SsD

Cambridge, MA | 2006

BLYP is a non-profit studio dedicated to offering yoga practice as a transformational tool, particularly to those suffering from post-traumatic stress. Budgetary constraints were taken as an opportunity to explore and express the client's elemental approach to yoga as a 'simple, well-intended, and imperfect practice.' The design solution was to abstract the site into two materials: the ground and the sky. Like the practice of yoga, the ground (bendable cork) and the luminous sky (fire-retardant tyvek) merge in the space between (the body) in ways that are both functional and symbolic.

Views out to the streetscape extend the experience of yoga practice (left).  A mirror expands the 'horizon' while providing a learning tool for yoga practice.

The curved cork flooring becomes analagous to petals of the black lotus.

PROJECT CREDITS:

architect
Jinhee Park AIA, John Hong AIA/LEED (principals in charge), Anne Levallois

contractor
Luther Child, Ltd.

RELATED PROJECTS:

acc	city hall	hbny

Prague, Czech Republic | 2006 [international competition, jury selection]

As both a secure repository of books and a symbolic civic building, a national library must negotiate the spatial dichotomy between storage and display. Through a strategy of 'light monumentality' the book stacks are formed into a curved two-way truss that protects and defines a public winter-garden below it. During the day, its specular surface reflects the surrounding cityscape, while at night an internal illumination reveals the massive amount of books and knowledge within. The curved form itself organizes a system of ramped stacks and reading rooms that allow new interactive relationships between books and their viewers.-

books can be seen as a surface (left).  This surface becomes volumetric as stacks are organized along a continuously sloping ramp (right).

During the day, the interior curved skin reflects the urban surrounds while protecting the collections from sunlight.  During the night, the interior of the book stacks is revealed.

View of model (left).  Structural diagram (right).

-

From the interior, the rear of the stacks become an organizing apparatus: the user can quickly identify the destinatiion

- -

From the ground level, the sloping floor of the open stacks allows views into them: the contents of the library become shared cultural property.

view of back elevation

Sustainability strategies: The refractive geometry of the exterior structure/skin in conjunction with the curved interior glass skin allows diffuse natural light to enter deep into the building. The winter garden combined with the curved volume is used to bring cool air from lower levels and vent rising hot air.  Rain water is filtered and reused for secondary uses including building mechanical systems and toilets.

PROJECT CREDITS:

architect
Jinhee Park AIA, John Hong AIA/LEED (principals in charge), Catarina Marques, Chris Minor, Nathan Fash, Ann Ha, Behrang Behin, Erik Carlson

structural engineer
Jaeseoung Lee (Weidlinger Associates Inc.)

RELATED PROJECTS:

acc	boston city hall	hbny