BACKGROUND
Residents in a neighborhood in East Boston suffer from a lack of space in which they may conduct communal programming. As a result, the residents feel disconnected from each other.
Meandering Commons is a communal space designed for a residential block in East Boston. I designed this project for my culminating project at a short architecture program at the GSD.
TEAM + ROLE + SCOPE
Time: This was a 3 week project at the Harvard Graduate School of Design
Role: Architect
Team: Solo Project
Tools: Rhino, InDesign, Sketching, Laser printing, Hand tools
SOLUTION
I created a nuanced and scalable space able to fit all of the communities diverse needs while serving as a focal point for all neighborhood bonding activities. See my renderings and models below.
Easily adaptable and openable space that is able to cater to a wide range of programmatic functions.
Cyclical yet orthogonal floor plan allows for viewing of all functions inside the space while working within the established aesthetic framework.
Pocket doors + connected angular variations on roofing expand on the visual motif of notching.
SITE VISIT
I took photos of the site from a variety of perspectives + sketched some existing structures on the perimeter of the site. This allowed me to form a base spatial understanding of the site and I began to ascertain a visual rhythm.
STUDY MODELS
Notching emerged as a motif while examining the site. The buildings notched together, as did the fire escapes protruding from their facades. I experimented with different ways I could notch together modular paper cut outs.
STUDY MODELS
Notching emerged as a motif while examining the site. The buildings notched together, as did the fire escapes protruding from their facades. I experimented with different ways I could notch together modular paper cut outs.
PRECEDENT RESEARCH
Anne Holtrop's trail house and varied metal roofing from a SANAA project lived in my head. Holtrop's pattern allowed me to make a walking pattern for users, while SANAA's brilliance provided inspiration for the roof.
MATERIALS
Precedent research and environmental considerations informed much of my intended construction material. Since this project was only 3 weeks, I primarily chose materials that fit within my defined visual aesthetic.
RENDERINGS
Using Rhino, I modeled an elevation and section detailing possible functions. I crafted a physical massing model out of paper and corrugated semi-translucent plastic.
WRAPPING UP
This project was a cool foray into architecture. Though I designed this project in July of 2022, I have been thinking about the ways in which I could have designed better for inhabitants.
If I were to redesign my solution, I would focus on creating an extended pavilion, where pedestrians can enter from the street to the West atop the hill. On top of the pavilion, I would design a variety of potential programs, like benches, gardens, walking paths. Below the pavilion would be an enclosed space, where much of the required elements would be housed.
This would increase the programmatic area without actually increasing any of the cost and allow for architecture that is more integrated into the community.
