Makerspace Community

Concept

This mixed used project focuses on a concept that reflects on the nature of human condition and the lived urban experience. Pittsburgh has been an assembly of steel, concrete and glass for many decades. Imagine walking through the city and suddenly perceiving a tower made of wood and plants. Such a contrast defines the city’s history and evolution over time, while suggesting an alternative future.

Connecting time with environmental developments and sustainable extensions is what essentially models our urban landscape. The objective of design is to explode the capacities of CLT as a main structural system, while creating a dynamic yet modular façade with parametric design software. The project is envisioned as a new model of sustainable architecture, with plants growing on its facade and bringing the building to life.

site

The building alone celebrate individuality and can elevate the mundane, though collectively within its context, it creates a tenuous landscape where it is now framed by a harmonious and balanced architectural composition. Taking in consideration our neighbors and near retails and markets was essential in the design process to have a harmonious relationship between the context of the site and the position and orientation of the building.

FRONT + BACK

ORIENTATION MATTERS

SEPARETED WITH INTENTION

TWISTING

STACKING

RISING

MODULARITY

Lumber is essential to the facade framework as it forms a series of deep cantilevered balconies and terraces that provides solar protection while simultaneously preserving views to the users. Parametric design software allowed calculations to achieve modularity as the tower rises and the floor plans twists and become smaller.

GREEN SPACES + SUSTAINABILITY

The project is envisioned as a new model of sustainable architecture that establishes a connection between urban areas to nature and natural materials. Balcony gardens and green roofs mitigate light and regulate the project's climate helping to passively cool the building and offer privacy to the spaces. Sunny wind-protected outdoor green spaces alter from floor to floor allowing fresh air for the building’s users and enhancing the idea of green and wood for a sustainable future. Designed specifically to enhance the option of being outside even during winter time. Additionally, the steel and glass elements of the facade embrace thermal glazing for solar protection and insulation.