Architecture PortfolioRafael Lopez

Columbia College ‘12ral2154

Enhancing Our Senses

Perceptions: Madeline Schwartzman / Spring 10

Our Senses are the way we communicate and survive. These 5 tools allow the individu-al to experience life in many ways. But when one tool fails the other 4 are enhanced to make-up for the loss. Thus we can taste with our eyes, nose and touch or hear through sight and touch.

Playing with Sight and Hearing I have created a device cancel-ing either one of these senses or both to see how the existing senses react.

The Right ear is covered by a large apparatus that swings from a hinge on the back of the head piece

Within the ear piece is a smaller hinge system that allows the ear drum to be covered or exposed.

A grove allows the Eye piece to slide from the left ear to the left eye

A hinge system allows the Eye piece to fold up and down.

La Marqueta

Design 1: Karen Fairbanks / Fall 10

At its peak La Marqueta was the heart beat of Spanish Harlem. It was the home of small businesses, food vendors, performarnces and families enjoying and embracing thier Spanish culture. The Spanish culture can be classified as Theatrical with the passion of music, clothing and performance. To resur-rect Spanish Harlem’s pulse the attention and design to La Marqueta as a theatre is crucial.

Loading Dock

Open Market

Stage

The Loading dock is where La Marqueta begins in regards with function. From food to toys, all goods are deliv-ered here

The Open Market is what made La Marqu-eta unique an popular when it first opened. Here people can pur-chase cooked or un-cooked items

La Marqueta is built on a slope so it naturally has a Theatre atmosphere. A stage and seating allows families to enjoy each other and performances

A series of traffic flow through a series of Program layout

With the Loading Dock, Open Market and Stage La Marqu-eta experiences peakes in its pulse where these programs inter-lock. With a basic concept La Marqueta becomes more complex due to the transfer of goods and the mix-ture of workers and visitors.

The Spring is headed with sea-sonal flowers and Perfomances especially during the month of May.

The summer in the hispanic culture usually entails a pleth-ora of fruit and agua frescas

In the Fall “Dia de los Muertes” is the big event of the season. With traditional pumpkin activities comes along the unique Festival of the Dead. Honoring the dead is an im-portant aspect of the culture.

The Winter brings several perfor-mance popular in the pre-domi-nant Catholic culture. Seasonal drinks and food also help carry the spirirt of the people.

Civic Center

Design 2: Irena Verona / Spring 2011

The Lower Eastside has been dominated by the sights and smells of Chinatown the last couple of decades. Unfortunately Chinatown’s culture has been depleted by the heavey industrial traffic in the area. A Civic Cen-ter would increase the efficiency and safety of daily commuters and allow the education of the Chinese culture through various programs.

A Public Library, Van/Bus and Bike Transpor-tation Hub are the main focal points in the Civic space.

Various floating pro-grams such as cafe’s, bathrooms, Theatre and offices will be essential in linking all three major programs.

Organization is key in finding a successful formula in fusing all the programs together. The experience of the Center will be deter-mined on how well the floating programs can glue together the major aspects of the building.

The floating programs have a gum effect when connecting the Library and the transportation hubs. Their flexibility al-lows them to be twisted and stretched to acco-modate more than one fixed program.

3 main Programs

Shared/Floating Programs

The Center acts as an oasis in an area thristy for development, order and knowledge.

The 1st Floor consists of 2 main programs which are the Van and Bike transportation Hubs. The Bike Hub is located on the center medium on Pike St. which is connected to the center by an overpass. Float-ing programs on the 1st Floor include offices, bathrooms, ticket booths, a waiting area, book store and locker rooms for both men and women.

The 2nd Floor houses the Library along with a cafe, gallery spaces and offices. This floor has an oasis feel created by the public grass area giving visitors the op-tion to study outside or just enjoy the weather. There is a continous flow throughout this floor which connect to the 3rd floor from the exte-rior and interior.

The 3rd Floor continues the ex-terior/interior relationship that exists on the 2nd Floor. Private and Public spaces are more apparent on this level with the Archive space and large meeting area. Visitors are still given the oportunity to experience the exte-rior and the bustle of Chinatown below.

Bike Hub

Auditorium

Bus Path

Bus Hub

Waiting AreaDeliveries

Offices

Locker Room

ticket booth

Gift storeGallery

Library Stacks

Read-

cafe

Elevated Garden

Viewing RoomMeeting Space Archives

Outdoor Garden

Outdoor Garden

Public Space/ Traffic Flow

The Civic Center has the ability for the Chinese culture to restablish its identity through texts, art, theatre and food for daily commuters and tourists.