Figure 17 - Top: Initially proposed Vanke Center landscape strategy. Bottom: Steven Holl landscape strategy proposal.
CONTEXT Each project’s contextual diagrams are again examples of the architects’ design philosophies. Holl’s philosophy to “create views over the lower developments of surrounding sites to the South China Sea” is clearly diagrammed in figure 20, in which the building form is shown relating to greater context by highlighting certain views. Also apparent in is Holl’s ideal to “generate the largest possible green space open to the public on ground level”6, and his ideal of “super-green” architecture. For example, figure 17 shows how Holl reinterpreted the original plans to create more green space than was originally on the blank site.
Figure 18 - Rolex Center environment section diagram
Similarly, diagrams referencing the context of the Rolex Learning Center express SANAA’s philosophy to integrate the building with the landscape (Fig. 18, 21). In the site landscape plan diagram (Fig. 21) the building is illustrated as sitting within a central landscape site, with strong links to the surrounding campus, evidenced by the ‘fingers’ of green space reaching outwards into the EPFL campus. The section diagram (Fig. 18) shows the fluidity and the permeability of the building form. It shows the wind and light flowing through and interacting with the building, a concept that the Vanke Center also achieves7, although isn’t specifically diagrammed for this project.
Figure 19 - Vanke Center landscape elements Next Page: Figure 20 (top) - Vanke Center view strategy, Figure 21 (bottom) - Rolex Center landscape plan
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