Granite Falls

THIS SITE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF WASHINGTON D.C. WAS CHOSEN FOR ITS UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS & DEMOGRAPHY. BEING FAMILIAR WITH D.C.  ALLOWED ME TO ACCESS THE AREA FOR ITS NEED OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THERE ARE VERY FEW PUBLIC COVERED BUS STOPS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT D.C. WHICH IS ODD CONSIDERING THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN & AROUND D.C. USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SUCH AS THE METRO OR BUS LINES.

         THE INTERSECTION OF 14TH & SWANN PROVIDES A UNIQUE EDGE CONDITION OF PURPOSES WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL & RETAIL BUSINESS’ TO THE EAST OF 14TH & PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE WEST. IT IS PRIMARILY POPULATED BY YOUNGER URBAN PROFESSIONALS & HAS A VERY ACTIVE NIGHT LIFE IN THE AREA WITH LOCALES SUCH AS SANTA FE & BLACK CAT.

THIS INTEGRATION OF PURPOSES IN THE SITE PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW PUBLIC NODE FOR PEOPLE TO USE, GATHER & ADMIRE.

          DESIGN FOR THIS SCHEME BEGAN WITH THE IDEA OF A SINGLE FORM BENDING AND UNDULATING AROUND ITSELF TO CREATE A SINGLE ELEMENT WHICH PROVIDED ITS OWN COVER FOR BIKES & PEDESTRIANS. THE FORM BEGINS BY ASCENDING OUT OF THE GROUND PLANE TO CREATE A SPATIAL CONDITION FOR SEATING. IT THEN SPLITS TO FORM ADDITION SEATING IN THE "Z" DIRECTION AND CURVES BACK ON ITSELF TO CREATE AN OVERHEAD ELEMENT. THE FINAL ELEMENT OF THE BUS STOP IS THE "WATERFALL" APERTURE THAT UNDULATES DOWNWARD WHILST SPREADING OUTWARD. THIS PIECE HAS BEEN PANEL PATTERNED & DECONSTRUCTED TO HAVE A STRONGER PRESENCE THE FURTHER IT FLOWS DOWNWARD TO MEET THE SEATING BELOW.

The Next Stop

        As a prelude to our presentation of bus stop designs, I wanted to offer somewhat of a teaser for the rest of my design. This is a Rhino rendering of the stop done with sky & sun-lighting, based in Washington D.C. The shadows created by the "Waterfall" provide a number patterns & exposures at various points in the day. Enjoy.

-Sky

Benches w/Paneling

1.      The idea for this scheme began with the idea of movement on the sight. a bus stop is a place of constant coming and going and i felt that the architecture itself should reflect such. the form came from the shape of a wave, wrapping over itself and breaking. the basic form was created by lofting two overlapping curves. it was then offset and a base was created by making 2-d the bottom surface and extruding it to the ground plane. seating was placed along this connection. further articulation of th form was achieved by rebuilding the curve and adjusting the control points to better reflect my original design intent.
        If i were to change this design in some way, i would adjust the curve to allow for an overhang for bike storage, and perhaps allow some of the light on the benches leeward side to pass through the bench, to under the overhang.
2.        The process for this scheme started with the idea of a single form bending and undulating around itself to form a solitary element which provided its own cover for bikes and pedestrians. the form itself begins by ascending out of the ground plane to create a space for seating. the form then splits itself off into the y and z direction, up to create the roof and out to create further seating and a niche in the space.. the form curves back around itself and undulates itself downward like a waterfall to connect and make itself whole. bike storage comes from under the “waterfall” and there is ample space to post flyers. this form was achieved by lofting and offsetting a series of curves and calculated geometric semicircles.
something that could take further consideration would be the roof form, which as it stands is rather narrow and does not do the best of jobs covering the space beneath.