7/30/2019 Architectural Postures http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/architectural-postures 1/36 a proposed education center of nature rock creek park washington, dc Thesis submitted to the faculty Virginia Polytechnic Institute 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
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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
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.
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.
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
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1. Proposed education center 2. Carter Barron Ampitheater 3. Tennis Stadium 4. Pierce Mill 5. National Zoological Park
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.
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.
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
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.
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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
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