Progress

I'm currently working on my thesis book.  I will be updating the blog with plenty of new material... soon!

Site in Relation to Boston

Here is a map to locate the site in relation to the closest major city, Boston.

Preliminary Site Analysis

Site Info

15 Medway Street, Boston, MA
Lower Mills, Dorchester
Size - 42,438 SF
Land Use - Commercial

Figure/Ground

Figure/Ground with property overlay

This shows a more intuitive FG with the delineation of the street layout and Neponset River

Site/Water analysis

My thesis is based on the climate of New England.  My first concern is the climate of the site.  Here I took a preliminary look at the sun exposure and wind element of the site.

Sun analysis.  Info from gaisma.com

Summer month prominent wind direction study.  Info from www.windfinder.com

Surrounding educational facilities

Because my program is evolving into an educational schema, this is look at the relationship to other educational facilities in the area of my site.

Aerial Site Photos

15 Medway Street

Site Photos

After visiting the 15 Medway site, I feel that it's a perfect place to explore my thesis ideas.
The one acre lot is adjacent to the Neponset River, in an old mill town called Lower Mills.
There is a square located near the site which offers a strong node.
The site is located in a transitional area.
To the west is a renovated chocolate factory, which is now an assisted living campus.
To the north and east are residential homes.

Lower Mills Square

Neposit River, Rear of site is beyond buildings

East site line

Street side of site

Renovated Chocolate Factory, West of site

Opposite side of street

Medway Street

Choosing a Site

Statement:

Based on the extreme climate of New England, successful historic climate mitigation traditions can be used as a precedent for redefining active systems in the 21^st century.

Program:

An educational facility that allows for the learning process of the redefinition of active system.  The program will be based on the three major climate conditions of New England: bitter cold, hot and humid, comfortable.  Program activities will include the act of forming ones own comfort. 

Site Criteria:

Medium to low density, full climate exposure; sun and wind elements, mixed use area, flexible zoning allowance, high user exposure

Analysis Ideas:

Possible analysis would stem from sun and wind studies, site elevations, site sections, relationship to water elements. 

First Choice:

15 Medway Street, Boston, MA – Dorchester/Milton Line

Benefits                                                Limitations

High User Exposure                            Use of research ideals may be limited

Medium Density

Full Element Exposure

Multiple use possibility

Suburban

Second Choice:

Camp Yomechas, Middleborough, MA

Benefits                                                Limitations

Low Density                                         Low user exposure

Freedom to use research ideals          Low people density

Incorporation to existing education      Limited successful building use possibilities

            program

Full element exposure

So, I am leaning towards the suburban site, because I think the site forces may allow for a stronger design.  I would like to have some outside insight, though, to make my final decision.

Site Progress - Options

Thesis Progress

So I have been working on redefining my thesis, which is molding with my program ideas.

As my thesis abstract stands now:

New England has four seasons and encompasses extreme weather conditions from hot, humid summers to blizzard ridden winters.  A New England shelter must mitigate these conditions to fulfill the condition of a 'shelter.'  Typically contemporary structures are not designed to moderate the environment, but rather they use competing active technological systems to render comfort.


The use of historical adaptations in New England, prior to the active innovations for heating and cooling, can be used as a precedent.  Some traditional practices have been transformed into aesthetic ideals with concern for stylistic cues and forms, rather than functional forms.  Using historical successes as a model, how can the idea of active systems be redefined, using the habitant to form ones own comfort?  What other design solutions address the needs of a New England climate?

Here is the program abstract for what I'm thinking:

The program will consist of redefining the idea of active systems in the sense of human comfort.  To obtain comfort in extreme climate conditions, one will have to actively change the space.  Activities will include open or closing windows, doors or shutters; moving from sun to shade or shade to sun; obtaining wood to burn and then building a fire; etc.  The program will consist of habitants making their own comfort, when the passive design of the building form ceases.  

Here is a preliminary program adjacency diagram:

Thesis Image Abstract and Idea Map

To support my written thesis abstract, I have formed a visual abstract.  The image supports my initial board thesis of embracing nature and the change of seasons, through an aesthetic means.

Though the idea map will be expanded during more extensive research, this is the current iteration to coincide with the image abstract:

Image Abstract 02

Beginnings of a Thesis

Here are the beginning iterations of my thesis idea map and image abstract timeline, still a work in progress:

Shutters

I am beginning to focus my train of thought for my thesis.  I am focusing on the history of vernacular architecture (in New England I think) in regards to climate mitigation.

It is common knowledge that shutters were once used to protect windows.  I once asked why there was a difference from louvered shutters to raised panel shutters, and why they were both on some houses.... the response was that the louvers were to allow for airflow, but sometimes caused issues on the first floor in the way of privacy and safety. The raised panel shutter was then used on the first floor, while the louvered shutter was used on the upper floors.  I am on a hunt to find this information from a scholarly source!

Check out these shutters from a Country Living Article

01 - Spatial Investigations

This investigation expanded my understanding of certain terms by exploring them in word format and translating the idea into an abstract visual through three iterations.

Term: Infinite Space

Iteration 1 - Collage

Through the series of iterations, I explored the idea of many spaces, different sizes, different overlapping areas and different canopies.  I explored this through the natural series of spaces a tree creates, followed by a cloud cover, then the atmosphere.

Iteration 2 - Collage and Section

The collage moves on from iteration one and becomes more abstract.  This is the first iteration of an arbitrary abstract section through the collage.

Iteration 3 - Collage and Section

This is the final iteration of both collage and section.  Both images become abstract illustrations of the idea of infinite space.

Term: Boundary

Iteration 1 - Collage

The definition of boundary originates from the edge of owned land property.  By using the many forms of land boundaries, including land to water, city to mountain range and the Jeffersonian land grid, I created a college of land boundaries.

Iteration 2 - Collage and Section

The collage moves on from iteration one and becomes more abstract.  This is the first iteration of an arbitrary abstract section through the collage.

Iteration 3 - Collage and Section

This is the final iteration of both collage and section.  Both images become abstract illustrations of the idea of boundary.  Through this exploration it is clear that boundary can be physically stopping or simply material change to end one element, and begin another.

Here are some preliminary collages that informed my later decisions:

Infinite Space

Passage of Time

Boundry

Passage of Time

02 - Things I Can't Live Without

In no particular order:

1. Change of Seasons
As listed below, the change of seasons offers different environments for the same site as well as offering a challenge to the designer.

Photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fall_tree.png

2. Functionality and Versatility

I have found that I am drawn to spaces which serve many functions or spaces which can be changed and modified based on user and function.  I feel spaces should accommodate different people and if the architecture is lasting, it should accommodate different time periods.  I have always felt that architecture should be used, not stuck in a picture for all of time.

3. American Historic Homes

I have such a strong love for historical sites.  This love is specifically directed towards 18th and 19th century residences of America.  I enjoy, so much, visiting places and seeing the materials and techniques used to build basic shelter structures.  As well as the non basic structures for that matter, such as Mount Vernon, or plantations in the south. I love seeing the transition of important spaces through time. 

Fairbanks House - Oldest stick built house in America

Photo courtesy of www.fairbankshouse.org/

4. The knowledge of my family history

To know where I come from and where my family has been and the accomplishments they have made is so interesting to me.  I think this is relevant to architecture in that every place on Earth has been touched by humans, there fore every site has a past, and the past may be relevant to the present and future and is something to look into for projects.

5. My father

Of course I love him because he is my father - but he is especially important to me and who I have become because he always pushed me to find out how and why.  How are things built?  How does it work?  Why are they built correctly or incorrectly?  How can I make it better?  We have always been taught that it is important to design with engineering and mechanical considerations.  This is not to say, feel limited, but to think about how something can or will be built.  My father has given me the basic knowledge to make that a reality.

6. Frank Llyod Wright

As cliche as it may sound, I am very fond of FLW's work.  I think this became apparent to me when I took a class trip to the Zimmerman House by FLW in Manchester, NH.  This was a simple house in a suburban area with two bedrooms and a bath.  The house rarely makes it into FLW books, but the house was so simply amazing.  Every detail was considered and designed.  The Zimmerman house was designed to maximize every square inch.  I am absolutely in love with that house, and look forward to visiting his more famous works. 

Zimmerman House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Manchester, NH Photo courtesy of velvetcushion.com

7. Water

Of course we all can't live without water.  But whether it be the ocean, a lake, a river, a stream or a small water feature, water has always spoken to me architecturally.  I always feel it's an important feature in design.

8. Trees

Of course none of us can live without trees either!  But I find a lot of design inspiration in trees as many species of trees are a natural shade source in the hot summer, and lose their leaves to let light through in the cold winters.  Trees are also our source of wood, which can have so many different faces.  Light, dark, rough, smooth, small, large...it can always be incorporated in design, or inspire a design.

9. Outdoor space

We as humans are a peice of nature.  I think it is important to have some outdoor relief and be a part of nature.

10. Max Hayden

As my first architect boss when I was 18, Max taught me so much about seeing.  He really taught me how to look at something and see it.  He taught me how important detail or the lack of detail can be and I will always thank him for that.

Photo Courtesy of maxhaydenarchitect.com

11. Symmetry vs. Balance

I am not a symmetrical person.  In fact, I would say I prefer asymmetry.  But I do believe balance is important for something to visually please me.

Seasons - #1

I can't believe Autumn is making an appearance already.  The air is getting dry, the weather is getting cool, the trees and bushes are starting to hint at their change to brilliant colors of nature.  When asked, I will always say that Fall is my favorite, but in fact - I enjoy the change of every season.  One part of living in the Northeast that is important to me, is the natural change of seasons.  By the time I am sick of one season, another is waiting around the corner.

The change of seasons is something I find interesting from a design aspect, as well.  Designing a building for all weather situations is an interesting design problem, and it's a real problem that cannot be ignored.  Designing a building to obtain as much sun (warmth) as possible in Winter, as well as reflecting the sun, or avoiding the sun when the weather is hot, seems like common sense.  However, it is not always possible to successfully design this way, and more times than not, architects do not design based on the sun.  This solution helps the environment by lowering heating costs in the Winter and air conditioning costs in the Summer, while making a more comfortable environment for the users.  But the amazing part is that some compelling buildings are based on this theory. 

This is a photo of the new Cambridge Public Library in Cambridge, Mass (courtesy of www.cambridgema.gov/CPL/gallery/ss4.html).  I think this building is beautifully elegant in that it appears simple, while it mitigates the sun.  Also note the horizontal and vertical sun screens that have a pleasing aesthetic, while serving a purpose.

So I would say the first thing that I can't live without, is the challenge of changing seasons.

Well, I am a Graduate Student

I am officially a thesis student at Wentworth.  Our first encouragement is to list the things we can't live without - important in regards to our designer selves. After calming down from the overwhelmingness of starting the program, I'll have to think about what is important to me as a designer.  I've been interested in architecture since I was in grade school, and I have never pushed myself to decide what I like.  I'm looking forward to the opportunity to explore my likes and dislikes in architecture.  I've started thinking about thesis ideas, also.  Some preliminary ideas:  Transit Oriented Design in the small suburban community, Juxtaposition of modern and historic architecture, and well.... I'll keep thinking!  I'll be back for "Things I can't live without"