Pedestrian Streets

Here is a link to an urban planning competition in which our school is one of the finalist teams.

http://udcompetition.uli.org/finalists

All three plans from UMD, UPenn, and Harvard create a pedestrian/significantly reduced traffic street on the west side of the site, which runs mostly parallel to other roads.

Some of the conversations that working in groups produced were about how viable a pedestrian street is, and here we see that it can be viable, even if it lies in between two roads which are only a block apart.

Friday and the Purple Line

The list for Friday is posted on the column in studio. If you did not receive an e-mail from me with the spreadsheet it was because your name wasn't on the list or I typed it in wrong, in either case let me know in studio and we'll update the e-mail list.

On another note, if you think of a subject that should be added you can post it as a comment. That way we can respond back with our reactions/opinions, add links that might be helpful, or simply just to keep everyone on the same page with what we are doing in our section. Something for example that we haven't discussed yet are the implications of the Purple Line that could change/impact our designs. It would be cool if we could add the light rail into some of our sections as part of our proposals.

http://www.sierraclub.org/dc/sprawl/purple-line/purple-line-connections.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Line_(Washington_Metro)

Template for Site Analysis

Hey Everyone,

We've put together a simple template for the site analysis to look cohesive. Currently, Andrea, Jason, Andrew M, and myself have the file. If you would like it please talk to us so we can give it to you.

-Nick

demetri did a figure ground and is working on the nolli plan for the site, i think i'll do major roads and sub streets, so a spin off of the figure ground

site pre analysis

the first is potential site placements. All are under construction, intersections of Wayne and Bonifant, Fenton and Ellsworth, and just south west of the discovery communications building. Programs are civic center, unknown, and public transportation station respectively.







these are discovery building locations in silver spring. The top "L" shaped one is the communications building where the suits chill and make executive decisions. The other building is the studio where recordings and voice overs and songs are recorded for the shows.

Green roofs

image : Inhabitat.com [ MEC Building in Toronto]

I was looking up information on green roofs and debating on weather or not it made sense to use in our project. Initially, I felt like green roofs were intended for urban areas which lack vegetation or if used in a natural environment that it should be used in a way which the roof actually connects to the landscape. My project does neither, but it is supposed to be an educational and research facility in sustainability, and so for that reason it would be relevant. After researching it a little more I'm definitely more open to the idea of a green roof, after seeing the variety of situations they've been used in. I was curious about what other people's opinions on this subject was.

http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/10/07/green-roofs-are-changing-the-way-architects-design-buildings/

http://www.roofsystemsconsultants.com/Green.htm

http://www.greenroofs.com/research_links.htm

http://earthfirst.com/10-photos-of-stunning-green-roofs-from-around-the-world/