My storm water from paving and building will be treated as a resource and routed to an underground storage cistern that will allow water to seep back into the ground for the Overlay District, but will also allow water to be used for any site irrigation that will be needed.
Site irrigation will be minimized by using native grasses and plants. Paved areas will also use a porous pavement system to allow water to seep directly back to the ground in lieu of creating surface runoff.
The plan is taking some of my earlier thoughts and discussions with Kevin and developing them further. Shown with the plan are some conceptual pictures of how a couple of the areas are to look like along with a couple of details. The drainage detail at the top left will be used along the perimeter of the parking, drive and sidewalk paving. I'm still looking at the top right detail to use along the North side of the site to step with some low maintenance type landscaping to try to reflect some of the noise from the North.
Kevin talked about experiencing the site as you arrived. My sidewalk apporaches the building at a slite curve to create the "Denial and Reward". The "denial" is small, but also allows for entering the building without going all over, which tends to make people cut across and create their own path. The lawn areas allow for some recreation spaces for frisbee or laying around on the grass, but still makes it part of the landscape.
5 comments:
David,
"I like sketching out the details before cadding everything!"_ David Streebin
I kept reading and thinking about what you said, and I found that is a very successful approach of designing.
Your previous posts of details and structure is very informative and I am very impressed.
There is nothing to wonder about you have answered all the question marks even before they been asked.
I wonder if your site plan especially the side looking at Boylston could have more connectivity oin it, right now, it has like three separate areas,
that you experience when you come from Boylston walking on the side walk coming from Mass ave.
Area/zone 1 where you have the path to lower parking and low landscaping.
Area/zone 2 where you have Lawn and low landscaping and seems to be the main entry. if I am correct.
Area/Zone 3 Where you have exhibit walk.
Could you have these three areas more connected visually and functionally?
between 1 and 2 you have this little piece of building right to the sidewalk.
and between 2 and 3 you have almost the same case.
Continuity and of landscape visually and functionally is very essential for the visitors experiencing the space. it has to tell the story of what to do next? I am here, where I should go next???
You having a beautiful project.
looking to see more...
all best
Amr
David,
Your site plan looks very straight forward; resolved. I think for the most part this is indeed the case. The parking in the rear naturally creates a transition from the building down to the tracks (now comes the question of interpretation of the structure: is the building floating above the parking base with disappearing columns, is the parking area a rather solid base grounding the building all the way down near the tracks?). The remaining three spaces near the corner of Mass Ave, in front of the main building and behind the exhibit wing are all very simply treated and typically serve one single purpose: descent to parking, entrance, exhibit. The simplicity is both a blessing and a curse and maybe not the end-all for an urban setting. You mention Frisbee throwing, I’m not sure if anyone would expose him/herself to be throwing Frisbee in such a tight space. To invite other uses, other than coming from and going to the main entrance, there might be a few invitations to sit needed; a seat wall, a few benches, a few carved rocks, et cetera. The exhibit patio is in the most private, but also in a barely lit area on the site…
Werner,
I was looking at the back along the tracks after I posted and was thinking about extending the first floor plate out to the North, to create a roof over the parking (outside my north face) and then create the terraced steps that are shown on the sketch. The “roof” over the parking would be a green/lawn roof then step down per hte sketch.
The exhibit patio was intended as a small gathering space to be outside during the summer afternoon/evening for the “wine and crackers”. I knew it would be shaded and feel that is appropriate for such a gathering. It’s a social time, and the late afternoon sun would be bright and hot. Light will be taken care of by low light levels, probably by lights below seats or bollard type (but not bollards). I’m still thinking through the light types and details.
I had thought about adding some natural/native type stone sitting areas both around the patio and out front, but wasn’t sure if that would be appropriate for the urban setting in this area. I have used cut limestone on projects here, they were like “out-croppings” in the area.
Thanks!
David, I would be careful with covering the parkin garea with a solid roof/garden. Besides the cost which of course is not an issue for this excersise, the roof garden would be an additional surface in the shade of your building. A cover would also cut down on day light into the public garage (safety issue). The question is: why would you want to cover the cars? views from above? cover for the automobiles? view from across the pike? Some of these questions could also be answered with a pergola with shade loving wines. Just a thought.
The wine and cheese would be for the comunity? I would think the students would much prefer the roof garden...
David,
I like what you are doing with your landscaping! I wonder if the main entrance should have a little more hard surface in front? I like how you are framing the walkway from Boylston Street and creating several walking paths around your site. I’m seeing you might not have all the room you need to do a terraced landscaping element like your earlier section. Are you still planning on this element or maybe I’m not understanding something in your plans? The one thing that I see you might want to look at in elevation is the amount and height of landscaping along the South façade. Would trees help shade and regulate the temperature of your building? Provide a nice relaxation area out front?
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