Life in the Green

The Economic Assistance Center of San Francisco:

What: A center for those who have experienced unemployment in the recent economic times. Provides job search options, advising, a children's play center, and education facilities.

Why: This center symbolizes hope and provides opportunities for a renewed lifestyle when facing unemployment 

 These are two initial sketches indicating progress in thought process. The idea began using an outer skin to filter light and air flow.

 

Eventually the idea formulated into this image. The resulting skin is created as a "living wall" symbolizing renewed life and a personal "Garden of Eden" to struggling guests.

The green skin also:

1. Regulates lighting and shades the building

2. Grows edible plants to sell at the shop inside, providing job opportunities and revenue

3. Separates the crowded San Francisco city area from the calm atmosphere within the space 

<--- A view of the outdoor seating and eating area between the shading green wall and the interior portion.


A view inside the educational facility with views outside. --->

<--- And here we have the interstitial space between the two structures. The idea is that as one leaves the counseling spaces and proceeds to the educational facility, one exits the space of looking within and enters the spaces which are meant to guide them outward back into society (hence the extended views and openness). The interstitial walkway then becomes a symbolic icon.


Here are some other  additional studies on the space.

<--- 1. Light study done in 3DS Max.

 <--- 2. Study of the structure. San Francisco is an earthquake zone, taken into account with shear walls and lateral bracing

<--- Study evaluating the watering system for the living wall

<--- Elevational drawing done from Revit, to AutoCAD, to Illustrator

 

Transverse Section

And there you have it, a functional and serene space to provide the unemployed with a new outlook on life. Hopefully we can all find this sort of peace as we navigate the unpredictable world in which we live.

TWA Hotel

 *Drawings seen will be done using Revit, 3DS Max, Illustrator, and hand sketching


Today I am going to introduce you to the TWA HOTEL! This building, based in Kansas City, MO is an exclusive Jessica Symons 2011 design and fit for any traveler.

 

This is the exterior perspective of the hotel, flanked by its two adjoining buildings. The skin is designed to provided optimum lighting conditions. The most natural light comes through clear glazing, the least through opaque glazing, and mid-range effects as well.  Red patterns not only highlight TWA's bright theme color, but designate floors. The effect of these panels on the interior is magical...

Welcome to the interior spaces of the TWA! On the left we have the lobby entrance, showcasing a grand view of the street life as well as classy touches.

On the right we have a typical TWA hotel room, with all the magical lighting effects promised.

 

Here is one of the sketches explaining the structure of the space. The unusual shape of the building causes additional reinforcing to be required, provided by the shown structure and a reinforced vertical circulation shaft.

 

Features to note include the lighting shafts. One large shaft runs half the length of the building on the right-hand side and two horizontal ones run midway in the building, giving maximum natural lighting.

And here is the final section perspective, displaying the spaces in their entirety. 

Thanks for taking time to stay at the TWA hotel, we hope to see you again next time as we travel to...

The San Francisco Economic Assistance Center!

Seaton Redesigned

Here is a look at a team project which involved collaboration between 5th year students and 3rd year students. The project encompassed a full semester and focused on a potential redesign of the Kansas State Architecture building

Now presenting the video done on the project!

Here is the Perspective

The building meets LEED platinum

This helps understand the overall form

The key for this project, is asking the question "What can be learned from group interaction?"

1. How to be bold enough to speak your ideas and humble enough to let them be vetoed.
2. How to handle dissagreements in opinion
3. How to divide workload fairly and efficiently
4. How to communicate
5. Practicing leadership and followership

What are the benefits of this work environment besides what was learned above?

1. Having a 5th year in the group taught me so much that I would not have learned in class.
2. I got to know my classmates, and an upperclassman, who will soon have a real job in a firm, very well

To learn more about the process behind this project, to see more information, or for general questions, go ahead and post!

Inizio

Here begins a new world of architecture - JSarchitecture has finally made an online debut! Watch this space for new works of art and architecture from Jessica Symons. This is the architecture of today.