April 28, 2012

Well, the final design day is almost upon us. I am in pretty good shape. A lot of things have been resolved in this past week. I still have to decide on the different materials that I will be using in my different paths and zones on either side of the tomb structures, figure out how to keep my underground are next to the chapel standing (structure), and the parking area I want to put in at the beginning of my addition.

Materiality:
I don't want to make drastic changes in materiality between zones, just enough to delineate the paths from the viewing areas and interstitial space between the tomb structures.  The interstitial spaces that happen between the two paths and the tomb structures will be some sort of grass with trees or vegetation.  I am considering putting a water feature in one but that will take some thinking to see which one will get it. I also want to continue the perpendicular line that will be a slight impression in the ground through the site and end it at one of the interstitial spaces but I'm not sure if I should keep the lowered line in just the interstitial spaces and viewing areas or through the paths as well. I'm going to draw both at a larger scale than I've been working in and see which I prefer.

Structure:
I'm not sure how to do this. That perpendicular line that is present on the top of the site will also be viewing from the underground space as a "beam". I don't think it's possible to make it a structural beam because it technically does not run in a path from vertical support to vertical support uninterrupted. The light well that runs through the edge of the space also causes problems because it basically separates the roof of the space from the one edge of supporting wall and ground. So this is going to take some finesse.  I don't want to put a series of columns in the space because I like that it is open and without interruption.  I could put a series of columns along the interior side of the light well to support the ceiling.  This might make that path too under the light well stand out too much and disrupt the constant line of light through the space. I can draw it and see.  Soooo as of now I'm not sure how to make this part of the cemetery stand up.  Any suggestions, or is the space small enough to support itself with just a flat slab?

Parking/ Entry:
As it is now, the two paths that line the tomb structures extend and turn into stairs with long treads that bring the visitors from the parking zone into the site and also the paths and lines that are created. The extension of the paths draws the visitors into the paths of circulation.  The parking area as it is designed now sits between the two elongated stairs.  I'm not sure how I feel about putting the parking area in the same axis or line as the tomb structures but I feel like it continues the language of occupied space contained by circulation and separated from the next occupied zone by grass. So if I think it about it as a zone and not a parking area I can accept it.  The parking area is rather small at this point.  I know there is another parking zone already created further up along the entry path so there is no need for too much parking but I don't want it to seem like a secondary area or part of the cemetery because it does not have the same large parking and entry that the rest of the cemetery has.  I think I just have to live with it because there's really no more space to make a parking area.

The narrative I plan to tell in my presentation is written and the final layout is done. It starts with the analyzing of the chapel, then moves into the site design and paths and entries, then goes to the larger scale drawings of the tomb structures and spaces of the cemetery, and ends with the detail drawings of the two different types of tomb structures.  Hope all turns out the way I envision it.

April 24, 2012

Or Do They Flow Into One?

April 23, 2012

"Interrupting" Grids

Incorporating "Tree Grid"

Breaking Up A Form

"Randomly Placed" Objects to Create Spaces

April 23, 2012

Sooooo, the last time I blogged I discussed creating different "paths", "lines", "layers", etc. I have been working on it and am having a hard time creating the tension between my new grid and the pre-existing grid of trees. I want to create a "layer" that is right next to the tombs that is somewhat narrow to designate that space as a sort of private, personal viewing space but that is large enough to also accommodate circulation, then a larger space where a funeral party could gather and maybe have seats or whatnot, then a layer that is larger than the first but smaller than the second that I envision to be a less private or rather enclosed contemplation space. In these spaces is where I wanted to create this "tension". I also wanted to bring that tension into the areas between the tomb structures to create a different sort of "tension" or play between the two grids. I chose to try and do this is in these spaces to make physical the emotional tension that I feel would be happening between the dead and living in these spaces. I am just having trouble merging the grids. Do I merge them strictly in line and orientation? Do I merge them and have one grid completely take over and overpower the other in these spaces and create irregular shapes that can turn into forms? Do they create a tension through different opposing textures? I don't want to do something that is too complex or that takes away from the clean simplicity of the tomb forms. I like the horizon or scenery that the tomb structures create and don't want to interrupt that. There is also the language that is created on the east (I believe it's east or north-east) side where I created large openings for viewing the tombs that are under the ground. I want to continue that language of creating special zones in front of the tomb spaces for viewing. I have been playing with the idea of pulling that space up 6" as a viewing platform because the other side has a recession and the circulation within the tomb structures only goes down, while this side's circulation only goes up. I feel like this a rational solution but I don't know if I want to continue the language of the tomb structures into the site or give the site its own language that relates to the tomb structure in terms of viewing and not in the push and pull language of the tomb structures.

So many things to think about!!! I'm going to try and depict all of these variations for tomorrow and can we discuss? Or can you drop me a comment tonight and tell me if there's one that I should explore deeper than another?

April 20, 2012

The actual tomb structure form is derived from the line of lightwells that create a path along one of the axis of the church. The area where the stairs are creates circulation up to the top of the structure where there are special burial spaces and act as amphitheater like seating for contemplation. Each contemplation area varies in size because of the angled axis. This create different contemplation experiences. These stair/contemplation areas face each other in two points where the stairs from the lower level lead creating a larger contemplation space where people can enter this portion of the cemetery instead of just walking up to this level of the site and immediately being faced with the tomb structures. You can see this in the picture below.

After looking at the line of tomb structures it was agreed that I need to start looking at the area around the tombs and incorporating them into the design with the use of repeating forms that are already present in the site. Luis showed me the linear city by a Russian architect (I can't find his name in the book right now). He designed the city by using repeating forms and a grid pattern. Based on the size of the site and my design I have drawn a line on either side of the long axis. I have been looking at the repeating forms of the site and of my design in the hopes that I can use them to occupy the spaces within the lines and create a more interactive cemetery addition.

April 20, 2012

Here is the continuation of my line of tomb space. This also allows for me to vary the space in between the tomb structures and create more involved contemplation spaces. By facing the contemplation spaces that are part of the tomb structure towards each other I can create a large contemplation space that opens out into the site itself and essentially makes the whole site a contemplation area.

April 18, 2012

Sorry, had some technical difficulties, but I'm back.

So after our drawing crit I started designing all of the tomb spaces and realized that I had nowhere near the amount of tombs I needed so I looked at the model in an attempt to see how I want to expand my design.

The forms of my tombs create a nice landscape for the cemetery. 

In a way they sort of create a "boundary" of the cemetery without blocking it off from the rest of the landscape.

Using the forms that are already present in the site I've created lines of circulation, contemplation, and tomb space so why not keep it going.

To create more tomb spaces I have decided to continue the line of tombs I have already created and add 4 more to the other side of the chapel. Because one side of the tombs is angled, the tombs get bigger as you continue down the line. With these added tomb spaces a lot of the design decisions that I didn't think were possible, now are. The lightwell and circulation path that I wanted to cut through the smallest tomb structure can now be done because I do not need to fill that area with tomb spaces. With the expansion of the line I can also create a secondary "circulation line" that is perpendicular to the "lightwell line" that will bring people through the site and along my line of tombs.