DESIGN

I tried to find one element that would unify the little ideas I had in my old design. I thought wrapping the building (that possesses the precious DMZ) with a ribbon wall would create an interesting connection for the different programs that exist within the building.

The circulation surrounding the atrium connects the third space, the DMZ and the residential levels and this is where the most activities/life would occur.

The ribbon wall wraps the atrium space as one continuous plane and gets split up into different strips that define the residential units. The difference in curvature creates an opportunity for the residential units to have separate balconies.

I want to bring in this concept of ribbon wall into interior spaces and that would mean using curved walls instead of ninety-angle corners. That's why the plans took me a long time to draw, and are still not done but hopefully can get the idea across. (Sample residential unit is provided....)

Why do we need a loading area?

Normally I would just email you this question but no one else seams to be able to properly answer this question.

Many residences provide furnishings like a bed, desks and basic lounge furniture which would limit the heaviest piece of furniture to a mini fridge, and in terms of the DMZ, a server (which wouldn't need to be transported in and out of the building often anyways).

So why would this building need to be serviced by a truck?

Steel Stair Case

Is it possible to have a steel stair frame with glass steps and handrails over my main atrium without necessarily supporting it with columns reaching my ground floor. I was thinking suspension cables but my roof is far too high. Off the slabs?

T-minus 5 days...

Conceptual sketch of possible facade

So when we last spoke I definitely had some major issues with my layout and placement of spaces etc. As well I was struggling with my residential façade and the placement of the units.  As opposed to designing for the building I designed a set of single micro-units that could be placed in the building.  I’m still working on my residential floors so I’ll get something up for those later but I wanted to post this now in the meantime.  As it is these plans are not what I was going to post last night as I continued to work on them today. Major changes of note: I created an entrance that people would actually want to enter.  The entrance becomes a sort of transition zone where the user can enter the third space if they want to sit with some friends, read a book or view some work by the DMZ. They can also go straight to the residential via the elevators or enter into the DMZ space.  I created an actual entrance to the DMZ so the rest of the lower floor is physically separated from it, while still maintaining the visual relationship.  On the second floor plan besides the slight shifting around the major change was the removal of the dead space on the north side (which I had originally allotted for residential (I must’ve been tired)).  It will now be part of the DMZ and can either be office space or I can extend the workspace out and have a beta testing lab on the south side.  The third space on the second floor is directed more specifically to Ryerson students (although of course open to anyone) as it offers the opportunity for group studying/work and a quieter setting in which to do so with a backdrop of yonge and gould.

In regards to the sketch, let me make this clear: it is not necessarily the direction I’m going.  It’s a thought that came to mind tuesday night and so at this point it’s a possible iteration. The angles would allow for added views and sunlight as well.  Let me know what you think about it.

Facade and Pods

Not sure if I should change my pods to occur at every other floor once it reaches the residential floors to make it less crowded...

Work in progress

Tried to organize DMZ space and connect it to public lounge. The dashed lines between different zones may be translucent or glass screens. I also reorganized the residential floor and got rid of leftover spaces.

Precedent - aka stuff you might copy or be busted for copying

Danielle

Zoe Samourkas – Private House in Athens

Henri Ciriani – Innovation & Communication Centre in France

UN Studio - NMR Labs

Sobye & Toustrup Architects – Community Centre in Netherlands (?)

Gary

FOA – Blue Moon Residential Houses

Herzog & de Meuron – Funf Hofe

Stanley Saitowitz – Yerba Buena Lofts

Maumschlager & Eberle – BTV Commercial and Residential Building

Nate

KSA – Family House

Ray

UN Studio – Gewild Wonen Expo 2001 Flexible Housing

Ariel

Rafael Moneo - Arenberg Campus Library (Catholic University)

VHP Studio/architects - Sound Wall Houses in the Netherlands

Page and Park Architects – Graham Square Housing

Hovag

Jo Crepain – Water Tower House

Whale Housing – de Architecten Cie

Mahan

Pringle Richards Sharratt – Winter Gardens and Millennium Galleries