LYCEUM COMPETITION

ARCH DESIGN: SITUATE Spring 2022

DR. PETER OLSHAVSKY

FRIESENHAHN CAVE

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 6 WEEKS

This project is sited on the Friesenhahn Cave site outside of San Antonio which is owned and managed by Concordia University in Austin, Texas. The cave is one of the most important paleontological sites in the United States. My goal was to design a building that did not interrupt the boundry of the site. I used the Farnsworth house as precedent in creating a minimal footprint onto the site. Using the overlapping of themes I created a program that split the boundry of the cave into the present day.

SITE BOUNDRY: I was able to choose anywhere on the site to design, as long as it did not interupt the SPZ zone.

BUILDING PLACEMENT: I wanted to situate the building at the midpoint of the site and the cave entrance.

BUILDING CUT: This was designed to create views into the location of the cave entrance and a social space for visitors, students, and faculty to enjoy.

SUN PROTECTION: The roof of the building is split and angled to block the harsh summer sun in, while still letting the warm winter sun to enter.