Time to start designing

So after weeks of working with site analysis and precedent research, I can finally start designing!!! I definitely need to start modeling different transformative ideas in my site, basically putting both my site analysis and precedent research to good use. I stumbled across this stadium being built in China. The architects associated with the project are NBBJ.





The stadium has giant green walls that begin to blend in with the beautiful landscape. This leave the stadium pretty open to interact with said landscape. The way the diagrams are drawn inspired me to feel that these walls could fold back down into the earth, creating public space. This idea would work well in my site, allowing the public to reclaim some of the space that the stadium now takes up. During events, the green walls could fold up and become seating.





I begin to design Monday, after I work on my Urban Design Presentation all day Sunday(after the Ravens game).

Design Build Update

With all of my time being tied up in thesis, AIAS, and helping the center, my design build project has not been my top priority. We have completed alot of work on the project however, and plan to complete this by the end of the semester.


Different Prototypes


The first thing we have figured out is a framing system. Two L-section pieces of steel will wrap all four sides of the wall, forming a space in between them where the next structural system can fit. These L-sections will be drilled into the brick with a spacer in between them to provide a buffer. The second system is strips of steel that weave in and out of each other, forming a 6"x6" grid.






We plan on creating a paneling system that can attach itself to the steel mesh. This will be developed with grasshopper and through means of digital fabrication. We started working with thin sheets of metal, folding them at different lengths so that they start to tell a story of reflecting light and form.






Once we plug this into grasshopper, we can determine the length of each fold so that the following form, generated from someone walking up the circular stairs below, can be read on the wall.




We still have alot to iron out, but it is moving in the right direction.

Site Model Done

The finished site model is made from foam and museum board.

Site Diagrams From Afar

These are some diagrams of my site over a wide area. These have already been helpful as I can narrow down what my design parameters will be. I also see that there are certain responsibilities my site should respond too. I hope to do a more in depth study at a larger scale.