Visiting Critic Studio 2006

Sectional Schematic

This scheme brings together three autonomous forms with a shared centre and points of overlap. I'm still working on what scale/multiple scales this applies to.

posted by Sarah @ 2:47 p.m. 0 comments

Review Discussion

Negotiation and Compromise

We were discussing the idea of working within the constrains of the existing structure so long as there is a reason for doing so beyond economics. I think that reason could very well be the concept of negociation.

Allow the building to announce a system that isn't as rigid and absolute as it may appear but is actually flexible and adaptable.

Re-Orientation

The structure of the building is based on the Market orientation but within certain parts of the program, the user is re-oriented to the relevant direction of each of the religions. As discussed earlier, the Christian orientation was a bit more complicated than Jerusalem and Mecca for the Jewish and Islamic. Tim suggested that the cardinal points usually play a similar role in church construction rather than the Vatican. I agree and this solves the conflict of Papal centricity which is not universal within Christianity.

Vertical Orientation

Tim also suggested considering the vertical orientation and the example of the Jefferson Library where planametrically the head is the centre of the circle.
This of course returns me to my anagogical model which made use of the Vitruvian Man and the circle inscribed within the square (of a floppy disk). To be considered is the relation of the circle to the square and the centre. My feeling is that there should be two centres in this case: the mind and the heart.

posted by Sarah @ 9:55 a.m. 2 comments

One + One + One

Along with orientation, the number three plays a symbolic role which aid in setting up a formal scheme for my project.

Among the many symbolic meanings of the number three, many of which apply to this project, we can consider...

The Three Religions:
-the "People of the Book" or the "Abrahamic religions"





The Three participants in a trial:
-the two involved parties and the judge/religious leader/arbitrator

The challenge comes in using the triad to create balance and to be extremely careful to avoid any connotations of hierarchy or superiority. It is a delicate dance I have challenged myself to and which I am still struggling with. It has set me behind in my design but I hope to have some proposed solutions by Wednesday.

posted by Sarah @ 8:47 p.m. 0 comments

Orientation to Religious Capital

Marco and I were discussing the importance of orienting the users of my courthouse to their respective religious capitals and that this key component can help in determining the formal resolution of the building.

Specifically in the Jewish and Islamic traditions, orientation to Jerusalem and Mecca, respectively, play a role in many services and traditions. I am not sure how important it is for Christians, however, or if they would necessarily agree on the Vatican as their religious centre.

posted by Sarah @ 8:30 p.m. 1 comments

Precedent: Bordeaux Law Courts

Richard Roger's Bordeaux Law Courts. Bordeaux, France. 1992-1998.





"While respecting the historic setting and recognising the civic significance of the new building, the design is essentially a simple box that clearly reveals its function and organisation. The brief required complete separation of public and judicial circulation patterns: identifying the building's constituent parts resulted in a transparency that encourages a sense of accessibility and orientation." - Richard Rogers Partnership

posted by Sarah @ 1:36 p.m. 0 comments

Massings

posted by Sarah @ 1:19 p.m. 0 comments

Courthouse Layouts

Below are the example courthouse layouts and program/circulation dagrams from the U.S. Courts Design Guide (4th ed.) prepared under the direction of the Security and Facilities Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. Though the legal system is not the same as the Canadian or of religious courts, it is an interesting starting point in understanding the intricate order of rooms and circulation involved.

posted by Sarah @ 8:37 p.m. 1 comments

Article on Affects of Courthouse Architecture

"Intimidating Buildings: Can Courthouse Architecture Affect Perceived Likelihood of Conviction?"

Environment and Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 5, 674-683 (2000)


This is an interesting article I came across suggesting that "modern" courthouses are perceived as more intimidating and likely to lead to conviction than "traditional" courthouses. Of interesting note, architecture students were not allowed to participate in the study.

Abstract:

"This study tested the hypothesis that courthouse architecture may affect the feelings of hypothetical users as well as their estimates of likelihood of conviction. Participants (N = 120) from Northern Italy were asked to imagine a hypothetical trial to which they accompanied a wrongly accused friend; the trial either took place in a medieval or in a modern "high-style" courthouse. Compared to the old courthouse, the modern courthouse elicited significantly greater discomfort in participants already familiar with the respective building. Regardless of familiarity, participants estimated a greater likelihood that the friend would be convicted when the trial took place in the new building. Although the two courthouses were judged equally attractive on general dimensions of aesthetics, the new one was judged as more intimidating. Links between architectural features and social-cognitive processes are discussed."

posted by Sarah @ 6:16 p.m. 0 comments

Anagogical Model

“a constructive meditations done with material objects that lead to the immaterial realm”

It was difficult to show my anagogical model without it remaining an object. In order to represent it's immaterial qualities, light and photography help pull it out of the material realm, leaving it some mystery, only revealing certain clues about its construction and material.

posted by Sarah @ 3:28 p.m. 0 comments

Parking Problems and Solutions

Following our discussion on Wednesday about parking solutions, I've done a bit of research into new automated/semi-automated systems which offer increased parking by significantly reducing the amount of space required for driving the cars in and out.


For obvious reasons, these systems are becoming very popular in Europe but as of yet are only really used by car dealerships in the North American setting. My assumption is that such things as strict prescriptive building codes and short sighted mindset of developers have prevented their integration in North America. As we try to densify our city cores, however, land will become to valuable to waste with traditional parking lots and garages. Either more efficient parking systems or public transit systems (or a combination) will be required.

Here are some of the companies I have come across so far:

Westafia Technologies
Easy Park
Klaus Parking Systems

The system in the picture above is the CarSafe by Westafia

CAR SAFE:

• is the intelligent combination of design flexibility and cutting-edge technology.
• requires 35% less floor space, and reduces the area/volume of the building by up to 60%
• can accommodate 50 percent more vehicles than conventional ramp style garages
• can be integrated into almost any new construction or rebuild project.

Concept:

The car is placed safely on a parking pallet in the garage, and doesn't leave the pallet for the duration the car is parked in the garage.

After the entrance door to the garage is closed, a speedy material handling system transports the pallet, and car, to a parking place the computer-controlled system has pre-assigned.

posted by Sarah @ 1:11 p.m. 0 comments

Architectural Precedent and Reference

The Interpretation of the Glass Dream-Expressionist Architecture and the History of the Crystal Metaphor by Rosemarie Haag Bletter

This paper is of especial interest because of the reference to the role of Solomon in architectural expression.

posted by Sarah @ 2:08 a.m. 0 comments