Student Health 101 Poster Contest

Now I know this isn't really architecture related, but in some ways it is. Student health 101 is an online resource Roger Williams uses for students. It has information about sleep habits, eating healthy, safe sex, bystander intervention and stuff like that. I always enjoy reading their posts when I get the monthly email.

They had a poster contest where they asked students to create a poster that would encourage students towards healthier habits. I ended up making and submitting two posters ( I wish I could have made more!)

The above is the first poster I submitted. I wanted it appear like a hand written list, because its about making lists as a way to stay organized, improve short term-memory, prioritize tasks and motivate yourself to get things done. I make lists for everything. I'll even make a list and write things down that I've already done just so I can cross them off! Having a poster like this hanging in a common area or designated study area in a dorm or classroom building on a college campus could help students who may be struggling with staying focused and on task. 

This is the second poster I created for the contest. I made this mostly because I love yoga. I started going to a yoga class here that was an hour long every Monday and Wednesday nights and it totally kicked my ass. Its such an amazing workout. And another thing that I love is Star Wars. When I saw this series of Star Wars Yoga images by Rob Osborne I knew I had to turn it into a poster that could be used to advertise the class. You can view and purchase Rob's prints on his etsy shop,  here at https://www.etsy.com/shop/RobOsborne

I'll find out on July 1st if my posters have been selected to continue to the voting round. I'll keep you posted!

-A

ONE Prize 2014: Smart Dock Competition

Brendon and I have decided to enter the One Prize 2014: Smart Dock International Design Competition! The competition involves renovating a Brooklyn Navy Yard into a green technology and sustainable manufacturing complex for Terreform ONE.  In this location ONE lab will create a new school for design and science, along with a public collaborative teaching facility with a public outreach center focused on socio-ecological design. The competition is open to anyone. There is a registration fee L but the grand prize is $5000 to the winning idea/design AND that idea/design will be used to create the actual space.

The project is quite complex, and asks for a pretty large program to fit into a relatively small area of space. What makes this project interesting though is that you can go above their listed program, as they are looking for ideas, not just an architectural design.

The project calls for the ONE Lab smart dock area to include spaces for lectures, events, individual design studios for 30 graduate students, as well as faculty offices and flexible areas.

Brendon and I started brainstorming for the competition the other night in studio. We went into one of the empty classroom spaces with some white board markers and started to break down the information given on the competitions website, http://oneprize.org/  . We also set up the projector in the room to view the building documentation, which you can find here http://www.mediafire.com/folder/2arpauf52oha9/ONEPRIZE-RefBaseFiles

 

This may look like a mess but this is actually how we both like to start off our projects when we work in studio. By writing everything out and sketching some ideas, we were able to begin understanding the project and its complexities. We decided that our best approach would be to fulfill all the program requirements, in an area slightly larger than what the designated spaces calls for as we will focusing more on the idea of what the space will be, not just its layout. We plan on going back into studio tonight and come up with some more focused ideas and concepts that we can form a design off of.

 

If you have some free time this summer you should consider entering! Entering a design competition is a great way to add to your resume and portfolio. Some of history’s most famous architects got their start by entering and winning design competitions, so it’s a great way to get your name out there! We’ll keep you posted on our progress working on the design as we go along. Submissions are due August 31^st, and we hope to complete everything a week before so we have time to fine tune and perfect the presentation boards. Feel free to ask any questions, we’ll keep you posted!

-A

Can you make this sad space awesome? Yes!

Today I will be submitting two of my entries for the Bright Lane "Can you make this sad space awesome?" design contest. The contest calls for submissions that transform this sad looking alleyway...

 

Into an awesome space! The alleyway is 12 feet wide X 153 feet deep, beside BrightLane's building located at 545 King Street West in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The alley is located between a 5 story building (on the left)  and a 1 story building (on the right).

Urban Farmers Market

 

My first design submission is transforming the alleyway into an urban farmers market. The width of the alley way allows plenty of room for local farmers, artisans and businesses to set up tables and stands and provide amply room for movement through the alley. The site location, set between two buildings allows for the attachment of an overhead covering. This covering will help give the alley way a better sense of human scale, and protect from the elements like rain and bright sun. It would provide shade and help keep the temperature cooler. The single story brick wall on the right side of the alley way provides a great canvas for a local artist, school or organization to create a mural that would celebrate and promote community, sustainability and health through eating fresh local food from the farmers market.

 

 

Public Green Space

My second design submission transforms the alley way into a public green space. Removing the asphalt paving that covered the entire 153 foot depth of the alleyway and replacing it with an open paver and grass system would advocate for the use of more pervious ground cover material choices in cities. This open paver system is permeable, meaning it would allow water to pass through it and into the ground, rather than become runoff on the surface (like the icy standing water you see in the alleys current picture). The single story building wall tot he right of the ally could be transformed into a living green wall. Not only beautiful, a living green wall provides nature in a habitat where it was previously removed, and helps to filter rain water and pollutants in the air. Similar to the living green wall, the right side of the alley way also features living plants. The arches on the street level are filled in with open core bricks that are then filled with plants and flowers. Over head lighting spanning 12 feet across the alley way provides a decorative element and will make the space welcoming in the evening. Flexible seating would be provided throughout making this space an idea place to go on your lunch break or just when you need a break from the city.

 

 

Both of these renders were created in Photoshop using the original photo of the alleyway as the background. I am also hoping to create one more submission, an urban outdoor green gym in the space.

 

Let me know what you think! Questions, suggestions, anything! I'm also posting all the photos that will appear on the blog to [rr]architecture's Pinterest account. Be sure to follow and pin!

 

-A