UCHRONIAN GARDENS at MISSION BAY: Intersections between Science + Design
Juan Nieto Arch 103 Spring 2013
After the trip to Mission Bay, and looking at the site, the first thing that I noticed was its size. It is almost seven times bigger than the site we had in Arch 102 (~40,000 sq. ft). 780 ft
268,625 sq. ft 307 ft 970 ft
The Site
The Program Exploratorium South Complex Main Gallery- 20,000 gsf Exhibit 1- 5,000 gsf (SF Bay Ecology and Natural History) Exhibit 2- 5,000 gsf (temporary exhibits on art, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture) Outdoor Gallery- 90,000 gsf (studies on forces shaping S.F, the Bay, and region, watch shifting tides and winds, reveal hidden life, and observe human behavior) Mechanical Spaces (HVAC)- 200 gsf each (there are four, each component serving approximately 10,000 gsf) Cafe and Shop- 10,000 gsf ( locally produced goods, open beyond museum hours, seven days a week) Outdoor Dining- 1,500 gsf (adjacent to Cafe and Shop) Restrooms- women's 1,000 gsf, men's 800 gsf Amphitheater1,500 seats with good visibility and hearing Lower seating closest to Stage at 12 degrees Upper seating at 24 degrees Five aisles: two down center, two down the outside, one cross aisle in break of two slopes Open Stage, 3 ft above base of lower seating, 70 ft wide x 40 ft deep Backstage- 1,000 gsf
Market Place of Earthly Delights Leasable spaces for shops and Stalls, 20 ft wide storefronts x 90 ft deep modules. There are 25 of these modules. (~45,000 gsf) Urban Organic Garden-only visually accessible to public Public Restrooms- Women's 1,000 gsf, Men's 800 gsf
Public Gardens Square footage to be decided
After seeing the handout for the Final project, and noticing that it was 6 pages long, and about two and a half were only the program, I was intimidated by it. I knew it was going to be a more complex one than 102, but I was shocked with the magnitude of this new project.
1st Matrix
At the beginning of the project, I started with the matrix of adjacency. (Figuring out what parts of the program will be placed next to one another) I found this to be an interesting tool and very helpful, otherwise I would've just move programmatic areas around randomly with no purpose. This was helpful in organizing similar elements with one another. The first Matrix I created was just to give me an idea of how it worked, since it was the first that I've done. For the second, I refined the possibilities.
2nd Matrix
Dark- Direct connection
Circle- Not Desirable
MASSING STUDIES: Exploratorium
Top- Seeing how exhibits can be arranged if seen as a plan. Bottom-Elevations if there are two or more levels
From the previous image, I drew different possible plans for each elevation.
It was interesting to see how many plans I could come up with each elevation. That way I had different options of how to place each programmatic element and not be limited to only three.
First iteration of model made at 1/32=1' (due to transportation issues) Exploratorium is placed at North edge because it would be the primary attraction. It would be 2 stories high, where the roof of first floor would make up the outside gallery. Market is located along the South edge of site. This building is three stories high. At 3rd st it would be one floor and as it moves East it would increase by a floor in middle, and at end to the 3rd floor. Middle section on floor plan (grid like) is where the Organic Garden is. There are ramps that go up, but will be gated to not allow access to public.
For this model, I did not take into account any of the work that I did prior to this, that includes the Matrix of adjacencies and massing studies. Although I did not do that, I included all the square footage of both the Market and interior space of Exploratorium. The Outside Gallery was very difficult since it requires 90,000 gsf. I did not know how to incorporate into this early design. Conclusion For this first attempt, it was poorly designed, like I mentioned before, for not using the tools, and it's too early because I haven't done a lot of research on site, to develop the design.
FIRST MODEL
Some Major Circulation Paths
After the first model, I decided to start fresh, from the beginning. Analyzing circulation is crucial, that way I can determine where entrances might be located, where to place paths, and how to direct them.
More Deatailed Site Analysis + Massing
Site Notes
Biotechnology- “The use of living systems and living organisms to develop or make useful products or "any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use" (UN Convention on Biological Diversity).[1] Depending on the tools and applications, it often overlaps with the (related) fields of bioengineering and biomedical engineering.� -Wikipedia
Mission Bay is a very isolated neighborhood. Most of the people seen walking there are students attending UCSF. They leave as soon as their classes are over. It's kind of dead. One essential molecule for life is DNA. This project will be essential for Mission Bay, to bring life, and also store information, with the Exploratorium (history, new art, architecture, human condition)
Sequence of Sketches
1 2
3
4 5
6
Focusing in the concept of DNA, I tried to find a design that can represent DNA somehow. Number 5 seemed very interesting, because the two “strands� run across the site, but one of them morphed into curvilinear pathways and created an open area towards the MUNI stop on third st. The only problem is that that left me with almost exact space for the Amphitheater, which I didn't know where to place. With number 6, the amphithater connected better with both the Market and Exploratorium.
MASSING STUDY TO SCALE
After just making sketches on the site, and decided on a general layout for this project, it was time for massing all elements to scale. I didn't know how much space each module for the market took, and also I had a better look at the size of the outside gallery, which is massive.
First attempt to incorporate all interior spaces for Exploratorium (galleries, entrance/s, shop, cafe, lobby). During this process, I changed the layout of how I originally had it in the massing study to scale. It wasn't as successful as I thought because this sketches were not scale.
SKETCHUP SITE PLAN 1st Organic Garden (roof)
Market Place
Exploratorium
2nd
Public Garden
Instead of having multiple entrances and one exit to outdoor, why not rotate the Market and give people more ways to access the outdoor area (gardens). Both market and exploratorium have a stronger conncetion.
Final Layout
-By rotating the Market, I created a more welcoming, open area (3 rd st & South st). As a result of this, I kind of lost the spiral effect that DNA has, or reduced it -Visitors do not have to go into the Market to have access to the rest of the site. They can go on the edges of the site, through Market, or in the center under Market (assuming most people will arrive from 3 rd St)
MARKET PLACE: FLOOR PLANS 2ND FLOOR
1ST FLOOR
MAIN ENTRANCE OPEN TO BELOW
UP TO 2ND LEVEL
ENTRANCE/ EXIT (1ST FLOOR)
ENTRANCE/ EXIT
-MAIN ENTRANCE CLOSE TO MUNI STOP AT 3RD ST TO BRING PEOPLE IN -EAST END OF 2ND FLOOR DESCENDS TO 1ST FLOOL LEVEL
-SIX MODULES THAT ARE ON 2ND FLOOR (ON WEST), INCLUDING RESTROOSM AND URBAN GARDEN. -EASTERN ENTRANCE, WHICH IS ON FIRST FLOOR, IS TO ATRACT MORE PEOPLE TO 2ND LEVEL.
EXPLORATORIUM FLOORPLANS 1ST FLOOR
2ND FLOOR
MAIN ENTRANCE ENTRANCE TO SHOP AND CAFE
TO OUTDOOR GALLERY
-MAIN ENTRANCE WILL BE ALONG TERRY FRANCOIS BLVD -SHOP AND CAFE WILL HAVE AN ENTRANCE/ EXIT ON THE WEST (CAN BE USED EVEN WHEN MUSEUM IS CLOSED .
EXIT TO OUTDOOR GALLERY
-EXHIBIT 1 (MISSION BAY HISTORY AND ECOLOGY) -EXHIBIT 2 (TEMPORARY EXHIBITS:ART ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN, LANDSCAPE ARCHITCTURE) EXTENDENDED EASTWARD, BETTER VIEW OF SF SKYLINE, BAY BRIDGE, AT&T PARK AND EAST BAY)
MODEL DEVELOPMENT
-At intersection of 3rd St and South St, a small open area to welcome the public. (there are not much green areas along 3rd St.) -Main Entrance to Market Place
-Creates an Open Area/View with Bridgeview Way -Market Aligns to Garage Across from South St. -Exploratorium w/ building across
-Facade of Exploratorium represents the remaining support logs of piers. (expressed all around the building giving it a unique look)
-Facade similar to other Housing and office buildings (glass). -Small plaza that acts as a transition from Market to Garden area