Advanced Design Studio 1Course # ARC 5814

Juan Torres

Fall 2011

Course DescriptionStudents complete an advanced-level design project through guided research, process and proposition. Students will direct their indi-vidual responses through a specific studio topic issued by the instructor. Students will demonstrate an understanding of theories and principles of design, practice and sustainability with demonstrated ability to synthesize and integrate these understandings.

Advanced Design Studio requires a working knowledge of fundamental principles of design, research, representation (manual and digital), building systems, structures, environment, his-tory, theory and ethics. The course is conduct-ed as a design studio intended for graduate ar-chitecture, interior and urban design students with emphasis on the role of research in design process and proposition through specific topics and issues proposed by individual instructors. It is intended to develop students applied theory, research and integrated design skills to an advanced level. Course activities will include individual and group exercises and critiques, in addition to lectures and seminars. Students will be required to present their work in progress to peers and faculty, and present completed work to a review jury of faculty and guest critics. Students will be released from class time, on occasion, to attend public lectures sponsored by the College.

Course Reflection

The first architectural studio course provided an opportunity to explore design in an education environment rather than a professional world. This opportunity allowed me to explore new ideas and methods of construction rather than simply developing a successful floor plan. It became less important that the project functioned most efficiently but rather that it investigated a new approach. For example, the living pods development of the project utilizing mobile pre-manufac-tured units to create the occupied space that the building attempted to question the future of living and how architec-ture, which had previously focused on an inability of evolu-tion of the building over time, would interact and adapt to a quickly changing world. As opposed to developing a floor plan that worked for the current user group and be obsolete with the new technology, lifestyle, or demographics, how could architecture become flexible to quickly and efficiently adapt to a changing world and changing demographics? Is architecture forced to be a permanent object or the frame-work for future development? Unlike any period in history, how we live and work is changing. Technology provides the opportunity to work, communicate, purchase, and play from anywhere on the globe. Populations have greater possibility to move and compete economically on a global level. How does architecture react to this new dynamic living and work-ing condition? How can a structure that is designed to stand for 50 years predict the technological and social changes throughout the lifespan of the building? As a response to these questions, I developed the idea of a dynamic architec-tural framework that does not inhibit but, instead, encourag-es change. As a response to the renovation of the Brewster Douglass Towers in Detroit, MI, I developed a uniform pod system of commercial, retail, residential, community, cultur-al, and municipal pods that can coexist and be replaced or rearranged to react to future changes in demographics,

technology, or culture. As the image and industries of cities change, it is this dynamic architecture that can react to it as opposed to being a remnant of a previous era or ideology. It is, therefore, not the functionality of the spaces I created but the framework in which it could exist. The building can, through minor adaption and reorganization, respond to the rapidly evolving work around it. Success of this building is not the architectural experience or initial programmatic development but instead the possibility of redefining how architecture can react to change.

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Site Plan indicating the 3 neighborhoods.

The project site consists of the existing Brewster Douglass Towers and the sur-rounding low-rise residential buildings. Due to their condition, the low-rise residential buildings are proposed to be demolished. The new site consists of three neigh-borhoods: Pod Tower high-rise neighborhood, a mid-rise Mix-Use Main Street, and a single-family residential neighborhood.

Pod Tower high-rise neighborhood

s i n g l e - f a m i l y residenTial neigh-

borhood

mix-Use main sTreeT

Douglas TowersCourse #ARC 5814

Assignment DescriptionThe redevelopment of the Brewster Douglas Housing Development is the renovation of the existing four towers and the neighboring structures. This project is an opportunity to consider collective housing design and the change to the American domestic lifestyle. Because of the height of the buildings, they stand s considerable landmark tow-ers. Therefore, the redevelopment of the buildings will also have a larger effect on the identity of the Detroit skyline.

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Project Site: Detroit, MichiganThe project site is located on the existing Brewster-Douglass towers.

Floor DiagramResidential

Studio Apartment

1-BedroomApartment

2-BedroomApartment

S

1

2

Commercial/Community

G

R

E

C

P

Gym

Community Meeting Room

Educational Facility

Public Balcony

Commercial Shop

Restaurant

M

Pod Locations: 104

Nakagin Capsule TowerArchitect: Kisho KurokawaLocation: Tokyo, Japan

Project Year: 1972

PrecedenT sTUdy Tower Pods

The pod design allows for the rearrangement of the building program and use as the city evolves and as the needs of the residents evolve. Each pod system is of uniform size and shape and, therefore, allow for the repurposing of the building from commercial to residential without alternations to the building structure. This also allows for the mixing of pod use, income, and family sizes on a particular floor.

Pod Arrangement

The building section indicates the pods inte-gration with the building stricture. The cor-ridor and existing elevator and stairs provide internal building circulation to the pods. The pods, however, have the opportunity to extend beyond the footprint and structure of the existing building. This allows the opportunity for multiple story pods as well as increased usable space in an individual pod that is not constrained by the building footprint.

Building Section

Exchangeability of spacesCapsule architecture designEach module can be attached or removed as requiredSmall spaces can be increased as needed by adding additional pods.

METABoLIST ARCHITECTURE:Mass Production for diverse new qualityRecyclabilityCapsules manufactured in a factoryStructure independent of living spaceAdaptable, Growing, and Inter-changeable Building DesignPermanent Core Structure (frame)Flexible Secondary Architecture (at-tached or removed as necessary)

Howeler + Yoon Architecture, Eco-Pods (Boston, MA)

Tower consTrUcTion

To allow for the use of the pod system, the existing build-ing construction needed to be adapted to accept these structures. The initial building construction was examined through historic photographs and addressed in the construc-tion procedure. The existing non-load bearing masonry facades were removed to allow for access to the pods (figure 1). To increase the ceiling height in the space, many of the existing concrete floor slabs were removed (figure 2). New structural elements are then added and tied into the existing concrete structural system to provide additional support (figure 3). The empty tower is complete without the use of the pods (figure 4) and shown with pods inserted (figure 5).

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 5

Figure 4

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Pod Systems

sysTems

HydronicPiping

Air Distribution

Outside AirDucted

(tempered air)

Each pod is a self-contained system for electric, information systems, heating, cooling, and plumbing. Each pod, therefore, has a dedicated service room that houses the air handling unit for the entire pod and these services are distributed internally to the spaces in the pod. The universal service room is connected to the building infrastructure (hydronic piping, main electrical service, etc.). This allows the pods to be rearranged without interrupting service and allows pods of differ-ent use or size be installed without changes to the overall building systems.

Each Pod is equipped with a universal structure system which allows for the pods to be inserted into any location on the building. This structural system designed to allow the pod to be installed in the tower and locked in place without permanent connections to the building. The existing building is fitted with steel beams which act as a rail system for the pods. Each pod utilizes a roller system that sits directly on the steel beams. once the pod is properly installed, the rollers are locked into place to the existing building.

Pod Structure

Tower floor Plans

The core of each building floor is the same throughout the building. This allows the function of each floor to adapt to the changes in the need of the building. Therefore, the residential pods (blue) and commercial office pods or public space pods (green) can be arranged as necessary.

1-Be

droo

mSt

udio

1-Be

droo

m

1-Bedroom Extended

2-Bedroom 2-Pod

Bedroom

Living

Kitchen

Storage

Bathroom

Building ServicesPod/Building Structural

Connection Detail

HVAC Distribution Diagram

0SCALE

5 10

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The Mixed-Use Main Street buildings use the same pod structure system as the neighboring Douglass Towers. However, these structures reduce the scale of the building and created a street front opportunity. This street front allows for commercial pods to have a public front. However, the pods structure system remains which allows for the relocation and arrangement of multiple pod types in each building.

Structural Axon. Image - Pod Insertion and Structural Framework

Building Floor Plan (Including potential Pod layout)

Building Elevation (Including Pods)

mixed-Use

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05 10 20 30 40 50 100

SCALE

Site Plan

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Potential modular room organizational patterns

Potential modular room organizational patterns

Potential modular room floor plan

residenTial

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The single-family residential neighborhood provides a less dense living environment for the residence. This building type allows different living arrangements, income, and family types a location in the urban environ-ment. The residential structure uses modular room systems on a permanent foundation. These modular residential room units can be organized and arranged to meet the individual family or resident’s needs and living styles.