Yoseph Wolde-Mariam
301
Fall 2014

This project is an exploration of the graphic nature of topography lines. These lines, regarded as man’s 2-dimensional, rational interpretation of nature, were looked at in terms of scalar and formal differences.

The form of the visitor center/residence was derived from two sets of topography lines, one set being the lines that are contained by the building footprint (1:1 scale) and the other set being taken from the site at 12 times the building footprint. The second set of lines was then scaled down to 1:12 to fit within the footprint. With the scalar difference between the two sets of lines being so great, different form-making processes were applied. Being the more graphically “interesting” of the two, the 1:12 lines were used to create enclosure/facade. They were folded around the building with subtractions pertaining to programmatic requirements of the residence and views from the observation area. The 1:1 lines were divided in 4′ increments and the spaces between them were then extruded to meet the enclosure.

As visitors enter from the east side of the building, beneath the scientists’ residence, they find themselves walking between 7′ to 9′ high concrete masses. The 8′ and 9′ masses contain a service closet and restroom, while the 7′ masses are used to display specimens and information about the site. As visitors meander between the masses and up the slope, the space compresses until they are no longer beneath the residence and are briefly in an unenclosed area. Their procession continues to the observation room. In this vast, open space with the lines of the site surrounding the visitors, more specimens are held, but because the extrusions are now at lower heights, visitors instead look down at them. As visitors move from specimen to specimen, they catch glimpses of the site through the openings of the enclosure. They can also gather and rest here, as the lowest extrusions (2′ to 3′) encourage sitting. Visitors leave with a greater understanding of the site that they have immersed themselves in and continue down the path.