Joslyn Wooten: Architecture 2
Project 01: SuperheroesAmelia Earhart:
This project intends to honor the lives of influential women in history by exploring them in an architectural fashion. Upon choosing our client, we were expected to design a memorial facility to honor our selected woman. I decided to move forward with Amelia Earhart as I have always looked up to her ambition and accomplishments from a young age.
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Visual Research Collage:
Amelia Earhart has been known for her courage and determination. While being an aviatrix, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. As she began to gain fame, Amelia decided to use her platform as a way to spread the ideology that women and men are equal. Earhart had to overcome many obstacles to be successful while entering a male dominated profession. Since she was a child she enjoyed climbing trees, fishing and hunting which is displayed in the bottom right corner of the collage. It pictures her childhood home as well as a tree native in Earhart's hometown in Kansas which she frequently climbed. Earhart's passion for aviation began after she dropped out of college to volunteer as a nurse’s aide at Spadina Military Convalescent Hospital in Toronto to help the war effort. As she became more infatuated with pilots, she became eager to fly a plane of her own. This is explained on the bottom left of the above image by depicting the juxtaposition of her as a nurse's aide who heals and the destruction of war. Amelia Earhart was an independent woman which was demonstrated when she was proposed to five times by George P. Putnam. This can be seen in the top right corner of the above piece. Earhart was not one to care about her reputation. She embraces rebelliousness and going against the societal norms. The biggest part of the collage is a representation of her plane, a Lockheed Vega 5B, which she referred to as her "little red bus." It is configured of newspaper articles written about her reputation which represent her flying free from the negative opinions of others. Earhart disappeared after the flight of 1937. She was officially declared dead on January 5, 1939. Though her disappearance is an important detail regarding her, I did not want to dwell on how she died. Instead, I wanted to focus on how she lived.
Amelia Earhart visual research collage
Memorial Drawing: The pictured memorial is a tunnel since it can be metaphorically compared to one’s journey through life. Since Amelia Earhart was a daring person, I wanted the visitor to learn about her through an immersive adventure. The beginning stages of the memorial are made of steps that gradually become further apart. This signifies the struggle Earhart faced while earning her position in a male dominated field. When the steps get further apart it conveys the concept that as you get over one obstacle, another, more challenging one comes to picture. The flowers on the side of the steps are called the Cymbidium Memoria Amelia Earhart which are orchids named after her. From first glance, the memorial just appears to be an ordinary tunnel that leads to nowhere. However, it slightly slopes upwards. Overtime, this tilt challenges people's ambition while walking through the tunnel since walking uphill often exhausts people. This element allows for the visitors to feel the emotions Earhart felt during flight. Additionally, the interior of the memorial has a hanging glass piece which moves in the wind making sound. Upon reaching the end of the tunnel, the visitor is on an observation deck tens of feet above the ground. This gives the visitor a shock factor as they were once ground level and now it feels as though they’re flying like Amelia Earhart. This can be interpreted as the viewer experiencing the feel of flying, but also gives them the sense of freedom and pride. Close to the edge of the observation deck, there is a glass floor where the visitors can see beneath them. Information plaques will be provided on the railing of the fence which can only be read if visitors walk on top of the glass. Many people are scared of heights so this is meant to convey the philosophy of taking risks to learn new things. The overall design of the memorial has a celestial appearance to it to visually represent the aerodynamics of a plane.
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Memorial projection drawings
Model of memorial
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Site Analysis:This site was chosen due to its direct connection to where Amelia Earhart went missing. After going through the memorial, the visitor will be on a balcony that’s orientation matches perfectly to Howland Island. This island is where Amelia Earhart was intending to land prior to her disappearance. It’s also in Oakland, California which is where she last flew out of. Though it is not possible to directly see Howland Island, it has a symbolic foreshadowing effect of where she began her journey and ended it. Which is a poetic way of adding on to the tunnel's effect of transitioning through the life of Amelia Earhart. In terms of the entire memorial facility, the cliff side location allows for the visitor to have the feeling of flying. Additionally, the residency areas can be cliffside structures providing the residents with an immersive learning experience.
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Site analysis
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Master Plans:
Master Plan 1:For this master plan I wanted to take advantage of my large site and make individual buildings. However, I wanted the education and memory space to be one building to show the connection between visual and auditory learners. The memorial is connected to the memory space because I felt they had a strong correlation to each other. Her plane would be under the breezeway connecting these spaces where people would be able to walk across a glass floor and view it from beneath them.
Master plan 1
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Master Plan 2:In the second master plan, I made each building separate to represent Amelia Earhart's independence. The most obvious thing to notice would be the compass design in the center. When Earhart was a pilot, she did not have access to a GPS, so I saw it important to include older technology. Her red plane is in the middle of the compass around roses to represent the “compass rose.” Additionally, it conveys how everything leads back to her occupation.
Master plan 2
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Master Plan 3:In my final master plan, I wanted to add diversity to my options so rather than making individual buildings, I made a singular, large structure. Again the residency areas are far away from the building so those that reside could have privacy from visitors. Additionally, the residents are on a cliffside location which conveys the idea that they are floating. The right wing has the education space in it and the left wing includes the memory space which is connected to the memorial.
Master plan 3
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Concept 1:
Written Explanation:
The information center: From an overhead perspective, the information center is in the shape of the steering device of a plane. This is a play on words since the center that houses employees, contains bathrooms and directs people to different areas of the facility takes the form of the control piece of a plane.
Memory/education space: The memory and education centers are where visitors will gather information about Amelia Earhart. The structure takes the form of a propeller as it is an important part of a plane just like how education is important. The memory space visually conveys information while the education space correlates mainly to those that are auditory learners. Aside from the information space, this building comes first before the action spaces because it’s important to have a strong understanding of Earhart's life before interacting with activities. These centers are connected by a breezeway with a glass opening displaying Earhart’s red plane beneath them. In return, when visitors travel from one building to the next they can observe this plane. The memory space will have the look of an aerospace museum where planes hang from the ceiling.
Action space 1: Pilots that are either retired or currently employed could teach a class to the younger generation as to how to simply navigate a plane. Children could learn these important skills and then they could apply their knowledge by using a flight simulator. This would not only be entertaining, but it would teach how difficult it was and still is to fly a plane. The building also has a stage in front of a glass wall where public speakers can talk about their experiences. They could either speak upon aviation or upon female empowerment. The overall structure of this building is aerodynamic and represents the feeling of flight.
Action space 2: This activity appeals mainly to the younger generations. The basic premise of this space is a paper airplane activity. Children could write or visually display their dreams, goals and aspirations. They could then fold this drawing or written idea into the shape of a paper airplane and attach it to a clip beneath the structure's roof. This would end up looking like an interactive work of art and represents the idea of dreams taking flight. The structure itself takes the shape of a paper airplane.
Residency space: This area allows the residents to have privacy from the visitors and resembles the shape of an aerodynamic object. Additionally, it has large windows to give the feel of flying.
Memory/education space: The memory and education centers are where visitors will gather information about Amelia Earhart. The structure takes the form of a propeller as it is an important part of a plane just like how education is important. The memory space visually conveys information while the education space correlates mainly to those that are auditory learners. Aside from the information space, this building comes first before the action spaces because it’s important to have a strong understanding of Earhart's life before interacting with activities. These centers are connected by a breezeway with a glass opening displaying Earhart’s red plane beneath them. In return, when visitors travel from one building to the next they can observe this plane. The memory space will have the look of an aerospace museum where planes hang from the ceiling.
Action space 1: Pilots that are either retired or currently employed could teach a class to the younger generation as to how to simply navigate a plane. Children could learn these important skills and then they could apply their knowledge by using a flight simulator. This would not only be entertaining, but it would teach how difficult it was and still is to fly a plane. The building also has a stage in front of a glass wall where public speakers can talk about their experiences. They could either speak upon aviation or upon female empowerment. The overall structure of this building is aerodynamic and represents the feeling of flight.
Action space 2: This activity appeals mainly to the younger generations. The basic premise of this space is a paper airplane activity. Children could write or visually display their dreams, goals and aspirations. They could then fold this drawing or written idea into the shape of a paper airplane and attach it to a clip beneath the structure's roof. This would end up looking like an interactive work of art and represents the idea of dreams taking flight. The structure itself takes the shape of a paper airplane.
Residency space: This area allows the residents to have privacy from the visitors and resembles the shape of an aerodynamic object. Additionally, it has large windows to give the feel of flying.
Concept 1 model orientation
Concept Drawings:
Concept 1 drawings
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Photos of Each Structure: |
Concept 2:
Written Explanation:
Information center: Amelia Earhart helped develop an organization called the ninety-nines which consisted of 99 female pilots. Since this is an important part of the legacy, she left behind I wanted to include it in my design. From above this building is in the shape of a 9 as a play on words to represent the fact that the center that organizes all activities and employees visually represents the organization, she helped form.
Education space: In the education space, I found it important to focus on who she was as an adult but also factor in all the minor successes she achieved during her adolescent years. This space will be a visual timeline which is why it takes the shape of a circle. As previously mentioned, Amelia Earhart loved climbing trees and enjoyed nature, so I decided it would be interesting to put the Kansas state tree (her home state) in the middle which further conveys the idea of everything centered around her youth.
Memory space: When thinking about Amelia Earhart I felt a sense of freedom and free-spirit. I decided to analyze both of those qualities and factor them into this building. From above, the structure is in the shape of an infinity sign and the roof has feather-like features which convey the free-flying nature of a bird. The combination of both the infinity sign and the anatomy of a bird is meant to biblically signify her flying in life but also her flying high in memory. Hence, why this structure represents the memory facility.
Action space: The overall structure of this space represents the soaring of a bird over a cliffside challenging you to go on an adventure. It includes a lookout deck where visitors can see beneath them and feel a flying sensation. One section of the building is a public area where people can give speeches about female accomplishments, interesting facts about Amelia Earhart, people's personal stories that relate to her, and pilot experiences. The other section is again the class where previous aviators can teach using older technology.
Compass landscaping element: Each “direction” is a pathway which can lead to another structure. However, each path leads back to her red plane which is surrounded by roses as a play on words to represent a compass rose. This is meant to convey that all things connect back to her passion for aviation. Her plane is covered by a canopy, so it stays in decent condition while being exposed to sun and rain.
Residency area: Again, this is a cliffside area where residents can reside. It has an aerodynamic appeal with large windows to allow the resident to get extraordinary views. Additionally, it offers privacy as it is distant from the memorial facility.
Education space: In the education space, I found it important to focus on who she was as an adult but also factor in all the minor successes she achieved during her adolescent years. This space will be a visual timeline which is why it takes the shape of a circle. As previously mentioned, Amelia Earhart loved climbing trees and enjoyed nature, so I decided it would be interesting to put the Kansas state tree (her home state) in the middle which further conveys the idea of everything centered around her youth.
Memory space: When thinking about Amelia Earhart I felt a sense of freedom and free-spirit. I decided to analyze both of those qualities and factor them into this building. From above, the structure is in the shape of an infinity sign and the roof has feather-like features which convey the free-flying nature of a bird. The combination of both the infinity sign and the anatomy of a bird is meant to biblically signify her flying in life but also her flying high in memory. Hence, why this structure represents the memory facility.
Action space: The overall structure of this space represents the soaring of a bird over a cliffside challenging you to go on an adventure. It includes a lookout deck where visitors can see beneath them and feel a flying sensation. One section of the building is a public area where people can give speeches about female accomplishments, interesting facts about Amelia Earhart, people's personal stories that relate to her, and pilot experiences. The other section is again the class where previous aviators can teach using older technology.
Compass landscaping element: Each “direction” is a pathway which can lead to another structure. However, each path leads back to her red plane which is surrounded by roses as a play on words to represent a compass rose. This is meant to convey that all things connect back to her passion for aviation. Her plane is covered by a canopy, so it stays in decent condition while being exposed to sun and rain.
Residency area: Again, this is a cliffside area where residents can reside. It has an aerodynamic appeal with large windows to allow the resident to get extraordinary views. Additionally, it offers privacy as it is distant from the memorial facility.
Concept 2 model orientation
Concept Drawings:
Concept 2 draings
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Photos of Each Structure: |
Concept 3:
Written Explanation:
Concept design 3: To add diversity between my concept designs, I wanted to make this structure a singular building. The building branches off into two different parts upon entering which include the private offices and the public bathrooms. From an overhead perspective, this section resembles the structure of the letter “A”. Coming back to my visual research collage, you might have noticed that I contrasted the words “Amelia Earhart” and “Aviatrix.” This element inspired me when designing because it explains to the visitor that they will be learning about who she was as an aviator as well as who she was as a person. The cylinder structure in the middle is an open concept design that embodies the education center. You can then decide if you would rather visit the memory space first to get further, visual, information about Amelia Earhart, or you could visit the action space where you could learn about her legacy in an interactive manner for those that have a kinesthetic learning style. The roof design is meant to resemble the structure of a bird wing because again when picturing a bird, you think of freedom and limitless boundaries as well as independence and grace. Hence, why it seemed appropriate to associate her with this animal as it matches with her personality. Additionally, the roof of the education space resembles the beak of a bird eagerly inviting the visitors in to learn about her.
Residency space: The residency space is aerodynamic and is configured of large windows to interactively teach the resident about Amelia Earhart's legacy.
Residency space: The residency space is aerodynamic and is configured of large windows to interactively teach the resident about Amelia Earhart's legacy.
Concept 3 model
Concept Drawings:
Concept 3 drawings
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Photos of Each Structure: |
Preliminary Work - Information Center:
Study Model
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Explanation of Layout: This center acts as the first landmark/gateway visitors reach upon first entering. Since this center contains an information desk and offers help towards the public, it felt fitting for this structure to house the employees. With a total of twelve offices, four staff restrooms, four copy rooms, two staff lounges and two glass enclosed conference rooms, this space presents a positive and productive work environment. While the majority of this building is designated to its staff, there are two large public restrooms. One for men and one for women. Though this isn’t the only building with restrooms it felt appropriate that the first building should house the largest one. Additionally, the private staff rooms are private and can only be accessed by an employee.
Significance: The propeller is arguably the most important part of a plane. It keeps the plane stable while also helping it stay in flight. Similar things can be said to describe a staff. Without a trusted staff, a building could not function. This structure takes a geometric approach towards a plane’s propeller to signify the importance of the employee’s along with Amelia Earhart’s legacy as an aviator. Additionally, the building has several sleek, aerodynamic aspects that connect to Earhart. As this structure is the first to greet the visitors, it is tall and adventurous to invite guests in.
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Preliminary Work - Memory/Education Center:
Study Model
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Explanation of Layout: This center acts as the first landmark/gateway visitors reach upon first entering. Since this center contains an information desk and offers help towards the public, it felt fitting for this structure to house the employees. With a total of twelve offices, four staff restrooms, four copy rooms, two staff lounges and two glass enclosed conference rooms, this space presents a positive and productive work environment. While the majority of this building is designated to its staff, there are two large public restrooms. One for men and one for women. Though this isn’t the only building with restrooms it felt appropriate that the first building should house the largest one. Additionally, the private staff rooms are private and can only be accessed by an employee.
Significance: A hangar shelters planes along with other aircraft. Hence why I deemed it important to make this building represent the look of a hangar. Surrounding this structure are Kansas’s state trees, Cottonwoods. Though Earhart moved frequently, her roots were set in Kansas. Frequently she would climb these trees which considerably sparked her adventurous mindset and her legacy. I felt it important to surround this building with these trees to highlight the importance of her childhood. Additionally, these tree’s make the very abstract and modern structure appear more grounded which appropriately describes Earhart, ahead of her time but humble.
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Preliminary Work - Airplane Activity:
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Significance: As there’s no rooms, there’s no need to explain its layout. This structure takes an abstract and beautiful approach to teach the younger and older generations Earhart's legacy. The general concept is that someone will take a piece of paper and write or visually explain their dreams and aspirations. Upon finishing, the visitor will fold this dream into a paper airplane and hang it onto a free string attached to the roof. After enough people have participated, this space becomes a community art piece as the wind will blow these planes gently in the air. This acts as a way for guests to manifest their desires. I believe visitors should come to this structure after learning about Earhart so they can become inspired and realize that though all odds were against her, she prevailed. I want the guests to utilize the inspiration Earhart offers when writing these dreams. This is meant to convey the idea of dreams taking flight which a moral Amelia Earhart would promote.
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Study Model
Preliminary Work - Action Center:
Floor Plan(s) Drawing
Elevations Drawing
Study Model
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Explanation of Layout: The stairs to the side of the building allow for the visitor to come to the roof and view the site from a different perspective. Originally, I had a spiral staircase allowing two entrances and exits but I scrapped it since it didn’t have a direct significance towards Amelia Earhart. When first entering, there’s a snack bar/small cafe where visitors can grab a quick bite. To the right is a large auditorium where public speakers will visit and create speeches. The public speakers can be previous pilots talking about their experiences or an activist speaking upon the importance of equality and love. Both of which are speakers I believe would promote Earhart's legacy.
Significance: Though this building is smaller, its metaphorical meaning is quite grand. The snack bar offers a multitude of food court items on the menu. Some classic foods like chicken nuggets or fries, but it also offers something called the “Amelia.” This dish includes the random food amalgamations Earhart had to eat as regular foods were not obtainable while she was in flight. I felt as though this connection would allow visitors to further understand what Earhart had sacrificed, even simple things like nuggets. The auditorium is large and has high ceilings to improve the symphonics of the room. I wanted the interior of this room to resemble the inside of a church. Not only was Earhart religious, but churches are often a place of vulnerability and sacrifice which is what I intend guests to understand.
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Preliminary Work - Residency:
Study Model
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Explanation of layout: Though the residency area is on a cliff it can be accessed from ground level. There are numerous decks to give the residents a multitude of cliffside views. The first floor contains the living room which acts as a residential collaborative study, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a breakfast nook. The second floor is intentionally more private as it offers each resident a bedroom, a personal bathroom and a private deck. These spaces provide the residents the ability to collaborate on their studies or study independently.
Significance: The residential area's cliffside location offers numerous views as well as the immersive experience of flight. The structure seamlessly connects to the ground plane to offer a private and separated feeling from the visitors. While still remaining within close proximity of the center, the visitors cannot see this structure as it is perfectly hidden. Additionally, it consists of large windows, modern architecture, and aerodynamic geometry to structurally convey Earhart's free-flowing legacy.
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Site:
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Preliminary Site Drawing
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Final Site Model
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Final Design - Service Center:
Revit Drawings
3D Perspectives
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3D Conference Room
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3D Exterior
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3D Information Desk
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Final Model
Similarities to preliminary work: The building still takes the shape of the propeller as it holds significant meaning. Additionally, the breezeway with the glass platform. and the overall layout is still similar.
Differences to preliminary work: Though the structure still takes the shape of a propeller, the roof no longer resembles the shape of the roof since I believe it would’ve looked far too cluttered as the building already was in that shape. Additionally, I made the structure taller because I wanted it to invite the visitors in.
Final Design - Memory/Education Center:
Revit Drawings
3D Perspectives
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Second Floor Interior 3D
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3D Exterior
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Interior 3D
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Final Model
Similarities to preliminary work: The layout remains the same in terms of where the rooms are located and their sizes. Additionally, the trees and their significance still circle the building.
Differences to preliminary work: While keeping the length relatively similar, I made the width narrower to offer a sleeker look. Additionally, I removed the circular platform that visitors were intended to walk up as it didn’t withhold significant meaning and ultimately looked awfully strange. Lastly, I removed some display cases as it blocked areas I wanted to leave open.
Final Design - Airplane Activity:
Revit Drawings
Final Model
Similarities to preliminary work: The significance is still highly focused upon and the overall shape remains the same.
Differences to preliminary work: Since this structure is incredibly simple, the only difference is a slight increase in the size.
Differences to preliminary work: Since this structure is incredibly simple, the only difference is a slight increase in the size.
Final Design - Action Center:
Revit Drawings
3D Perspectives
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3D Auditorium
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3D Exterior
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3D Cafe
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Final Model
Similarities to preliminary work: The meaning along with the overall layout and exterior staircase leading to the roof remain the same. Even the stage remains the same.
Differences to preliminary work: Though this structure is highly similar to the original, preliminary design, I discarded the circular staircase in the middle as I deemed it to be unnecessary and it cluttered the space meant to be open. Additionally, I shrunk the size of the cafe as it was far too large to only be serving snacks.
Differences to preliminary work: Though this structure is highly similar to the original, preliminary design, I discarded the circular staircase in the middle as I deemed it to be unnecessary and it cluttered the space meant to be open. Additionally, I shrunk the size of the cafe as it was far too large to only be serving snacks.
Final Design - Residency:
Revit Drawings
3D Perspective
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3D Stairs
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3D Exterior
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3D Kitchen/Living
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Final Model
Similarities to preliminary work: The entire layout is the exact same. The sizes and rooms remain in the same position.
Differences to preliminary work: I only made small changes when designing the final structure. I removed the wall divided between the kitchen and the living room as I felt it disrupted the open concept I intended to have. Additionally, I changed the stairs and the deck size and shape to accommodate the height which I increased by a foot.
How Each Building Connects to Each Other:
As previously stated, considering the fact I had a large site, it felt appropriate to divide my facility into multiple buildings. Though these buildings teach different values and encompass several things, they still have numerous similarities. For one, the architecture of each building shares the same modern and aerodynamic qualities. The biggest similarity/connection of each building is that the roofs act as a timeline of her life. Each building touches the ground in some form and leads to another direction. This is meant to express the highs and lows of Earhart's life. After approaching the final buildings, the roofs begin to point directly up over the cliffside rather than coming back down. This motion represents Earhart’s disappearance and how after coming up, she never came back down. This signifies he legacy living on along with the mystery of her disappearance.
