LA28 BRANCH LIBRARY

from Architecture Portfolio (8/23) - Austin Nguyen

EXTERIOR PERSPECTIVE

Loose Fit Design

ARCH202B | SPRING 2023

ADVISOR: ROB LEY

A remarkable “loose fit” building, serving as a vibrant local media-hub during the highly anticipated LA28 Olympics. The unique component of this building is its versatility after the games. Adapting to the evolving needs of the community, a library will take the place of the media center, ensuring a standing legacy of the Olympic events.

THE LOOSE-FIT CONCEPT

Architecturally, the Olympics tend to leave the host city with the overlooked issue on how to repurpose game buildings, which often times are abandoned. Utilizing pre-existing structures have been a common solution, but there’s only so much space the Olympics can use. Thus, the idea of loose-fit buildings can provide the necessary spaces to host the games, while also allowing it to be easily repurposed following the games.

Program Lights

An approach is to integrate lights into the design so that program is easily distinguishable. This render depicts possible light colors used during the LA28 Olympics.

Modular Conditions

Modularity has proven to be an effective way to reduce costs for large architectural projects. The initial stages of the design focused on the development of a single module, which then had a second variation. The building consists of mostly repeated modules.

THE MODULE (MODEL)

The hyperbolic roof offers a unique element to modular arrangement. By lifting one corner of the roof, two modules besides each other will create a butterfly roof, further emphasizing its overhanging presence.

Scale: 1/2”=1’-0”

Medium: Acrylic, Foam Core, Musuem Board, Wood Sticks

Design In Section

Exploring the hyperbolic paraboloid, the LA28 Branch Library utilizes the modular identity of the unique shape, arranging itself to create a wave-like roof.

A sense of hierarchy can be seen in section as well, in the form of height, material, and transparency. Establishing a centerspot of the building, the sister variation of the modules provide an extension in elevation as seen in the drawing.

LIBRARY PLAN 1/8”=1-’0”

The wave-line of the middle roof is the second to be recognized, showing itself through the simple form of white cement panels.

Between the roof lines, floor-to-ceiling windows and the wooden beams provide the least obstructing visuals, emphasizing the roof lines and the background.

Pushing The Roof

By establishing the heirarchy of the roof, the design led to the introduction of different spaces: exterior, semi-exterior, and interior spaces. With the roof acting as a cantilever, the building brings a new set of spaces, one that is outside yet under the roof; a space no longer bound to the public and private binary.

Versatile Arrangement

The concept of loose-fit heavily applies to the plan of the building. Allowing interior walls to easily be removed, the building plans offer spaces that can spill into each other while also give the option to divide into smaller rooms.

The Full Model

The presence of the model visually displays the unique views from all angles of the building. From the top, the roofs are arranged like a flower, not fully symmetrical yet organized in a clean layout. From the sides, the roofs display a stream of waves, depicting the view of the building from a far distance.