Mirador

MVRDV
Marius Hexan
Emily Koo

The Mirador residential housing project designed by Dutch location:

architects studio MVRDV in collaboration with architect madrileña Sanchinarro, Spain
Lleó Blanca looks to break the excessive uniformity of the typical
6 story doughnut shapped residential blocks with centralized date completed:
2001-2005
private courtyards plastered all over Spanish neighbourhoods.
primary program:
The building is an observatory of the frame and distant horizon. residential
Flipping the typical residential block onto its end largely frees up
the plot thus making it possible to transfer a portion of private land secondary program:
for the benefit of the collective social enjoyment; thus contributing community garden
to the generation of public space sought after by city demand.
primary structure:
Moreover, the large veranda at nearly 40 meters above the ground, concrete frame
offers residents a community garden and an outdoor space at a
height providing great views while maintaining a sense of private total floor area:
18,300 m2
space.
maximum building height:
The circulations in the building can be described as small vertical 52 m
streets. The transformations along each route make up and define
a series of small neighborhoods. The modulation and position of climate zone:
common voids, materials, textures, and colors lead to the defintion mild winters / hot summers
of each of the invidual nine little neighbourhoods within the min/max temp
building. 3 oC / 31 oC

Mirador is a collection of mini neighbourhoods stacked vertically

around a semi-public sky-plaza. The building acts as a counterpoint
against the massive uniformity of the surrounding housing blocks.
It frames the distant landscape of the Guadarrama Mountains
through a large ‘look out’ located 40 meters above the ground. Mirador Residential Complex - Sanchinarro, Spain
This also provides outdoor space and community garden for the
occupants of building, monumentalising public life and space.

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR
84
Ver tical vs Horizontal
With the typical residential Madrid block the resident is offered one of three possible experiences: one could either live in a double loaded corrider block
where you would either be given the choice of having a view of the interior courtyard or that of the public urban landscape, or one could live in a cross
ventilated unit block where you benefit from both the public and private views that such a block can offer.

Now MVRDV took the typical residential block and flipped it onto its end while maintaing the central community space. In this scenario, the community
space maintains its private characteristic as it is situated 40m above ground but now rather than being an inward looking courtyard it a viewing platform
overloking the fabric of the city below. Furthermore, the architect maintains the combination of views that the dweller may have while even diversifying it
over the typical block scenario. With the vertical block, dwellers experience either one side of the building, a cross ventilated unit with a virtual 360 view, and
a handfull of dwelling with an even more enhanced view that includes the elevated community garden.

Typical residential Madrid block with interior private courtyard

Proposed residential complex with incorporated community garden 40m above ground

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | CONCEPT

85
 Units with only one exterior wall Units with two exterior walls Units with two exterior walls + one giving out onto
community garden
PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | UNIT TYPES
86
 DISTRICT 9

DISTRICT 7
GARDEN
Completed project axonometric DISTRICT 8

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 6

DISTRICT 2
DISTRICT 3
DISTRICT 1

Circulation zones stairs Exploded axonometric showing the 9 different building Inter-zone circulation diagram stairs
zones
elevators elevators

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | CIRCULATION

87
 PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | PICTURES
88
West 57th Street
BIG
Tania Pilon
Caroline Pfister

As the housing market is slowly recovering from the economic struggles of the past location:
few years, luxury residential developers seem to rely more and more on a single strat- 625 West 57th Street,
egy: to build tall. The upper class is always inclined to pay a little extra to get the best New York City, USA
available option, and what is better than a penthouse with a breathtaking view? From West 58th Street
date completed:
a historical perspective, the urge to build upwards is nothing new. However, before

12th Avenue

11th Avenue
in construction
today this urge had always been restricted to office buildings in business districts. W57
scheduled to open in 2016
As of now, high-rise residential projects are being erected in every large American Helena
city, with one thing to sell to potential buyers: a view. New York City is no exception primary program: West 57th Street
to this trend, and Bjarke Ingels Group’s West 57 project is a good example. With its residential rental building
43 storeys, the residential tower will offer stunning views over the Hudson River, and Hudson River Parking
according to the architects, the form of the building “shifts depending on the view- secondary program:
er’s vantage point”. Even more so, every single unit has a bay window “to amplify the retail
benefits of the generous view”. Whether we agree or not as if view is so important
Hudson
(and whether it is true or not that the view is that spectacular from every apartment), primary structure:
River
West 57 project is definitely part of a movement that transforms a formerly industrial reinforced concrete posts and
Park
slab
neighbourhood into a high-density residential block.
total floor area:
If tall buildings provide nice views, they also have a lot more to offer. An important 985,000ft2 (gross square foot) Site Plan 1:4000
advantage of building upward is the possibility to combine different programs under
a single roof. In the case of West 57, the mixed-use compensates for the distance from maximum building height:
the city center. The building includes common areas such as a terrace and commer- 450ft
cial space. Occupants have everything they need within a single elevator ride. There-
fore living away from downtown becomes possible. People can easily commute to climate zone:
their work with public transit, and they go back home every night to a more peaceful humid continental
neighbourhood. The experience is still similar to living downtown, in terms of leisure min/max temp
and amenities, but there are less traffic jams and more parks. The same idea is at the -3 oC / 30 oC
core of the NYC Sky Farm Project: to create towers for living, away from work but
within convenient distance, and with immediate access to food, recreational activi-
ties and other services. Also, the developer Durst Organization is offering concluded
with the city that 20% of the units will be affordable housing for the first 35 years,
while reducing his taxes, it helps raising the comfort of less fortunate ones.

PRECEDENTS | WEST 57TH STREET

89
General Concept
A double sided analysis

Union of
the American the European Courtyard filled with veg- Optimized view of the Allows Helena’s view of Optimization of South
skyscraper and courtyard etation to link with the Hudson River the river (the developer of facade
Hudson River Park the building Helena is the
same as W57: The Durst
Courtyard raised to Organization)
second floor to use all the
ground floor for com-
merce anf the first floor
for parking

Due to the pyramid-like shape, they lose the Renders falsely advertise By supposedly optimiz- By allowing only half of In comparison to a
advantage of numerous units at the high levels a visual continuation of ing the view, awkward Helena’s good views to rectangular building of
unique to the skyscraper. the Hudson River Park, non practical spaces are be kept, it creates a huge similar height, W57 looses
the Park being too far created. inequity amongst Hele- much potential space and
The walls of the West facade, being brought down unaligned. na’s tenants, especially in results in a similar amount
to the level of the courtyard, loose of its function between residents of the of south facing apart-
of bringing sunlight normally blocked by higher The designed shape pro- same floor. ments. The large surface
walls and its feeling of inclusion. duces a large surface area area roof is pierced by
of un used roof that could some terraces while a big
is a missed sustainable part is left unused under
opportunity and would the bright sun.
have been a much better
green visual link to the
park.
PRECEDENTS | WEST 57TH STREET | CONCEPT
90
Program & Privacy

- 709 residential rental units Private

- 25-yard indoor swimming pool

- Gym
- Golf simulator
- Screening room
- Residents’ lounge

Nearly 300-car garage

25,000-sq-ft urban park accessible

to tenants only

4 retail stores
Public North-South Section 1:1000

PRECEDENTS | WEST 57TH STREET | CIRCULATION

91
Residential - A Typical Floor Plan

Being still under construction, the prices for the rent of the apartments
haves not yet been announced. NY Daily News stated that : “Durst thinks
he can push $90 a foot for the top-floor pads” which could total more than
$5,000 a month.

Price at Helena building (rent/month)

(neighbors and same developper)

Residence 4G = Floors 3-7 Typical floor plan - 4th Floor 1:1000

Northern exposures, home office, pass-through kitchen.
Studio / 1 Bathroom
$2990.00

Residence 20Q = Floors 12-33

Southern exposures, walk-in closet, pass-through kitchen.
1 Bedroom / 1 Bathroom
$3690.00

Typical 1 berdroom, 1 bath- Typical 1 berdroom, 1 bath- Typical studio 1:100

room apartment - A 1:100 room apartment - B 1:100

PRECEDENTS | WEST 57TH STREET | TYPICAL PLAN

92
Commercial

The ground floor is open to the public. The

four retail stores (1 of 27,000sf, the others
ranging from 875sf to 4,500sf ) use the perim-
eter space for better visibility while the center
is used as accessory parking, the main parking
being at the the first level and only having a
ramp of one lane for two directions. W57 has
also left an alley at the back to easy go from
West 57th Street to West 57th Street where
there is a large public parking area right in
front of W57.

1 lane - 2 directions

Retail 1

Retail 2 Retail 3 Retail 4

Ground Floor 1:500

PRECEDENTS | WEST 57TH STREET | CIRCULATION

93
Circulation

Path 2
- Drive through the alley from
the 58th to the 57th.
- Turn right and then imedi-
ately turn left into the public
parking.

Path 1
- Enter throught the accessory
parking doors.
- Wait in line until the ramp is
Vertical Circulation : free to go up one floor. Automotive Circulation
Elevators & Stairs - Park your car.

Path 2
- Enter throught the east side
entrance on the 58th
- Walk to the elevator and go
up 35 floors
- Enter your beautiful apart-
Path 1A ment
- Enter throught the central
entrance on the 58th
- Walk to the elevator and go
up two floors
- Enter the Courtyard and Path 3
enjoy a walk in nature - Enter throught the east side
entrance on the 57th
Path 1B - Take the elevator and go up
- Enter throught store (retail 1), eight floors
shop around - Enter your beautiful apart-
- Walk up two flights of stairs ment
- Enter the Courtyard and
enjoy a walk in nature

Circulation By Foot
PRECEDENTS | WEST 57 STREET | CIRCULATION
TH

94
Structure
Posts and slabs in reinforced concrete

Actual state of construction of W57

Image by Wade Zimmerman

PRECEDENTS | WEST 57TH STREET | CIRCULATION

95
Daylight & Facades

South Elevation 1:1000

Oriented South-West, the perforations of the roof

create private terraces flooded by sunlight which
then naturally illuminate the apartments through
their glazed doors and windows.
North Elevation 1:1000
As we can also see, each apartment facing the
This facade as well as the East facade has courtyard is all glazed as well and has one balcony.
a much more restricted access to sunlight However, the Southern facade of the courtyard, thus
and of the praised river view. Described facing north, is a glazed single hallway accessing
by BIG as a “fishbone pattern” these bay South facing apartments.
windows and balconies are glazed on
the largest side that could be oriented
Note that the site has a slit tilt of the North arrow but that the triangulated protrud-
towards the river and sunlight, or so they
ing edges perfectly orient themselves with the cardinal points.
say. Therefore the North facade orients its
glazing west, and the east facade orients
Also, the builing being parametrically design has influenced the outside look by
it south, leaving a smaller solid wall
adaptting at any changes to stay with the “fihbone pattern” and the rest of the de-
facing east but where sunlight is blocked
sign.
by surrounding tall buildings, and facing
north in the other facade’s case.

PRECEDENTS | WEST 57TH STREET | DAYLIGHT

96
Sustainability Aspects

The initial goal was to achieve a LEED Gold certification. Even if in the end the developper decided not to go for a certification, the project is still designed and constructed with the highest environmental standards in mind.

Here are the main sustainable aspects of the project:

The surface of the building is punctured by green The general idea is to extend the adjacent greenery All units have a large bay-window, allowing for
roof terraces, which helps reduce the urban heat of the Hudson River Park into the West 57th devel- optimal daylight and natural ventilation. This helps
island effect. opment, with the courtyard acting as a park inside reduce the energy consumption.
a high-density residential block.

PRECEDENTS | WEST 57TH STREET | CIRCULATION

97
 C C T V B U I L D I N G , B E I J I N G . O M A .

T VCC B
u il d in g
Ser
vic
eB
u ild
ing

CC T V B uilding

M edia Park

98
S C A L E CO M PA R I S O N

415 m

301 m

234 m
215 m

99
 Ad M
m ul VI
in ti P
is -B Ar
tr us ea
at in s
io es
n s

Pr
og
ra
m Ne
Pr ws
od
uc
ti
on

100
Br
oa Ca FU
dc nt N
as ee Ar
ti ns ea
ng

Pa VI
si
rk to
in rs
g ’ L
oo
p

101
 Visitors
Staff
VIP
Actors

Canteen F48 M ult i-Fun c t ion n al

Hall F49

S p a c e s
L e i s u r e
Staff Loung e F09 Canteen F09

t o
A c c e s s

Canteen F01 Ac tors’

Loun ge B02

102
 40

10 5 20
20
20 10
10 20

5 5
5

10 20 10 10

Zones of different stress intensities

Adjusted diagrid reflecting

Exploded Building Structure the atual stress pattern

103
Kitagata Housing
Kazuyo Sejima (SANAA)
BASHAR ABDALLAH
BERKER EROL

location:
Kitagata Apartment Housing Project is a social housing master- Giku, Kitagata, Japan
plan in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, commissioned to Japanese archi-
tect Arata Isozaki who coordinated four women architects to exe- date completed:
1994 - 2000
cute the project. This case study focuses on the building which is
developed by SANAA under the design lead of Kazuyo Sejima.
primary program:
apartment housing
Sejima’s approach to the social housing is remarkable in the way
it extends beyond the banal and omits repetitive typology of secondary program:
apartment housing. The building is a composite of modular units urban renovation
piled on top of each other as a randomized mosaic. In addition to
providing natural cross ventilation, the openings in this mosaic of primary structure:
modular blocks give glimpses of the landscape behind. concrete slabs

The building is raised on pilotis to make space for the parking total floor area:
6290 m2
level. Its footprint is a hook which accommodates an intimate
courtyard used as a service space for leisure and playground for
maximum building height:
children in the housing complex. The circulation is kept simple
with exterior corridors connecting every apartment on different
floors and each corridor to the ground level. climate zone:
humid subtropical climate
min/max temp Kitagata Housing by SANAA
8 oC / 31 oC

PRECEDENTS | KITAGATA HOUSİNG

104
 C D

Kitagata Housing Project A

Ambitious urban development by four women architects B

A Kazuyo Sejima / SANAA

B Akiko Takahashi, Takahashi Architects
C Christine Hawley, Christine Hawley Architects
D Elizabeth Diller, Diller + Scofidio & Renfro

PRECEDENTS | KITAGATA HOUSING | CIRCULATION

105
 5m 10m

First floor plan

PRECEDENTS | KITAGATA HOUSING | CIRCULATION

106
107
108
 T B D J

D B T J B J B B J D T

D T

D B B J T T B B J T J B B
D J B B T J B B T
D D
D

B B J J D B B T

T B D J J B B J B B D T T D

D T

D J B B T J T B B J B B D T B B J T D T B B J

D D

T B B B B D J T B B

J D B T J D D T J J T B B

D J B T T D B B J J D B B T B B T J J B T

D D

T B J B B D B J T J B T D J B B

D D T D J B T

B B J J B B T

T B B D J J D T B B T D D D J B B T

T D B B J
T D J B B D T B B J J B D T T B J

Modular configuration of the units | D : Dining kitchen , T : Terrace , B : Bedroom , J : Traditional Japanese Room

109
 Configuration diagram of units.
The type of unit corresponds to a specific color.

110
 Structural diagram

PRECEDENTS | KITAGATA HOUSING | CIRCULATION

111
 Elevator shafts

HVAC shafts

Facility diagram

112
Sun path diagram in Gifu Daylight analysis

113
 Interior circulation diagram Interior of a typical unit

114
Ventilation diagram Diagram showing the cross-ventilation throughout the building

115
 Diagram of perforations

116
Exterior circulation diagram

117
 M

W
O

C
D RO
BE
O OM
DR
BE
O M
RO
I NG
LIV

H EN

C
I TC

IR
C
K

U
LA
TI
O
N
CE

CO
A

RR
RR

ID
TE

O
R

Isometric of a typical unit

in relation to the exterior circulation

118
 location:
Lille, France

date completed:
2013

primary program:
housing

secondary program:
offices & retail

primary structure:
concrete slabs and walls

total floor area:

9,800 m²

maximum building height:

35 m

climate zone:
warm and temperate
min/max temp
2 oC / 24 oC

L’Arboretum
Coldefy & Associés Architectes Urbanistes
Charles-Olivier Rocray
Kamilla Jolicoeur

119
 Office Tower
The “Arboretum” in Lille is the fruit of a
competition orgnanized by the city to
revitalize the Porte de Valenciennes, a
disconnected neighborhood, cut off
from the city by railways, highways,
and a train station. With the whole
area, previously occupied by old social
housing units, being built anew, one
of the main goal of the project was to
Housing Towers
create a coherent neighborhood that
would connect the many part of the
city surrounding it. With that in mind,
the architects (CAAU) decided the
Arboretum should have 3 main pro-
grams: housing units, retails, and offic-
es - with a special care paid to the pres-
Retail Ground Floor ervation (and cohabitation) of nature.

Programmatic Axonometric

Neighbourhood Site Plan

NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM

120
 washroom washroom

bedroom 1 bedroom 4

washroom
cellar
washroom

walk-in
entrance

kitchen

bedroom 3 bedroom 2

living room

balcony 2

Two towers, connected by a bridge (both interior and exterior)

are accorded to the 68 housing units of the Arboretum. The main
facade is facing south, with almost every appartment having a 2
or 3-way view. The north facade is more sober, and gives access to
a backyard garden.

Bottom Floor Plan Typical Housing Unit Top Floor Plan Typical Housing Unit

PRECEDENTS | ARBORETUM | PLANS

121
 balcony

The 6800m2 of office space are

occupying the west tower, which
is tilted to follow the angle of the
boulevard it looks upon. Although
juxtaposed to the housing units,
it does not in communicate in
any way with them, and remains
independent.

elevator

0 2 5
1 3

balcony

Typical Office Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan Office Tower

PRECEDENTS | ARBORETUM | PLANS

122
 The retail stores are only accessi-
ble from the ground floor, from
which one can also access the
housing units, and offices. Just like
the housing units, the retails do
not communicate with the offices.
In most of the cases, the retail
space is double height allowing
flexibility for the tenants.

Ground Floor Retail Plan

PRECEDENTS | ARBORETUM | PLANS

123
 Typical Floor

Ground Floor

PRECEDENTS | ARBORETUM | PLANS

124
 Section

Vertical Circulation

PRECEDENTS | ARBORETUM | CIRCULATION

125
 Module Housing Housing
Offices North Facade
60 x 85 South Facade

All the facades of the buildings are based on a single module. creating unity inbe-
tween the different parts and functions of the building. Another unifying charac-
teristic of the Arboretum is the double exterior facade on the south side. It allows
for balconies in the gap space and outside space protected from the boulevard. It
smoothes the inner facade composed of single and double height appartments.

PRECEDENTS | ARBORETUM | FACADE

126
Nexus World Housing
Steven Holl
Philippe Saurel
Sarah Pradel

This block of 28 apartments is part of the Nexus World housing location:

development a project for middle-income families in the Kashii Fukuoka, Japan
district of Fukuoka, the provincial capital of Kyushu, Japan. The date completed:
master plan for the development, which aimed to find a new ur- 1989-1991
ban “life style”, defined an urban block with twin 120 meter high
primary program:
towers at the center and individual blocks with a maximum of five
residential units
storeys high around the perimeter. The overall plan of the towers
were designed by Arata Isozaki, along with one local architect and secondary program:
renowned non-Japanese architect such as OMA and Steven Holl retail
Architects. As an experimental project, Nexus World set out to pro- primary structure:
vide a wide variety of different dwelling types and to explore the concrete bearing wall & column
possibility of a new urban housing. In connection to the High Line
total floor area:
in New York City, the success of this project lays on the participa-
4250 m2
tion of multiple minds together, focusing on the central element
to rethink the urban environment. maximum building height:
17 m

climate zone:
cool and temperate cllimate
min/max temp
3 oC / 10 oC

Image 1 : Facade view

http://www.stevenholl.com/project-detail.php?id=36&

PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING

127
Site
Urban Development

Location Site Plan with main urban streets

PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING| SITE

128
Site
Day lighting

10°

20°
30°
June 21st
40°

50°

60°
70°
80°

W E

December 21st

S Sun Path Diagram Day Light Condition

PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING | SITE

129
Concept
Void and Space

Steven Holl Architects’ Building explores the experience of space

rather than form. It follows the curving edge of the street on the
south side of the urban block. At the ground level, retail units have
a continuous façade on the street side with covered courtyard-like
spaces at the rear. On the upper-floor levels this arrangement is
reversed to afford the apartments maximum sunlight. These voids
are flooded with reflecting pools to preserve the emptiness and
assert their presence through shimmering reflection on the sur-
rounding surface, both inside and outside the apartments.

PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING | CONCEPT

130
Circulation
Passage Through Space

Access to the apartments is on the north, inside the block, via ex-
ternal staircases with a central access gallery on the first floor and
an open access gallery on the top level.

PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING | CIRCULATION

131
Circulation
Passage Through Space

The experience of the journey rather than an efficient use of space

determines the design of the circulation spaces; as well as the pro-
vision of external front doors, views across the water courts and
north side voids from the lower-level walk way, a sense of a “pas-
sage through space “.

PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING | CIRCULATION

132
Structure

Columns

Crane System to support the staircases

Bearing Concrete Walls (45 cm thick)

Columns to support the reflecting pools

PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING | STRUCTURE

133
Program

4th Floor

3th Floor

Residential

2th Floor

1th Floor

Ground Floor Retail

PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING | PROGRAM

134
Units

Exterior Cirulation
Interior Circulation

First Floor Second Floor Third Floor

Typical Unit Floor Plan 1:200

Longitudinal Section 1:500

PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING | UNITS

135
Units D
DI

The 28 housing units are divided into 18 variants of five types:

D
DL
I
L = L-shaped plan
I = Straight plan
D = Double level
DI = Units Interlock in plan and section
DL = Units interconnecting different court spaces L DI
I

DI DL
DL

I
DI DL
PRECEDENTS | NEXUS WORLD HOUSING | UNITS D L

136
Ivry-Sur-Seine Housing
Jean Renaudie & Renée Gailhoustet
Véronique Demers
Hagop Sarian

The Ivry-sur-Seine housing building was the result of the col- location:
labroation between Jean Renaudie and Renee Gailhoustet. This Paris, France
brutalist conctruction is conglomeration of 8 buildings that
spread in the downtown area of Ivry-sur-seine. In an attempt date completed:
1969-75
to reinvigorate the city, the two architects tried to redifine the
idea of housing in the city. With its massive scale, the Ivry com-
primary program:
plexe organically integrates with the urban fabric, bridging over residences
streets and providing multiple uses over multiple levels. It blurs
the boundary between private and public areas and while giving secondary program:
each appartment a patch of land. offices and stores

Despite the building’s massive size, it appears very welcoming primary structure:
from the street. Each residential unit has its own terrace where cast-in place concrete
the vegetation florishes. Seperating the open spaces into triangu-
lar terraces, Gailhoustet and Renaudie were concerned with the total floor area:
2000 units
residents of their creation. Influenced by the modernist philoso-
Avg. Floor area per unit = 70m2
phies of “Team X”, they came up with a design that opened a new
15000 m2 Commercial
horizon for the developement of social housing. As the architects 10000 m2 Offices
prefered the differenciation of the spaces to a more multifunc-
tional space, they created a housing complex that is still relevant maximum building height:
in our modern age. 27 m

Nowadays, the Ivry-sur-seine building is still full of vegetation. It climate zone:

is a perfect example of how man can live with nature even in the warm and temperate
city. Instead of a communal open space, each person living in the min/max temp
building has access to a little piece of land, where they can grow 2.5 OC / 30 OC
there own vegetables. Even though every appartment is distinct
unit, the vegetation blurs the boundaries between them and
creates a beautiful landscape. In a time of hyper densification of
cities, the ideal of being able to grow one’s own food in the city is
still possible!

NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | INTRODUCTION

137
Floor plan
1:250
N

Units specifications
1 bedroom x 6 units 35m2
2 bedrooms x 2 units 50m2
3 bedrooms x 9 units 70m2
4 bedrooms x 1 unit 90m2

Total area of the floor 1300m2

10m

PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | PLAN NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM

138
 10m

10m

NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | UNITS

139
 2 Bedroom
1 Storey Unit
Interior : 81 m2

Detailed Units Exterior : 150 m2

1:100

2 Bedroom
1 Storey Unit
Interior : 81 m2
Exterior : 150 m2

3 Bedroom
2 Storey Unit
Interior : 162 m2
Exterior : 154 m2

3 Bedroom
2 Storey Unit
Interior : 162 m2
Exterior : 154 m2

PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | DETAILED UNITS NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM
140
 Triangular Grid
Past usage of Grids

Grids are often used by architects to help them organize

space, maintain consistent spans for structural and econom-
ic effeciencies. Most grids are square or rectangular. Some
buildings break with the main grid in certain locations and
employ a secondary grid to deal with programmatic require-
ments.

However, more daring architects organize their plan with

different geometries. There are triangular grids, hexagonal
grids, circular grids, etc. Frank Lloyd Wright always used a
grid to organize his plans, successfully using numerous geo-
metric shapes. The triangular grid was often used as symbol
of architectural revolution by breaking free from the ubi-
quotous rectangular grid. It was believed that the triangular
grid was a path to utopia.

The Ivry-sur-Seine Housing uses the triangular grid to help

realize its utopic ideals on urban architecture. The building
chooses to integrate seamlessly with the urban fabric, bring
nature into the city and mix functions and social classes at
multiple levels. The triangular grid helps to achieve these
goals by breaking free from right angles to have a more
free-flowing building. The building masses can shoot into all
directions, as seen by the triangular units and terraces. The
triangular grid allows it to sprawl across the urban land-
scape, hosting shops and communal spaces on its ground
floor.

In addition, a triangular grid improves efficiency in lateral

and vertical load resistance. Triangular grids are also more
suited to pre-fabrication and mass-production.

NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | TRIANGULAR GRID
141
Wind Analysis

The dominant winds blowing on Ivry-sur-Seine come from the

South-West. We analysed the Housing designed by Renaudie and
Gailhoustet to see if the remarkable shape of the housing had any
effect on the impact of the wind.

First, we calculated the fenestration to wall ratio on the South-West

facade. The usual recomended value for a standard building is 40%.
The Housing on Ivry-sur-Seine has a ratio of 67%, which exceeds
the recommended value.

Also, we looked at the impact of the terraces on the facade. Indeed,

we assume the terraces, which are covered with plants, act as a
wind barier. In this case, the vegetation does act a weather damper.

Even though the terraces are on the South-West facade are not
significally larger than on the other ones, the irregular geometry of
the building might end up mitigating the undesirable effects of the
wind.
Dominant wind

PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | WIND ANALYSIS NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM
142
 Sun Analysis

As the sun can be a important factor on the energy consumption

of a household, we conducted an analysis of the impact of sun on
the south facade of the housing building. Again, we looked at the
fenestration to wall ratio, which is 46%.

This value approaches the usual 40% recomended for energy

efficient buildings. Also, even though most of the terraces are
not directly in front of the window openings, the terraces create
shades on the building throughout the day, thus acting as a natural
temperature controller.

South illuminance

NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | SUN ANALYSIS
143
Vertical Circulation Circulation path

Circulation is primarily vertical with short stretches of horizontal circu-

lation. This activates the verticality of the building, allowing a seemless
transition between public and private spaces at different levels.

The public programs, such offices, retail and community centers are
closer to the ground and the residences rest above.

PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | CIRCULATION NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM

144
 Apartment level Apartment level
Private Private
2 level apartments2 level apartments
Reduced commonReduced
space common space

Street level Street level

Public Public
Retail stores Retail stores
Offices Offices

NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | CIRCULATION

145
Horizontal Circulation

Public space

Due to the erection of multiple shafts, horizontal circulation is cen-

tered around them and stripped to a minimum. There is no longer the
need to have long corridors on each floor as most of the horizontal
circulation would occur on the ground floor. When multiplied up to 9
floors, this constitutes a significant spatial gain for private residents.

Each unit can therefore benefit with more usable area for interiors and
terraces.

5m

PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | CIRCULATION NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM

146
 Site Plan

The housing complex sprawls across the

urban fabric, bridging over multiple streets
and nesting in 4 city blocks. It encircles other
buildings and reconnects with open green
spaces. It creates its own landscape and net-
work of plazas, courtyards and agoras.

NYC SKY CONDO / URBAN FARM PRECEDENTS | IVRY-SUR-SEINE HOUSING | SITE

147
Vanke Center
Steven Holl
Ariela Lenetsky
Manon Paquet

Vanke Center is a “horizontal skyscraper”, hovering over a tropical garden location:

(1), that is as long as the Empire State Building is tall. It combines in one Shenzhen, China
architectural entity the headquarters for Vanke Co. ltd (largest real estate
developer in China), office spaces, apartments, and a hotel. Underneath date completed:
2006-2009
the exterior public space are a conference center, spa and parking.
primary program:
The building structure is propped up high on eight legs or cores (2). The mixed-use building (hotel,
decision to float one large structure under the 35m height limit, instead offices, serviced apartments,
of several smaller structures designed for specific programmatic sections, public park)
was triggered by the hope to create views over the lower developments
of surrounding sites to the South China Sea, and to generate the largest secondary program:
possible green space open to the public on the ground level. From the
underside of the floating structure sunken glass cubes, the “Shenzhen
windows”, offer 360-degree views over the lush tropical landscape below. primary structure:
A public path (14) covers the entire length of the building and connects “cable-stay” bridge technology
merged with concrete frame
through the hotel, and the apartment zones up to the office wings.
total floor area:
Because the horizontal building floats on a higher level it allows sea and 1,296,459 sqft
land breezes to pass through the public gardens. The landscape was in-
spired by Roberto Burle Marx’ gardens in Brazil (5), and contains restau- maximum building height:
rants and cafes in vegetated mounds, bounded by pools and walkways. 35 m
The colourful glow of the undersides of the structure floating above en-
hances the user experience while walking on the paths. climate zone:
warm and humid
As a tropical 21st century vision, the building and its landscape integrate min/max temp
several new sustainable aspects: The Vanke Center is a tsunami-proof 13 oC / 32 oC
hovering design that creates a porous micro-climate of freed landscape
and is one of the first LEED platinum rated buildings in Southern China (4).

(1) (2) Vanke Center Cores and Exteriors - © Iwan Baan

PRECEDENTS | VANKE CENTER

148
 Site, Nature and Environment Early Design and Inspiration
Maximization of Views
Inspired by a drawing and works of Roberto Burle Marx, the
NTAIN VIEW landscape design of the park aims to create both an physi-
MOU
cal public space with a micro-climate and a playful architec-
ture-nature relationship with the volumes playing above,
connected by cubic cores.

(5) Drawing by Roberto Burle Marx

IEW
KEV Lake
LA
Mountain
OC
EA
NV
IEW
25m

(3) Concept Site Plan and Surrounding Views

The concept behind the massing design of the Vanke Center relies on its intricate
relationship with the landscape. Its is thought as to maximize the views towards the
outside (3) and offer the widest sight possible.

Green Horizontal Skyscraper

NATURAL GAS
350

300 PURCHASED
ELECTRICITY NC VERSION 2 PLATINUM
250
SS: SITES 13/14
200 WE: WATER 5/5
150
EA: ENERGY 16/17
MR: MATERIALS 5/13
100
EQ: INDOORS 13/15
50 ID: INNOVATION 5/5

0 POINTS/POINTS POSSIBLE
J F M A M J J A S O N D

MONTHLY ENERGY USE IN THOUSAND KWHS LEED SCORES

(4) LEED Classification and Green Data tropical plants
pool

Solar panels, water conservation cycles, energy collection methods and other di-
verse sustainable strategies have allowed the building to obtain Platinum LEED cer-
tification, first major “green project” in China. (6) Landscape and Volumes Organization

PRECEDENTS | VANKE CENTER | CIRCULATION

149
 Program and Atmospheres
Zoning in the Entity

OFFICES
APARTMENTS

HOTEL

(8) Lower Level Conference Room

(7) Volumetric Organization of Programs

access cores

As a result of the uncertain economic context during the construction, the building was designed with inherent flexibility. Even today, while the structure
is essentially complete, the client remains unsure as to the precise allocation of space. Three potential accommodation types (7), however, have been
identified. A hotel occupies space at the north-eastern end of the site, where the elevated figure descends to the ground, with a condominium at the
centre of the principal range. An element called SOHO comprises larger-scale live-work units and Vanke’s own offices occupy the two-pronged range at
the plan’s south-western extreme. A lower-level located underneath the green public landscape (11) combines a spa, parking spaces, a conference center
and an indoor swimming pool. (9) Open Levels as Buffers for Program Zones

VANKE SOHO CONDOMINIUM HOTEL

possibility for
programmatic boundary

25m
SWIMMING POOL + SPA PARKING CONFERENCE CENTER

(10) Typical Program-neutral Hall

(11) Longitudinal Programmatic Section

PRECEDENTS | VANKE CENTER | CIRCULATION

150
 LENS OPEN TO ABOVE (D)

Circulation and Privacy Linking the programmatic elements together is ‘a semi-public path’ that
threads its way up through the building’s linear plan (12), providing a
“Semi-Public Monolithic Path” VANKE

sequence of contrasting spatial experiences. Li Hu says: ‘Along this path

LIGHT FROM THE SIDE (B) visitors will experience constantly shifting treatments of light.’
In what Hu refers to as a ‘monolithic tube’, it is this path that brings spec-
TUNNEL OF MORPHING TYPOLOGIES (C) VANKE CAFE
CENTER ificity (13). When close to the base, the path is lit from below. When close
GYM/COMMUNITY
CONDOMINIUM
SPACE to the perimeter and roof, the path is lit from the side and the top. And,
BUSINESS
CENTER
when locked in the middle of the section, definition is given in a more
LENS OPEN TO BELOW (A)
HOTEL
sculptural way, creating a conduit that the architect rather vaguely de-
HOTEL RECEPTION
scribes as ‘the tunnel of morphing typologies’.
SOHO

(13) Four Typologies for Lighting Design

LENS OPEN TO ABOVE (D)

LENS OPEN TO BELOW (A) LIGHT FROM THE SIDE (B) TUNNEL OF MORPHING TYPOLOGIES (C) LENS OPEN TO ABOVE (D)

VANKE

VANKE CAFE
CENTER

(12) Nodes and Traversing Path

semi-public path

LENS OPEN TO BELOW (A) LIGHT FROM THE SIDE (B) TUNNEL OF MORPHING TYPOLOGIES (C) LENS OPEN TO ABOVE (D)

(14) Semi-public Path across the Floors

PRECEDENTS | VANKE CENTER | CIRCULATION
151
 Levels and Flexibility
Standard Plans for Various Purposes

(15) Detailed Second Floor Plan

10m

FIRST FLOOR THIRD FLOOR FOURTH FLOOR FIFTH FLOOR SIXTH FLOOR
THIRD FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
FOURTH FLOOR

FIFTH FLOOR SIXTH FLOOR

(16) Schematic Floor Plans

The abundance of social spaces — and Holl’s intuitive understanding of how to reconcile the desire
for community with the need for privacy — is as true of the parts of the building devoted to offices
SMALL MEDIUM LARGE
as of the park. The floors themselves have none of the monotonous corridors we expect to find in a 50 sqm 70 sqm 200 sqm
conventional corporate building. Instead one space opens onto another, with small clusters of cu-
bicles interrupted by glass-enclosed meeting rooms where workers can retreat for privacy. At each
turn, views open up to the nearby mountains or down to the beautiful coastline.
Although the flexibility of program demanded requires a neutral physicality in the organization of
rooms, one can notice three patterns of units: small, medium and large.

PRECEDENTS | VANKE CENTER | CIRCULATION

152
 Details, Facade and Construction
An Innovative Structure

tension

compression
(17) “Cable-Stay” System

Construction of the floating structure required several new construction techniques

and technologies such as hybrid construction technology. The structure combines
both column-and-beam concrete systems and cable-stay bridge building technolo-
gy (17). This eliminated the need for trusses, allowing large spans and unobstructed
façade views.

Structural Transparency and Materiality

The flexible steel membranes are enclosed in steel tubes to minimise the vibration effects and carry a load of
3,280t. They become apparent in some parts of the building (18). The façade of the building is designed with
perforated aluminium, porous louvres and double low-e coating glass. It protects the building against impact
of sun heat and wind. The building has 26 faces with each having its own elevation, which allowed determina-
tion of the fixed and operable louvres for maximum views and daylight penetration.

(19) Detailed Cross Section showing Program Node and Apparent Frame
10m
(18) Concrete Frame and Visible Structure

PRECEDENTS | VANKE CENTER | CIRCULATION

153
Unité d’Habitation (Housing Unit) of Marseille, aka Cité Radieuse, the Radiant City
Architects: Le Corbusier, with the collaboration of Shadrach Woods, George Candilis, Nadir Afonso (painter-architect)

Crystal Lee
Eric Seo
Nancy Serag-Eldin

location:
Marseille, France

date completed:
1947-1952

primary program:
housing

secondary program:
retail shops, commercial offices, educational facilities, public spaces

primary structure:
column based structure, reinforced concrete
béton brut (rough-cast concrete)
pilotis – reinforced concrete stilts

total floor area:

35873 m2 (386,130 sq. ft.)

maximum building height:

56 meters
Figure 2: Marseille, France located on the Mediterranean.
climate zone:
Mediterranean climate with mild, humid winters and warm to hot,
mostly dry summers.
4 °C (39 °F) in winter and 29 °C (84 °F) in summer.

min/max temp
4°C / 29°C

Figure 1: Unite d’habitation, “Cite Radieuse”, Marseille, France.

PRECEDENTS | UNITE D’HABITATION

154
Overview

The Housing Unit was dubbed the “vertical garden city”, which makes it a good case study for our design
project. It was designed to be a self-sufficient unit, as if the building was a city within itself.

It is a rectangular tower block, approximately 150 meters long by 30 meters wide and nearly 60 meters tall.
It was aligned north-south so that the length of the building could enjoy unobstructed views of the Med-
iterranean Sea on the west side and the cityscape of Marseilles on the east. It offers a mixed-use program,
the primary component of which is housing; the other services being retail shops, commercial offices, edu-
cational facilities, social gathering spaces, and much more, for a total of 26 separate services.

It is comprised of 12 residential floors for a total of 337 apartments that can house 1600 people. There are
several apartment types. The most popular type is the 2-story duplex which Le Corbusier called “the du-
al-aspect, E-type apartment”. Each of these units has a mezzanine level as well as a double height space. You
could either “enter from the level below and find the main bedroom on a balcony over the living room… or
its opposite variant with the double-height living room/bedroom and small upstairs entrance/dining room/
kitchen.”

These duplexes are stacked in a staggered pattern with their adjacent apartments such that every two
apartments sandwiches the corridor between them on the middle level. Hence the corridors are only found
on every third floor, and run through the center of the floor level for the length of the building. These corri-
dors acted as the “streets in the air” between neighbors for this vertical city. Every apartment stretched from
one side of the building to the other, allowing for access to nature and beautiful views from both sides.
Figure 3: Unite d’Habitation is located south of Marseille, with a view of the Mediterranean
Sea to the west.
There are 2 communal floors at half height, which provide the residents with places to interact with one an-
other. This includes a two-story shopping area that extends along the length of the building, a social gath-
ering place, laundry facilities, commercial and retail services such as shops, medical offices, a children’s art
school, a hotel, an architectural bookshop, catering, and a restaurant called “Le Ventre de l’architecte” (The
Architect’s Belly).

The roof also serves an important social function. It was designed to be a terrace and a vital space for com-
munity activities. There is a covered gymnasium, a 300-meter running track, an outdoor theatre, a swim-
ming pool, a children’s play area, and a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea and the city of Marseille.

The housing block in Marseille was a tremendous success when it opened, and proved very influential in
housing design, particularly in the Brutalist architectural style. It remains popular to this day. Its current
residents are predominantly upper middle-class professionals.

Due to its popularity, Le Corbusier designed four other similar housing blocks throughout Europe. “To dis-
tinguish the buildings, this original building in Marseille, France, is now called the Radiant City, and known
in French as Cité Radieuse”. The other Unités were built in Nantes-Rezé called Unité d’Habitation of Nantes-
Rezé in 1955, Berlin-Westend in 1957, Briey in 1963, and Firminy in 1965.

It is important to understand Le Corbusier’s vision and design concept, in order to appreciate the overall
building design as well as the finer details.
Figure 4: Unite d’Habitation address: 280 Boulevard Michelet, 13008 Marseille, France

PRECEDENTS | UNITE D’HABITATION | OVERVIEW

155
Concept
Inspiration
The inspiration behind this building is the
ocean liner of the 1950’s.

Le Corbusier was fascinated with steam-

ships and ocean liners of his day. He
felt that steamships were a “harmonious
fusion of private and communal space, of
form and function, of design and technol-
ogy, of man and machine.”

“[They] had a profound impact on how Le

Corbusier viewed architecture. He was in-
trigued by a ship’s ability to be both func-
tional and beautiful.” In this way, he saw
them as being the symbol of 20th century Figure 5: The Normandie. Le Corbusier often voyaged on this ocean liner. Figure 6: The ventilation stack on the roof mimic a ship’s smoke stacks
design. They simultaneously represent-
ed the ultimate in superior engineering
and the height of luxury and hospitality.
Hence, ocean liners were the perfect ma-
chine for living.

Ocean liners could carry several thousand

people at a time, the equivalent to the
population of a small town. Hence, they
could be used as a model for high-density
living and are like “self-contained cities
wrapped in a sleek and elegant package”.

By looking at the size and length of the

tower block, coupled with particular ele- Figure 7: Long horizontal windows resemble a ship’s gallery windows and portholes Figure 8: The corridors, or interior “streets” are similar to the corridors of a ship
ments such as the pilotis at the base, the
repeated rows of horizontal windows, the
long corridors tying together neighboring
apartments, and the sculptured ventilators
on the roof, all of these elements physical-
ly mimics unique elements of large cruise
ships such as their sculpted hulls, the
portholes and gallery windows, the long
corridors to access the cabins, and the
ship’s tall smoke stacks respectively. Resi-
dents standing atop the roof of the Unite
could easily imagine themselves being on
the deck of a ship as they look out towards
the Mediterranean.

Figure 9: The Housing Unit is shaped like an ocean liner, long and narrow. Figure 10: The massive 8-meter tall pilotis imitate the shape of a ship’s hull
PRECEDENTS | UNITE D’HABITATION | CONCEPT
156
PROGRAM

PROGRAM:
Swimming Pool
Children’s Play Area
SURROUNDED BY GREEN
Gymnasium
Nursery School
Solarium
Open Air Theater
Running Track

INDIVIDUAL UNITS

PROGRAM:
Residential Units
PARKING

PROGRAM:
Hallway

PEDESTRIAN SELF-CONTAINED PROGRAM:

COMMUNITIES
24 unit Hotel
VEHICLE ACCESS Restaurant
Laundry
Bakery
Butcher
Salon
Pharmacy
Real Estate office

CITY PROPER RESIDENTIAL 85% 30492 m2

The GARDEN CITY MOVEMENT
is a method of urban planning refer to communes which are
RETAIL & COMMUNAL 15% 5381 m2
that was initiated in 1898 centres for urban agglomeration
by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. GREENERY
Garden cities were intended to be planned, CIRCULATION
self-contained communities
surrounded by "greenbelts",
containing proportionate areas of
residences, industry and agriculture.

157
 CIRCULATION

Longitudinal section of a standard type duplex unit

Upper 11 33
22

44 66
55 77
1 3
2
Interlocking volumes with a central internal street
Lower

4 6
5 7
1. Children’s bedroom
1. Children’s bedroom 5.
5. Kitchen
Kitchen
2.
2. Bathroom
Bathroom 6.
6. Living
Living
Cross-section of the building
3.
3. Parent’s
Parent’s bedroom
bedroom 7.
7. Balcony
Balcony
4. Interior street
4. Interior street
In Unité d’Habitation, there is ‘free volume’, where two story apartments interlock, so entrance and elevator stops are only at
every 3rd level. This reduces the circulation space while maximizing the residential space.
1 1. Children’s bedroom
3 5. Kitchen
2
2. Bathroom 6. Living
3. Parent’s bedroom 7. Balcony
4. Interior street
4 6
5 7
PRECEDENTS | Unité d’Habitation | UNIT PLANS & CIRCULATION
158
 APARTMENT TYPES

In Unité d’Habitation, there are 337 apartments of 23 different types. 213 of them are standard types. There are 20 larger apartments and 79
small ones of which 26 are not split level.
BATH
2.93
BATH BALCONY BATH
LIVING CIRCULATION
BALCONY LIVING 2.93 TYPE 2 - Single unit 7.25 2.93
23.41
TYPE 1 - Single
3.63unit2 11.7BATH CIRCULATION area: 33.6m2 LIVING
BALCONY
Total BATH BATH
CIRCULATION BATHKITCHEN
BALCONY Total area:LIVING
18.25m 2.93 7.25 23.41 2.93 2.93 2.93
3.63 11.7 BATH BATH BATH BATH 5.85
CIRCULATION BALCONY LIVING
BALCONYBALCONY LIVING
CIRCULATION
LIVING KITCHEN CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION
BALCONY LIVING
BALCONY BALCONY LIVING2.93
LIVING 2.93 2.93 2.93
7.25 7.2523.41
7.25 23.41 23.41
3.63 11.7 3.63
3.63 11.7 11.7BATHCIRCULATION
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION BALCONY LIVING 5.85
CIRCULATION
BALCONY LIVING 2.93 23.41 KITCHEN KITCHEN
KITCHEN
7.25
3.63 11.7 CIRCULATION 5.85 5.85 5.85
KITCHEN
5.85

BATH
BATH 2.93 ROOM BAL
TYPE 3 - Family unit (3- 4 people) TYPE 4 - Large family unit (6 - 8 people)
7.32 BATH 14.63 3
Total area: 106.7m2 Total area: 210m2
BATH
BED 2.93 ROOM BALCONY
7.32
20.48 HALL BATH BATH BATH
14.63 3.62
BED BATH BATH BATH 2.93 2.93
2.93ROOM ROOM ROOM
BALCONY
ROOM BAL
BAL
BALCONY
7.32 7.32 7.32 BATH BATH 14.63 3
20.48 HALL 14.63 3.62
14.63 14.63 3.62 3.
BED BATH 2.93 2.93
ROOM
ROOM BALCONY
BALCONY
BED BED
7.32 BATH BATH 3.62
20.48 20.48 20.48 BATH HALL HALL HALL 14.63
14.63
ROOM
3.62
BAL
BALCONY BEDROOM 2.93 2.93 2.93
ROOM ROOMBALCONY
ROOM BAL
BALCONY
HALL BATHBATH BATH 14.63 3
3.62 20.48
14.63
BATH BALCONY BED HALL BATH14.63 3.62
14.63 14.63 3.62 3.
BALCONY ROOM 2.93 7.25 32.19 2.932.93 ROOM
ROOM
2.93 2.93 BALCONY
BALCONY
HALL BATHBATH 14.63
BATH 14.63
BATH 3.62
3.62
3.62 14.63 BATH BATH BATH BALCONY BED
BALCONY
ROOM ROOM BATH 2.932.93 2.93ROOM
2.93 ROOMBALCONY
ROOM BAL
BALCONY
ALCONY BALCONY
BALCONY ROOM ROOM
2.93 2.93 2.93 HALL HALL 7.25 32.19
3.62 3.62
3.62 14.63
3.62 BATH HALL
14.63
14.63 14.63 BATH BALCONY BALCONY BED
BALCONY BED BED 7.32 BATH BATH
14.63 3.62
14.63 14.63 3
3.62 3.
BALCONY ROOM 2.93 BATH 2.93 ROOM
2.93
ROOM BALCONY
BALCONY
BALCONY HALL2.93 7.25 32.19
7.25 7.25 32.19 32.19 14.63 3.62
3.62
3.62 14.63 BATH BALCONY BED 7.32 BATH 14.63 3.62
ALCONY ROOM
BALCONY
BALCONY ROOMROOM 2.93 7.25 32.19 BATH BATH BATH 2.93 ROOM ROOMBALCONY
ROOM BAL
BALCONY
3.62 3.62 14.63
3.62 14.63BATH
14.63 BATH BATH 7.32 7.32 7.32 BATH BATH BATH
14.63 3.62
14.63 14.63 3.62 3.
BALCONY ROOM BATH 2.93 ROOM BALCONY
2.93 2.93 2.93 2.93 2.93
3.62 14.63 BATH 7.32 BATH 14.63 3.62
2.93 KITCHEN 2.93
5.85
KITCHEN BALCONY LIVING
KITCHEN
5.85 7.25 23.415.85
BALCONY KITCHEN
LIVING BALCONY LIVING KITCHEN KITCHENKITCHEN
CIRCULATION
7.25 23.415.85 7.25 23.41 5.85 5.85 5.85
BALCONY LIVING
BALCONY
BALCONY KITCHEN
LIVINGLIVING
BALCONY LIVING KITCHEN KITCHEN
KITCHEN
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION
7.25 23.41
7.25 7.25 23.41 23.41 5.85
7.25 23.41 5.85 5.85 5.85
KITCHEN BALCONY LIVING
ALCONY LIVING
BALCONY
BALCONY LIVINGLIVING
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION
7.25 23.41
7.25 23.41
7.25 7.25 23.41 23.415.85
BALCONY LIVING CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION
7.25 23.41
CIRCULATION

PRECEDENTS | Unité d’Habitation | UNIT PLANS & CIRCULATION

159
 APARTMENT TYPES

BATH BATH

CIR CIR
BALCONY BALCONY
LIVING LIVING
BATH
Circulation paths within apartment units
BATH BATH CIR
BALCONY BALCONYLIVING LIVING
BALCONY LIVING BATH BATH
KITCHEN KITCHEN
Unit 1 Unit 2
CIR CIR
BATH BATH CIR
BALCONYBALCONYLIVING LIVING KITCHEN
CIR
BALCONY LIVING
CIR BATH BALCONY LIVING CIR
BATH
KITCHENKITCHEN
BALCONYBALCONY LIVING LIVING CIR
BATH
CIR
KITCHEN
BALCONY LIVING
CIR

BATH BATH
BATH BATH ROOM ROOM BALCONY BALCONY

BED BED BATH

CIR CIR ROOM BALCONY
Unit 3 BATH Unit 4
ROOM ROOM BALCONY BALCONY
BED BATH BATH
BATH BATH CIR BATH BATH ROOM ROOM BALCONYBALCONY
BED BATH
BATH BATH
BATH
BATH BATH ROOM ROOM BALCONY
ROOMBALCONY
BED CIR ROOM BALCONY BALCONY
BALCONY BALCONY ROOM ROOM CIR CIR CIR BATH
BALCONY BALCONY BED BED
BALCONY
BED ROOM ROOM BALCONY
BATH CIR BATH BATH ROOM BALCONY
BALCONY ROOM CIR BATH BALCONY BALCONY
ROOMBALCONY
BALCONY BED BATH BATH ROOM
ROOM
BALCONY BALCONY ROOM ROOM BATH BATH
BATH BATH
BATH
BATH
BATH BATH ROOM ROOM BALCONY
BALCONY
BALCONYBALCONY ROOM ROOM BATH CIR CIR
BALCONYBALCONY BED BED ROOM BALCONY
BATH BATH
BALCONY ROOM BATH ROOM BALCONY
BALCONY ROOM CIR BALCONY BED BATH
BATH BALCONY
BATH BATH ROOM ROOM BALCONY
BALCONYBALCONY ROOM ROOM BATH
BATH BATH BATH BATH ROOM BALCONY
BALCONY ROOM
BATH BATH

KITCHEN KITCHEN KITCHEN KITCHEN

BALCONY BALCONY
LIVING LIVING COR COR BALCONY BALCONY
LIVING LIVING COR COR
KITCHEN KITCHEN

BALCONY LIVING BALCONY LIVING

KITCHENCOR
CIR KITCHEN
CIR KITCHENCOR
CIR KITCHEN
CIR

BALCONYBALCONYLIVING LIVING KITCHEN

COR COR BALCONYBALCONYLIVING LIVING KITCHEN
COR COR
CIR CIR
BALCONY LIVING COR BALCONY LIVING COR
CIR CIR CIR CIR

CIR CIR

PRECEDENTS | Unité d’Habitation | UNIT PLANS & CIRCULATION

160
STRUCTURE
The set is based on a single block built on stilts free, allowing the soil to release any garden and leisure, with its reinforced concrete structure, similar to a shelf.
On these piles, the building was designed in a way that allows large permeability at ground level, the level of the earth as a function of communication between the exterior and interior,
with access to the communications vertical.
The cross section shown as two apartments with galleries are so intertwined that there is a central access corridor at three levels, optimizing the space of movement
These concepts will become part of the iconography of Corbusier, who dramatize the need for relationship building with the urban environment.

161
Daylighting
Fenestration Design
The structural system used for this building
is a key factor in the amount of daylight
that is able to shine through the building.
By using a column-based structure, instead
of load-bearing walls, Le Corbusier was able
to design for large windows, and therefore
light is able to fully penetrate each floor.

Moreover, because each apartment spans

the width of the building from east to west,
light is able to enter from both sides of the
apartment, flooding it with light, morning
and afternoon. The duplex units also have
a double height space that is set against
one fully glazed wall; the other end of the
apartment opens onto a balcony.

Le Corbusier designed the Unite with long

rows of horizontal strip windows on the
east and west facades to mimic the ocean
liner’s portholes and gallery windows.
Horizontal fenestrations also are one way to
break up the building’s verticality.

The apartments, rooms, social gathering

spaces, and promenades were all intention-
ally placed near large windows and natural
light, to maximize the daylight and pan-
oramic views.

Le Corbusier also played with the tempo- Figure 12: the gallery promenade, the shopping level’s “interior Figure 13: The interior view of apartment 50, showing the double hieght
ral quality of light. “He was interested in streets” fully glazed wall
having a space with perspectives that are
internally dramatic and play with light at
different times of day — a fantastic contrast
with the perpetual twilight of the corridors.”
According to some visitors and residents,
the corridors (i.e. the “interior streets”) were
the only areas in the building that were a
bit dark because they were trapped in the
center of the building between apartments.
However, light sources are provided above Figure 11: Cross-section through the dual-aspect E-type apartments
every front door. with through views allow light to penetrate from both ends, and air
to circulate

PRECEDENTS | UNITE D’HABITATION | DAYLIGHTING

162
Sustainability
Passive Heating and Cooling Efficiency
In the 1930s, Le Corbusier developed an interest in passive means of environmental There are other ways in which this Housing Unit is sustainable. High density housing
control, which led to his invention of the brise-soleil to avoid the problems of heat limits the problems associated with transportation, urban sprawl, and lack of infra-
gain and to resolve the problem of apartments being too cold in the winter or too structure far from the city center. This building was a first of its kind post WWII, be-
hot in the summer. The brise-soleil “is a solar shading system installed just in front of cause of its size. “Nothing on such a scale had ever been attempted before. It could
the glass wall…” It made the architecture adaptable to all climates”. house 1,600 people – a small town. Therefore this was a model for tower blocks
around the world.”
“The brise-soleil that line the Unite’s facades are of two types. One is made of hor-
izontal cornet slabs fitted to the loggias on the south, east and west facades. The The Unite was also cost-efficient. Instead of constructing the building from steel, Le
other is of vertical design, comprising concrete blades laid perpendicular to the Corbusier opted for béton-brut concrete (rough-cast concrete) that he requested to
horizontal brise-soleil slabs, placed along the east and west facades at the level of the be textured by the wooden formwork to give it a more touchable and visually inter-
shopping gallery.” esting surface.

Although this building has been applauded as an example of passive energy control, Another way in which Le Corbusier strived to make this project economically feasible,
it has however, a couple of flaws. First, this building’s orientation was mainly dictated was to design spaces that were extremely space-efficient “by adopting the minimal
by the Mediterranean view to the west, and not by the solar path of the sun. Hence, dwelling space of 14m2 per occupant proposed at the 1930 Brussels International
the tower block is oriented north-south, so that the length of the west façade could Congress of Modern Architecture (CIAM)”. Le Corbusier proved that it was indeed
face the sea. This leaves it especially vulnerable to the setting sun, which is partic- possible to live comfortably in this minimal space and once again pointed to the
ularly uncomfortable in summer and the effect of its brises-soleils will be rendered example of luxury liner staterooms as proof.
useless.

Le Corbusier intended to have at least two hours of sunshine per day (even on the
shortest day of the year) enter every dwelling, as per the International Congress of Figure 15: Rough-cast concrete with the wood-
Modern Architecture (CIAM) 1951 Charter of Athens. However, he was not successful grain texture of the formwork
because “the west facing elevation allows two hours of solar penetration from 3pm
to 5pm in the summer months but only about 20 minutes of direct sun per day in the
winter months. By contrast, south elevation works successfully, allowing up to eight
hours of sunlight penetration in the winter months, while also achieving complete
shading from April through to September. In other words, if the building was rotated
through 90 degrees the brises-soleils would work much more effectively.”

The second flaw is that Le Corbusier believed the brise-soleil should be fixed, based
on “based on precise data: a) the course of the sun on every day of the year; move-
able brises soleils may be the only way to achieve ‘at least two hours of sunlight
per day at the winter solstice’ (Charter of Athens 1951) - and protection from direct
sunlight during the warmer months: the sun is in the same position in the sky on the
two equinoxes (i.e. solar geometry is symmetrical on either side of the solstices) but
the temperature is, in most places, different. The sun may be desirable at the winter
solstice, but be intolerable at the summer solstice. Therefore fixed brises-soleils are
not entirely appropriate.”
Figure 14: Le Corbusier’s hand sketches of the summer and winter solar
However, the apartments experienced good ventilation by being open to the air on paths and the vertical and horizontal fins of the sunbreakers (brise-soleils)
both sides (east and west) thus achieving good air flow. Instead of installing an air
conditioning system, the housing block used natural ventilation to cool the building.
Since all windows opened to the exterior, by opening several windows, breezes could
flow throughout the apartment. Figure 16: A close up of the brise-soleil

PRECEDENTS | UNITE D’HABITATION | SUSTAINABILITY

163
Façades
The East Façade The South Façade
The east façade is considered the main This is one of the two narrow façades of this
elevation of the building since it faces the building, located on the short axis. The
street (Michelet Boulevard). The façade is south facade houses single-aspect units
a rhythmic system of rectangles, smaller whose length corresponds to half of that
ones inset into larger ones. The horizontal for the dual-aspect apartments. On six dif-
pattern of the recessed loggias creates a ferent levels, the façade is cut by continu-
deep façade and contrasts with the vertical ous horizontal strips formed by the balcony
rhythm generated by the loggias’ alternat- walls of the loggias.
ing single and double height. To the left
of the center, the elevator tower cuts the
façade vertically. The communal levels of
the shopping center are located behind the
horizontal strip that runs from the north
end wall to the lift tower. The vertical fins
of the brise-soleil shading elements break
up the square pattern of [colored] loggias .

Figure 17: East elevation Figure 19: South elevation

The West Façade The North Façade

Both the east and the west façade have The north side is made of a solid concrete
split-level apartments with through views, wall, the only opening in which is the fire
east and west. This façade overlooks the escape concrete scroll stairwell leading
Mediterranean Sea. Again the rhythmic from the shopping center level to the
placement of the loggias are consistent. ground. The north façade is exposed to
There is a blank end wall that separates strong regional winds and therefore no
the west façade from the south-facing one. attempt was made to place apartment
Once again, a horizontal row of vertical balconies on this elevation. The two sets
sun breaks runs from the north end wall of brise-soleils can be seen from the north
to above the entrance foyer to shield the façade as well.
shopping gallery from the sun.

Figure 18: West elevation Figure 20: North elevation

PRECEDENTS | UNITE D’HABITATION | FACADE STUDY

164
Conclusion

There are several aspects of this housing case study that is

pertinent to our project regarding the design of a vertical
farm. For example, Le Corbusier often advocated building
taller buildings and skyscrapers, because even back then, he
could foresee how crowded and densely populated modern
cities were becoming and therefore advocated that we should
build UP, not out. Another example is how much light there is
entering each space. If the building were ever converted into
a greenhouse, plants couldn’t be happier. Le Corbusier said
the space should “evoke nature, greenery, and happiness”,
which are elements quite essential in an urban, vertical farm.
And finally, the building program is one of mixed use and he
intertwines the various spaces successfully.

Figure 21: South-west perspective

PRECEDENTS | UNITE D’HABITATION | CONCLUSION
165
Yamanashi Communications Centre
Kenzo Tange
Andrew Grant
Justin Hung

Kenzo Tange’s Yamanashi Communications Centre in Kofu Ja- location:

pan combines three different communication companies in one Kofu, Japan
building - a television company, a radio company and a newspa-
per. date completed:
1966
The main organizing principle of the building are the sixteen
primary program:
cores arranged in a non-uniform grid. These cores contain essen- television, radio, newspaper
tial functions of the building including elevators and emergency production and management
stairs, as well as HVAC, plumbing, bathrooms and storage. The
program is organized within the building firstly by function - secondary program:
offices, studios, common areas, printing areas and control rooms communication support spaces
are all found in different parts of the buildings. These areas are
then further divided into three areas for each of the companies. primary structure:
For example, all the offices in the building are grouped in one concrete post and beam
zone, but each company has it’s own offices within this zone.
total floor area:
30,000 m2
The building can also be related to Tange’s ideas on urban plan-
ning, which dictate a distinct zone for every function of the city maximum building height:
and endless possibilities for expansion. This is reflected in the 60 m (195 feet)
Yamanashi Communications Centre by the open terraces which
could potentially be turned into interior space and some of the climate zone:
cores which were left empty for unforeseen future uses. Although warm and temperate
this building has no passive HVAC as it was not a big concern min/max temp Concrete cores provide structure, circulation, and space for utilities.
at the time of its construction, it’s form suggests the idea of 9 oC / 32 oC
cross-ventilation, especially on the narrow third floor. The cores
also suggest the possibility of using the stack effect to passively
ventilate the building.

These central ideas will form the basis of our design for the NYC
Sky Farm.

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

166
PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE
167
 Site Plan
Kofu, Japan

The building is located in an urban setting near a train station.

The train station had pedestrian bridges that span over several
major arteries of the city.

The site itself is 54m by 65m.

50m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

168
 Structural Isometric Diagram
16 concrete cores

Use this font and size for image captions and figure captions

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

169
 Suspended Volumes
East-West Section

5m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

170
 Structure housing function
Elevator, open-to-future-use, stair, elevator

5m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

171
 Anatomy of a core
Scaled to human use

1m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

172
 Aggregation of cores
Non-uniform grid

5m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

173
 Core-to-wall relationships
Subdividing open plan strategies

5m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

174
 Navigating space
Circulation in plan around cores

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

175
 5m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

176
 Contemporary Opportunities
Cross ventilation and stack-effect

5m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

177
 Program Organization
Sharing space

Print, studio, terrace, office, cafeteria, control room, storage, me-

chanical.

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

178
 Porosity
Horizontal volumes on vertical framework

5m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

179
 Facade
Legibility and Subtlety

5m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

180
 Tange’s Urban Theories
Diagram of infrastructure resulting from multiplication of cores

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

181
 5m 5m 5m

5m 5m 5m

PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE

182
PRECEDENTS | YAMANASHI COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE - KENZO TANGE
183
Mirador Building
MVRDV
Adriana Mogoșanu
Katie Lee

The Mirador building, by MVRDV and Blanca Lleo, is a housing unit located in location:
the rapidly developing and industrialized suburb of Hortaleza, near Madrid. Madrid, Spain
There exists a large difference in context between the agglomerated urban
environment of the highline, and the Mirador, placed remotely in the middle of date completed:
other residential units, surrounded by highways.
2001-2005
There are however, key parallels to be made between the two sites. First, the
highline, in its elevation from the ground, establishes itself as a point of visual primary program:
interest. The idea of gaze on the street is further developed as one stands on residential
the highline, where a series of views of the city are deliberately framed.
Similarly, the Mirador building aims to create a contrast in relation to its sur- secondary program:
roundings. The design decision was to negate the horizontal, flat development sky plaza
of adjacent buildings, and rotate the Mirador to a considerable height of 60m
above the ground. The architects took the typology of surrounding buildings, primary structure:
which all have large inner courtyards, and expressed these elements vertically steel truss roof system
within the Mirador. The result is an elevated platform, 14 stories above ground.
As the name suggests, the building is designed in relation to the surrounding
landscape and opportunities for observing it. The elevated platform becomes a
total floor area:
key point in this respect. 18300 m2 at 22 floors

Both the Mirador and the highline provide alternate levels and manners of cir- maximum building height:
culation, trying to reinvent the opportunities available for community gather- 40 m
ing.The Mirador makes a bold statement in its exposed, red circulation corridor
that traverse the building in what creates a network of streets, alleyways, a climate zone:
microcosm of the city within a building. warm, temperate, & subtropical
Development of a project on the highline can be informed by the methods of min/max temp
MVRDV and Lleo in their fragmentation and re-organization of space into verti-
-10.1 oC / 40.6 oC
cal neighbourhoods, as well as their special treatment of circulation corridors.

The succes of Mirador’s intended accessibility can be contested: The original

intention was to make the elevated platform a space open to the public, being
connected by an escalator. Without this connection to the ground, the space
is fully private and underused. Analogously, how can the Highline, and the
projects developed around it, create accessibility and promote interaction, in
contrast to the current trend of gentrification caused by the popularity of the
park?
Port(u*o)s “MVRDV Edificio Mirador Madrid.“ Online image. Wikimedia Commons, 5 Nov. 2009. Web 15 Jan. 2015.

184
 Site Plan
Context Mapping

Located in Hortaleza, a suburb in Madrid, Spain, the Mirador is the tallest

building in the area. The area exists as a residential suburb surrounded by
major highways.

0 25 50 125 250

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | SITE PLAN

185
 Madrid
Mountains
Madrid
Mountains

Mountains
Mountains
0 50 100 250 500
0 50 100 250 500

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | SITE PLAN

186
 Legend

Residential Blocks

Circulation

Meeting Spaces

Axonometric Study

Circulation, Meeting Spaces, and Framing

Vertical Alleyway and Boundary Study

The idea of the Vertical Alleyway is an important marker and boundary in the
Mirador Project. They become circulation tools as well as public connectors
from the private residential units to the outdoor meeting spaces. The Cir-
culation of the Mirador is entirely open to the outdoor elements and create
frames and view points to the Madrid landscape.

1:1000

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | CIRCULATION, MEETING SPACES, AND FRAMING

187
Photographic Study of Meeting Spaces

Port(u*o)s “MVRDV Edificio Mirador Madrid.“ Online image. Web 15 Jan. 2015. http:// Hart, Robert “Mirador.” Online image. Divisare, July 30 2008. 13 Jan 2015. http://divis- Lleò Blanca. “ http://divisare.com/projects/69883-MVRDV-Mirador/images/943772
www.kientruc.eu/clanky/mirador are.com/projects/69883-MVRDV-Mirador/images/943772
The rooftop circulation connecting the uppermost apartments as well as the east The view of the Vertical Courtyard give massive views of the city to its West and the
The enclosure of the ‘Meeting Spaces’ create areas for gathering as well as public and west apartments mountains to its East
indoor spaces that are open to the outside air.

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | CIRCULATION, MEETING SPACES, AND FRAMING

188
 North Longitudinal Section Circulation Study

0 5 10 25

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | CIRCULATION, MEETING SPACES, AND FRAMING

189
 Selected Floor Plans Circulation Study

0 5 10 25

0 5 10 25

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | CIRCULATION, MEETING SPACES, AND FRAMING

190
 Axonometric Mirador

Program Analysis and Building Typologies

Residential Types and Unit Plans

Each residential block represents a size and type of apartment space. Each
housing units become their own building and are stacked on top of each
other with the sky-plaza / courtyard at its center. Each block fits with different
lifestyles and make up the 165 apartment complex.

1:500

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | PROGRAM ANALYSIS & BUILDING TYPOLOGIES

191
 Exploded Axonometric Mirador Program Analysis

1:1000

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | PROGRAM ANALYSIS & BUILDING TYPOLOGIES

192
 Selected Apartment Unit Plans

PASANTE

QUADRADA

PASANTE EN L

TRIPLEX

DUPLEX

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | PROGRAM ANALYSIS & BUILDING TYPOLOGIES

193
 Selected Plans with Unit Plans Study

0 5 10 25

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | PROGRAM ANALYSIS & BUILDING TYPOLOGIES

194
 North Longitudinal Section West Transversal Section

Sections and Selected Plans

Building Study

Through these Detailed Sections and Plans we can have a better understand-
ing as well as make assumptions to the structure and proportional sizes of
the building and its individual units.

0 5 10 25

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | SECTIONS AND PLANS

195
 Selected Plans

19th floor plan

14th floor plan

10th floor plan

6th floor plan

0 5 10 25

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | SECTIONS AND PLANS

196
 N

Sun Path Diagram

June
5

19

Daylighting W E
Sun Path Diagram

12
Due to its large height and lower site context, Mirador sees most of the sun
throughout the year. Because of its location, significantly away from other
surrounding complexes, the Mirador building is able to exist free of its neigh-
bour shadows. With its access to constant light, the outdoor corridors and
openings create time lapsed atmospheres according to the position of the
sun. 17
8 December

12

S 0 25 50 125 250

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | DAYLIGHTING

197
Photographic Study of Interior Daylighting

Illera “MVRDV 1mar05 (26).” Online image. Web 15 Jan. 2015. https://www.flickr. Illera “MVRDV 1mar05 (23).” Online image. Web 15 Jan. 2015. https://www.flickr. Javier “Edificio Mirador MVRDV y B. LLeó 2929.” Online image. Web 15 Jan. 2015.
com/photos/75467601@N00/2337520798 com/photos/illera/2337520736/sizes/z/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/javier1949/7211771014

The steel truss stair system on the roof allows for the outdoor sun to beam through The Vertical Circulation Hallways allow light to penetrate the hallways of private Even through the exterior we are able to see the multiple levels and entrances
its system and creates impromptu spotlights. residential homes. daylight can penetrate through.

PRECEDENTS | MIRADOR | DAYLIGHTING

198
199
Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall
Emilio AMBASZ
Marie TAETER
Maryline NEKMOUCHE

Intention of the project Location:

“It proposes a powerful new solution for a common urban prob- Fukuoka, Japan
lem: reconciling a developer’s desire for profitable use of a site
with the public’s need for open green space. The plan for Fukuo- Date completed:
1992-1994
ka fulfills both needs in one structure by creating an innovative
agro-urban model.
Primary program:
Achieve “reconciliation between these two opposing desires: dou- cultural and commercial
bling the size of the park while providing the city of Fukuoka with 1 4
a powerful symbolic structure at its center”. Secondary program:
private offices
Ecology
“The literal green roof reduces the building’s energy consump- Primary structure:
tion by insulationg it from the elements and capturing rainwater steel-framed reinforced concrete
for use in the building. The lush terrace has also become home to
more than 70 species of birds.”
Total floor area:
Technic called “green on grey”: maximise the use of the soil. It’s a
97 252 m²
“pact of reconciliation”between “the building and the garden”
Maximum building height:
Program 60 m
Indoor : An exhibition hall, a museum, a 2000-seat proscenium
theater, conference facilities, governmental and private offices, Climate zone: humid subtropical
several underground levels of parking and retail space. climate
Outdoor : Landscaped terraces, gardens for meditation, relaxation,
belvedere Temperature min/max :
3°C/31°C 2
Natural light 1. General view
On the roof, reflecting pools with « upwardly spraying jets of water 2. South elevation
creates a kind of waterfall. They bring light to the interior. They lie 3. Est elevation
directly above the central glass atrium within the building.” 4. Garden and terraces 5
5. Atrium, interior view

PRECEDENTS | FUKUOKA PREFECTURAL INTERNATIONAL HALL

200
 N

SOUTH

IMPLANTATION SITE BUILDING ORIENTATION. Diagram

0 300

PRECEDENTS | FUKUOKA PREFECTURAL INTERNATIONAL HALL

201
 N

0 5 10 m

FIRST FLOOR. Scale : 1/500

PRECEDENTS | FUKUOKA PREFECTURAL INTERNATIONAL HALL
202
 0 5 10 m

SECTION. Scale : 1/500

PRECEDENTS | FUKUOKA PREFECTURAL INTERNATIONAL HALL

203
Circulation and Accessibility N

CIRCULATION ON THE ROOF. Diagram

ENTRANCE AND CIRCULATION INSIDE .FIRST FLOOR. Scale : 1/1000

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CIRCULATION INSIDE.

Red circulation : public. Orange circulation : private. Diagram

PRECEDENTS | FUKUOKA PREFECTURAL INTERNATIONAL HALL

204
Program

Large Conference room

Fukuoka Symphony Hall
International Conference room

Cultural gallery
Communication area

Event hall

0 5 10 m

SECTION. Scale : 1/1000 PROGRAM . Diagram

PRECEDENTS | FUKUOKA PREFECTURAL INTERNATIONAL HALL

205
Structure Bibliography

Velazquez’s, Linda. “The greenroof & greenwall projects database”. ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International
Hall. August 2012. <http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=476>

Archidose. “A weekly dose of architecture”. ACROS Building, Fukuoka, Japan. <http://www.archidose.org/

Dec00/121100.html>.

International Green Roof Association. “Global Networking for Green Roofs”. 2015. <www.igra-world.com>.

Fichner-Rathus, Lois. Understanding Art. 10th Edition. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Boston: 2010.

Lopez, Fernando. Emilio Ambasz. Inventions: architecture and design. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte. Madrid:
2012. <http://www.museoreinasofia.es/sites/default/files/notas-de-prensa/2011-003-dossier-en.pdf>.

Architecture News Plus. ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall. <http://www.architecturenewsplus.

com/projects/706>

Plants

Soil

Blue foam 500 mm

Water drain and retaining layer

Roof mat
Polyethylene sheet
Waterproof membrane 10 mm
Concrete Structure 150 mm

Steel Structure 1000 mm

GREEN ROOF SECTION . Diagram

PRECEDENTS | FUKUOKA PREFECTURAL INTERNATIONAL HALL

206
L’Arbre Blanc
Sou Fujimoto, Nicolas Laisné Associés and Oxo Architects
Dana Ben David
Siobhan Heffernan

207
 N

L’Arbre Blanc Place de Thessalie

330 o
340 o
350 o 10 o
20 o
30 o

Sou Fujimoto, Nicolas Laisné Associés and Oxo Architects 320 o Le Lez River 40 o

310 o 50 o

Dana Ben David 300 o 60 o

Siobhan Heffernan 290 o 70 o

280 o 80 o

W E

260 o 100 o
Summer

250 o 110 o
Interuniversity Library of
Montpellier

240 o 120 o

230 o 130 o

Winter
140 o

L’arbre Blanc is the winning project of the “Architectural Folie of LOCATION:

220 o

210 o 150 o

the 21st Century” competition. Selected by the City of Montpellier, Montpellier, France 200 o
190 o 170 o
160 o

Economic Science Faculty

the “White Tree” is mainly inspired by the city’s traditions for S 100m

outdoor life. In addition, it emulates the efficient properties of a DATE COMPLETED: Site Plan & Sunpath Diagram
SITE PLAN | MONTPELLIER

Unbuilt project
plant, giving this unique project its name. The building embodies Pic Saint Loupup

the fundamental theme of nature and architecture, while

PRIMARY PROGRAM:
exploring the notion of the “in between”. Residential
The Old City

This housing tower is strategically located within this historical PIC SAINT-LOUP
La Mer
SECONDARY PROGRAM:
city of Montpellier, situated between the old and the new Restaurant, art gallery, offices
districts. The concept of seamless integration between the
interior and exterior is found throughout the building: each PRIMARY STRUCTURE:
living quarter is provided with its own terrace, allowing indoor Concrete core Marianne Port
VIEWS Text

life to extend to the outdoors. Shaped to create the largest

possible panoramic views (without obstructing the neighboring TOTAL FLOOR AREA:
10225 m2
buildings), L’arbre Blanc faces multiple landmarks, enriching its
connection with its surroundings. THE OLD CITY OF MONTPELLIER
MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT:
MEDITERRANEAN
56m (17 storeys)
This precedent study delves into several concepts that can both SEA
Z
directly and indirectly be applied to the design of the New York LE
CLIMATE ZONE: LE
City Sky Farm. The project’s consideration to and awareness of Mediterranean Climate
its context is a valuable principle that should be applied in the Mild/damp winters
densely populated and richly cultured city of New York. Hot/dry summers

This project touches upon a multitude of ideas and approaches MIN/MAX TEMP:
to sustainability that offer a basis upon which to expand in the 3oC / 30oC
Sky Farm Project. Although the ideas of sustainability proposed
by the architects remain somewhat unresolved, this mixed-use
MARIANNE PORT
tower of similar scale and program brought attention to many
notions (use of local resources, efficiency, waste reduction) that
will direct and inspire our future design.

Iconic Views from “L’arbre Blanc”

PRECEDENTS | L’ARBRE BLANC

208
 A

ENTRY LEVEL | 1:200 ROOF LEVEL | 1:200

209
MICRO UNIT | 1:100

SINGLE UNIT | 1:100 TYPICAL FLOOR | 1:200 FAMILY UNIT | 1:100

210
INDOOR/OUTDOOR LIVING

FAMILY UNIT | 1:300

EXTENDING LANDSCAPE

RIVER VIEW

RESTAURANT | 1:300

SECTION A-A | 1:300

LE LEZ

211
 LEAF-LIKE BALCONIES:

PROPORTIONED TO MAKE THE USER GRAVITATE TOWARD THE OUTDOORS

SEAMLESS TRANSITION
WATER-RETAINING

balcony privacy
diagram
show inside-->outside

sun sections
2
Reuse

1 sun sections
Recuperate

STRUCTURAL AXO RAINWATER SYSTEM BALCONY ARRANGEMENT

212