Portfolio 032915 indd jamie stephens

Project: To create a cubic volume, roughly 70’ x 70’ x 70’ within a site of your choice [that could use improvement] and that has preexisting urban connections. The average zoning is to meet a minimum 70% leasable space to 30% service and circulation.

View of North and West Facades

Urban Cube|New York City, Soho District Leasable Ofce Space| Retail Space | Urban Connection

This study model series is a combination of two concepts relating to “completing the box.” The first utilizes cutting a cube diagonally and continuing the square via linear structural elements, and creating a sense of protection. The second acts as though the square is made of something soft which is smashed and twisted around a fragile skeletal structure. The twisted triangular formations work together to complete the squares abstractly, In the end I housed the smaller, more skeletal within the protective structure.

Zoning Study

North

SITE

I chose to build in the Soho district in NYC because I have never had a project there, it has a great urban life within a short walk, and the site I chose was one of many parking lots in the area.

New York City, SoHo District

View from balcony into public gathering space below

Design Response: Although the best view is to the West, so is the most intense sunlight and noisiest trafďŹ c. In order to combat these, I set back the lower levels to keep pedestrians from feeling as if they are pushed against trafďŹ c in the gathering space, and allowed for deeper overhangs to help keep recessed oors free from too much ultraviolet light. I also created green areas away from the main gathering space under the building to create a more private garden in the back (with a visual link to the one across the street) as well as a triangular garden to the SouthWest.