Strip Culture: Defeating the Spread In the developing city of Anderson, South Carolina, a commercial strip is evolving. Horizontal spreading and massive concrete parking lots have replaced the existing green forests. The HO[rise]ON FOLD, aims to bring back a healthier lifestyle, greener surroundings and defeat this spread. The concept of the design explores the possibilities of back tracking the problem. The program is first laid out horizontally, the way current development takes place. Then a series of folds allow for the maximization of space while minimizing the square footage. This folding of various programmatic elements allows for unprecedented adjacencies, creating an interesting relationship between the different activities taking place in, on, and near the building. The series of folds are then sunk into the ground to take advantage of the river that runs next to the sight allowing citizens to experience it. Both the HO[rise]ON FOLD and the contours of the site define a natural trail that runs within the site and through the building. Various other activities start developing due to the form, like white water kayaking, rock climbing over the folding plates of the building, skating, a flea market and many other spontaneous activities. Programmatic elements start to draw lines of varying speeds due to the nature of the program. These lines create nodes of interest where they meet. Cars, pedestrians, skaters, climbers, hikers, and even people sitting down, all define the space in particular moments.
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan