Macro studies
After 3 weeks there were many site forces which my project hopes to address. Creating a space along the Milwaukee River corridor using the Riverwalk as a public place. This will create a stronger pedestrian connection to the site. Where to locate the building in relation to the existing grain elevator (abandoned) as been an ongoing investigation. If faced on the southern side I’m confronted with a smaller footprint (good), more direct sunlight (good), an opportunity to create a juncture with the Riverwalk and rail line (good). The north side offers more space, but this to me seems to against some of my original thesis goals.
Micro studies
For this portion of my project I’ve begun investigating daylight and artificial lighting. Using natural daylight for this project would be ideal, but may not be best suited. I’m still looking at whether or not light can be gotten to the plants via reflectors and such. However, plants need direct sunlight and this is more of an ambient light.
So with that, LED lights have been the focus of lighting. Plants only need 2 wavelengths of the light spectrum to complete photosynthesis, which are blue and red. LEDs made specifically for this use significantly less energy. There may be some aesthetic and architectural design that can be achieved through using these, in addition to being functional.
Review Comments
Through the review process I got a lot of good feedback. One of the main issues was whether or not the thesis can be site specific or is a building that can be placed anywhere. There is a great opportunity to reuse the grain mill on site for program which it was intended to be built for, storage production and distribution. This fits with the overall theme of my thesis, how do we address the post industrial landscape and what opportunities are possible? Bringing the food growing into the city is valiant, but what if it was processed into different foods on site? This surpasses the original program scope of my thesis, but it is worth investigating.
That was probably the comment/conversation that will be most important to ponder in moving forward. Other great feedback was given regarding lighting, technology and form. They’ve also supported and emphasized what my thesis program should be, and that is an industrial building. Quite simply a factory, but a new industry with an organic component.
Process
Photos representing much of the studio work done up until now.
Great to see this excellent summary. I would concentrate on the spatial opportunities in adding to the existing building, rather than re-considering your program. You have chosen growing food as a major component of your program. Don’t trash it.
Look at what scale to do the lighting for each circumstance. LED’s could work better at a plant based scale, rather than room or building based.
No, the mosaics are unique. I am in the floors enterprise. The ones are Bellagio are much wider, and set differently. The mosaics at Wynn are Glass, and very slim, not a all-natural and thicker stone like was used at Bellagio. These are extremely unique substances.