March 30, 2012

Working with the three words I posted about before I have chosen to not break up the simple form of the cast but rather invert portions and pushing some of the moves that are already present to the next level and continue their language.

The cross shape that is present as an indentation on the cast is going to be transformed into an underground circulation path. I'm only going to choose one path and have it extend past the tomb structures and to the end of the site. At the end, the tunnel will open up and reveal a large panoramic view of the back drop off of the site.

The three repeated forms will be used completely as is. The larger portion of the form will be elevated above the ground as it is in the cast. The ramp will ramp up from ground level to the elevated meditation space and ramp down to the underground viewing area, museum space, and more mediation spaces.

The conical skylight that marks the entrance to the underground spaces between the chapel and the existing wall will also be used again at the culmination of the circulation path. This cone will be in the ground instead of protruding outward as it does in the entrance. This culminating cone is the largest and more formal meditation space. It will connect to the underground viewing space and circulation and contain a second ring wall around the meditation space that holds a set of stairs to exit.

The only portion of the project I have not been able to resolve is the underground space. I don't know if I want to break it up with a series of partition walls or actually create rooms, or even divide it by the circulation path with memorial walls on either side of the path like this . . . 

While this is a very rough sketch to show what I mean with two memorial walls lining the circulation space. I also want to start looking at the threshold of each change and where circulation stops and space starts. I want to try and use different materials to create thresholds similar to the way that Carlo Scarpa did in his Brion-Vega Cemetery.

March 28, 2012

Simple

Clean

Complex

March 23, 2012

The sectional quality of the design and the sight is very important in my design. The plan of the addition is very straightforward with these clusters of the tombs creating smaller mourning/ reflection spaces. In the original design the site has a very interesting quality of "entering the ground". I have created several areas where the visitors to the site can enter the ground and exit the ground to enter spaces or as transitional areas. I thought that the transition into or out of the ground was the most important feature of this cemetery. There are transitions into the ground for urn spaces and the museum area. There are already existing transitions like these with the entry and exit of the chapel, the entry and exit of the mortuary, the ramping of the tomb area into the ground, and also with the family crypts at the end of the path.  

The central space that is created with the backs of the tomb structures allows for a peaceful, open area for family members to gather and reflect, or individuals to contemplate.

Death is a heavy topic, so my goal is to cater to different peoples' needs to help them through this tough time. 

March 9, 2012

Sorry guys, I saved this and forgot to upload soooo here ya go.

I had three different schemes for my addition but after a review this is the form I chose. It was really difficult to come up with a scheme that in a way emulates, fits in with, and incorporates what is already on the site without creating a scheme that is too closely linked to their original design. Pinos and Miralles did such an amazing job with the original portion of the cemetery that there is no way to compete with them. In order to create a new functional and enjoyable space I need to reflect on the features of the design that I feel create the environment and experience of the cemetery adn try to make them my own and incorporate them into my design. So I wanted to continue their idea of bringing the plan of the dead and the plane of the living together on one plane,  the open air environment, and the burial of the function spaces. I know as a personal preference I would like to be able to visit the graves or tombs of my lost loved ones in a more private way. I don't really want to be looking at the grave of a lost family member and have the view of others mourning or have others have the view of me mourning so a big requirement of my design is to break up these mourning spaces and create private mourning and reflection spaces among the tombs. This broken up line that is pictured above shows the more private form that I will be exploring.

In terms of three-dimensional qualities or forms for the tombs or spaces I create I really want to explore the angles and lines created in my plaster cast of the liminal spaces of the chapel.