AR 102 ASSIGNMENT 2: A Canopy Design for EXPO 2015 Site

Aims:

-Appreciation of the relations between form and structure.
-Appreciation of the space hierarchy in terms of the organization of closed, open and semi-open spaces.
-Understanding of a simple program and its layout.
-Introduction of the proximities and ergonomics in design


Description:

You are expected to design the entrance canopy of EXPO 2015. Our target in this assignment is to design a structure, which a series of spaces for ticketing, security, information center and some other supporting spaces for visitors will be housed underneath.

Entrance has been always one of the most important parts of architectural design. To the visitor, it gives the first impression and becomes the most memorable part of the main building. Entrance can be thought at different scales: it can be a part of a building or a building complex as well as a sign of a site, a fair, a neighborhood, campus or an open park.

The scale of the design object defines the main programmatic relations that the entrance should accommodate. For instance, the entrance of a house is just a sheltered space that generally needs a simple storage unit for coats and shoes for functional reasons, whereas an entrance of a public building needs a prestigious look, a lobby space that is generally wider than the real functional need. Although the program is subject to change of scale and main function of the architectural object(s), the never changing character of entrance comes from the intensive relations with its site conditions.

In your AR 102 Assignment-2, you should consider these issues as integral parts of entrance design:

Firstly, the entrance should be easily physically and sensually approachable and welcoming. Although this rule seems as part of the basics, there are unfortunately many ill-designed entrances which can not be easily found or approached. Second, the entrance should be always in relation to a plaza, street, corner or other types of urban elements. So, from the point of urban design you are also expected to connect your canopy with some open and semi-open urban design elements, whereas you should consider the impact of artificial elements such as main vehicular access as well as natural conditions of the site. So, it is apparent that you will design a hierarchy of open public spaces interlinked with the canopy, while you decide about its character and how to solve the problems of access.

Your aim here is to design a structural system that reflects a formal language and a structural stability and balance.

The structure you will design is not limited with a certain type in terms of the material, structural principles, form or size. They are all related with your conception of the entrance. Thus, the main question you should answer is “what kind of an entrance is appropriate for EXPO 2015”. On the other hand, the given program requirements and the site conditions will affect the form and size of your structure design.

Since the given program includes various small sized units, it would be difficult to treat these spaces as totally independent from the main structure. Solving the above mentioned units underneath the structure would create an advantage on the way of creating unity in the overall design. For these reasons, you are advised to solve the functional units required in the program underneath the structure. However, the overhead planes of these spaces can be still thought as independent from the main body of the structure.


Program:

The entrance should be 18m. wide at its minimum—that is, wide enough for 2-way street with 2-lane. Its height will be determined by you but should be high enough to allow the entrance of, for instance, the fire trucks.
Beside the gate, the entrance zone will have 10 ticket booths, a space for security (10m2) and 2 WC-area (each section is 50m2 whereas both women and men section has 7 units and also 3 units for disabled persons).
Info center: 10m2

Phases.
Phase1. Site trip, site analysis, site model
Phase2: Site plan layout, main decisions about access from main road, the principles of space hierarchy
Phase 3: Structure and program
Phase 4: Elaboration form, structure, program and urban layout.

The Schedule:

WEEK 1:26.04/ Th.: Site visit by bus; Introducing the Design Problem
Lecture: Site analysis and design (Fatma)
Homework (HW): Group work—Site model for Mon.
Individual—Analysis and drafts for the site design

WEEK 2: 30.04/ M: Critics 1: Site plan layout, main decisions about access from main road, the principles of space hierarchy
03.05/ Th.: Critics 2: Structure and program

WEEK 3:07.05/ M.: Critics 3: All relevant points of the Critic 1 and 2
10.05/ Th.: Panel Critics

WEEK 4:14.05/ M.: THE FIRST-SUBMISSIONS (20%) DUE 14.05.2007/ Monday, 09.15am.
Critics 4: Elaboration form, structure, program and urban layout
17.05/ Th.: Critics 5: Elaboration form, structure, program and urban layout
àList of requirements for submission of the project (TBA at the course blog)

WEEK 5: 21.05/ M.: Final Preparations—No Critics!
24.05/ Th.: Final Preparations—No Critics!

ALL FINAL PRESENTATIONS (80%) ARE DUE 28.05.2007/ Monday, 09.15 am

WEEK 5: 28.05/ M.: JURY
29.05/ Tu.: JURY