Project Statement:

When we began the project one of the questions we asked ourselves – given program, how can we address the issue of typology in relation with a façade? How does one affect the other? Do they need to be interactive? And ultimately, what determines the inhabitable space, the façade or the mass? Typically mass is dispersed programmatically – given to space as needed. Where mass becomes interesting to us is the space given through the existence of the facade. Through the exploration of façade there is versions of layers, versions of thinness, versions of smooth, and versions of abstractly rough. In the end our façade studies left us with a thick airy mass that lent itself to many voids and optical features.

The thesis for this project therefore is, using void space and the tower typology, how do we design a system that utilizes all of its mass and generates space noticeable to the exterior, and a façade that is typically unseen on this building typology.

Façade:

The abstraction and its compromise took form in pushing and pulling of elements which allowed a “loose depth” to the façade. By capturing the essence of this loose depth and by furthering its concept – we formed a catalogue of tessellation to become elements towards the typology. These elements were envisioned by us to become – rooms, balconies, outdoor gathering spaces, and interior dwellings for the hotel’s guests. The façade therefore became mass, and allowed for a certain thickness and uniqueness in that façade’s lines of enclosure which became blurred – open, and utilitarian rather then aesthetic.

Mass design strategy:

When we thought about how the strategy may be applied to the given site, we thought about the general organization and programmatic needs and found it imperative to have the office on the corner of Bixel and 7th. The hotel would therefore then be closest to the highway, optimizing into downtown and the coast. Considering light into both of the masses lead us to explore a series of cuts into both main elements, office and hotel, thus creating a deep atrium condition within the hotel. Further, we interrogated both programs into how the texture may be applied specifically to each program. Where one permitted a deep cut for atria, the other allowed for a platform to attach and create a plaza. By stylizing the masses we’ve created through the use of this façade we developed specific strategies based on program in order to execute a more uniform design between the 2 major elements. Where one was completely additive, the other became subtractive and lead to specific interior cavities. Through the use of texturing subdivision and contrasting sub-elements established, we designed the site in a hyper-specific manner which resulted with planters, gardens, light wells, and areas of community within the public plaza.