SPRINGBANK COMMONS IDEAS COMPETITION
BUILDING SOCIO_ECOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The new facility for Musagetes and SIG@Waterloo at Springbank Commons is an opportunity to build an environment which encourages social innovation through social interaction and connection with the natural world. BUILDING SOCIO_ECOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The integration of the building’s floor plates into the slope creates a visceral topographical experience for the occupants. The flow of water over and through the building integrates the facility into the site’s hydrological systems, while raw thresholds between site and building at secondary entrances articulate the edge between the built and natural environment. In order to harness the sun’s energy for daylighting and heating, the building is carefully oriented and openings are located precisely. A geothermal system also draws and releases energy from the surrounding soil for additional heating and cooling requirements. Planting of native species in and around the building minimizes site maintenance and supports the complexity and sustainability of the micro-environment allowing local flora and fauna to flourish. A viewing tower emerges from the hinge between the exhibition and research wings above the main entrance. Accessible from the both the exterior and interior, the tower is both a beacon to local residents and passers-by and a platform from which to view the Rare Charitable Reserve and its place within the local community and environment.
In the spirit of Musagetes and SIG@Waterloo, the design of this new home for both groups facilitates social interaction within the building as well as between these organizations and the local community. Encouraging random encounters and paying attention to your neighbour are two techniques for fostering complexity and emergence in social groups. The exhibition space does double-duty in this regard, acting as both lounge space anchored by the fireplace and kitchen and as exhibition space for viewing one another’s work. The design also privileges cross-views between the organizations’ work areas and between the work areas and the public areas of the building.
When: Jan. – Sept. 2009
What: 1st Place Team
Who: Liana Breseler, Sarah Neault, Wes Wilson
Key duties: Research, Conceptual design, Design development, Site plan, Text.
Software used: Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, VectorWorks.