EMMA J. LI
ARCHITECT, AIA, LEED GA, WELL AP
Free Flow
Parametric Urban Planning Study
Before start of site analyze, we need to develop a logic form to present social gathering. People would like to communicate and to do that, they are naturally gathered by groups - small or large. To present current and future, architecture shall speak a type of avant-garde language, which we so called "parametric" by now.
We found a parametric concept from nature to present the natural communication of people. A sea urchin form organically match the human communication pattern.
SITE: Chicago south downtown area
REQUIREMENT: Design a community that use imagination to combine the solutions of future population expansion, transportation, heath and technologies.
CONCEPT: Reasonably organize the population mass into a organic form, then build connections between them. Satisfy the need of free flow, maximize health communication between individuals.
To design with above concept, we must understand the city texture. So we studied the capacity of city, land and surrounding environment, then place our designed spaces to the right location.
After aiming the collection areas, we developed a connection system with webs. It gives many opportunities of activities, such as sports, travel routes, community affair and business chances.
The building provided a great option of multi-functioning. It has a hollow center that allows ground activities to happen indoor, and also create semi-outdoor areas for more purpose. The web connecting all nodes and allows multiple type of transportation within the community.
Base on usable floor area, different ranges of floors assigned different functions. There are also escalators connect those floors to encourage a heather chance of communication.