WEEK 8 REFLECTION

March 2, 2016 · by · in ,

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work update, just in time for the winter term final pin-up.

After spending so much time during fall term researching the site context (planning policies and visions, current and future infrastructure, economic environment, etc) and forming a program that would best suit it, I decided to shift focus to the project’s physical, urban design.  I knew that I wanted to propose a scheme on a master-plan level for the entire Triangle site, though this would likely be executed in several phases.  The site is so huge (over 360,000 sq ft, about 8.3 acres) that designing at the urban scale would be impossible to avoid.

Rather than approaching this endeavor from the inside out–working with the “positive space” of building masses–the “negative space” became my medium.  I prioritized how one might experience the spaces between, around, on top of, underneath, and otherwise outside of the buildings’ enclosures.  I developed a urban taxonomy to enumerate the different elements I wanted to stitch together to build this spatial narrative.

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These definitions then informed my massing model studies.  I identified key perimeter points that could begin and end this narrative, each with their own distinct characters (or potential characters).  Thus, the models and taxonomy became a way to brainstorm the different ways I could shape, direct, imply, and impact the path and experience between these points.  

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The material inspiration and site vision exercises were a quick and refreshing creative outlet, to begin articulating the look and feel I was after by building palettes and rough, collaged “renderings.”

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Finally, an unfortunate and very poorly-timed laptop larceny necessitated a weekend drawing charrette to develop some sort of rough draft scheme for our review on 2/22.  Though I had only recently decided on a more specific direction/ industry application for my program (more on that later), I did know that there would be four basic zones:research, design, production and commercial/ retail.  The basic premise of the scheme is that the linear production spaces form a long buffer along busy Powell Street, while the other zones are arranged to form a more porous filter into the central park spaces.  Though I definitely was not satisfied with the way some of my concepts ended up being articulated, having something pinned up allowed for much better feedback and critique.

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MOVING FORWARD (rambling personal thoughts/ suggestions from reviewers):

  • I’m constantly struggling to remember how huge the site actually is.  The monumental structures and spaces I’ve designed so far need to have a finer grain–OR I should focus on developing the master plan as a system/ set of rules that could guide the site development, rather than one, heavy-handed, rigid design (or, do both, and develop the system, as well as one possible outcome).
  • Push the taxonomy idea further, applying it to interior spaces as well.  If I also develop a consistent code or language to express these, this could become the basis for the aforementioned site system.
  • Program developments: the “make, learn, engage” concept will be applied to the sport apparel/ product industry, which is driving many innovations in biomaterials/ biochemistry/ responsible recycling and manufacturing processes–not the least of which because it is one of the most wasteful global industries.  It also makes sense within Portland’s current economic context, and represents a broad range of spatial possibilities, from material science labs to bioplastic/ textile production to product testing to studio workshops…
  • Play with combining the plastic material experiment language with the ‘continuous surface’ idea from massing model scheme 5.
  • Take the ‘perimeter bike greenway’ through the site to activate/ shape the central park spaces.
  • Simplify number of ‘key points.’
  • The site’s natural systems are not evident, and so far I have only thought about biomimicry metaphorically rather than structurally/ spatially/ materially (sorry Nancy).