Pyramid Hill Performance Pavillion

Site

The orientation of the performance pavilion is designed to optimize the natural landscape and avoid having impact on the land. The pavilion as well as the spectators’ seating is arranged so that the natural slope found within the land creates the perfect viewing angle for spectators.

Design

My inspiration for the performance pavilion at Pyramid Hill Sculpture began with my previous studies of the for qualities m and of umbrellas. Next came the acoustic research required to design with high performance design. Due to the site, the performance pavilion is surrounded by trees. Arranging the triangulated umbrellas to create a sense of what the nearby trees created-a playful an ever changing pattern. By combing these three principles together, the flowing and acoustically sound canopy stage was created.

The performer’s headquarters were designed to have a different appeal than the stage so that it creates a transition for performers from performing and then finally to relaxing. The headquarters are open to the woodland scenery in the back featuring open terraces so that occupants can gather or enjoy the outdoors.

Materials

The main materials is a fusion of stainless steel and local maple lumber. The decision to use stainless steel is too consistently carry out the material of the metal mesh throughout the “performing” space. The maple is used in the performers’ headquarters to give a warmer and more comforting effect for when the performers are not performing. Thin slices of stainless steel are carried horizontal to intertwine with the maple. Though the materials may at first seem to be two polar, it helps define the spaces externally as which space is designated for which activities.

The metal mesh that I chose for this project was Tidal by Cambridge Architectural. Since the tidal mesh is a rigid mesh, it would donate acoustical value as well as a base to house lights or speakers. The rich texture of the tidal mesh would react great to any lighting effect as well as create a tree like canopy texture to the ground.

Public Restrooms & Concessions

The public restrooms and concessions are both located so that they are easily accessible by both of the paths found on the site. The public restroom carries out the triangulated form of the pavilion through its orientation. The concession is triangulated and allows viewers to continually watch the performance without having to miss a moment of it.

Mid Process

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Synthesis Design

The begining designing phase of the performing arts pavilion in Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park.

An aerial view of the site:

The first possible amphitheater design:

The second possible amphitheater design:

The next phase in this project is to decide which path to take and continue to layout the rest of the program of this performing arts pavilion. Through the use of fluidity and shared forms, the rest of the program will be based on the form of the stage.

Acoustics Study

The understanding of how acoustics works and how to design space to not only accompany it but to enhance the acoustics that will going on in that space. A selected few of the diagrams from the research are posted below.

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My Discoveries From Our Journey of 4 Cities in 4 Cities

In the journey of 4 cities in 4 days, I have both observed and seen the Cambridge metal mesh in different contexts. The main discoveries were found in the connections and the usage of the mesh.

In the Newseum, the use of the metal mesh as the railing fill had a nice initial concept however, the detail and connection of the mesh to the railing was not as clean as the proposed plan was. Some of the mesh was not connected to the railing which caused a few inches of gapping in some areas of the railing.  This realization illustrates how important the communication and collaboration is between the architect and contractor. Since the product of the metal mesh takes a lot of time, money, and effort it should only be appropriate for the mesh to be executed as well as it was manufactured.

The next discovery on this journey was found in many different locations, connections varied in both form and purpose.  Inside the Naval Academy’s Jewish Chapel, the interior mesh was connected with fine and slender members that were attached to another structure.  Whereas in the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital garage, the connection requires larger and thicker connection members since the span and size of the mesh requires that amount of connection.

Another discovery on this journey is how some usage of the metal meshes are more productive than others. A great example of using metal mesh not to it’s full potential is on the ceiling where very few observers will recognize and appreciate the intricacy of the mesh. Another example that uses mesh was not used to it’s full potential is on the facade of a mixed housing building. The mesh was very little used and did not have a dramatic effect on the building as a whole. A great example of how metal mesh can be used to it’s full potential is in the Cincinnati Children’s garage and in the Newseum elevators. Both of these examples use the mesh extensively and at a human scale.  At the garage, the mesh is used both as a sun-shading device and an aesthetic quality.  The elevators at the museum were used mainly as an aesthetic quality but interacted with users directly.

Due to extensive labor that is gone into making fine metal mesh, it is crucial in the process of choosing any material to consider not only the pros and cons but also it’s potential in the specific project and to continue the fine tune of the mesh all of the way to it’s connections.

Cambridge Journey

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Heliotropic

Work Progress

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A Responsive Umbrella

After my study of the form and mechanics of umbrellas, I started to see many similarities between umbrellas and responsive architecture. Both umbrellas and responsive architecture are used to respond to their surroundings.

My interset in responsive architecture led me to create a form that is responsive to it’s surrounding environment. My goal in integrating responsive architecture to my design is to create a form that responds and adjusts itself to the sunlight and weather. My proposal of how this could be done is through a pneumatic actuator system. In this speific system, sensors would detect a change in the weather which would then transmit to the actuator. The pneumatic actuator then converts the energy from the sensor into motion by compressing air that is kept in the upper space of the cylinder. The pressure then is transferred to the valve system that is hooked up to a battery plug.

The frame work of this form would be very similar, if not identical, to that of an umbrella. Each member is a system of hinged arms that are able to be moved when the actuators react to changes in the weather.

The form of the umbrella also greatly influenced the form of my design.  Since the traditional umbrella strictly consists of one scale, I have scaled different members to involve different people and objects to the different scaled members.

After the inital form, I created another very similar form but added the mechanical tube in the middle that would be needed to house the mechanics and loads of this form.

Phase 1 Research