Kirsten Halik School of Architecture + Design College of Architecture & Urban Studies Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Class of 2011
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The urban ark is an Agricultural Resource Ko-op which unites the urban car and the urban park under one skyscraper. This study currently takes place in a city where underground parking cannot exist because of an underlying aquifer and where the green space percentage is below the national average... Miami, FL.
As Americans, we live in a car culture. People are reluctant to part with the independence, freedom, and thrill that individual travel provides. The automobile has become indispensable to modern life in America, like electricity and running water. The motor car promised, and continues to promise, degrees of freedom and outright convenience in travel not offered by other forms of transportation. Until there is another form of individualized transportation, the car will remain an integral part of our society. But, it is not a matter of just “getting there.” It is, as well, a matter of “parking there.” Parking dominates both at one’s departure and at on e’s destination. To park (or not to park) is the question that anchors every trip by car. Without places to park, motoring, even fast motoring, matters little. Parking fully impacts how we create and use places in our modern world. For Americans, parking lots and parking garages have become absolutely essential. The country would not function without them. Today, space devoted to parking in the United States is easily as large, by total extent, as that of several New England states combined. Parking should not long remain just an afterthought in city making. Parking is fundamental to how modern cities function and how they are experienced. Bringing together the car, the industrial, with the park, the natural, is accepting reality that the car is not disappearing anytime soon but taking the notion of parking to the next level. For many Americans the word “park” holds aesthetic leisure-time implication. Parks are landscaped places sylvan or otherwise picturesque - pleasure grounds to be enjoyed visually. Parks are protected places often enclosed by fences and walls, the connotation that gives linguistic tie to such very different kinds of places as parks and parking lots. The noun “parking” can mean a ground adorned with trees, lawn, or shrubbery, as in a park, and it can mean a landscaped strip down the center of or along the side of a street. What irony! Nothing has negated more the park idea in America than automobile parking. The urban ARK unites the urban car and the urban park together in an unconventional way, but surprisingly functions similarly to how the American culture is accustomed to experiencing “parking” and “park.” It is a creation of a positive transition experience from car to destination.
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florida The “sunshine state� is the fourth most populous state in the United States and third largest in water area. The climate of Florida is tempered somewhat by the fact that no part of the state is very distant from the ocean. It varies from subtropical temperatures in the North to tropical temperatures in the South year round. The peninsula is a porous plateau of karst limestone sitting atop bedrock known as the Florida pl atform. The southern tip is dominated by an underlying aquifer, making any underground construction (other than building foundation) impossible.
miami The second largest city in Florida, by population, is rapidly growing with a projected 2035 population of 3,278,000 residents, a thirtynine percent growth from 2010. More importantly, the projected vehicle population is 2,111,753, a sixty-four percent growth! Parking is something everybody expects but nobody wants to think about. What is more, only five percent of Miami is designated park space, but the national average among the largest cities in America is thirteen percent. The urban ARK is the solution for the people and the cars of Miami.
NE 2ND AVE
95
NW 12TH AVE
BISC AYNE BLVD
NW 17TH AVE
NW 46TH ST
FONTAINE BLEAU RESORT
112 AIRPORT EXPY
NW 22TH AVE
W 41ST ST
ALTON RD
NW 37TH AVE
NW 20TH ST
OPERA TOWER
ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER
900 BISCAYNE BAY
MARINA BLUE
AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA
PORT OF MIAMI EVERGLADES ON THE BAY
SW 12TH AVE
STEPHEN P. CLARK GOVT CENTER
W FLAGLER ST
50 BISCAYNE
EPIC
Y SW RC THU CAR MA 395
MIAMI TOWER MINT AT RIVERFRONT
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95
THE IVY
BRICKELL FINANCIAL CENTER
SW 27TH AVE
SW 22TH AVE
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL
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CORAL WAY
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JADE AT BRICKELL BAY
1450 BRICKELL
VIZCAYA MUSEUM & GARDENS
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DOWNTOWN COCONUT GROVE
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URBAN ARK
INFINITY AT BRICKELL
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
PLAZA ON BRICKELL TOWER I PLAZA ON BRICKELL TOWER II
RICKENBACKER CSWY
SW 37TH AVE
MIRACLE MILE
ICON BRICKELL N/S TOWERS
SE 2N D AV E
SW 17TH AVE
SW 7TH ST
5TH ST
OCEA N DR
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MARQUIS MIAMI
TEN MUSEUM PARK
COLLIN S AVE
395 MACARTHUR CSWY
XPY IN E LPH DO 836
NW 42ND AVE
LINCOLN ROAD MALL
VENETIAN CSWY
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836 DOLPHIN EXPY
VD BL DE DA
QUANTUM ON THE BAY
ALTON RD
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BISCAYNE BLVD
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MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
195 JULIA TUTTLE CSWY
NW 27TH AVE
NW
NW 36TH ST
MIAMI BEACH
brickell One of the up and coming areas of Miami, Brickell has had the most growth of high rises over 150 meters tall in the past few years. Within a few minutes walking distance are areas of activity similar to that of the urban ARK. These, however, are low to the ground and blocked from breezes and views by the high rise hotels along the bay. Adding another “happening” area into Brickell will create a triangular loop of activity and will bring the public to the water’s edge.
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GRIMPA STEAKHOUSE
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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT POST OFFICE
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JW MARRIOT HOTEL MIAMI
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BANCOLOMBIA MIAMI AGENCY
MARINHEIRO
CRAZY ABOUT YOU
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GORDON BIERSCH BREWERY
PIOLA
THE MARK ON BRICKELL
SABADELL FINANCIAL CENTER
MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE
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YACHT CLUB AT BRICKELL APARTMENTS E
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5-7 min walk
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HELM BANK
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SOUTHSIDE PARK
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ROSA VITO
SUVICHE
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ARCHIE’S PIZZA
BA Y
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FOUR AMBASSADORS
BR IC KE LL
10TH
SUSHI SIAM
MIAMI
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BR IC EK LL AV
BALANS
RED BAR
BLUE PARROT GRILL
PLAZA ON BRICKELL
MARY BRICKELL VILLAGE
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ROSA MEXICANO
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p a r t i d i a g r am The program of the urban ARK is completely derived from what is lacking in the surrounding site. It follows all parts of one’s day from morning until late night. Starting the daily journey with coffee shop and bakery immediately activates the building at dawn. The gorgeous sunrises over Biscayne Bay will wake the building and the users within. The afternoon, brings shoppers as well as park users to the ARK. The multiple park spaces overlap at varying places to protect from the hottest sun of the day. Distributed retail and casual dining activates users in all parts of the building, bottom to top. The stacked fish and produce markets offer a place for vendors to sell their fresh, local goods. High-end dining with late night bars and clubs will keep the building occupied during the nicest hours of Miami’s weather. Placing these at the top of the building gives them the prime views of the lights of South Miami Beach just across the bay and the best breezes needed in these typically crowded spaces.
HIGH-END DINING/BAR/CLUB
FURNITURE STORE
RETAIL COFFEE SHOP BAKERY DINING
RETAIL
FARMERS MARKET
FISH MARKET
DINING OUTDOOR DINING TO WATERS EDGE SERVICING EAST ELEVATION
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central core rotating floor plates floor plate structure perforated metal screen car circulation ramps park and parking rings
central core The central core is the main source of egress within the building comprised of fire stairs, a mechanical shaft, one service elevator and three passenger elevators. The structure works with a system of vertical and horizontal I-beams intersecting and connecting at each concrete floor slab. All of the program floor plates tie back to the core as the primary source of structure.
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r o t a t i n g f l oor plates The program floor plates are comprised of two shapes, an oval and a polygon, alternating vertically. Every two floor plates rotate around the central core a total of four times. This creates a toppling effect, but evens out the loads as they circle back on top of each other. One ceiling beco mes the above plate’s floor, which then creates usable outdoor space adjacent to the inner program. These areas can be used for outdoor dining or lounges. Where two plates overlap there is a rest room core serving four floors using similar I-beam structure as the central core.
usable outdoor space created
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cantilevers ( t o p p l i n g e ff e c t ) one roof acts as anothers floor
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circles centered at each corner of square
usable outdoor space created
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alternating rest room cores (every 4 floors)
f l o o r p l a t e structure The f loor plate structure is a total of one meter thick giving the program a strong horizontal presence in a primarily vertical building. The concrete slab is the supporting structure for a raised floor system allowing for customizable floor finishes based on the leaser’s preference. The same is applicable for the ceiling finishes. A system of hangers is installed to allow for attachment of any ceiling selection. This also leaves space for all HVAC systems. Bordering the perimeter is insulation and a metal clip giving the visual of a continuous thick floor plate.
metal railing glass barrier customizable raised floor concrete floor slab
insulation ceiling hangers customizable ceiling exterior metal clip
p e r f o r a t e d metal screen A perforated metal screen wraps the program area to both diffuse the space between th e program and the car ramps and protect the mostl y glass cladded programmed spaces from severe Miami weather. The metal is perforated to let in light and natural air but also has larger cut outs to exit the screen to the usable outdoor space and allow views of the city. The screen is circular to follow the oval floor plates which contrasts the polygonal intermediate floor plate shape. This creates four “cove� areas used for lounging, dining, or local art installations.
c a r c i r c u l a tion ramps The two direction car ramps follow a circular path up the building making the experience organic to the driver. One rotation moves upwards ten meters then levels to a flat plane projecting straight then making one-quarter turn before repeating. This follows the rotati ng floor plates and reiterates the toppling effect. It also helps break up the spiralling of the ramps so the driver does not follow a monotonous circle and keeps them aware of their surroundings and driving path. The structure is an angled truss which arrays as “ribs� throughout the ramp. They connect to an I-beam which curves along the perimeter that ties off at each column. The structure is covered in poured concrete with pre-cast barrier supports attached. The barriers are half a meter tall with industrial cable strung in between acting as the primary force of strength against a collision.
pre-cast conc r e t e s u p p o r t s steel cable ba r r i e r s
a n g l e d trusses work a s r i b s supporting t h e c a r ramp
p a r k a n d p a rking rings The park and parking act as one in the same following the primary concept of this proposal. They work as a ring wrapping the inner structure sloping upwards and downwards at an ADA approved angle to add depth and flux. The park is situated on the top layer to gain access to the sun, breeze and views of Miami. The parking layer is suspended three meters down by a large open-air truss system. There are two rows of parking, both facing the outside of the truss, creating a more open feel within this layer. Two lanes of circulation join into one at the intersection point with the circulation ramps allowing for the driver to merge onto the ring and find parking or turn around to descend the building. The structure uses curved I-beams at the perimeters and interiors of the slabs. Trusses span between these beams and array as ribs similar to the car ramps. They are covered in poured concrete with a barrier in place on the park layer. This holds in the 12�-18� of planting soil needed for the varying native Miami plants and grasses.
park railing 12� - 1 8 � o f p l a n t i n g s o i l I - b eams curved along per i m e t e r a n d i n t e r i o r truss spanning b e t w e e n I - b e a m s concrete casing truss structure suspe n d i n g p a r k i n g r i n g
120 parking space s p e r r i n g
four cores each with fire stairs, elevator shaft and handicapped rest room at parking and park levels for means of egress, structural support and convenience
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This thesis lives the rule of always being loyal to yourself, to others, and most importantly your work. Living each day to be the best version of myself influenced every aspect of this year. I strive to help others and build strong relationships based solely on the work. We are always... coming in.
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i t e r a t i o n o ne - october The first iteration involved two program cores with the car ramps weaving between the two. The back and forth travel of the car was an interesting concept, however, it made for very dark spaces where two would overlap. The park spaces were then arbitrarily inserted and lacked in continuity with the rest of the structure. Overall, the concept had a lot of flaws and was deemed unsuccessful.
*insert program
TEST SITE: COCOWALK
what is needed in area?
UP
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*alternating views of coastline and program
FLOATING ARK *urban park
UP site shape
floor 17
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HANGING ARK *growth balconies
PLUMB
open space towards views [aka water]
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PLUMB
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GROWING ARK *parking
F/S
UP towards views [aka water]
floor 18
UP
i t e r a t i o n t wo - december The second iteration was the discovery of the rotating floor plate system used in the final proposal. Using a singular circular ramping structure for the cars provided a more organic driving experience as well as a quicker way to reach the top of the building. The parks began to relate to the structure more than the first iteration but still seemed arbitrarily placed.
i t e r a t i o n t hree - january This iteration takes a more organic approach at the shape of the building in plan. Making the top of the building inaccessible by car was not fitting for the concept of the building. And inserting park at every level began to get rid of the park as they shaded each other too much and too often. However, lowering the parking area to below the park was an idea carried through to the final proposal.
DETAIL 2
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SECTION B
ELEC
1350kg
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i t e r a t i o n f our - february Completely abandoning the circular structure of all the previous iterations was a test to the nature of the concept but proved to not be beneficial. This parti was derived from an area already existent in Miami which worked well as an active community. This diagram as well as site placement was used to help determine the parti for the final building concept.
parking core/circulation retail condominiums fish/farmers market indoor/outdoor dining civic space