FINAL PORTFOLIO Minh Le ARCH 103 Spring 103
Mar 19, 2016
FINAL
PORTFOLIO
Minh Le
ARCH 103
Spring 103
2
Overview
1. Introduction and Site Analysis of Mission Bay
2. Project Proposals
3. Landform and Massing Studies
4. Final Proposal – Uchronian Garden
5. Afterthoughts
3
Intro to Mission Bay
Source: Google Map
4
Back-Ground: Created in 1998 by the Board of Supervisors as a redevelopment project.
Much of the land once was the rail yard of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company.
Also rich with maritime history, the Old Ship Yard Repair located at the
South-East corner of the neighborhood.
Now, the neighborhood has rapidly evolved into a wealthy neighborhood of
luxury condominiums, high-end restaurants and retail, and center hub of
the biotechnology research and development
The San Francisco’s new Mission Bay development project to transform the
neighborhood into “a mixed-use, transit-oriented development,” including
housing complex (range from affordable to high –end luxury), biotech
research labs and hospitals, restaurants and public open spaces along the
waterfront and Mission Creek.
Source: wikipedia.org , sfredevelopment.org
5
Significant Values and Attractions Visible and Connectable
6
The neighborhood is exposed to full
sunlight almost all day long, giving the
site area the sense of warm and open.
Major wind comes from the Bay, since
the majority of West wind reduces
down while passing through all the
structure of High Way as well as
UCSF campus, making the area
become a comfortable space/ place to
linger and/ or hangout.
Good to promote public space.
Sun Exposure / Wind Capacity
7
SF Urban Grown Rate
Mission Bay vs. Entire City
With all the housing project
being planned and proceeded,
the neighborhood will
welcome more residency, so
creating a gathering center to
bring community together can
help enhance the vitality of
the place.
Source: data.sfgov.org, jparsons.net, Esri
8
Source: data.sfgov.org
The neighborhood is in low crime rate,
with high cover of police and law
enforcement nearby.
This is a typical friendly and safe
environment, … good to host
community fairs, events that bring people
not only surrounding the area, but also
people from nearby neighborhood, such
as Mission, SOMA, …
Security
9
Project Proposals
Promoting the sense of community, prefer the idea of
Slow-Life , which focus on Nodes, pedestrians and bike
traffic.
Open , public space.
Access from Terry A Francois Blvd / Bicycle Route 5
Focus on the function of the Exploratorium museum
complex : learning and interacting.
Discovery.
10
11
Diagram of Program Relationship and Responses
12
Landform and Massing Studies
13
Landform
I started off with the idea of creating
the extending roof garden joining the
ground level open grass area.
Mimicking the shape of mountain and
terrain.
14
From that, I started to
incorporate the spatial
aspect into the landform
structure, with the ideas of
leveling, overhead roof top,
and access between levels.
15
Massing
To keep the consistency of
tectonic language between
the two structure (Museum
and Market), I experimented
with the same similar form
throughout the design.
The overall shape and mass is
mainly focused, instead of
details.
I want to see how spaces are
form when I out all the
“building blocks” together
16
South side view
The Museum complex is set to be higher
than the market , so visitors can visually
response back to the UCSF campus and its
biotechnology focus.
17
Museum is located at the East-end of the site,
taking main access from the Terry A Francois
Blvd and Bridgeview Way.
Also, its location near the waterfront is the
direct response to the Exploratorium at the
waterfront of Pier 15, as well as provide views
to the Bay and other attractions, such as
AT&T Park, or Bay Bridge …
18
Issues and Next-Step Approaches
While developing the form of the Market Place, I
decides to create 3 separate levels of shops/stalls
(underground, ground, and upper ground level)
with roof Garden on top.
However, this design came with the problem of
underground level retail shop doesn’t seem to
promote vitality. Also, the roof top Garden is not
easily accessible from shop owners.
So at the next step in my process, I
decide to only create one level of shop,
that easily and equally access from
ground level. The Organic Garden will
be placed at the center of the Market
structure, accessible by all owners, as
well as distinguished from the open
public space.
19
After working more and more on the
big idea, I found this arrangement
didn’t seem to response well to my
vision, which will be introduced in
the upcoming slide.
The Exploratorium is located at the
farthest point of the site to the UCSF
campus, whose works are displayed
at the museum.
Locating the museum at the end
near the waterfront doesn’t seem to
trigger the vitality for the Bay,
instead, it might only become the
beautiful view overlooked from the
top of the museum.
Public Garden tends to serve as the
resting, playground for the
community and the neighborhood,
but is located at the middle of busy
services : Market and Museum.
20
Uchronian Garden
21
Vision
“My project is about creating the center place of Sharing and Discovery”
In the last few weeks up to final, I focused mainly on the design
of the Exploratorium, since it requires a largest activity area and
programmatic space.
I recalled the first time I got to experience the magic of the
Exploratorium, the excitement of learning how things work and
physically making them work. In the design, I want to aim for
that notion of interacting and discovery that Exploratorium
brings to the visitors. It’s not just about merely hearing or
reading about those new things, but actually figuring out the how
and why they are like that.
I also wanted to tap in the idea of bringing people together to
share common interests, building up the sense of community,
“sharing the neighborhood.”
22
Final-Changed Program Arrangement
23
Market Place:
Located at the West-side, along the 3rd Street and Muni rail-road.
Feeding the neighborhood residents as well as the population from
the UCSF campus across the street
Exploratorium:
Located at the center of the site. Showcasing the work of the UCSF
biotech campus, serve as the metaphorically symbol of the
neighborhood : biotechnology. It is the focal point/ main focus of
Mission Bay.
Public Garden:
Located at the East-side, adjacent to Terry A Francois Blvd,
targeting the public access of pedestrians and bikers. Provide space
for community to hold events or collaborative projects. Potentially
become the extension of the Bay Front Park near the waterfront,
serving the bigger community need.
24
Program Responses
25
Site Plan
26
Neighborhood, Market at Your Service
The Market Place is located along the main
transit road: 3rd Street, to provide service to
the residents of the neighborhood as well as
the population from UCSF campus.
All shops and stalls are at the same level,
provide the equal access along 3rd street and
South street.
Multiple entrance run along to create smooth
and easy access into and out of the Market.
27
Organic Garden
Organic Gardens are surrounded
by the Market, accessible from
the shops and stalls by owners.
The Gardens sit within the
Market structure
distinguished from the Public
Open Garden nearby.
28
Leading to Journey of Discovery
The two structures of Market
Places form a walkway that lead
the pedestrians and wanderers to
the Exploratorium, located at the
center of the site.
From that, the visitors can start
their journey of discovering
science, design and biotechnology
and sharing/ interacting with each
other.
29
Inspiration
Since the Mission Bay had a rich Maritime History, and since the
Market is to serve the neighborhood, I want to the structure that
mimicking the shape of an anchor.
30
Exploring the Exploratorium
Inspiration: The overall form of the museum complex
is inspired by the form of the mechanical
gear wheel. It is the combinational
between engineer/ science and design,
link back to the program which aims to
“enrich all lives through science and
design.”
Set of gear wheel always interlock and
interact on each other making the whole
mechanism/ organism operates.
Its interacting nature inspires me as
well. The idea of connecting one gear to
another and creating the continuous flow
of motion is quite lovely.
31
Inspiration: The ads, on the right, came up to me one
day when I was waiting for Muni. It is
catchy and spot-on to me because the idea is
quite simple. It focuses on the letter O in
“explore” as well as urges people’s interest
and curiosity into visiting and experiencing
the museum exhibits.
Interesting things sometimes are things
that we don’t know much about. It is a part
of the discovering process; learning , then
sharing with others.
Since this ads really interests me, I decide
to base all of my main activity spaces of the
museum , such as Main Gallery, Exhibits
and Outdoor Garden Gallery, in shape of
the circle; because those places are “where
things get interesting.”
32
Early sketches of Space Arrangement.
33
First Floor Plans
34
Second Floor Plan
35
Third Floor Plan
36
Entrances
The main entrance to the museum is along
Bridgeview Way.
Accessible from the garage on South Street as
well as the Housing Complex at the north end
of the Mission Bay.
37
The second entrance is locate at the
center of the site, follow along the
diagonal-line path way formed by the
Market Place exterior Wall.
This entrance is for people from the
Market, or follow the Gene Friend Way
and Campus Lane from UCSF.
38
Main Gallery Space
Main Gallery exhibit located on the first floor level,
accessible directly from the front desk and guest
service area.
Has access up to second-level and third-level exhibit
rooms, and out to the Outdoor Garden Gallery area.
39
A Little Journey, A Delight Discovery
You are in the Main Gallery and you notice a
walkway up to upper level. You move toward
and get to the base of the ramp. You can feel the
weight of ceiling of the upper level. But the
window glass along the ramp give you sneak
peak of the outside world, and it excite you to
explore.
You decide to follow the ramp, with
every step up, the walkway is brighter
and brighter , and when you get to the
middle of the glass window, a new
world opens up in front of you, the
Garden below, the building complex of
UCSF campus. You have discovered a
new world, stay as you may and
reflect, or you can finish your walk to
get to next exhibit space, where new
attractions await to be discovered.
40
Outdoor Garden Gallery
Outdoor Garden Gallery is located on the west side of the
Main Gallery and can be accessible from there.
It is a hidden public space within the museum, overlooked
by all gallery exhibit.
It is purposely to be a more relaxed space, where people can
hangout, rest or reflect their journey of discovery
throughout the museum.
I want this Outdoor Gallery to be cover with grass, as in to
create a garden where can hold exhibition, special event. It
is the garden within a garden (the whole site).
41
Inspiration
Perot Museum of Nature and Science Morphosis
Source: archdaily.net
I got inspired by the idea of creating
this open area at ground level while
structure growing at the background.
It gives me the sense of resting and
relaxing opposing to the complexity of
the design and science.
Every discovery journey needs some
sort of stopping point in the middle to
reflex and rest, that is the reason why ,
I want to incorporate this open area
into my design.
An while the project is about the
Uchronian Garden, I decide to
transform it into a garden as well.
42
SF Bay Ecology Exhibit
Ecology Symbol
The SF Bay Ecology and Natural History
Exhibit is located at the South side of the site.
It is accessible via the ramp front the Main
Gallery.
The shape of the exhibit room is inspired by
the Ecology Symbol.
The two half circle in the middle is conversed
into small gardens, following the idea from
the Outdoor Garden Gallery.
43
44
SFMOMA Exhibit
The SFMOMA (Architecture, Design and Art)
Exhibit Room has the donut-like shape
surrounding a small outdoor garden, as to
symbolize the fact that Art, Design and
Architecture always hugging, protecting and
reflecting the community, society and culture.
The garden in this sense is the society and its
culture, while the exhibition room display the
work of Art and Design.
The Exhibit is located at the North side of the
side, somewhat respond to the importance of
North Arrow in Architecture.
The use of trusses and beams and structure
are also emphasized to praise Design and
Architecture.
45
46
Rooftop Outdoor Gallery
Located on the highest level, Outdoor
Gallery opens up the surrounding and
create the vista point from the museum
to other landmarks, attractions, such as
AT&T Park, Bay Bridge, the waterfront,
UCSF campus, Downtown at the far
distance… as well as overlooking the
Garden below.
Accessible only through Art and Design
Exhibit, it is intent to be the final
destination of the journey through Main
Gallery to the exhibit(s). There is no
direct access from the ground level,
because I want the visitors to pass by all
the gallery exhibits , and explore new
discoveries along the way before getting
to the final knot.
47
Amphitheater
Amphitheater is intent to serve both the
Exploratorium as well as the public. It is placed
and accessible from ground level and from the
roof-top outdoor gallery of the museum.
The stage area is pointing toward the old Ship
Yard Repair , as to add the little history of the
neighborhood into each performance. Seating
area overlooking the waterfront.
48
49
Inspiration
The Brown – Forman Amphitheater
Louisville Waterfront Park
Source: louisvillewaterfront.com
I like the idea of setting the amphitheater
seating area like this. People can sit and
lie down. This much space in between
provide comfort.
Also, cover the seating area with grass
will blend in with the landform of the
grass open public space at the East side
of the site.
50
Public Gardens / Open Spaces
Several Grass-Public Gardens are
distributed throughout the site to
provide resting area and meeting place.
The garden at the East side of the site,
adjacent to Terry A Francois Blvd, can
be ideally connected to the Bay Front
Park near the waterfront.
Potentially hold community events, like
Street Fair or Farmer Markets, …
Activate the waterfront by bringing in
the community.
51
Potential Projects
Columbus Circle Fountain
Source: pbase.com
Playground, active area Farmer Market or Street Fair
Source: 365thingsaustin.com
52
Perspective Vignettes
View from roof top Outdoor Gallery overlooking UCSF campus
53
View from the balcony at the Outdoor Garden Gallery looking at Exhibit Gallery
54
View from East-side Public Garden looking at the Museum Complex
55 View from the corner of 3rd Street and South Street
56 View from Amphitheater seating looking over the Bay
57
Post-Final Potential Development
The final presentation had got me some very useful feedback to develop my project.
The Amphitheater can be extending and take part/ merge into the museum. Complete
the full circle and open up the space as well as visual toward the stage.
The path way formed by Market Place to the Museum can be rearranged to start off
at the Campus Way side and run up to meet near the corner of Bridgeview Way and
South Street. It helps eliminate the necessary of two-entrance museum.
The Outdoor Garden Gallery on the ground level is a little isolated. Further
development can transformed it into the meeting place, speaker podium provided for
talks and “meet-up.”
58
Afterthoughts
First of all, I would like to say that this semester has been challenging and rewarding at
the same time.
I’ve never done a project this big of the scale, and along the way, I get to learn about the
new design approaches: land form buildings and massing study.
This semester, I experience some issues at home, and it’s kept me out of my focus. But with
all of the frustration it gets, I’m glad I still find time to do design. This project somewhat
kept me sane, so overwhelming and challenging as it gets, I’m glad I’ve been working on it.
Now at the end of the semester, I would have wished what I have more time. There are a
lot of things I would like to develop further; and I would definitely take Professor Lum’s
advice of developing the final project more, not just for my interest sake, but in the long
run, may benefit the learning process as well transfer planning.
I will also look more into Landform Building and Massing Studies of Urban Planning. They
help me experience architecture in a different way. And then also Kevin Lynch’s 5 city
element. I believe all the lessons I have learned and been introduced can help me greatly
in the future in my learning and creative process.
In short, not as much as I expect it to be, this semester has been productive and inspiring.