Thesis

Investigation and Development of Architectural Process through the Adaptive Reuse of "Big Box" Architecture.

Abstract
Through the exploration of adaptive reuse of residual, no longer viable, commercial buildings in economically challenged urban zones develop an over arching guide and process upon which to base future architectural practice, solidifying design principles that have the potential to define specific approaches to architectural strategies and form making. The adaptive reuse of architecture, specifically "big box" architecture, in a form that captures and utilizes natural daylight, artificial light, and inspires the human spirit addresses many key issues prevalent in today’s practice and design discourses. The notions that the proper lighting of space effects its occupants is not new, but one that is very seldom maximized in the built environment that we occupy. In addition, the importance of recycling building products and materials is at a peak in the world today. The building industry is one of the largest contributors to the degradation of our planet. Adaptive reuse of buildings is quite simply the recycling of architecture.



fracture of rigid form
thin outlines of light
natural and artificial
of worlds on a journey
who grin at the day
to the evening breeze

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

parti: process post... in progress

over drawing - small training over large training over grid box

over drawing - large training over grid box

over drawing - grid box

program layers...



Monday, April 28, 2008

parti sketch: notebook

Current thoughts and direction to guide over drawing process.

existing sketch model

Base sketch model exposing underlying structure and applied retail fascade.





panaramic backgrounds for over drawing

Sequencial photos stiched together to form flat 2D panaramic space, documenting the existing conditions of the abandoned box.





Wednesday, April 23, 2008

"big box" : existing prototype

These are the prototype drawings for the grocery store chain that built the original big box volume. While this size of the box store is not to the scale of the more dominant super boxes of WalMart and Home Depots of the world, it does sit in the forgotten gap of vacated buildings and architecture between the urban center and the ever growing suburban development.





Wednesday, April 16, 2008

site analysis: location






site analysis: zoning


Note that the site selected is zoned as "vacant"

site analysis: land values



site analysis: over drawing


site analysis: figure ground


Simple figure ground study showing open areas and urban corridors.

site analysis: surface


Green surfaces compared to paved surfaces.

site analysis: axis


Vehicular and pedestrian axis

site analysis: access utilization

By compositing the axis diagram with the green space and surface paving diagram we begin to see how the site is accessed - mainly by vehicle. Customers arrive at the shopping center by car or bus and then move into and along the axis of the building facades.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

program: adjacency study

The symbol used to represent the dojo’s five principles of Aikido is that of the Japanese flower with five petals each representing a principle. The three lobes on each petal represents the Mind, Body, and Spirit. The outer circle represents the circular movements of the art of Aikido. The center represents the Aikidoka’s unification of these five principles.











program: mass comparison


Mass of the existing big box and juxtaposed with the adaptive reuse programmatic massing.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Sunday, April 6, 2008

program: descriptive

Masakatsu Agatsu “True victory is self victory”, Morihei Ueshiba “O-Sensei” Founder of Aikido

Program – Aikido dojo set within the large frame work of an open “big box” shell. The adaptive reuse of "big box" architecture, in a form that captures and utilizes natural daylight, artificial light, and inspires the human spirit. The spirituality of Aikido and its teachings embodied within an architectural form.

Aikido is a powerful and dynamic martial art used internationally by ordinary citizens, military, law enforcement groups, medical personel, and security organizations as an excellent means of exercise and self defense. Practioners worldwide enjoy this martial art not only for its defensive skills, but as a “Way” of internal training and development.

Aikido is a traditional Japanese Martial Art that stresses harmony of the mind and body. It is designed to control rather than destroy the opponent. It stresses the avoidance of inflicting injury and the peaceful resolution of conflict whenever possible. Aikido technique, though extremely flexible and effective, requires little physical strength to perform. It incorporates joint locking and nerve control techniques together with dynamic throwing techniques to control and subdue an opponent. The Aikidoka does not punch or kick to injure an opponent. Aikido does not block or resist attacks. It redirects and transforms the attacker’s energy through the use of movement and Ki (coordinated energy).

The dojo is named “Shinsuikan Dojo” which means school of the mind like water. This name represents the schools credo to develop a fluid, flowing mind through the practice of Aikido, the art of spiritual harmony. The symbol used to represent the dojo’s five principles of Aikido is that of the Japanese flower with five petals each representing a principle. The three lobes on each petal represents the Mind, Body, and Spirit. The outer circle represents the circular movements of the art of Aikido. The center represents the Aikidoka’s unification of these five principles.

Ai – Harmony (The principle of harmony and integration)
Ki – Spirit (Centralized, coordinated energy considered the energy of life itself)
Do – Way (The method, or “way”, a discipline and philosophy with both moral and spiritual connotations)

Shinsuikan Dojo – the name of the dojo Shin sui kan translates: A Place of Mind Like Water. It is inspired by the essay, “Mind Like Water”, written by Takayuki Mikami. His essay describes a philosophy that one should strive to achieve not only mentally, but physically and spiritually as well through dedicated training.

Shin – Mind or Spirit
Sui – Water
Kan – Place

- Aikido Student Handbook, Shinsuikan Dojo, USA Martial Arts Training Center