces, water, waterfront elements, edges, voids, residual islands, composition of major elements-founded and added, elements in different scales, etc...

Read the site graphically in a creative way, but concentrate on urban elements. You can be more conceptual or analyze real conditions.

The 3 diagrams will be printed in 3 color-pages letter size (8 1/2 X 11).

Analysis Example: Existing buildings within the nearby blocks

Before conceiving any diagram, you need first to research on specific conditions, elements, presences, etc.

- Your research could focus on the analysis (transformations over time, traces of the past) of historical buildings, or on the analysis of exceptional buildings, in the projects’ block or nearby.
- You should focus on general dimensions of the buildings, on floor height (analyze the façade), on depth and width, on openings, on volumes composition, and how they are related to other adjacent buildings in the same block, structurally, functionally, formally.

Narrate your site analysis through 3 diagrams exploring 3 site conditions. You might explore only one condition through 3 diagrams, especially if that condition or presence has several components.

See how to analyze cities through diagrams in the following Books:

Rem Koolhaas, “SMLXL”

Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos, “MOVE”

MVRDV, “Metacity, Metatown” and/or “FARMAX”

Due Fri, March 07

PHASE 3: Building

You will design a mixed use, but mostly residential structure that reacts to,
and/or could affects changing environments, places, views, use, and program.
The building will be located in West Chelsea, NYC, at 166-168 West 11th Avenue, between 22^nd and 23rd Street.
Its contemporary conception engages materials and surface treatments.

SITE OVERVIEW

www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/home.html

City planning-PROJECTS/PROPOSALS-MANHATTAN-WEST CHELSEA- LAND USE, buildings, zoning, high line.

http://gis.nyc.gov/doitt/mp/Portal.do

New York City Map Portal- type in street intersection (22^nd street and 11 avenue)- Site information-New York City Map- Lot info- Street/Aerial

GOOGLE MAPS-STREET VIEW

You should particularly concentrate in:

- Analysis of nearby buildings: lot info, front dimensions, deep dimension, number of floors, height, use.

- Analysis of vacant spaces or vacant lots.

- Analysis of courtyards, open private spaces within the buildings in the nearby blocks.

- Analysis of public open spaces, parks, green areas, waterfront.

- Analysis of infrastructural systems, circulation systems.

- Analysys of new developments in West Chelsea:

100 11 Ave./ Jean Nouvel/ www.nouvelchelsea.com/ neighborhood

11 Ave./18^th street/ F. Gehry/ www.IACbuilding.com

524 W. 19^th Street/ Shigeru Ban/ Metal Shutter Houses

Diller and Scofidio, project for the High Line in Chelsea; project for a Patisserie in NYC

www.40bond.com/ Herzog and De Meuron, Greenwich Village, NYC

More buildings in NYC: Mies van Der Rohe, R. Meyer, S. Calatrava, J. Pawson, Winka Dubbeldam, Libeskind, Renzo Piano, etc.

Episode 3.0 – Structural patterns

Select only 1 (one) pattern, which you think is the more appropriate for this assignment. You may choose among all your patterns, including old and recent patterns’ transformations.
Your pattern will become the skin and structure of your building.

Draw your pattern in AutoCAD -2D and extend it to three adjacent faces (horizontal-vertical-horizontal, or vertical-vertical-vertical).
In AutoCAD, insert and draw your pattern into a 12’ x 12’ area/face/surface (6x6 modules) and extend it to 12’x6’ adjacent two areas/faces/surfaces.

Import the 3 (three) surfaces in 3DSMax.
Extrude a thickness of 2’ your 3 surfaces and establish angular conditions.
Explore and construct edge conditions: your pattern lines will be carried around adjacent faces. You must have a right angle connecting possible floor-wall-roof or wall-wall-wall relationships.

Work with solids and voids. Cut through selected parts.
Modify and review, if necessary, your pattern.
Start to think about façade openings.
Apply light as a design tool. You may decide to change your cuts accordingly to specific light-narratives on the interior surfaces.

Your patterning investigation is now enabled by structure and light.

Due Wed, Feb. 27

Episode 2.9 - FINAL BOARD – 3D Patterns

On 18” x 24” paper sheet, plot and compose the following vertically (18” as base), accordingly to a presentation layout using Photoshop and/or Illustrator:

- On 1 Board, compose process drawings (2D or/and 3D) and renderings (front and top views) of your 3 final perforated patterns;

- On 1 Board, you should have one top view, one rendered section, and one perspective/axon view, for each of the 2 final cladding patterns.
A final series of drawings using 3D Studio Max is representing surfaces modulated by applying operations involved with pulling/pushing, bending/folding.

Work with solid colors or implement the following materials: stone, marble, concrete, ceramic, glass, metal.

At your choice, as an option: add some views with details of the modulated surfaces, showing the transformation process.

Due Wed, Feb. 20

Episode 2.8 - FINAL BOARDS – Visual NYC and 2D Patterns

On 18” x 24” paper sheet, plot and compose the following vertically (18” as base), accordingly to a presentation layout using Photoshop and/or Illustrator:

- On 1 Board, compose Phase 1 as a collage of images/photograms on NYC. Divide the board in 3 columns. Set your margins (left, right, top, bottom, in between columns) as the template in Illustrator.

- On 2 or 3 Boards, compose Phase 2 as:

• Collection of different digital images of patterns applications, in smaller size;
• Your pattern selection as image in color, in bigger size;
• Your pattern selection as line drawing (black and white), in bigger size;
• Your complete individual process involved with geometrical analysis and reassembly of single parts of the original pattern. Particularly, you should insert a full set of drawings exploring operations of repetition, rotation, overlapping, and shifting, scaling, trimming;
• Highlights the 3 patterns selected for the laser cutter;
  
  Attach your laser cut cardboards.
  
  Due Mon, Feb. 18

Episode 2.7 – 3D Patterns – Differentiated Surface

3DStudio Max - 3D drawings- Surface Rilief:

You have applied an extrusion of 2“ thickness to each of your 2 patterns on a 3x3 modules grid.
Accordingly with the geometrical characteristics of your transformed patterns explore the following modulations:

• Banding in and out selected stripes/fields/parts/areas/edges of your 2 final patterns.
• Folding in and out selected stripes/fields/parts/areas/edges of your 2 final patterns.
• You might work on the 2 selected patterns applying just combinations of folding and banding.
• You might also work on the 2 selected patterns already transformed through pushing and pulling, applying combination of pushing, pulling, banding and folding.

Protrusions or/and depressions values: 1/4”, 1/3”, ½”, and 1”, at your choice.
Do not cut through.

You are still conceiving cladding surfaces for exterior facades.
Materials: stone, marble.

Due Fri, Feb. 15

Episode 2.6 – New Laser cuts Instructions

AutoCAD 2008 - 2D drawings – Laser cutter:

Select an 18”x32” white museum board, 4ply thick, landscape orientation (32” as base).

If you prefer, select an 18”x32” piece of Acrylic (Crystal clear), 1/8” thick (in Home Depot, Storm doors section, NO LAXEN material).

Select 2 patterns, each within 8 1/2” x 8 1/2” scale-to-fit size, and place them together on the museum board, one after the other; set 2” space in between, on top, bottom, left of each pattern, on a longitudinal layout (landscape orientation).

Give a color setting to the lines of your patterns, and fill in the patterns’ areas with solid colors (hatch as solid) using the following 4 colors: red, blue, green, and cyan.

Every color is associated to cut deepness. You must have:

Blue= shallow cut.

Red= intermediate cut.

Green= deep cut.

Cyan= cut through (JUST FOR FEW PERFORATIONS).

Save your two drawings in one AutoCAD file.
Send your AutoCAD file to the laser cutter. You do not have to export in Illustrator.
Cutting will take about 1 ½ - 2 hours per file.

Due Monday, Feb. 11/Wed. Feb.13

Episode 2.6 – 3D Patterns – Differentiated Surface

AutoCAD 2008- 2D drawings – Laser cutter:

Organize your 2D AutoCAD drawings in order to obtain a new and different result with the laser cutter.

• Select an 18”x32” white museum board or white cheap-board, 4ply thick.
• If you prefer, select an 18”x32” piece of Plexiglas (Kristal clear), 1/8” thick.
• Select 2 patterns out of the 3 final patterns.
• Set a hierarchy of cuts within the geometry of each of your 2 selected patterns.
• Give a color setting to the lines of your patterns, accordingly with the laser cutter instructions (for example: red, blue, green, and cyan).

Every color is associated to cut deepness:

Blue= shallow cut.

Red= intermediate cut.

Green= deep cut.

Cyan= cut through.

Select 4 levels (= 4 colors) of increasing superficial depth in your cuts, including a selection of few perforations.

3DStudio Max - 3D drawings- Surface Rilief:

Select 2 (two) out of the 3 (three) patterns you used in Episode 2.5. Apply an extrusion of 2“ thickness to each of your 2 patterns on a 3x3 modules grid.

Accordingly with the geometrical characteristics of your transformed patterns apply the following modulations:

• Push down selected parts/areas/vertices/points of your 2 final patterns
• Pull out selected parts/areas/vertices/points of your 2 final patterns

Rilief deepness: 1/4”, 1/3”, ½”, 1”, at your choice. You might explore combination of values. Do not cut through.

You are about conceiving cladding surfaces for exterior facades.
Materials: stone, marble.

Due Monday, Feb. 11

Episode 2.5 – 3D Pattern perforations

Autocad 2008- 2D drawings:
- Apply a tiling modularity to your 3 (three) selected final patterns.
- Insert each pattern within a tile-grid of 2’x2’ modules.
- Compose a grid of 3 modules x 3 modules.

The grid, and its repetition or alternation of modules, should be adapted to your drawings, in order to be in control of dimensions and scale.
Use multiple or sub-modules accordingly to the geometry of your patterns.

3DStudio Max - 3D drawings:
You have selected 3 (three) final new patterns. Import the 3 patterns into 3DSMax. Assign to each pattern a different file name. In the folder Pattern perforations create a sub-folder called 3D cut. In this folder save the files: 3D cut-pattern1; 3D cut-pattern2; 3D cut-pattern3.

In 3DSMax:
- Apply a ¼“ thickness to each of your patterns on a 3x3 modules grid. Insert the same perforations of episode 2.4.
- Rework your laser cuts and redefine your perforations now digitally.
- Change the selection of the perforated parts:
1. Invert the solid/void relationship; print and render with colors at least 1 page 11x17”;
2. Reduce or increase the number of voids; print and render with colors at least 1 page 11x17”;
3. Alternate systematically solid/void; print and render with colors at least 1 page 11x17”.

Material of applications: Metal.
Use: façade sun-screen; light-screen; light-modulation; light-ornament; interior partition.

Due Wed, Feb 06

Files organization
With reference to the NYLstudio activity till February 01, 2008

Main folders

PhaseI-NYC
PhaseII-Surfaces
PhaseIII-Building


Sub-folders

In folder PhaseI-NYC create two sub-folders:
NYC-Visual
NYC-Virtual
I
In folder PhaseII-Surfaces create the following sub-folder:
Surfaces-Patterns


Sub-sub-folders

In the sub-folder Surfaces-Patterns create more sub-sub-folders:
Pattern analysis
Pattern geometry
Pattern perforations


Files

In Pattern analysis create the file:
Pattern components

In Pattern geometry create the files:
Pattern rotation
Pattern repetition
Pattern overlapping
Pattern shifting
Pattern scaling
Pattern trimming

In Pattern perforations create the files:
Lines analysis
Laser cut

Episode 2.4 - Pattern perforations

Finalize and complete your transformations.
Update and keep in order your prints.
You should have, on 11”x17” paper sheets, a complete set of explorations, which contains:
- Original pattern, analysis of its parts, rules and underlying geometry (at least 1 page);
- Set of drawings with application of rotation, repetition, and overlapping (at least 1 page for each transformation);
- Set of drawings with application of shifting, scaling, trimming and their combinations (at least 1 page for each transformation);
- Analysis of lines and parts to reach a successful laser cut of some of your new patterns (at least one page for each drawing).

Out of all your selected series of transformations, choose 3 final drawings.
Analyze your patterns lines, elements, parts, areas in order to apply perforations.
Think about your pattern as the resulting adjacency of solid and void.
Compose the three selected drawings on one cardboard sheet of 18” x 32 “, and cut them out with the laser cutter machine.
Choose a white cardboard with the appropriate thickness.

While choosing the three drawings, start to think about their 3D potentials. Import them into 3DSMax program.
Create a new file for each drawing.

Due Friday, Feb. 01

Episode 2.3- Pattern and geometry

Continue to apply transformations to your selected series.
You have 3 sets of drawings exploring operations of 1-repetition, 2-rotation, and 3-overlapping.

Implement, within each set, combined possibilities of shifting, scaling, and trimming.

On 11 x 17” paper print the following:

Series of 2D drawings where you are to explore repetitions, rotations and overlapping of elements through shifting;

Series of 2D drawings where you are to explore repetitions, rotations and overlapping of elements through combinations of shifting+scaling;

Series of 2D drawings where you are to explore repetitions, rotations and overlapping of elements through combinations of shifting+scaling+trimming;

Use Autocad 2007-2008

Due Wed, Jan. 30

Episode 2.2- Pattern and geometry

Isolate and redraw the single elements of your original pattern.
Create your individual sets of geometries as sequences of parts.
Try to uncover the underlying geometry as 2D figure. Your selected pattern contains rules of repetition and multiplication.
What is the inherent principle according to which the single module proliferates?
Reveal the rules, tiling strategies, layers and constraints, which are at the basis of the selected geometries.
Apply different ways of repositioning, combination and transformation of single elements to new entities, forming new patterns of complex organizations.

Particularly, you should have a set of drawings exploring operations of:

• Repetition
• Rotation
• Overlapping

On 11 x 17” paper print the following:

Series of 2D drawings of your single components. The original overall pattern should always be present as background figure, as reference;

Series of 2D drawings where you are to explore repositioning, combinations and transformations of single elements through repetition;

Series of 2D drawings where you are to explore repositioning, combinations and transformations of single elements through rotation;

Series of 2D drawings where you are to explore repositioning, combinations and transformations of single elements through overlapping.

Use Autocad 2007-2008

Due Mon, Jan. 28
Class projection

PHASE 2: Surfaces

Episode 2.1- Pattern analysis and geometry

You will search and analyze 2D patterns, and the evolution of their geometrical systems.
Explore the following fields:

- interior design, industrial design

- ornaments in architecture and art

- objects, furniture, lighting

- pavement, tiles, wall coverings, wall paper

- fashion, textile, fabrics

- nature

- science, mathematics

- culture

• Collect 10 different digital images of patterns applications. Compose all the 10 images on a paper sheet of 11”x17”. Comment each image with a short explanatory caption (materiality, field of application, designer name,..ect.).

Print the 11”x17” paper sheet.

• Choose and exactly redraw one favorite pattern as a 2D figure using Autocad 2007.
  Start to observe the single elements that are composing the whole patterned figure. Draw your pattern selection as line drawing (black and white) and print on an 11”x17” paper sheet.

Scale to fit page.

Books consultation:
Go in the CoA Library and consult a list of selected books, reserved for our class:

The Pepin Press, Agile Rabbit Editions, www.pepinpress.com

· Weaving patterns

· Lace,

· Embroidery

· Ikat patterns

· Floral Patterns

· Mediaeval Patterns

· Renaissance

· Baroque

· Rococo

· Patterns of the 19^th century

· Art Nouveau Designs

· Patterns of the 1930

· Chinese Patterns

· Japanese Patterns

· Islamic Designs

· Persian Designs

· Turkish Designs

· Elements of Chinese and Japanese Design

· Bacteria and other Microorganisms,

Schmidt P.,Tietenberg A., Wollheim R., Patterns in Design, Art and Architecture; · ISBN-10: 3764371846 · ISBN-13: 978-3764371845

The world of ornament

The World of Ornament, http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/search/result/1.htm

· ISBN-10: 3822821942 · ISBN-13: 978-3822821947

Due Wednesday, Jan 23