CAPROCK URGENT CARE CLINIC

Background

Students were tasked with designing an urgent care center for a vacant plot in the city of Huntsville, TX which would respect the needs of patients, the surrounding environment, and, to a degree, necessary building systems. Intially, research was conducted to determine important factors to consider in the design process. The result was an evidence-based research paper which recognised wayfinding, natural light, and biophilia as the foremost design elements this project would consider.

Design

The care center’s non-orthogonal V-shaped floorplan makes for a distinctive silhouette, inspired by the irregular borders of its site. The main entrance is set back inside this shape to give incoming patients a sense of safety, with the building “embracing” them while they wait in the lobby(pictured right). Each of the eight general exam rooms have wall-to-wall windows which frame the surrounding trees and environment— a feature that addresses the psychological benefits of nature explored during research. Additionally, the windows are angled to recieve minimal direct sunlight, which both aids in HVAC efficiency and patient comfort. Circulation is kept simple, with all rooms branching off a shared spine which spans the length of the building. This decreases the chances of patients getting lost— a scenario which can cause stress in a setting that may already be mentally taxing. General patient-related rooms are kept close together on the east side for convenience, while more urgent areas such as the minor operation room and ambulance entrance are isolated on the west to reduce foot traffic and maintain privacy. Exterior materials consist of tan brick with stone cladding for accent— a combination chosen to highlight the intimate relationship between the building and its natural environment. On the inside, laminate wood flooring is used in spaces frequented by patients to further tie back to nature.

Background

In many new housing developments, individual units are divided in a manner that discourages communal use and reinforces strict property boundaries. At its most fundamental, this housing project aims to solve this issue and create a neighborhood contained on a theoretical 200’ x 350’ property that fosters a sense of community among its residents.

Design

The site’s organization of living units is derived from a loose collection of overlapping grid lines, which serve to connect residences with one another both visually and physically— The angles of intersecting grids provide opportunities for smaller sub-communities on the site, which share central yard space as well as amenities like community gardens. The plot of this community consists of twelve separate living units which vary from 1-bed 1-bath up to 3-bed 3-bath. Units are periodically punctuated by extrusions in their envelope, which serve to break up the linear structure. The neighborhood draws from a limited set of modular low-rise plans, rotating and juxtaposing them with one another to create a sense of individuality. This approach keeps construction costs relatively low while allowing for a diversified residential experience.

On a more intimate scale, relationships between units become clearer. The sliding glass doors of each unit face towards a shared courtyard, framing it in a manner that makes each unit feel like part of a bigger space that encompasses every unit. Not only are houses connected by the shared contours of their design, but their circulation is even connected via the shared terrace that runs across the roof of units groups, which serves to encourage intermingling among residents and free up the roof of the buildings for social use. Through these features, these units form a functioning, lively community.

Fibbonacci Sequence Studies

Design

This project was intended as an exercise in volumetric organization of spaces, rooted in mathematic principles. First, a series of three grids were developed, inspired by the Fibbonacci sequence. These three sketches explore the spatial hierarchy associated with the sequence, and how the prominence of voids and solids can be used to stylistically define a work of art. These sketches were then used as a basis for the design of a three dimensional concrete sculpture measuring 12 x 12 x 12 inches in size. The fabrication of this sculpture was an excerise in of itself, with the course instructor allowing students to explore various different methods to cast the final product. Though multiple different methods were discussed, the final model was poured in a formwork of layered XPS insulation, which allowed for a sculptable yet rigid mould. The final product proved successful, with a characteristically linear texture that reveals the fabrication process.