Conceptual Design Scenarios
3 scenarios. 3 buildings. 3 weeks.
To start the semester off and get our creative juices flowing, my Studio II class did an exercise where we were each randomly assigned a building (a real building in NYC), a primary function, and two secondary functions and told to re-conceptualize and design the interiors. We were given a photograph of the building’s facade and the dimensions of the floor plate and then instructed to figure out the rest.
For each combo of buildings and functions, we were given exactly one week to figure out a design program and create a collaged floor plan and section (we did this three times in a row). None of the buildings were “normal” and all of the functions were eccentric, but that was just part of the fun.
The first scenario was to transform a funky four-story townhouse into a Social Justice Astrology Temple.
The first and second floor are centered around the scenario’s primary function, social justice. With office space, a meeting hall, and ample open areas to hang out and discuss ideas, it’s a great set-up for any group trying to organize, get the word out, and fight for change.
The third floor, basement, and backyard are mystical hubs devoted to the two secondary functions: astrology and temple. The basement has its own separate entrance from the street, and is where guests can go to have their astrological charts read, as well as other psychic readings. The third floor houses a cosmic non-denominational temple, and a telescope in the back for the astrologers to look at the stars and perfect their readings. Outside in the backyard is the Temple of the Gods, and a fire pit providing space for all guests to gather, talk, dance, sing, and more.
In this scenario, I had the challenge of transforming NYC’s narrowest building (only 9’ 6” wide) into an Environmental Activist Performing Arts and Fabrication Space. To make the most of what little space I had available, I decided to create a space that is a model for environmental design while simultaneously meeting all the needs of the secondary functions (performing arts and fabrication space). On all three floors, guests can dance, sing, act, sew, build, weld, and more in this completely Carbon Neutral building, which features a green wall, green roof, sustainable healthy materials, and more.
In this final scenario, the challenge was to create an Arts Gallery Pool in a bizarrely shaped building with a large belly.
Since the secondary function of gallery aligns well with the primary function art, I decided to make the space a center for visual arts. The gallery begins before you’ve even entered the building with statues decorating the outdoor area leading up to the entrance, and continuing throughout the first floor. The third floor houses a darkroom and a computer lab for photo editing, and the fourth floor is an arts studio that can easily be converted into a classroom for painting classes and more. The second floor and “belly” is devoted to the pool, which is decorated with art and serves as a further extension of the gallery below. The basement features a locker area for the pool, as well as showers, saunas, and steam rooms. Finally, the design features a green roof, where visitors can grab a drink at the rooftop bar, hang out, and chat about art!