JOURNEY TO MACHU PICCHU:
WHERE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND IMAGINATION INTERTWINE
Sarah Edwards
Master of Architecture Thesis Book
Fall 2022- Spring 2023
Committee Members:
Jim Jones
Edward Becker
RJ Weaver
Peru
Introduction
Thesis
Project
Weaving
Thesis Statement
Site Analysis
Climate
Epcot Case Studies
Current Conditions
Site Development
Plan Iterations
Mass Modeling
Virtual Reality
Master Plan
Essence
Plaza
Machu Picchu
Inspiration and Initial Ideas
Virtual Reality
Architectural Design Development
Final Design
Floor Plans
Circulation
Sections
Axons
Seasons
Sun
Elevations
Construction Details
SITE DEVELOPMENT
Explanation of Points of Interest
Indoor Roller Coaster with Bright Signs and Structures, Twists and Turns, and a Drop Track
Interact and Take Pictures With Kuzco, Yzma, and Kronk
(Tasty Drinks) Refreshing Ice Cream, Slushies, Shave Ice, Smoothies
Emperor’s New Groove- Inspired Drinks and Appetizers
Experiential Walk-Through Attraction
(Peru House) Authentic Peruvian DiningQuick Service Window, Fruit Stands, and Restaurant
(The Sweet Llama) Authentic Peruvian Pastries and Baked Goods
(Stuffed Animals) Woven Stuffed Animals, Blankets, Children’s Toys
Explanation of Points of Interest
Peruvian Candies and Trinkets
(Inca Clothing) Authentic Peruvian Clothing and Jewelry
Emperor’s New Groove Ears and Pins, Peru and World Showcase Merchandise
Emperor’s New Groove- Inspired Modern Clothing (Souvenirs from Kuzcotopia) Emperor’s New Groove- Inspired Home Goods
World Showcase With Peru
KEVIN LYNCH’S 5 ELEMENTS
Master Plan
The Peruvian Plaza grounds this new edition to Epcot firmly in the World Showcase. This district reflects the architecture, articulation, and atmosphere of a modern Peruvian city. The Plaza’s rooting in culture and U-shaped plan matches the look and feel of existing Epcot countries.
The Emperor’s New Groove district takes guests away from Epcot and into the animated world of the movie. This is much like the way that Star Wars Land calls on the existing intellectual property of Disney without attempting to directly copy anything seen on screen by audiences.
The Machu Picchu district demonstrates a new way to interpret and reflect the essence of a place. This design embraces the fact that Machu Picchu cannot be duplicated. Instead, Journey to Machu Picchu aims to gather the intangible qualities that make up an experience and relay those to audiences in a meaningful way.
Landmark
A.
C. B.
ESSENCE
Plaza de Armas de Cusco; central green space, fountain, surrounding structures, mountains in the background
Preliminary view of entrance into Peru
Varying arch and column styles, ornamentation levels, connection details
Worn and weathered finish of columns
Bright blue woodwork and metalwork is featured on some balconies, doors, and windows
Close up of balcony on the central structure within the entrance area of Peru
Extremely detailed carvings on balconies, overhang on the corner condition of protruding balconies
La Casa de Peru Level 2 balcony detailing
How do you design a mountain?
From the onset of this project, a mountain structure representing Machu Picchu was conceptualized as the most prominent part of the design. However, the question quickly arose of how to actually accomplish that.
Google Maps Contours of Machu Picchu
Google Maps 3D View of Machu
Picchu
My first instinct was to use design tools I knew. Rhino seemed better suited than Revit, since it has more tools that support irregular forms. After studying the contours of Machu Picchu, I began drawing splines and extruding them to mimic the mountain.
3D view of 1st attempt to
Plan view of 1st attempt to model Machu Picchu
model Machu Picchu
Experiencing a mountaintop
One of the fundamental characteristics of Machu Picchu is its location up in the clouds. In order to create that experience in my design, I carved earth terraces down into the site.
Quick mock up of mountain-scape in Lumion to see earth and vegetation textures on the mountain forms in context
Initial terraces on first mass model
View down into trench
Embracing the illusion
In order to sell the effect of being on a mountaintop, fog would be introduced into the bottom of the trench. A neighboring mountaintop even peaks through the haze.
Brainstorming how to resolve the borders of the site by creating a mountain skyline
Arkio trees are falsely scaled to force perspective, fog placeholder
Enscape render with 100% fog setting
Dense Forest Path Path Leading to a Clearing Path Opening Up, Bridge
Framed View From Top Framed View Through Vegetation Path Down Into a Cave
Views of Where You Came From and Glimpses of Where You Are Going
Terraces Going Up
Winding Paths Leading Upwards, Mountains Below, Skyline in the Distance
Machu Picchu
How can a hand sculpted model be translated into something feasibly constructible? How can the use of multiple software aid in this process?
From Immeasurable to Measurable
Imported Mesh from Gravity Sketch
Grasshopper Mesh with Flattened Base
1. Mesh x surface intersection curves
2. Rebuild curves and project down brace height
5. Connect original points on upper curve with centers on lower curve
6. Connect curves at each interval with the curves above
Surfaces were placed at z intervals (determined by desired bracing lengths) to find the intersection curve with the mountain mesh. This study explores a triangular structural grid that gets more dense as it gets higher from the ground.
sin(60)* (desired length) = height difference between surfaces
3. Divide curves to create desired brace lengths
7. Connect these to create a more articulated mountain form
4. Find the middle of those line segments
8. Combine vertical structure with curved outer supports
3D Printed Model of Structural Exploration
Machu Picchu Concept Development
Machu Picchu Concept Development
Structure Study
Woven Exterior
Flaring Arches
Weaving Paths
lessons from The Incas + culture of modern Peru + innovation and technology of Epcot
Amazon Spheres
Gardens By The Bay Cloud Forest
Atlanta International Airport Magic Kingdom
Conveying Essence Without Duplication
of the Original Architecture of Benjamin Franklin’s House and Print Shop
::Ghost Structures
Style
Machu Picchu
Journey to Machu Picchu
Ghost Structures Compared to
Materials Form
Common Bond Brick
Precisely Cut Limestone, Vegetation
Traditional Silhouettes
Ridge line
Journey to Machu Picchu
Spatial Relationships
Location on Site and To Each Other Winding Inclined Mountain Paths Ruins
Terraces
Weathered Rock Viewing Wells
From Jagged to Sinuous
1. Outline of Gravity Sketch Model
2. Rebuild Curves
5. Divide Curves and Connect Them
Imported Mesh from Gravity Sketch
Grasshopper Mesh with Flattened Base
When originally sculpting Machu Picchu in Gravity Sketch, I was trying to create as close of a copy of the actual mountain as I could. The resulting model, therefore, was irregular and jagged. As I began to develop what this attraction might actually look like in built reality, I realized that I wanted a smoother form. The design I envisioned would resembled Machu Picchu, but did not need to replicate every contour. In order to achieve this idea, I used Grasshopper to manipulate the model I hand sculpted. This allowed me to use the data from the fine detail I put into the model to inform the design, even though it would not be visually present anymore.
3. Divide Curves
4. Connect Points to Create Arches
WORKS CITED
Page 44
Disney. (n.d.) [Norway Concept Art]. [Image]. Retro WDW. https://www.retrowdw.com/pictorial-souvenir/wdw-concept-art-models/ epcot-center/ (n.d.). [Norway Pavilion]. [Photograph]. Google Maps.
Page 46
Disney. (n.d.) [Mexico Concept Art]. [Image]. Retro WDW. https://www.retrowdw.com/pictorial-souvenir/wdw-concept-art-models/ epcot-center/ (n.d.). [Mexico Pavilion]. [Photograph]. Google Maps.
Page 48
Iadonisi, B. (2015). THE “OUTPOST” AT EPCOT [Photograph]. Mickey News. https://www.mickeynews.com/talkingdisney/theoutpost-at-epcot/ Cheukiecfu. (2008). Refreshment outpost. [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cheukiecfu/2651187368/
Page 100
Osterman, S. (2019). [Dense Forest Path]. [Photograph].
Osterman, S. (2019). [Path Leading To A Clearing]. [Photograph].
Osterman, S. (2019). [Path Opening Up, Bridge]. [Photograph].
Osterman, S. (2019). [Framed View From Top]. [Photograph].
Osterman, S. (2019). [Framed View Through Vegetation]. [Photograph].
Osterman, S. (2019). [Path Down Into A Cave]. [Photograph].
Page 101
Osterman, S. (2019). [Views of Where You Came From and Glimpses of Where You Are Going]. [Photograph].
Osterman, S. (2019). [Machu Picchu]. [Photograph].
Osterman, S. (2019). [Terraces Going Up]. [Photograph].
Osterman, S. (2019). [Winding Paths Leading Upwards, Mountains Below, Skyline in the Distance]. [Photograph].
Page 108
The Kind Craft. (n.d.). [Traditional Peruvian Weaving Designs]. [Photograph]. The Kind Craft. https://thekindcraft.com/cusco-perutextiles-cttc/
Page 112
Partyhare. (2010). Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover. [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ partyhare/4915023024
Page 113 (n.d.). [B. Free Franklin Post Office]. [Photograph]. Trip Advisor. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60795d9874031-Reviews-B_Free_Franklin_Post_Office-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania.html
Cohn, M. (n.d.). Franklin Court ‘Ghost Houses’. [Photograph]. Icon Magazine. https://www.iconeye.com/design/robert-venturighost-houses (n.d.). [Machu Picchu]. [Photograph]. Peru.Travel. https://www.peru.travel/en/attractions/machu-picchu
