February 20th, 2010 by
Alex Fortney |
Posted in
Milwaukee Innovation Center, Scripting, Thesis |
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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:
February 13th, 2010 by
Alex Fortney |
Posted in
Milwaukee Innovation Center, Thesis |
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I spent a good portion of Week 3 working on a scheme to fit my site plan. In the process I also created a larger scale site model (1″=60′) with the new elevated railway lines and study building.
Building Sketch 1
Building Sketch 2
Building Sketch 3
Building Plan Lower
Building Plan Upper
Greenfield Ave View
Overhead View
The above scheme features a lower area on the west hugging the elevated railway berm containing the production equipment, and an elevated 2-story glass truss box holding the office space. Services are contained in the solid pillars, with the eastern one also featuring the design gallery. The cantilevered portion over the commuter railway holds the cafe and lounge, open to the public, overlooking the restored wetland area and out to the lake.
Below are photos of the new site model. Everyone stopping in my room tries to turn the bridge, but alas, I glued it down. Duly noted for the next iteration: the bridge will turn.
And for those who have experience with Revit: I ran into a number of memory maximum issues with my model, so I divided it into many different worksets and turned off what I didn’t need to keep the model alive.
February 6th, 2010 by
Alex Fortney |
Posted in
Milwaukee Innovation Center, Thesis |
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I spent the majority of this week working on sketching some ideas for master planning the site. I have 46 acres, and obviously I am not designing a project totaling more than 2,000,000 square feet. The best position for the building is in the northern quadrant next to Greenfield Ave. I experimented with moving the diagonal railroad track (presently abandoned but will be used by the Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee commuter rail), but given the radial and slope limitations of railways I was unable to move it away. As a result I decided to keep the railway position where it is now, but elevate it.
Site Sketch 1
Site Sketch 2
The first two sketches were an attempt to locate the best building position. In both schemes I am extending Lapham Avenue east, and then have it turn south and cross a bascule lift bridge into Bay View.
Site Sketch 3
Site Sketch 4
Site Sketch 5
Site Sketch 6
The next four sketches continue to examine the potential road access and building location, as well as manipulating the railway.
Site Sketch Final
With my final sketch I feel I have reached some conclusions for site organization, including:
- Open a wide corridor under the railway viaduct, which will give people a better view (versus the present mouse hole) and create a green corridor extending east from First Street out to the Inner Harbor
- Create a dramatic gateway with the north/south railway, and elevate the diagonal railway to allow a 15′ passage below, the bridges will be a statement
- Remove the coal pile and return the area to a wetland, as it is not ideal for developments and would make a nice front yard to the WATER Institute and School of Freshwater Sciences (north of Greenfield Avenue)
- The Milwaukee Innovation Center will span the triangular area between the railways
- The area south of the MIC will have low-to-medium rise industrial and commercial buildings relating to the water and design technologies developed at the SFC and MIC
- First street will feature new commercial buildings and parking ramp for metro station
Below is an image gallery of the first study site model. The model was laser-cut using supplied topography, which I then coated with a layer of polyurethane. On top of the model I applied modeling clay, which doesn’t bond to the paper allowing me to reposition it several times until I came up with the pictured scheme. Scale 1″ = 60′
