Abstract
Context can inform circulation in many ways, but how the interior circulation space of a building connects with its adjacent public realm is vital to consider. A soft edge implies a threshold between inside and out, between “comings and goings.” The formal entrance of a building is part of most circulation paths but does not mark the beginning of one’s path. The path of travel to the building connects to daily life and the stories beyond a building’s walls. This paper reviews the literature on circulation-related design factors and introduces a generative graphic approach to diagramming circulation in two case studies: the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Library by SUMA Architects and Henderson Hopkins School by Rogers Partnership. The diagrams suggest variation and adaptability for the occupants’ movement that aligns with their surroundings. Both buildings approach architectural circulation as an extension of context. SUMA’s competition entry for the library told the story of life in the surrounding context and the situations that unfold each day. At Henderson Hopkins, the circulation spaces are inverted, a collection of smaller buildings with exterior spaces or streets between them. The design was modeled from the blocks and brick row homes neighboring the school. The project does not force order on the building or school; it embraces the systems of movement and daily patterns surrounding it. This paper presents the role of context within each building’s circulation spaces through graphic analysis.
Presenters
Jacklynn NiemiecAssistant Professor, Architecture, Design & Urbanism, Drexel University, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design
KEYWORDS
Circulation, Context, Diagramming, Representation, Wayfinding
