Caden McNutt - Project 01 - Architecture Design II - Janet Guthrie

Research Collage

For this project, we were instructed to pick one woman who significantly contributed to history. I am interested in cars and racing, so I decided to pick Janet Guthrie as my client. Guthrie is known for being the first competitive female racer, competing in races such as the Daytona 500 and Indy 500. She would spark a new era of female racers in the future. Guthrie was known for her impact on the racing community, so for my research collage as shown to the right, I decided to stick with linear and angular lines. Linear and angular lines can present speed.

Client Memorial Draft

Following the concept research collage, we were then tasked with brainstorming a memorial for the client that we chose. For my memorial, my ideas brainstormed around the linear and angular lines. I decided to take the parts and pieces from my concept research collage and implement them into my memorial design. My priority goal at the time was to represent speed. I felt like the way the lines were slanted and facing, represented speed well as the eye could follow along the lines. The formation of lines for the floor plan was supposed to represent a car outline. The left side is the front with the right side being the back of the car (the air wing/spoiler). I wanted to add some cars that were used in Guthrie's past that could aid in contributing to a good viewing experience. 

Site Selection and Analysis

We were then instructed to choose a site afterward. When it came down to site selection, I had about 3 places in mind. The first is the one on the screen, Daytona, Florida. This was an option that came to mind because it was near the Daytona 500, as seen on the top right of the site image. The site was near an airport as well, which is a bonus because before becoming a racer, Guthrie was actually a pilot. Another spot in mind was Indianapolis, Indiana. This was an option simply because of the Indy 500. The final spot in mind is Miami, Florida. This was the place where she grew up for the majority of her life. When it came down to the selection, the best of options was Daytona, Florida. With the Daytona 500, the airport, and being in the state where she grew up the majority of her life, I couldn't pass up on this opportunity. There was a good plot of land that I could use for my memorial as well, so therefore I selected Daytona.

Concept Designs and Models

Concept Design I

Finally, we were tasked with developing a master plan, concept design, and a model to 3D represent the concept design. For my first idea, I used those same ribbons to keep the original speed aspect of the memorial. I would place the 2 buildings on the side as if the smaller one was the pit stop, the larger one being the "spectator seating" and then the main building as the racers. This would be a literal representation of a race track.

Concept Design II

For my second concept idea, I decided to focus more on speed with the sloped lines coming out of the ground, getting taller as you move forward. The ending of the building would be the "finish line" like they have in racing. This building had the idea of a "drive-thru" memorial. Guests could drive their car through the memorial while experiencing it and people have a chance to show off their cars as well.

Concept Design III

Lastly, my third idea. This was generated off of the OPPOSITE characteristics of my other concepts. Rather than linear and angular, it would be more rounded and sloped. This building was to represent the ends of a Nascar race track. The slopes would add some speed illusion, as that is a main aspect I wanted to keep. The building in the middle would be the service building, and it could represent the little watch towers they have around in the inside of the track.

Pursuing Idea

Schematic Design

In the schematic designs, this is where I decided to pursue my "final" design. This is where I made the choice to bring Concept #2, but I would add a few changes. Changes I would make is adding a race track. I feel the race track gives the literal MOTION sense of racing and it does provide meaning which will be explained in the next section. I would also go on to adding an entrance building, near the left of the parking lot where visitors would start their journey.

Site Model

To the left is a 3D site model of the site I chose. This site aids in demonstrating how the whole thing is laid out. The race track is here to give a racing sense to the whole memorial site itself. This could function on something as electric carts, where visitors can race their carts around the racetrack. In the future, I would've added a pitstop to the center building and entrance building so visitors could pull over and check the inside of the place out. The race track itself symbolizes the journey of progressing through challenges to achieve your end goal. Equally important, the race track provides a sense of speed and competition as stated in the previous section. I feel as if the race track gives a nice touch of legacy and how the sport will unite people through generations of existing.

The Entrance Building

    The entrance building was to provide as a place for visitors to load up in their electric carts. This building can provide literally as a waiting place. Figuratively, this building stands for the gateway to the world of racing. This can be the starting point for the journey of a visitor into the racing world. The entrance building houses a waiting area, a desk for tickets on electric carts, a service space for employee members, restrooms, and possibly a gift shop near the edge. Visitors would enter through the right if walking straight, this is where they would wait. Next, they could enter the bigger sized part where the loading for electric carts are located. The openings in the walls ARE openings, they are not glass.

The Center/Memorial Building

 This building houses the education, memory space, and action space. The action space would be racing games, something simple as an interactive racing arcade/video game. The education space would hold to its name. The memory space would contain achievements and memorabilia of Janet Guthrie. The openings on this buildings are all openings BESIDES the side. The openings on the side are to represent glass. This building memorializes Guthrie as it is not only the building with information about her, but also the building that is dedicated to honoring Guthrie's legacy on racing. 

The Residential Building

The residential building will be the fellowship residence. The openings on the bridge is GLASS. The other openings that look like doorways are doorways, yes. People that could visit here could be motorsport enthusiasts that want to immerse themselves in the racing culture. Motorsport historians who want to cover the history of racing can be an interesting visitor as well. Figuratively, the resident building can represent achievement and success as you cross the "finish line" . This can symbolize the achievements of Guthrie and her achievements in racing. This can display her success of reaching the end goal, to lead to future generations of women racers.