Masters Of Architecture: Thesis 2011

Glowing in the Dark

This is a study that I did to get an idea of where human traffic is highest.  It is an estimation of the foot traffic over time on a game day at Fenway Park.

Below are both sketches and computer renderings.  I have started to explore what i will take from the site  that will allow me to make a specific criteria to assist me in the design of my building.

A sketch of the site from across Boylston Street.

A sketch of the site plan.

While walking around the site, the right field wall of Fenway Park has a daunting effect on Van Ness Street below.  I thought maybe this could be addressed by opening the street up. 

Again, the issue of the narrow street that feels a lot like an alley.

A quick rendering done that shows what the Fenway area could become if the vacant lots around the park were developed.

Another quick quick rendering working to study the potential of Van Ness Street.

Site Model

This is my site model to date.  It is a work in progress, and I add to it as I move forward with my project.  The site in which my design will go is the void in the center.  There was an existing Howard Johnson that I propose to take out.  The program for my design will be a Community Cultural Center, that houses the Hall of Fame for the Boston Red Sox.  The design will serve both the Fenway community as well as the Red Sox.

Some Game Show Fun, Enjoy

Program Diagrams: Adjacencies

Program Development: Activities and Circulation

After a thoughtful site selection, I am re-visiting the program exercise from the project before.  I have since altered some of the ideas that I initially introduced with the program, and supplemented them with more concrete ideas that relate more directly to my thesis.

The above diagram is an example of how the circulation would work around the program.  I will look further into how the circulation could change with the implementation of certain program into the schematic design.

Site Development: Facade Study

SITE Development

Site Development

An Analytical site model showing my reaction to the site upon visiting.

     I spent some time on the site and this is what came to me as far as analytical site data.

          I felt as though as i walked down Van Ness Street, that it was desolate, and separated from the surrounding streets.  I have shown Van Ness Street in the elevated black bar, with the 'mesh' attached to it.  The mesh acts as the protruded vacant lots that are connected to Van Ness Street.  This reiterates the fact that not only is the street desolate, but there are lots that have been vacant for a while and there needs to be a response to these lots. 

Site Development

Contemporary Architecture: A response in sustaining a culture

Thesis Idea/Statement (and a brief explanation)

Is it Possible to preserve a culture of people that has been historically shaped over time, while responding to and sustaining the contemporary architectural needs?

Even though buildings and people change over time, the culture can be preserved. When a large group of people gathers in one place for one event, it sets up the ideal opportunity to let architecture affect them. The cultural or social event is what draws the people together. If the architecture responds to that, then there will always be a connection between the people and the architecture.

Building Type/Project Type/Program Ideas

An architecture that will respond to the culture

(Fenway and the surrounding neighborhood)

Fenway Cultural Center  

                        - Community Space

Public gallery space

                        Public meeting space (Fenway CDC)

                        Private exhibit space

                                    Permanent + Flexible

            - Historic information (ecological and landscape history)

                        Galleries exhibiting the history and development of the area.

                        Possible Historic New England outpost

            - Fenway Hall of Fame

                        Individual gallery and exhibit space

            - Gift shop(s)

            - Restrooms

            - Attached Restaurant

                        Kitchen, restrooms, outdoor seating, etc.

            - Underground parking garage

           

Site Choice

The block surrounded by Boylston Street, Van Ness Street, Yawkey Way, and Ipswich Street.

Current Block is Broken into 4 parcels

            ± 42,000 sq/ft            Rite Aid and Medical offices above (existing)

            ± 60,000 sq/ft            Howard Johnson Hotel (existing)

            ± 36,000 sq/ft            Vacant parking lot (existing)

            ± 20,000 sq/ft            Jerry Remmy’s Guitar Center and CVS(existing)

Revisiting my Topic Map

With the progression of my work, and some corrections that I needed to make, I am re-posting this with the central idea which used to read "a modern idea" to read "a contemporary idea".