ARCH 6604 (Spring 2017)

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

CULTURE FACTORY

RE-SCALING FOR BIG CHANGE

PROGRAM BY MARCUS MARTINEZ

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS AND
CULTURAL RESPONSES ARE BEING
SHAPED BY NETWORKED METHODS
OF PAYMENT FOR PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES.

Today, buildings are less subject to traditional problems less obvious in nature. A problem of economics has presented a provocation on how architects consider type, duration, obsolescence, energy and human behavior.

A critical narrative today is the shift from the industrial age to the distributed, shared, intelligent and networked ecosystems of the information age. Change is beyond digital, and has become increasingly visible and form-giving. Services like apple pay offer low-friction payment environments that are reshaping the retail experience from packaging to checkout. How might these evolutions challenge, or provide new beneficial threads in the making of our cities?

This studio is focused on generating bold, build-able outcomes (synthesis) and actionable urban strategies (context setting) from this networked culture--a culture factory for the twenty-first century- a combination AmazonGo grocery store, and WeWork coshare space.

This studio sets out to develop the architect as orchestrator of elements,
steward of resources and maker of cities that produce explicit detailed results paired with projective convictions.

.

ARCH 3501 (Spring 2017)

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON 

BORDER CROSSING MARKET

PROGRAM BY MATT JOHNSON

The second project of the semester will directly explore the connections between the US and Mexico in the form of a 46,000 SF border crossing station. Embedded in this station will be a medium-scale duty-free market.

The market will combine foodstuffs with craft objects, etc We will focus on the interplay of these two programs—one about flow, traffic, infrastructure; the other about transaction, interaction, and program.

The site is in the heart of Laredo, Texas, replacing an existing border crossing station at the north end of the Convent Avenue Bridge. It’s at the heart of Laredo’s San Augustin historic district (the original Laredo, founded in 1755) adjacent to both Los Dos Laredos Park and the historic San Augustin Plaza.

Both markets and border crossings have a rich typological history within architecture. Students will investigate the two programs through precedent, physical, and conceptual study. Some markets operate as large halls, others as a series of kiosks. Light, space, and sequence will be central to this study. 

Students will be expected to fully analyze the history, culture, and urban ecology of the surrounding areas in order to approach their building designs.The project will require the study of operational and representational strategies for urbanism. The site and city are prone to flooding from the Rio Grande and to effects of extreme heat and drought.

Graduate Thesis Instructor (Spring 2014)

BOSTON ARCHITECTURAL COLLEGE - BOSTON, MASS

Students define their thesis projects through a series of design and written exercises. Students complete analytical studies and develop critical strategies, exploring concepts, barrier-free accessibility, site design, codes and program.

AR501 Degree Project Instructor (Spring 2013-Fall 2013)

Boston Architectural College - Boston, Mass

This course places architecture within its cultural and social contexts. Students develop their own concept and approach through modes of learning, working and thinking associated with academic work and practice. This is an integrative project where students incorporate building systems, materiality and structure as part of the creative work of the studio.

air rights studio

SITE

The development of air rights projects over the Boston Extension of the Turnpike was first authorized by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1963. In mid‐1998, the Mayor appointed a
Strategic Development Study Committee (SDSC) to assist the BRA in studying the
parameters for air rights development over the Turnpike from Chinatown to the Allston
toll plaza. 23 air rights site were identified. The approximately 45,000 square foot site, identified as Parcel 16, is framed by Clarendon, Stanhope, Cahners, and Columbus
Ave. Near 60% of your site is airspace over the Mass Pike which you will construct your
project over, through, around, above, etc

PROGRAM

On Parcel 16 will be a ‘community node’,which will respond as an ‘infrastructure for life.’ Large program will include, gymnasium, swimming pool, indoor jogging track, fitness.equipment and racquetball courts. You will coordinate wet areas with support zones like locker rooms etc. Administrative zones include offices, storage, and childcare program. Public program will be responsible for street activation. These include street lobby, welcome center, and vehicular
circulation.

You will be asked to develop a distinguishing program that will be added to the community
fitness program. This component should leverage your most inventive programming, design thinking, and urban centered skills. This part of your project will be developed through your site analysis, research, and your agendas. This program however will be based on approval with instructor. The basis of approval will be in the strength of your research...data, reasoning, scenarios etc.

INFRASTRUCTURE

We consider bridges and freeways as structural elements that provide a framework for supporting public access and the movement of goods and services. These systems, in the hands of engineers and traffic consultants play a heavy role in the shaping of our city. If Stan Allen describes infrastructure to give ‘direction to future work in the city’;

Where can we find opportunities where we can return infrastructure back into our
discipline?..and then channel those values?

 

“Infrastructural work recognizes the collective nature of the city and allows for the participation of multiple authors. Infrastructures give direction to future work in the city not by the establishment of rules or codes (top‐ down), but by fixing points of service, access, and structure (bottom‐up). Infrastructure creates a directed field where different architects and designers can contribute, but it sets technical and instrumental limits to their work.Infrastructure itself works strategically, but it encourages tactical improvisation.”

Stan Allen, “Infrastructural Urbanism.” Points+Lines: Diagrams and Projects for the City. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. 1999 p55