Mad Fun Farm Pavilion by OACNY

MAD FUN FARM PAVILION

NU E V DA

DOCUMENT FOR NYCHA : 03 OCTOBER 2012

97T

EE R T S

Table of Contents

00 00.01 00.02 00.03 00.04

Introduction Profiles Project Background Executive Summary Charrette With CS Explorers

01 01.01 01.02 01.03 01.04

Existing Site Location & Community Site Analysis Existing Site Photos Site Specifics

02 02.01 02.02 02.03 02.04 02.05 02.06 02.07 02.08

The Design The Concept The Components Stage Roof ‘Green’ Elements Accessibility Materiality & Sustainability A Temporary Structure

Appendix 1: Drawings

Introduction

MAD FUN FARM PAVILLION

00.01 Profiles Concrete Safaris empowers children to be healthy leaders through outdoor exercise and education programs that enrich the mind, body, community & environment. According to the NYC Department of Health, East Harlem has some of the highest rates of childhood obesity and diabetes in New York City. Since 2008, 7 to 11-year-old children enrolled in Concrete Safaris’ year-round programs and living in East Harlem have learned how the physical environment where they live, learn, and play impacts their health. Concrete Safaris’ participants make major programmatic decisions, adding gardening, running, cycling, fishing, hiking, and swimming to our curriculum while addressing disease prevention from the child’s perspective. Concrete Safaris is a replicable model for social change and the only non-profit agency in New York City specifically providing health-based programming and materials for children who live in and around the public housing projects to create and maintain edible, vibrant gardens on NYC Housing Authority property, and for those children to exercise outdoors 5+ days/week.

00.02 Project Background NYC Commissioner of Health Thomas Farley and Deborah A. Cohen wrote in Prescription for a Healthy Nation: “It’s time for us to understand how the features of our everyday world affect us, and then to alter them in an explicit, deliberate way so that we can be healthier.” The Mad Fun Farm Pavilion will do just that! Architecture for Humanity New York is a local chapter of Architecture for Humanity, a global network of professionals united by the desire to use our skills for the common good. We are committed to providing sustainable design, construction, and development services where they are most critically needed. Since our chapter was founded in 2003, we have completed over 40 local projects for underserved New York City communities. Some of the chapter’s previous projects have included schools, homeless shelters, urban planning initiatives, and community centers. Architecture for Humanity New York hopes to continue its professional, sustainable and community-based approaches to design with its participation in the Mad Fun Farm Pavilion.

The Mad Fun Farm Pavilion aims to improve an existing East Harlem urban garden by building a temporary structure functioning as a stage with the capacity for rainwater collection. This stage will be used for the children’s expression of everything they choose to learn in this youthdriven educational after-school and summer program. The garden is used year-round in this innovative program where children (ages 7 -11) learn skills to become proactive members of their community while participating in the urban health movement. The stage, where performances and educational programming will be held for Washington Houses residents, will be made primarily of reclaimed or recycled material and will incorporate a rainwater harvesting system within the roof structure. Concrete Safaris has been an active participant throughout the design process.

00.03 Executive Summary How can a Pavilion bring children closer to nature while being educational and playful? We see the Pavilion as a butterfly sitting gently in a garden whose wings not only filter light, or provide shelter, but become a rain harvesting element. It is through the ritual of harvesting water which we intend to create an educational and physical connectivity between children and nature. Watering gardens will no longer be about turning on a faucet, which never runs out, but it will be about learning how we can preserve and reuse nature’s resources that will not always be available.

MAD FUN FARM PAVILLION

00.04 Charrette With The CS Explorers The Pavilion will be built for Washington Houses’ residents and the children of Concrete Safaris, who designed and built from scratch the existing Mad Fun Farm gardens on which the Pavilion will sit. From the beginning, it was important to include the children in the design process in order to better understand who the Pavilion is being built for as well as help them understand the importance of sustainable and healthy living. Several charrettes on different days were held with the children in which they were asked questions such as, “What do you want to do with this Pavilion?” and “What is rainwater harvesting?” When the Pavilion is built, Washington Houses children and their families will enjoy all that it can offer, from the use of the rainwater harvested to water their plants to the educational experience of participating in the design of a place that affects their immediate and community environment.

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Existing Site

MAD FUN FARM PAVILLION

01.01 Location & Community The Mad Fun Farm Pavilion site is located on East 97th Street between Second and Third Avenues within Mad Fun Farm. Concrete Safarisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 7 - 11- year olds participated in multiple charrettes led by Architecture for Humanity New York volunteers over the past year to design key elements of the Pavilion, reflecting their artistic and aesthetic sensibilities growing up in East Harlem. Parents in East Harlem are often looking for creative, affordable ways to engage their children. Concrete Safarisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; students are looking forward to entertaining and educating their peers, families, and neighbors with free shows and lessons.

EAST HARLEM

MAD FUN FARM

MAD FUN FARM PAVILLION

P P

01.02 Site Analysis

TREES MAY NEED REMOVAL

Pedestrian Access

PEDESTRIAN ACCESS

Sunlight Exposure

SUNLIGHT EXPOSURE

Utilities

SITE LIGHTING

UTILITIES

ELEV. 29’-0”

PARADISE GARDENS (4,000 SF) 3’ CAST IRON FENCE (TYP)

ELEV. 17’-0”

8’ CHAIN LINK FENCE

CHILDREN’S GARDENS 10,000 SF

POSSIBLY RELOCATE PLANTERS

CIRCLE OF LEARNING 3’ CAST IRON FENCE

ELEV. 24’-0”

ASSESS RE-BUILDING PLANTERS

ELEV. 25’-0”

Public Vs. Private

ELEV. 18’-0”

Topography

BUTTERFLY GARDEN

Gardens

MAD FUN FARM PAVILLION

01.03 Existing Site Photos VIEW 01

VIEW 01 VIEW 02

MAD FUN FARM PAVILLION

01.04 Site Specifics Across the site, there is a difference in elevation of approximately 6.5 feet. This will effect how the Pavilion sits on the landscape as well as the approach to the Pavilion itself. Throughout the site, mature trees are scattered within the landscape, covering most of the site in shade during the summer months. Two residential towers, both approximately 110’ feet high, sit on the east and west sides of the site, and Paradise Garden, another Concrete Safaris garden, bounds the site at the north along with the two-story Washington Community Center and Wash/Lex Management Office. The specific part of the site proposed for the Pavilion is ideal due to its proximity to the Circle of Learning, something that has become symbolically significant for the participants of Concrete Safaris, and also provides ease of access for residents and visitors of all ages.

23’-6”

17’-0”

area of site where the Pavilion will be location

mature trees within site

circle of learning

3’ high cast iron

8’ high chain-link fence

Paradise Garden beyond

Union Settlement building beyond

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Architectural Design

MAD FUN FARM PAVILLION

02.01 The Concept The concept for Mad Fun Farm Pavilion has stemmed from the idea of creating an element that connects directly with the natural settings in which the garden sits. The form mimics a butterfly, something found in nature, but is also something playful and colorful that children are naturally drawn to. Other elements of the concept include sustainability, education, interactiveness, and the merging of form within the landscape.

02.02 The Pavilion & Its Components The Pavilion consists of components that have varying purposes and relationship to the existing Mad Fun Farm, but the components also work together to form a cohesive whole and are an elaboration of the concepts discussed in the previous section. These components are the stage, roof, and green elements.

Roof

Stage

Green Elements

MAD FUN FARM PAVILLION

02.03 The Stage The Stage is a platform for learning, whether by use for performance of a play or simply a place to study the environment. On one side, it continues from the landscape as a level surface to provide a seamless transition, while on the opposite side, it steps back down to the landscape to allow the opportunity of interaction all around the perimeter.

02.04 The Roof The Roof not only relates back to nature by taking on the form of a butterfly, but also serves the important purpose of collecting the rainwater that will be used to water the existing planting beds. It is comprised of 3 elements: covering, sheathing, and structural frame.

Translucent roof covering

Butterfly pattern sheathing to filter light and appeal to those in the surrounding residences from above

Seamless transition between stage and landscape Potential area under stage needed for supports

Secondary structural frame

Primary structural pier

MAD FUN FARM PAVILLION

02.05 The Green Elements

02.06 Accessibility

Integration of sustainable watering techniques as well as elements that foster the growth of planted life and the natural environment are the key ideas behind the development of the Green Elements within the Pavilion. The rainwater harvesting system is designed to maximize rainwater collection as well as usage, with the potential for rainwater harvesting being over 3,000 gallons/year. The main elements of the system include directing the overflow into the new planter within the stage, a pump, which is not only functional, but also adds an interactive element for the children, and a closed sytem that reduces evaporation. By the inclusion of a wire trellis system, the Pavilion creates a new surface for vining plants such as cucumbers, tomatoes, and green beans. This reinforces the idea of bringing the farm into the Pavilion, with both working harmoniously together within the garden.

An important aspect of the Pavilion is accessibility so that all users can enjoy the benefits that it will offer. Through analysis of the existing topography of the site, the proposed path to the Pavilion would start from the entryway on 97th street and progress up through the site along a level pathway. This approach avoids the need to do extensive landscape work such as creating an access path from the entrance at the north-east point of the Mad Fun Farm.

ction

Colle

Trellis Overflow

Pump Usage

Analysis of existing site conditions

Proposal

02.07 Materiality & Sustainability The Pavilion is part of a greater educational program. In order to maintain the philosophy of teaching children about a healthy lifestyle, sustainability has been incorporated into the building materials. Some materials used in the Pavilion are recycled or reclaimed. We took into careful consideration our audience-- children. All materials used are safe and free of toxins. The materials can also withstand weather elements and will allow for easy maintenance. The materials chosen will compliment, not dominate, the surrounding landscape and hardscape.

02.08 A Temporary Structure Based on the current design, the connections for the structural members could be designed with bolted/ mechanical connections that could be dismantled. If possible, the foundation would be designed with the same intention of temporality. However, if a concrete foundation is necessary, there are several options of how to remove this from the site. When it comes time to remove the foundation, a standard concrete spread footing could either be buried in the ground or jack hammered and removed. Another option are screw piles that could be screwed and unscrewed into the ground. Determination for the final foundation system will need to be based on the existing soil conditions.

Appendix 1: Drawings

MFF PAVILION

UNION SETTLEMENT BUILDING

PARADISE GARDEN 28

26 25 24

23 21

20 19 18

RESIDENTIAL NO.

REVISIONS/ SUBMISSIONS

RESIDENTIAL

PARKING

CONSULTANT'S SEAL

16 15

CONSULTANT 26

PROJECT TITLE 27

DRAWING TITLE

SITE PLAN DRAWN

EAST 97TH STREET

SITE PLAN SCALE: 1/32" = 1'-0"

CHECKED

REVIEWED

DATE

SCALE

1/32" = 1'-0" DRAWING NO.

L01.00

MFF PAVILION

17 WATER SUPPLY

LIGHT POST

NO.

REVISIONS/ SUBMISSIONS

18 PLANTER BOXES

COMPOST

CONSULTANT'S SEAL

CIRCLE OF LEARNING

SEWER

CONSULTANT

PROJECT TITLE

DRAWING TITLE

LANDSCAPE PLAN 24 DRAWN

CHECKED

LANDSCAPE PLAN SCALE: 3/32" = 1'-0"

REVIEWED

DATE

SCALE

3/32" = 1'-0" DRAWING NO.

L01.01

MFF PAVILION

OUTLINE OF RAIN WATER TANK ABOVE

'-4

FOUNDATION FOR ROOF AND MAIN STRUCTURE

NO.

REVISIONS/ SUBMISSIONS

PEDESTALS FOR SUPPORT AND LEVELLING STAGE RETAINING ELEMENT

FOUNDATION FOR PLANTER

CONSULTANT'S SEAL

OUTLINE OF STAGE ABOVE 4"

7 3/

18'-

CONSULTANT

PROJECT TITLE

DRAWING TITLE

FOUNDATION PLAN DRAWN

CHECKED

FOUNDATION PLAN SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"

REVIEWED

DATE

SCALE

1/4" = 1'-0" DRAWING NO.

A01.01

MFF PAVILION

RAIN WATER TANK SUPPORT

NO.

REVISIONS/ SUBMISSIONS

'-5

FOUNDATION FOR ROOF AND MAIN STRUCTURE PLANTER WALLS AND SUPPORTS

STAGE FRAMING MEMBERS CONSULTANT'S SEAL

OUTLINE OF STAGE ABOVE 4"

7 3/

18'-

CONSULTANT

PROJECT TITLE

DRAWING TITLE

STAGE FRAMING PLAN DRAWN

CHECKED

STAGE FRAMING PLAN SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"

REVIEWED

DATE

SCALE

3/8" = 1'-0" DRAWING NO.

A01.02

MFF PAVILION

RAIN WATER TANK

MAIN STRUCTURE HAND PUMP

NO.

WIRE TRELLIS FOR VINING PLANTS

REVISIONS/ SUBMISSIONS

'-5

PLANTER

CONSULTANT'S SEAL

STAGE DECK OUTLINE OF ROOF ABOVE

24'-1

1/2" CONSULTANT

PROJECT TITLE

DRAWING TITLE

STAGE FINISH PLAN DRAWN

CHECKED

STAGE FINISH PLAN SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"

REVIEWED

DATE

SCALE

1/4" = 1'-0" DRAWING NO.

A01.03

MFF PAVILION

RAIN WATER TANK BELOW

11'-

" 8'-0

OUTLINE OF ROOF SHEATHING ABOVE

NO.

18'-

REVISIONS/ SUBMISSIONS

WOOD FRAMING

2" 2 1/ 17'-

CONSULTANT'S SEAL

CONSULTANT

PROJECT TITLE

DRAWING TITLE

ROOF FRAMING PLAN DRAWN

CHECKED

ROOF FRAMING PLAN SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"

REVIEWED

DATE

SCALE

1/4" = 1'-0" DRAWING NO.

A01.04

MFF PAVILION

0" 11'-

GUTTER

NO.

REVISIONS/ SUBMISSIONS

LIGHTWEIGHT SHEATHING

CONSULTANT'S SEAL

6 3/

20'-

CONSULTANT

PROJECT TITLE

DRAWING TITLE

ROOF PLAN DRAWN

CHECKED

ROOF PLAN SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"

REVIEWED

DATE

SCALE

1/4" = 1'-0" DRAWING NO.

A01.05

MFF PAVILION

NO.

REVISIONS/ SUBMISSIONS

TRANSLUCENT COVER LIGHTWEIGHT SHEATHING WOOD FRAMING

CONSULTANT'S SEAL

PEDESTALS FOR SUPPORT AND LEVELLING STAGE STAGE FRAMING MEMBER

7'-0 3/4"

MAIN STRUCTURAL SUPPORT

STAGE DECK

CONSULTANT

PROJECT TITLE

FOOTINGS DRAWING TITLE

SECTION 1 DRAWN

CHECKED

SECTION 1 SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"

REVIEWED

DATE

SCALE

1/4" = 1'-0" DRAWING NO.

A03.01

MFF PAVILION

NO.

REVISIONS/ SUBMISSIONS

TRANSLUCENT COVER LIGHTWEIGHT SHEATHING WOOD FRAMING GUTTER

CONSULTANT'S SEAL

EXISTING CHAINLINK FENCE HAND WATER PUMP CONSULTANT

350 GALLON WATER TANK ON SUPPORTS

FOOTING

PROJECT TITLE

DRAWING TITLE

SECTION 2 DRAWN

CHECKED

SECTION 2 SCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"

REVIEWED

DATE

SCALE

1/4" = 1'-0" DRAWING NO.

A03.02