Moving on from the midterm review

Moving on from the midterm review

Basically it all comes down to this: lay down the programmatic work
for a while, and focus on the site specific challenges. So for the
next two weeks or so, the focus is on producing typological options to
show and investigate the diverse possibilities imbedded in the site.
So after producing 10 identical 1:1000 models, it's back to work!

Midterm Review_01

In preparation for the first midterm review, I've built a 1:500 model
of the current progress. The beams crossing the railway pit are
differentiated in terms of program and concept. They each form a
solitary concept in themselves. The total size of the accumulated
programs are not as high as it should be, so this will be a something
to work towards in the next week or so. This model is sort of a
compromise between the total chaos of the first model and the
programmatic needs. Working on with the project I will try to
implement more of the chaotic feel in the following models. To support
the concept, the meeting points between the beams should be more
extreme. Extreme in the sense that the meeting points are not just
between horisontal and vertical beams, but also angled beams that
touch the bottom of the railway pit and connect with the overhanging
beams. In terms of concept, the idea is that each beam will be treated
as a solitary object with its own subconcept. In the model depicted
above, all the beams are mono functional - this is not necessarily the
best way to go, so some of the beams will be mixed program depending
on the location on the site.

Flows and infrastructure

Working with the programmatic beams it seams logical to have a look at
possible connections across the railway pit. The diagram includes an
extension of "brabrand-stien" a recreational green bike path leading
almost all the way into the city. This is that last missing part. In
terms of levels, this diagram only deals with possible connections on
the railway pit level and on the general street level. Other levels
above will be determined according to program.

Program distribution_01

Instead of looking at the programs from an area point of view, this
distribution is based on relations to surrounding points of contextual
importance. The point no.10 for example is a shopping program that has
been placed so that it continues the two existing shopping routes,
Bruuns Gade and Frederiks Boulevard. In the railway pit, the platforms
and such are located. The idea is that these end up having a more
direct relationship with the overlaying programs. The office and
housing programs have been divided in to more specific categories such
as housing for one person, a couple, a family and so on. Housing
programs have been located on top as these will benefit the most from
the view towards "å-dalen" and the direct sunlight.

Stop killing your darlings....

After trying to make sense of all the different programs and their
inter-relations, I've started getting in to shape so to speak. The
concept shown here was the initial reason for choosing the site. The
idea is that the project deals with the main concept of what I call
tangled programs - bridges containing programs on the inside and on
the outside where it makes sense. Besides the formal conceptual
shapes, the concept deals with the mixing of programs based on the
position that programmatic mix does not necessarily imply a mosaic of
different programs rubbing against each other. Programmatic mix would
be more effective if the level of contact between the different
programs are in specific zones where they meet - in the joints and
overlaps. One of the main themes for this model would be how to deal
with the places where the programmatic beams overlap and meet. They
could be treated as spots of intensified public space or plain voids.

The program areas

Programmatic combinations

After bumping up the total area to about 50.000 m2 as opposed to
25.000 I'm now ready to start distributing the different programs on
the site. The above graphic shows different ways of combining the
major programs that I have decided on. The selection of the specific
programs are based on an analysis of the site and the surroundings as
well as a large scale zoom of Århus on a national scale. The program
will surely be up for revision several times, but this is the current
status. The reason for doubling the program is a hope that the sheer
size of the program will force me into a position of having to make
decisions on a large scale.