Pinch Limitation
Architectural Tectonic • Structure Transformation
USC Architecture • Instructor: Maria Esnaola • Spring 2018
Project's Goal and Focus
The Pinch Limitation focus is interrogate the long span through the lens of flexibility and programmatic adaptation. It consists of three organizational proposals which investigate the idea of flexibility through the variation of certain plan typologies traditionally associated with exhibition spaces; a.i. the enfilade plan, the multiple corridor plan, the hypostyle plan, the open plan... On the other hand, the structural transformations will also investigate the fifth façade in its capacity to introduce and filter differntiated light into spaces.
Development Process 1 (DP1)
Precedent Study: Structural Efficiency and Structural Form
This first Development Process examines a specific type of vernacular architecture (Butler Structure) , the LA industrial long span building, which is characterized by simple forms, visually expressive structures, abstract ornamentation, functionality and above all, a strong rational basis to the building volumes and structural order. The LA landscape offers very diverse examples of the use of long span structures as the most efficient, economic and viable option. Structures with spans larger than 45 feet are regarded to as long span structures. Often they result in flexible, column-free internal spaces with great potential for sectional design and central light. Generally speaking, a precondition for achieving efficiency in a structural system is that the loads are transported to the foundations as directly as possible. In an “ideal world” this ensures the shortest and most effective force paths, and therefore contributes to keeping the weight down. Long span structures should be designed so that they work primarily in tension and/or compression. In fact, minimizing bending moments leads in general to an optimum utilisation of the structure and often results in slender and elegant shapes.
Development Process 2 (DP2)
Phase 2: Typological Explorations. The Fifth Facade
DP 2 interrogate the long span through the lens of flexibility and programmatic adaptation. It consists of three organizational proposals which investigate the idea of flexibility through the variation of certain plan typologies traditionally associated with exhibition spaces; a.i. the enfilade plan, the multiple corridor plan, the hypostyle plan, the open plan... The structural transformations will investigate the fifth façade in its capacity to introduce and filter differentiated light into spaces.
DP 2 produce transformations from the previously researched structural system (DP1) to propose a new plan/structural typology. Rather than associating flexibility directly with the open layout, the project repositions architectural flexibility as a typological problem resolved in its structural layout. Through a focus on the most familiar architectural notion of the “typical plan” vis-à-vis the program diagram, the project will question inherent flexibilities in various long span structural systems. This development will approach building type as one that has potential to transform with new uses and reference the recent history of architects, like 2, who thought about the building as an adaptable system of parts.
Development Process 3 (DP3)
Phase: Schematic Development _ Site and Program
The site will be the termination of a city block in the Arts District in LA. The area is currently undergoing mayor urban changes with Michael Maltzan’s 6th street bridge project already in construction, Herzog and De Meuron’s massive high rise proposal and the general tendency in the area towards a denser and higher built landscape. The horizontality of the proposal will react to the future vertical character of the site. The project will revisit the notion of the plinth and will explore new ways of producing permeability and blurring the limit between public and private in the city.
The intention is to ‘finish’ the block and propose a provocative alternative to the horizontal growth of the DTLA, while maximizing the identity of the Architecture Museum and Archive as a destination. The project will aim to give back a public space to the city. The site is a corner condition facing 7th St and Mateo St with almost identical proportions. One of the challenges will also be to react to the National Biscuit Company Building defining the Northern limit of the site. The site is consolidating as an active hub for new businesses, galleries (ICA LA) and office spaces that are converting old building structures (mostly industrial) into their homes.
Development Process 4 (DP4)
Phrase 4: The Chuck. Detailed Development Phase
Buildings are born naked and therefore need clothing. In today’s constructional technology, a facade is a thin mantle draped over the skeleton of the building, even if that facade is of stone. As buildings by their very nature are sited in public open space, their cladding inevitably expresses something of public significance. So it is crucial that they have the right cladding. This cladding has seams, buttons and hems, is pleated or composed of bands, sheets and lengths. These material qualities create rhythmic patterns that alter the geometry of the facade.
The project now look at the variety of factors informing the tectonic definition of the building: structural typology, material definition, site and programmatic adjacencies to develop a concept for the envelope. Facade work like coupeurs cutting made-to-measure suits for our structural systems. Emerging technologies will be studied alongside familiar techniques. Critically, one should view technology not as an overlay applied post-facto to enable an architectural idea, but understanding detailing as one more layer for conceptual development in design.
Final Development (DP5)
Precedent Study: Structural Efficiency and Structural Form
This first Development Process examines a specific type of vernacular architecture (Butler Structure) , the LA industrial long span building, which is characterized by simple forms, visually expressive structures, abstract ornamentation, functionality and above all, a strong rational basis to the building volumes and structural order. The LA landscape offers very diverse examples of the use of long span structures as the most efficient, economic and viable option.
Structures with spans larger than 45 feet are regarded to as long span structures. Often they result in flexible, column-free internal spaces with great potential for sectional design and central light. Generally speaking, a precondition for achieving efficiency in a structural system is that the loads are transported to the foundations as directly as possible. In an “ideal world” this ensures the shortest and most effective force paths, and therefore contributes to keeping the weight down.
Long span structures should be designed so that they work primarily in tension and/or compression. In fact, minimizing bending moments leads in general to an optimum utilisation of the structure and often results in slender and elegant shapes.
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