process work

I've been working very diligently with my project the past few days and have some more process work to share.  below are just a few sketches that I did that start to show how the building is starting to take form.  the main things I am trying to accomplish right now are a building that has a feasible structure, response to surrounding environment, sustainable energy production, feasible mechanical systems/zones, and an overall form that evokes a positive reaction from on-lookers.  right now, this is what I'm thinking:

"THE THREE FINS" control:

1)  Structure

2)  Light

3)  Wind

4)  Unit Creation

Using mainly these materials:

1)  Blue Glass

2)  White Concrete

The "Three Fins" start to define the number of units in the
building.  They serve as the main structural elements containing
the elevators, exit stairs, and mechanical rooms and all of the
rooms branch off from there.  

Looking at sq footage closer I realized that I can squeeze in one more unit.
This allows me to offer multiple living arrangements and will give a
prospective occupant the option of a specific unit (price/sq ft/# of bedrooms/etc).

Getting down to a detailed scale, the "Fins" will serve as wind catchers that draw
natural ventilation into rooms through two techniques.  The first allows a user to
open a vent in a room where the ventilation flows through the wall, and the second
option is to open a window on either side of the unit creating a +/- affect which
draws the air throughout the entire space at a higher rate.

project update

spending the majority of today in my room I have made some serious progress on the high rise tower project.  after visiting the site and gathering tons of information/pictures/analysis, I started to work out some models and sketches of early design ideas.

I started my thinking by asking myself one question:  "what is it that the high rise towers in San Diego lack?"  this question can simply be answered by saying that all of these towers are not special to San Diego at all.  they have no identity and no connection to the beautiful city in which they are located.  so then I asked myself one more question:  "what does San Diego offer to this project?"  1)  sun, 2)  gorgeous blue skies year round, 3)  consistent warm temperature, 4)  a breeding ground for new ideas.

the concept that I am currently working with is the sailboat.  it is notorious with San Diego, but it was not this that attracted me to using the concept of a sailboat.  I loved the idea of the thin white sails of the boat slicing through the great blue ocean mass.  from that view I started to work some ideas out with models and sketches.

Concept: Sailboat cutting through the water

This was a first sketch done yesterday

The next sketches are worked out roughly to give me an idea of what my idea could become

This sketch inspired most of what the study model looks like.
I started to look at more of the ocean than just the blue water.
The white foam occurs when there is movement in the water.

The model is at 1/16" = 1' - 0"

Street view for a pedestrian looking up at the tower

I really feel that I have a great start with all of this and I can't wait to work out of some other ideas soon.  another aspect that will really drive my design will be the overall structure of the building as well as how mechanical work (HVAC, plumbing, electrical) systems will work within the building.

winter 2011 project: affordable/student housing

this quarter for studio will entail one project for the whole ten weeks.  our site is located on the southeast corner of G street and 8th street in downtown San Diego.  right now the program has not been completely finalized but we are told it will be an affordable/student housing tower that will range somewhere from 15-20 stories tall.  a big component to this project will be the incorporation of a well designed building that has functional mechanical systems, both passive and active.

im really excited about this project because of a few main reasons: 1)  the constraints of a downtown site will allow me to get creative with the building's form/function, 2) I will learn codes and other restrictions to actual development of a building project, and 3)  I will learn how to properly design mechanical systems.  incorporating all of these aspects into my design is going to give me a greater understanding of the actual processes that are required in a building project.