THE ART HARBOUR

Location: Mariachi Plaza, California’s 34th Congressional District, Los Angeles

Instructor: Ines Martin Robles, Luis Pancorbo

Project type: Community Artist Galleries and Studios

22S Arch 7020

Los Angeles is rich of its history and art, especially for the Boyle Heights neighbourhood which has a lot of Mexican residents. The art center which is designed for the Boyle Heights artist and residents can be seen an artistic place which can work for generating artistic inspiration for the community and foster interaction between artists and visitors. Based on the principle that the new building does not affect the flow of people in the site, this design retains a north-south pathway and an east-west pathway in the site. The building recedes to the northeast and southeast corners of the site. Building with reinforced concrete structure, the building itself is carefully treated on the structure, proportion of buildings and public spaces. Due to the climate of Los Angeles, first, the height of building could create shading on the surrounding public space areas which will be assigned as an outdoor exhibition area. For the environmental system, the mechanical ventilation system and heat pipes are used for this building.create shading on the surrounding public space areas which will be assigned as an outdoor exhibition area. For the environmental system, the mechanical ventilation system and heat pipes are used for this building.

Site Location

The site locates inside a neighbourhood called Boyle Heights. Within the California’s 34th Congressional District. The plaza next to the site is called Mariachi Plaza, which means a plaza for vagabond singer.

Urban Context

Los Angeles has a long history of immigration, due to historical reasons, the major ethnic group living inside the Boyle Heights neighbourhood is the Chicano groups.

There are a lot of murals around the site, which is a representative works of art of Chicano or Mexican culture.

Based on the principle of integrating architectural design with local original ecology and cultural and artistic life. The Following art types are traditional to the area and to the Mexican-American culture: textile art, murals, and ceramics. These arts have deep roots in the Ibero-American traditional culture.

A Guitar Corner Building

Shifting Grid Site Circulation Transparency

Mariachi VTG Global Guitar

Pickguard Treadrop Landscape

This design is inspired by the guitar of a mariachi, the form of the guitar is splited by the instrument itself and its treadrop. The guitar shape is transfered to the building and the landscape is inspired by the free shape of treadrop.

The building grid starts from a corner of the Maricachi plaza, by shifting it in a certain angle, the building grid is first set up.

In order to keep the original circulation on the site, and realize the diversion of tourists and working staff, the main entrance is placed facing the metro station, and the secondary entrance is placed at the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave and Vicente Fernandez Street.

Roof with dormer

5th - Ceramics Area:Clay Section, Glazing Area, Kilns Area

4th - Textile Area:Looms, Knitting Space,Dyeing, Spinning Wheels, Tools and Material Storage, Sewing Machines

3rd - Mural Area: Main Workshop, Preservation Lab, Paint Storage, Tools Storage, Cleaning and Maintainance, Visitor’s Studio

2nd - Art Library, Lounge and Dinning Area, Multifunctional Meeting Hall, Kitchen Facilities

1st - Lobby, Administration Office, Exhibition Hall

Exterior: Music Plaza /Outdoor Exhibition

4th Floor Plan

Based on the principle of integrating architectural design with local original ecology and cultural and artistic life. The Following art types are traditional to the area and to the Mexican-American culture: textile art, murals, and ceramics. These arts have deep roots in the Ibero-American traditional culture.