My group’s design for the roof was quite playful, so I wanted to experiment with something different for this project. I sought dramatic yet clean lines to make a strong statement that incorporated light, angle, and a variety of materials. I was inspired by Richard Serra’s series of spirals in the Guggenheim, which are giant sloped walls made of steel that form walkways leading to large interior open spaces. I wanted my building to have such an entryway, but I decided to use light to emphasize the strength of the walls rather than a typically sturdy material.

The wall system has an ocean motif. It is both strong and light. My design combines dramatic angles with simple lines and shapes to give the visitor the impression of walking between columns of water. The double front wall creates a commanding entryway, opening up onto the main room of the community center. I divi

ded the front into a 3 by 5 grid, and then pushed in 4 of the panels to create the inner wall. The leftmost section of the grid is cut from the rest by a large, thick wall that juts from the center, creating my inhabitable

spaces. The mullions on the windows of the front wall mimic the grid but move further apart in order to provide a transition into the inhabitable space.

The inhabitable area is separated on the interior by a removable screen made of canvas and wood. It, like many elements of my design, is triangular, reminiscent of a boat’s sail. A bench made of stacked glass provides the seating in the corner, which gives the visitor the impression of floating on light, or even water. A pane of glass separates the two sides of the bench, creating an interesting dialogue between the visitors on the inside and outside.

Both the back wall and the cutting wall have perforations which reference how light is broken by water. On the inner wall, the panes of glass in the slits are able to open and close as the needs of the room prescribe. A translucent, sail-like covering that allows diffuse light to penetrate the space protects the entryway.