Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Interactive PDF(static) Link: 
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Draft Text
Vitra Leisure Centre
Using architectural elements taken from the Vitra Design Museum building, the building has been re-envisioned as a leisure centre. By re-purposing certain features of the original structure, each element brings both the familiar aspects of the Vitra along with the functionality of a leisure centre. With the use of space found within the Vitra building, I found it was appropriate for features one would find in a leisure centre including a swimming pool, public bathrooms and an indoor gym.
The most prominent feature that can be seen in the Vitra’s redesign would be the slanted cube that can be found originally hanging above the main entrance. I have re-scaled it and placed it on the top of the building fixed on a tilted angle to serve as a slanted roof. Many of the shapes and structural forms remain similar to the vitra on the exterior including the staircase tower arc and triangular prism block are present to serve as homage to Frank Gehry’s Vitra Design Museum.
While much of the exterior reflects many aspects of the original Vitra, I have altered the purpose they serve by re-designing most of their interior functions for the building. The original staircase arc has been transformed into a second entrance into the building with glass encasing the exterior curve providing clear view windows into the building.
The original pillar to which the staircases lead to has been altered to serve as a separate set of stairs that eventually lead up to the entrance of a newly added water slide. The waterslide follows through from the tower directly into the swimming pool. This was inspired by the spiral staircase structure originally found in Frank Gehry’s Vitra Museum. While being an all new addition to the building, the water slide’s form I feel, relates to the context of the original building’s abstract appearance.
The roof mounted windows taken from the roof of the Vitra building has been moved and placed above the reception area as a sky light using only one section from the element, allowing natural light into the space. The curved roof form taken from the Vitra building has been expanded to support the main roof structure of the building.
The interior entrance leads through pass the public bathrooms into the pool area which splits off into two indoor gym areas, a staircase leading to the second floor weight area while a cycling area found through a doorway besides the pool. The cycling area of the building is modelled from the structural form found adjacent to the Vitra building entrance with a slanted slope.
With the spatial interiors and abstract exterior appearance of the Vitra, re-envisioning the building as a leisure centre felt appropriate with the final design resulting in a familiar building retaining elements from the original Vitra Museum and combining the functionalities of a leisure centre. Using the Vitra as a layout and transforming it into a leisure centre, it gives new purpose to the building while paying tribute to Frank Gehry’s original design and bringing it into the modern age.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)