Buildings today are more about the built environment rather than the un-built or landscapes. This secluded approach of design weakens the relationship between a building, it’s context and ecology. Adaptability, on the contrary, means reformation of spaces in accordance with the environmental variations that happen within a year, month or a day. The idea is to strengthen the receptivity of the built and survive through these changes in a better way.
To achieve adaptation is to change the configuration of the building with regard to the needs/activity/season so that it is better suited to those requirements. The focus is on design features to make it flexible enough that it caters to the most dense and sparse area requirements throughout the year and metamorphosis gives the building the flexibility to change its forms during different seasons.
Freestanding Panels Closed in Cold Season
Chicago sees extremes of temperature with harsh winters disrupting outdoor recreational activities and putting them to hibernation for the most part of the year (October- March). This seasonal drift impacts the inflow of people and the usage of spaces proportionally. The exhibition space required in winters reduces significantly due to lesser visitors whereas storage and workshops need more sheltered spaces in winters. To accommodate this flux of functions we look into the basic working of the building and how its occupancy varies throughout the year. The concept is realized by condensing major functions into the two cores which are connected with a glass walkway which also becomes the viewing deck. This project is to maximize the usage of space by minimizing the boundaries.
Freestanding Panels Fully Opened in Warm Season
Panels and Boathouse Storage Combination
The intent is minimize the building foot print on this site. Since the buildings surrounded are all 2 to 3 stories, it is important to keep the boathouse short. By doing so, the boathouse can easily fit in the environment.
Different panels can create different spaces based on the activities. Panels coming out from the second floor are like canopy which provide shades if needed. Free-standing panels on the ground would have four directions to create multiple spaces, closed area, semi-closed area or opened area.
Bridge connected to two cores is facing to the waterfront, which gives people good views and also provides a space for exhibiting the boats.
During the boat making season, workers will use the water testing area to test out the boats. Tour guides could also use this area to educate people about the knowledge of the boats.
