Sonya Feinstein 212 Portfolio

ARCH 212 PORTFOLIOSONYA FEINSTEINSTUDIO PROFESSOR: ELISA KIM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 Tensegrity Terrarium

7 Vertical Greenhouse

9 Site Info

11 Greenhouse Concept

14 Section

16 Floor Plans

17 Model Images

TENSEGRITY DIAGRAMATIC EXPLANATION

Professor: Elisa Kim3 ARCH 212

TILLANDSIA CAPUT-MEDUSAERather than receiving its nutrients through roots or a bulb in the ground, the bulb of the air plant is only used as a stabilizing element of the plant and the air plant receives its nutrients through its leaves. The leaves have small hairs on them which allow them to catch and absorb nutrients in the air. The bulb acts as a a keystone for the tensegrity structure.

TENSEGRITY BARSThe bars of a tensegrity structure are the units that give the object its shape. Each bar stretches the elastic string to hold a static structure without the bars directly interacting with each other.

TENSEGRITY STRINGSThe strings of the tensegrity structure are the vehicles that create tension. Using an elastic string called Bedalon, and stringing it through each bar in the pattern shown in the diagram, the structural bars are held in tension, creating a solid form out of seperate bars and a single thread.

TENSEGRITY TERRARIUMAir plants are unique in their ability to self sustain without a root system. In order to create a terrarium

which fulfilled the plants needs for humidity and indirect light as well as exhibit the air plants unique

qualities, I created a sphere using modular tensegrity structures. Tensegrity structures, like air plants,

are unique in their ability to self sustain. Each bar that makes up the structure of a tensegrity object, is

suspended using the force of tension, making it appear like each object exists independently as the air

plants do.



BIOIRIDESCENT VERTICAL GREENHOUSE1017 LAFAYETTE AVENUESOULARD

Site Map


SITE: SOULARD, ST. LOUIS, MOSoulard is the historical district of St. Louis. Originally populated by immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, and Russia, the area is rich in culture and history. Most well known for its big outdoor farmer’s market and classic tenemant style townhouses, Soulard in its more recent history has become a hub for young people with many restaurants, bars, and shopping venues. Soulard is also famous for its “Mardi Pardi” scene, having the second largest Mardi Gras in the nation.

NIGHT LIGHTMost light produced in the area of the site in the evening is produced by light from traffic, particularly in rela-tionship to the highway. Above is an exploration of the light produced by car traffic near the site.

The Bioiridescent Greenhouse is intended to create an educational environment using bioiridescent algae as a visual and interactive element of the building’s structure to create artificial starscapes in the center of an urban environment.The building will be programmed to have an inner and outer shell, creating two main spaces.

The outer space will be naturally lit by its surrounding translucent shell and will function mostly as a nighttime, observation-al space, the algae gaining its energy naturally from the daylight and glowing at night. The algae will be placed in a thin layer of translucent material that will cover the floor, allowing the algae to be activated by the vibration of footsteps across the space.

The inner space will be programmed in order for the algae to reverse its schedule, allowing the algae to be observed in classroom spaces during the day. To create an alternative night space during the day and day space during the night, the space will be illuminated at night and kept dark during the day, in order to reverse the glowing effect of the algae.

The daytime and nighttime programs allow the space to be multifunctional in nature and allow the algae to create a visual experience from the highway during the night while still functioning as an observable teaching element in the educational space during the day.

24 HOUR STARSCAPE


Obtains its glowing energy in 12 hours of light (during the day) and glows for twelve hours in darkness (during the night). It thrives in clean saltwater under temperate heat conditions. Glowing activated by motion. Bioiridescent algae often functions as a tool for environmental research; observing the brightness and longevity of the glowing period of the algae is a good indicator of the pollution levels in bodies of water.

BIOIRIDESCENT ALGAE


Section Cut

The greenhouse is to be entered through the lift in the shell on the west side of the structure. People are attracted to the entrance of the greenhouse by the glowing path of algae coming off from Lafayette Avenue. Once inside there is a view of the highway straight out the large open frame opposite the entrance, the algae path leading through the lobby and seating area to the large window. The circulation through the lobby, as well as the rest of the Greenhouse, is determined by the lit path created by the bioiridescent algae that is kept in pools of water within the floor plates. Glass walking paths are lifted up over each path, connecting the vibration created by people walking on the glass path to the algae, activating the glowing effect as the person walks over the glass. As the space is traversed, the observer can see the glowing path lit behind them and is intrigued to continue along the path. The path leads up to the second story, the main program of which is an open educational space and an atrium area. The path leads the person around the open observational atrium space, allowing the viewer to look out over the highway and view the juxtaposed lights from the glowing algae in the pools to the traffic running below. The path leads around the edge of the outer shell and back into the inner shell containing the educational space - pools of algae are kept inside the shell for classroom, daytime observation. The path continues to lead up the stairs to the top floor where a new layout creates a similar teaching/observation area. The lower level of the building contains two bathrooms and an office space as well as storage space. The circulation of stairs and an elevator shaft run through the center of each level of the building. Hanging vertical pipes support the stairs, the lightness of the stair structures allows light to pass through from the top level down to the lobby, allowing diffused light to enter the space without directly changing the nighttime conditions maintained inside the inner space.

CIRCULATION


First Floor

Lower Level Third FloorSecond Floor


Sonya Feinstein 212 Portfolio

Documents