Subtraction, Alignment, Transparency

The project is a community center that uses the rhythm and geometry of the facades in its vicinity to create centralized programmatic clusters. The subtracted cavities in the facade create outdoor spaces like a farmer’s market, exhibition space, and feature staircases. The mesh enclosed courts are aligned with the programmatic mass below in a field. The stairs create opportunities for opening the community center to the sidewalk, allowing public interaction to permeate into the project. The light glue laminated timber and steel structure above acts as a canopy, allowing gentle north light into the project, and the heavier concrete structure and porous screen below minimizes heat gain in the first floor. The goal was to capture the material sensibility and textural quality of basketball courts, characterized by concrete and chain-link, using heavier material assemblies, but retaining the light and transparent qualities.