Joseph Deimler 2017

Centennial District Master Plan and Horticultural Center Joseph Deimler Professor Don Jones

Thesis Statement

Research 1 Manayunk

Fairmont Park West, site of the former 1876 Centennial Exhibi on, is an under served, under u lized por on of municipal park-land at the fringes of West Philadelphia bordering Montgomery County. The parks large expanses of open lawn, dense trees are spliced with winding boulevard and remnants of the exhibi ons eing together old and new recrea onal structures. Much of the existing structures are inaccessible and unattrac ve to visitors and local residents alike.

Urban, Dense Rowhouse, Attached

Suburban, Single Family Development, Detached with Yards

The Main Line

Bala

East Falls

Condos, Multi-Family Complexes, "Park tower modernism"

Strawberry Mansion

Overbrook

Urban, Dense Rowhouse, Attached

Parkside

West Philadelphia

džŝƐƟŶŐ

Brewerytown

Fairmont

University City

Demolished

Urban, Dense Rowhouse, Attached

Center City

Master Plan/ Program

Research 2

II. Educational Component A. 5,000 SF Learning Annex A - 3,000 SF Seed and Horticultural Library - 2,000 SF Offices A. 5,000 SF Learning Annex B - (5) SF Workshop/ Educational Spaces

III. Horticultural Component A. 25,000 SF Exhibition Greenhouse - 3,000 SF Ballroom/ Event Space - 7,000 SF Seasonal Display/ Event Space - 2,000 SF Catering Kitchen - 13,000 SF Botanical and Water Displays B. 10,000 SF Typical Greenhouse (60,000 SF total) - 6,000 SF - Public Displays and Plantings - 4,000 SF - Cultivation & Back of House C. 5,000 SF Maintenance Shed D. 13 acres of food cultivation fields E. 7 acres of orchards

III. Community Enrichment Component A. 2,000 S.F. - Transporation Hub B. 6,000 S.F. - Seasonal Farmer’s Market - 3,000 S.F. all season, enclosed space - 3,000 S.F. open air market C. (2-3)1,500 S.F. Cafe D. (1-2) 2,500 S.F. Restaurants E. 1,000 S.F. Outdoor Equip Rental, Type TBD

Case Studies

Research 3

Longwood Gardens Kenne Square, PA DuPont Family

Thorncrown Chapel Eureka Springs, AR E. Fay Jones

Central Park New York, NY Olmstead and Vaux

Culture Dine

Meander

Play

Meander

Relax

Meander

Sunbathe

Play Softball

Relax

Meander

Sit

Skate Spectate (Zoo)

Be Seen

Meander

Perform

Play Tennis

Explore

Sunbathe

Listen

Play Softball

Meander

Dine

Boat Race

Play Baseball Swim

Shoot Hoops Meander

Culture

Skate

Meander

Sunbathe

Play

Play

Site Studies

Research 4

e nu

ve Arterial Routes eA

Zoning

Lin ty Ci

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yM

ansio n Br

idge

nu Ave ont Belm

Lanc aster

Density

Ave.

Amt rak/ Sept a

uto e-A

Parks ide A ve.

Schuykill

Ex pr es s

wa y

Stra w

ve rd A Gira

Transporta on

10

M

in

Bala Station

Bus tes Rou 40

38 |

10 Min

Bus 38 | 4 Routes 0 | 43 | 52 | 64

5 Min

Girard Trolley

Development Sketches

Process 5

Horticultural Center Aerial View

Mid-term 6

The new hor cultural center became the focus of the Centennial District. Buildings of various educa onal and hor cultural programs are located along the sites historic axis, while breaking away from it in unique ways. The grounds were designed to create dierent outdoor experiences and ways that landscape is designed; the ideas of meadow, forest, ornamental plan ngs and cul vated ďŹ elds and orchards all present learning opportuni es and explora on.

Horticultural Center Site Plan

Mid-term 7

Section and Plan Details of Sunken Gardens

Mid-term 8

Exterior Views

Mid-term 9

Cri cs overall felt the site planning created a real des na on for the site, though there were some gripes with how the buildings treated the historic axis. The exhibi on greenhouse was chosen as an area of advanced study.

Site Sustainability

Structure/ MEP 10 Solar field Single Pole Mounted Solar Array Rooftop Mounted Solar Array Articulated Fin Solar Panels

http://southeasternureporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/photo-51.jpg

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Retention Pond for Agricultural Runoff Ground Filtration Retention Pond for Rainwater Harvest Buried Cistern for Water Storage Rooftop Water Collection

https://phys.org/news/2014-06-rainwater-harvesting -texas-resources.html

Detail Views of Structure The structure is comprised of steel Tmembers bent into a pseudo Gothic arch, ďŹ rming the main mass of the building. Members are kept thin and close together to give the appearance of an great skeleton embedded in the ground.

Structure/ MEP 11

Building MEP

Structure/ MEP 12

The building sec on was designed to allow for unobstructed vantages and facilitate material stack ven la on. Occupant comfort on the light ďŹ lled mezzanine is ensures by the large fan to cool and draw away hot air, and by loca ng ducts at human level in the exaggerated slab of the oor below. Fans above the entry would facilitate air movement and could be programmed as heat/cooling exchange units.

Development Sketches

Process 13

Axial View

Final 14

Exterior Elevations and Details

Final 15

The all glass curved steel structure would be shaded by ver cal ďŹ ns which would be located at every structural bay. These would not only cool the building as needed, but also collect solar energy.

Solar Panel Double Pane Glass Applied Ar culated Mullion Structural Member

Frame/ Pivot Point

View of Interior Wing

Final 16

Floor Plans

Final 17

The interior is designed as a radial plan with a centre court and greenhouse wings that extend out. The centre court has a mezzanine level above which could be rented for par es or used as extra oor space for educa onal ac vi es. The lower level has a gro o and kitchen for refreshments/ food service.

Principal Floor Plan

Mezzanine Plan

Lower Level Plan

View of Centre Court

Final 18

Narrow, closely spaced columns would give the appearance that the mezzanine is oa ng overhead. Circular skylight located around the columns would bring sha s of light below and give the appearance of trees disappearing into a canopy

Section Perspective View

Final 19

Final Model/ Reflection Cri cs overall commented that the site and building program did not facilitate the educa onal/ community component enough and instead focused too much on aesthe cs. This problem could be solved by including more thought into ac vi es which a child or average adult would beneďŹ t from, and tying dierent experiences on the site to how they would personally enrich a visitor. They also commented the ver cal ďŹ ns felt unnecessary, and would have been more func onal and s ll evoca ve of an animal skeleton if they were horizontal, to look like rep lian scales.

Research 20