architectural postures

7/30/2019 Architectural Postures

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a proposed education center of nature

rock creek park

washington, dc

Thes is submit ted to the facul tyV irginia Poly technic Ins t i tute and Stat

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for

Master of Architecture

Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center Alexandria, Virginia

June 2004

Robert D. Franklin

Susan Piedmont Palladino, Chair

Dr. Paul Emmons

Dr. Caren Yglesias

ARCHITECTURAL POSTURES



ABSTRACT

The human form becomes the bearer of mrevealing a cosmology within itself, appealin

of understanding the body and implementinginto architecture. The lessons found in the tecbody will assist in discovering an integral lotranslate in the design of the building. Liviinspire architectural posture that generate myideas. Architecture considered, in a veryreflects humans. I try to find a methodolognatural organisms, f inding the human bobeautiful and functional of all natural objects. begins to illustrate the innovation of the maemployed to a different type of solution toproblem. The truth of materials, and hoexpression of structure reflect the movement

“To me, there are two overriding priniciples tnature which are the most appropriate for buthe opt imal use of material, the other theorganisms to change shape, grow, and to mo

Santiago Calatrava



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank my committee for allowing me to expand enriching my experience at WAAC. Also

to thank my professors, and especially Jaan foanalagous commentary. You will be missed!

Many thanks to George, Alejandro, Victoespecially Natalia for assisting at the eleventheveryone else for befriending me, and makiease. My short but wonderful time at the memorable one.

Most importantly, thanks to my beautiful famiwho never once doubted my dreams.I love you all.



“My prinicples are devoted to spatial relationof materials, ambiguity between interior and

marriage of building to ground.”

Viollet-le-Duc



TABLE OF CONTENTS

introduction 1

site 2

exist ing si te conditions 3

program 5

process 6

design development 9

new site plan 11

floor plans 12

roof plan 15

transverse section a 16

planetarium study 17

transverse section b 18

longitudinal section 19

details 21

elevations 23

sectional model 27

renderings 29

bibliography 30

vita 31

Ralph Waldo Emerson Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.



INTRODUCTION

The story begins with a hypothetical fire thablistery winter day when a few hot embers the old stone fireplace and caught fire to the ecenter. Within a few moments, the building in flames and all that remained were masonwalls and the old stone fireplace. Many alternconsidered, but most sites meant disturbing Park Service has very strict regulations thafurther building within Rock Creek Park. Thereto reclaim the area where the nature centeThere were many reasons why I chose to reaccessibility of the site for school buses to infrastructure, reuse of the existing foundaretain the earth, and the old stone fireplace.

The building postures itself between old and minimal disruption to its surrounding environm

structure delicately touches the ground in a point load along an orthogonal grid slightly the original. The old stone fireplace will reand become the point of entry.

The new nature center will educate school visitors on the wildlife and forestry within RocThe building itself will become a tool for learnihonesty in materials and the expression of sinterior space is an open plan for optimal flexibup exhibitions. The planetarium is positioneend of the building, and its structure is ebuilding is meant to be a glass pavilion makifully aware of the forest of trees beyond.

1



SITE

Rock Creek Park is located in northwest WasThe park is the oldest and largest natural ly mpark in the United States. The core of Rock the creek, wildlife, and the forest of trees. Ttopography is gently rolling hills with a floobecomes more steeply sloped just north of thIt’s a place where people can reflect and sooththrough the beauty of nature.

GIS of Rock Creek Park

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1. Proposed education center 2. Carter Barron Ampitheater 3. Tennis Stadium 4. Pierce Mill 5. National Zoological Park

proposed site

2



EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS

The existing site is at one of the highest elgradually descends into the park. There arerock outcrops, a stream that flows into Roctrails that connect back to the park, and maoak trees that surround the site. All sights athe city are silenced momentarily by the surtrees that dance throughout the site. A senis reached within the hustling city where crowded houses and enter the landscape.

3



4

mature elm existing site elements to be removed

oak tree existing old stone fireplace and foundation walls to remain

large rock outcrops

natural streflows into R

elev.700’

elev.640’



PROGRAM

There are several main spaces within the natcenter:

1.live exhibition space -environmentprograms that demonstrate the park’sforestry.

2.tree top mezzanine -a separate mespace to contemplate man’s interrelanature.

3.library -dedicated to the park’s natucultural history.

4.planetarium -visitors can observe thnight sky as it would appear in Washi

The walls are glass to allow the visitors to be outside surroundings at all times. The soufacing elevat ions have shading devices tamount of sunlight admitted through the glathe materials include bamboo flooring, steeplates, curtain wall system, copper roofing, satimber, and an existing stone chimney. The seen as an extended path into nature with aamong the trees.

The simple structure anchors the building tosets the foundation for a simple plan to which add elements of interest.

5



PROCESS

6



preliminary site plan

preliminary

preliminary building

7



8

schematic south elevation

schematic section



DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

9



preliminary wall section 10



NEW SITE PLAN

11

The new site plan utilizes existing infrastpostures the nature education center with minito the site. A walkway extends to the parkin

building welcoming guests as they arrive. Thetowards the building and is able to see througto the trees beyond, revealing a layer of tragutter runs along the western edge of the walkrain water off the roof. Then, the rain wacollected, filtered and flows into Rock Creek educational tool for people to learn aboutmitigation. There is a reflection pool at thwalkway creating a place for meditation. Therof terraced outdoor classrooms radiating fromthat identify plants and flowers indigenous tPark. Also, new footpaths are created to conature trails that meander throughout the pa



GROUND FLOOR PLAN

1. planetarium 2. lecture hall

3. classrooms 4. reading area

5. library 6. mechanical room

1

2

3

3

4

5 6

12

the existing foundation walls are representedlines

0’ 10’

20’ 40’



PRINCIPLE FLOOR PLAN

1. entry 2. information desk

3. exhibition space 4. story telling

5. staff work area 6. observation deck 7. porch

8. reflection pool 9. terraced outdoor classroom

10. rock outcrop

1

2 3

4

5

6

7

8

3

9

9

9

10

13

0’

10’

20’ 40’



TREE TOP LEVEL

1. meditation space 2. planetarium dome below

3. staff work area below 4. exhibition space below

5. storytelling below 6. information desk below

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

14

0’

10’

20’ 40’



15

0’

10’

20’ 40’

ROOF PLAN



TRANSVERSE SECTION A

16



PLANETARIUM STUDY

Boulle’s Newton’s Cenotaph, and the Panthhow the planetarium wil l be constructed meaning is within the nature education cente

structures are translations of the relation betwcosmic space into architecture.

The planetarium serves as an astronomyallowing visitors to study the sky under ideThis will be the only planetarium in the nationaIt’s meant to stimulate and foster an interest stars. Although it is not the purpose of the programs to present a great weal th of ainformation, certain fundamental concepts athe fabric of each program, concepts which aproper understanding of the sky.With a dome-shaped ceiling designed to refplanetarium can duplicate the motion of tplanets. The Rock Creek’s planetarium will s

sky as it appears in the Washington, D.C.specific date and time of the program.

5 .

R

o m a n B u i l d e r s : A S t u d y i n A r c h i t e c t u r a

l P r o c e s s ( P a n t h e o n )

17 6 .

B o u l l e - N e w t o n ’ s C e n o t a p h



TRANSVERSE SECTION B

18



LONGITUDINAL SECTION

19



LONGITUDINAL SECTION

m a t c h l i n e

20



DETAILS

gutter detail

flashing detail at stone chimney

partial wall section

21



column and footing detail

column and roof beam connection

purlin and roof beam connection

22



SOUTH ELEVATION

23



EAST ELEVATION

24



NORTH ELEVATION

25



WEST ELEVATION

26



SECTIONAL MODEL

27



28



29



BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hearn, M. F., 1990. The Architectural Thele-Duc: Readings and Commentary. The

Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Torg, Lilla, “Exhibition: Santiago Calatrava”

Body and Building: Essays on the ChanginBody and Architecture. The MIT Press,

Massachusetts.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Emersons Essays

Baker, New York and London.

Taylor, Raubn M., 2003. Roman BuildersArchitectural Process. Cambridge UniveCambridge, Massachusetts.

Boulle: www.ar.utexas.edu/av/arc308/geo/

Rosenau, Helen, 1976. Boulee anArchitecture. Harmony Books.

30



VITA

Robert Daniel Franklin

[email protected]

Education: Master of Architecture Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ2005

Bachelor of Science in ArchitectureCatholic University of America 1999

Experience: PSA-Dewberry Fairfax, VA2005-1999

RTKLWashington, DC & Balitmore, MD 1999-1998

Awards: Interschool Competition-Honorable Mention2003 NAIOP Best Institutional Building-Ashburn L2002 Washington Building Journal-Honorable MenLibrary 2002

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