Alexis Rodriguez Recreational Facilities Hierarchy

In the case study of the Arapahoe Recreation Center, they created different buildings that when seen as how they are above we can see that there is no particular hierarchy from one to another but they actually match one another’s heights if the shape is relative to another structure. 

In the observation and study of the Blue Ash Recreational center we can see that they use large cantilevers to exaggerate their entrances creating a hierarchy and a sense of direction throughout the building.

In the case of the rectionational center located in Boise University the use of a long cantilever is used to show where the main entrance of the building is located. Also if we look at the side of the building we can even see that the architects that worked on the project wanted to make that cantilever seen from a distance by their positioning and sizes of their windows.

The hierarchy for the Boston Fitness Center lies at the entrance as well as the last two examples but instead of using large cantilevers it uses a large rounded structure to invite guests into the building.

Over in Cincinnati they use massive irregular shapes with no real hierarchy to particular parts within the building in elevation, but a look at their site plan shows that they have set their buildings in a manner that guides you into the main entrance for the building.

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In the case of Drexel University, they have the tower above the entrance to the building. 

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Over at the Eureka Site they have a very flat elevation with the hierarchy in the small cantilevering structures shown above in a lighter grey.

In the case study located in France at the Saint Cloud, their hierarchy lays in the towers on the edges of the building that encase either gymnasiums or a large rock climbing wall. Also the hierarchy exists with colors that once inside guest don’t feel lost but know where to go through the colored panes of glass that can be seen. 

 In this structure, the hierarchy stands out in the distance as that large tower that holds the gyms, and conference areas.

Alexis Rodriguez Recreational Facilities Symmetry

Alexis J. Rodriguez

Arch.3610

Spring 2013

Assignment Four: Symmetry 

There are basically two types of symmetry:

-Bilateral symmetry refers to the balanced arrangement of equivalent elements about 

common axis.

-Radial symmetry consists of equivalent elements balanced about two or more axes

that interest at a central point.” - Architecture: Form, Space and Order. FK Ching

The Recreation Facility over in Arapahoe follows a radial symmetry from an imaginary point somewhere off in the back of the building.

The Recreation facility located at the Blue Ash site follows a very clear bi-lateral symmetry pattern with similar masses on both sides of the structure. 

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The Recreational Complex at Boise University is a broken down bi-lateral pattern that if we broke the structure  down we'd be able to assemble a nearly perfect rectangle. 

In this example, it looks as though the structure is a mixture of both, moving both  with a radial motion and having two strong masses represented side by side as a reflection. 

The example located in Cincinnati has a bi-lateral symmetry that is evident in the long wings that protrude outwards embracing all who enter the facility.  

Drexel University uses the a bilateral symmetry to execute their recreation center. 

The Recreation Center located in the town of Eureka uses the radial symmetry that is different from the one that they use over in Arapahoe, instead of every structure spinning off one point it uses one rigid structure and the nearby structure then seems to pull away from a point inside of the first structure. 

The Center in Ohio seems to duplicate the Center that was created in Cincinnati but they showed it on a much smaller scale.

Over in France, at the Saint Cloud location they used bi-lateral symmetry which created the a box- stacking paradise. 

At the W. Chester Facility for Recreational Purposes they used a bi-lateral symmetry that also slides away from its other half. 

Baltimore Water Front

At the link below you will find a slideshow which shows you the projects or concepts that are being formed to recreate the shoreline of Baltimore. My group and I have also showed the history of the area and what lead to the heavy pollution that is found in their waters.


http://3610paed.blogspot.com/2013/02/baltimore-waterfront.html

Parti and Massing of Recreation Centers

Below I have listed my examples and showed the elements that stand out to me in standard parti or mass format. From looking at these structures I recognized that their elevations (the photos which triggered my mass sketches) are far more interesting then their plan views. Typically every building was very modular, having certain sections of their giant rectangle divided up into smaller rectangles. Only two of my examples used a structure that broke away from the blandness that this type of structure seems to follow. For me thats a point to note that most buildings follow a mold and when we begin to design I plan to recreate the image of a recreation center.

300 Coffey St, Brooklyn, NY. (Site 3)