I began this week by creating a new site model, again at 1″=60′ which is pretty much the largest I can make it and have it remain manageable and cheap to make. This time I carved removed the area where the wetland was to go and filled it in with modeling clay. Again I covered it with polyurethane so that I can easily move the clay around without destroying the paper base. The same building study was teleported to this model and worked into the site. Below are some photos of the new model:
This first scheme was inspired by the work of Stoss Landscape Urbanism (StossLU) and their Riverside Park proposal for New Bedford, Massachusetts. More info here: http://www.stoss.net/riverside.html
I also did some more site sketches and master planning:
Revised Site Sketch Overall
Revised Site Sketch Wetland 1
Revised Site Sketch Wetland 2
I focused mostly on the wetland area and postponed the building designs for now. I did the initial study in clay with the model, and then moved into scripting a elevated walkway to transverse the wetland. Essentially the walkway is composted of two pylons embedded several feet into the soil, sometimes above the water, sometimes below the water line. Spanning between these two pylons is a cross beam, and secondary crossbeams connect each pylon unit. The script then randomly (within certain parameters) changes the angle of the pylons. As the pylons spread apart, the area between them increases yielding a wider space along the walkway to serve as a gathering area. Conversely when they are bent together, the area becomes narrower and less likely to be used as a gathering space.
Walkway v1 3D
Walkway v1 Side
Walkway v1 Top
The above images are some preliminary script outputs using Bentley MicroStation. The next stage in the script process will be to respond to user input and site conditions and generate the appropriate configuration.
Finally, I had my pre-thesis book reprinted in hard cover with Lulu self-publishing service. They turned out really nice and were only around $30 (though there is a 2-week lead time). Below are some images:
