Film School Process and Design

Video showing some of the process and design of a hypothetical Film School in Santa Monica CA. It was accompanied by the following speech.


I was directed to apply images from a short film I made to an extrusion of the site. In placing the images on the site I considered the motion that takes place around it.
The freeway has elements of speed and rhythm.
The viewer from the car is offered a fleeting glance of the site before they are sucked underground and out to the beach.
So, I put together images that are ones of motion attempting to capture the flow and acceleration of the curve.
On the opposite side there is road that is still rather busy but it also has good pedestrian activity.
So I used large more relaxed images
*start slides of study models*
Developing shapes out of these images was a challenge for me
I played with cutting out ideas from chipboard and Styrofoam and wasn't hitting on anything
I moved on to clay. Each time that I made a new model I used ideas and elements from previous models instead of going back to the original images. Eventually I hit upon a form that could be developed.
The striking element of this model as you can see is this rib-like element that creates a smooth flow along the pedestrian side while the same piece creates a rhythmic colonnade on the freeway side.
The similarity of this shape to bones and of lower masses to organs was unintentional yet became one of the ideas that continued to come up for the rest of my project.
When I started to apply the program to these ideas of massing I initially worked with a rectilinear shape beneath the ribs to act as a contrasting shape.
*briefly show image*
This wasn't working so I played with developing a shape that responded to the motion of the ribs.
*show overlays*
My analysis developed into a series of fish like shapes tied together by a fin-like element.
*orbit circulation*
Paths weave between the masses. Some going up slightly to the second floor of the building while others move through to the lower floor
*add fin tunnel and heart*
While the weather in Santa Monica allows for an external circulation system, I also wanted to allow people to move within the buildings from the interior.
So while the fin connects the buildings on the upper level, the lower floor is connected by an underground tunnel.
*fill in whole building*
*move to plans*
The fin not only acts as a circulation hub but it also contains the seminar rooms.
These have a glass wall along the hallway edge, this along with the glass on the other side of the hallway form a hallway full of natural light that acts as a window overlooking the paths.
The classrooms and production rooms are at one end of the complex with the library and lecture halls more centralized
On the opposite end of the complex I placed the public spaces with the theater, bookstore, gallery and café.
I am also bringing the car in on this end. They follow the curve of the public building and drive down into the underground parking.
These public and private spaces are split by the administration building which also helps tie together the directions of the shapes
*add bones*
The rib structure has come to be the support for the double curvature roofs, some by passing beneath the roof and some by passing over.
*roof structure diagrams*
As they continue over to the freeway side they become structural columns supporting the fin and are grouped to show the acceleration of the corner.
*orbit around*
The smaller pieces are intended on being playfully sculptural, creating a flow for the pedestrian side and connecting the sides of the structure.
They also act as a sort of screen. Dividing the paths of the school from the general passerby, but allowing the intrigued individual and the school attendees to come in and pass between the ribs and the buildings. Where they can then continue down the paths that move between the masses
The ribs continue across to create a colonnade that helps define the speed along the highway.
*short section*
As we look at the building in section we can see the different circulation heights.
*long section*
And from this view we can see the relationship of the different masses.
*material diagram*
The main façade for my complex is one of a concrete grid with steel panels bolted to it
And the windows are glass panels that are likewise bolted.
*switch to final "board"*
So it has been an interesting and different process developing my building, but I think that it has resulted in a dynamic experiential building that I have grown to like.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Dan
• Snook
• WSU
• Architecture
• Film
• School
• Santa
• Monica

[arabsahbi]

great..nice work.. what program was used to make the part over the city..the tavelng in the tunnels etc

[dancenook]

thank you very much. The project was drawn and animated using SketchUp. It's a program made by Google. I used the pro version but everything shown here could be done using the free version.

[Eschatus2]

Intriguing; I like asymmetry. It's thought provoking. But, why is it so strictly urban and devoid of natural elements such as water, landscaping, foliage or trees? Even an occasional statuary figure or promontory abstract sculptural piece could have provided a desperately needed focus for the eye to rest integrated within the framework of the architecture, such as in the front plaza or in the common space.

[fakeplasticball]

The design looks like an skinless forearm. Especially with the red tubes connecting the buildings. I opinion of exposed flesh colors everything else I might remark on. The bay of windows might be cool. hallways need to feel bigger, especially in a school.

[potatocam]

Ohhh its a building...

[vcoscar]

WOW :) NICE