We Began our initial exploration with an analysis of the neighborhoods surrounding the Farragut Houses within the context of Urban Density. We created an illustration of the overlapping and merging of the different "program densities" found in the neighborhoods surrounding Farragut Houses. This initial analysis informed our design narrative of public vs private and the gradient between the two, as well as program elements merging to further provoke the gray area between public and private. Our intention with this design notion is to break away from the categorization of public and private found in the sort of high rise developments found around the site, which we feel has validated a sense of isolation between the individual and the neighbors/community surrounding them, and attempt to force a sense of community to the users of the building as well as the individuals within Farragut houses through this gradient.
After some experimentation we found we needed to condense the amount of shapes used and approach the form through interlocking rather than overlapping, picking a shape representative of amenity density found from the neighboring areas as a way to formally represent the lack of amenities in Farragut Houses which we are bringing to our own project. We altered the initial shape to allow for ample natural light, maximize views, and circulation into the units and spaces. As well as the ability to interlock in itself, creating a plan capable of intermixing and transforming into mixed use spaces when necessary
Using this notion of interlocking, we've defined our spaces into three predominant floor types: Lobby/Commercial, Residential/Amenity, and Residential . The interlocking allows for the gradient of mixed use to reveal itself in a clear and overt way, inviting the users to inhabit the spaces and engage with one another. All unit types, residential or otherwise are façade facing and all have natural light and common spaces. Certain walls within our interiors are represented as hinged space, to allow for the users to blur the lines of public and private space. The hinging allows expansion of the living area perhaps in the day time and is reclaimed by a bedroom during the night
Sectionally we are using double heights and dynamic floor slabs as a way to represent the collage vertically, contrasting the horizontal and flat nature of the plans while still being connected to their language formally as well as vertical circulation through elevators going straight to the units to break away from a typical double loaded vertically extruded floor plan. We are using stair cases within the units themselves that lead to amenity spaces as well as the fire exit on the lower levels, this method allows us to maintain the interlocking form in the plan without obstructing it with large scale vertical circulation. Our intention sectionally are for the users to explore the spaces and to interweave a space that is predominantly residential with moments of mixed use when necessary.
Materiality wise we wish to reflect our initial density map and create a sort of camouflage through various materialities spread across the façade as well as the spaces within using it as a signifier of where mixed use is occuring, from the outside looking in. We implemented concrete and glass as representations of opposite ends of the spectrum of public and private (concrete representing private and glass representing public) with the "textile" revealing itself with alternate materials such as wood, terra cotta, and colored ceramic to further define the camouflage.
