CONSTELLATION

Site: International Residential College, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

 

Description: Site analysis and documentation of interesting pathways, gathering spaces, and site history led to the creation of a constellation, which develops a narrative by connecting spaces and becoming a guide for future site development. I chose to develop a portion of the constellation by introducing a botany school and a community for creative people. The building is linked back to the constellation by rotating a portion of the building and curving a wall to frame a new arboretum. The building steps down the hill with the topography. The curved portion of the building is a hybrid greenhouse and library. The stepping building includes galleries, studio spaces, a dining hall, study spaces, and classrooms for the botany school. At the human scale, curves are introduced into the facade and furniture to create a playful environment, which can be linked back to other elements in the constellation. The facade is a double facade with an inhabitable outdoor space with stairways, vertical gardens, and spaces for relaxing or studying. Overall, this building introduces a new school and environment to the University of Virginia and creates a spatial narrative by connecting interesting spaces within a site.