At the beginning, arrange basic functions into the site, including 300+ residentail units, a gallery, and a Market. Gallery in the North because of lighting requirements, market in the middle, because it's the best location which can attract visitors both from Lowline and surrounding blocks. Units on the top from the point of privacy and good lighting conditions.
Separate each of the residential hall into 2 lower segments, in order to create a better connection for people, both in visual and physical distance aspects. Simultaneously, people can also have a direct connection with market and gallery, more important, with their neighbors.
To make layers setback verticallly, trying to cover function underneath residential units, by doing this, three different functions can gradually grow into one integral building.
Raise the North portion of residential units, to generate a portal in the North direction, for all three funtions. At the time, more space can be created for galleries.
In grasshopper, I build a surface which is gradually going down in south direction, and also going down a little bit in east direction for for the right part, going down in the west for the left part. This surface was build based on the analysis above, and in order to influence the combination method of different units, eventually to generate a scientific and dynamic shape for residential buildings.
Each unit has at least two surface exposed to both interior and exterior. Thus, people living in this building can enjoy great sunlight and have a sight of the market at the same time. They can go out of their units to the terrace, then talking to neighbors, or looking into the market from their units.
25 Timber in the city