The analysis serves to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the site by focusing on four topics: topography, presence, context and orientation.
Topography and orientation identify how each portion of the site might best be used with respect to views, accessibility, sun and slope.
Presence and context take a look at the surroundings and consider how the building might best contribute to its environment. They also focus on the clues that are derived from these surroundings and the way in which they inform the design.
Taken together these four topics are used to inform the location and design of the building with respect to its site.
t o p o g r a p h y
The site is not without its challenges as far as topography is concerned. Having once consisted of a constant slope, the land was later carved out to accommodate the large open area required by a gas station. The leftovers were two pockets of site used to negotiate the changes in elevation. These areas have remained awkward and ill-defined, particularly the one on the street corner. Its most enduring function has been that of a shortcut used by students on their way to the supermarket. However, in terms of building location, this corner is the most interesting part of the site.
Viewed empirically, a commercial site is divided into building space and parking space. The proper location of both these elements is crucial, particularly in a city with such a low density and high dependence on cars. The corner of interest is essentially a quarter circle with a double slope. Although it would be difficult to use as parking, the shape and slope could be put to use by the building in an interesting way. It could take advantage of the topography in order to bridge the distance between the buildings on the higher and lower parts of the intersecting streets. In other words, it could help unify two disconnected urban areas. Finally, it could also be used to break the mass of the building and create a visually exciting form.
Locating the building on the corner would also allow the level part of the site, as well as the elevated area behind it, to be used as parking. As the overview on urban presence will point out, this arrangement also makes use of the building as a shield to the parking lot.
p r e s e n c e . a n d . c o n t e x t
The few paragraphs on topography have already identified one way in which the site could be used. This section strengthens and develops this point of view.
In terms of urban presence, a corner building plays a key role in defining the limits of the city block, framing intersecting streets and addressing the flow of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Its unique location plays an important role in defining the limits of private and public space. In turn, its level of exposure enhances the level of interaction between the activities of a building and the street, particularly at the level of the pedestrian. At the level of urban presence, the most urgent role of a building on this site is to define the corner. Because of the nature of the intersection, the building would serve literally as a corner stone for its own block and the area extending beyond it. Finally, the building would also help anchor the rather empty site and provide it with an articulate focus point.
The importance of the area provided for parking has already been brought to attention. If one were to follow the surrounding examples, the solution would be to push the building to the back of the lot and turn the front over to cars. The approach here is the opposite, favoring people over cars. The idea is an old one, to bring the building to the street and push the parking to the side. In actual fact the parking will dominate the area of the site, yet it will not be its focus. Situating the building on the most exposed corner also serves to screen the parking area and diminish its visual impact, without affecting accessibility.
In terms of context, previous pages (site photos, resources) have already mentioned how the preliminary massing of the building plays on the form and materiality of the local apartment blocks. In this way it seeks to establish a connection with its surroundings and provide a stimulating example of what can be accomplished with such a simple palette.
Very little information is taken from the actual site itself. Having accommodated a gas station, the site was bleached and stripped of all signs of its former use once it was sold. All that remains is the actual shape of the site, which is the starting point of this project.
o r i e n t a t i o n
The following paragraphs consider the orientation of the site with respect to sun, views and the street.
A site which slopes toward the street is generally an excellent asset: it focuses on the street, frames it, and provides a welcome sense of closure. In this respect the site is well oriented, with all of its attention turned towards the street. It enhances the sense of closure by extending two arms out and providing an open space in the center. With this in mind, it seems appropriate to locate the building on the most exposed side of the site while bringing it as close to the street as possible. This gesture would strengthen the one suggested by the site.
Following the orientation, the dominant views are out onto the street and onto the building itself. Again, this signals the importance of using the building to help improving the streetscape. If the building is to follow the slope and curve of the site then it will also create views unto itself. Needless to say these views will have to carefully laid out during the design stage.
Finally, the site does rather poorly with respect to solar orientation. Being on the north side of a valley it has its back turned to the sun. Exposure to the sun and solar gain will therefore be difficult to accommodate. The challenge becomes to locate the building in the area of least shadow and organize the massing so that the building not throw shadows onto itself. Perhaps the most important issue is to ensure that the roof terraces receive enough direct sunlight.
Included is a study of the shadows projected onto the site by the surrounding buildings for the months of April, June, August and September. They represent the shadow conditions on the 21st of each selected month at 9:00, 12:00 and 5:00. In this way they cover the entire 'terrace season'. The study indicates that the best areas are located due north of the existing buildings. In this way, the projected shadows are generated by the noonday sun and so are minimized.
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