FINAL

PORTFOLIO

Minh Le

ARCH 103

Spring 103

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Overview

1. Introduction and Site Analysis of Mission Bay

2. Project Proposals

3. Landform and Massing Studies

4. Final Proposal – Uchronian Garden

5. Afterthoughts

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Intro to Mission Bay

Source: Google Map

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Back-Ground: Created in 1998 by the Board of Supervisors as a redevelopment project.

Much of the land once was the rail yard of the Southern Pacific Railroad

Company.

Also rich with maritime history, the Old Ship Yard Repair located at the

South-East corner of the neighborhood.

Now, the neighborhood has rapidly evolved into a wealthy neighborhood of

luxury condominiums, high-end restaurants and retail, and center hub of

the biotechnology research and development

The San Francisco’s new Mission Bay development project to transform the

neighborhood into “a mixed-use, transit-oriented development,” including

housing complex (range from affordable to high –end luxury), biotech

research labs and hospitals, restaurants and public open spaces along the

waterfront and Mission Creek.

Source: wikipedia.org , sfredevelopment.org

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Significant Values and Attractions Visible and Connectable

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The neighborhood is exposed to full

sunlight almost all day long, giving the

site area the sense of warm and open.

Major wind comes from the Bay, since

the majority of West wind reduces

down while passing through all the

structure of High Way as well as

UCSF campus, making the area

become a comfortable space/ place to

linger and/ or hangout.

Good to promote public space.

Sun Exposure / Wind Capacity

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SF Urban Grown Rate

Mission Bay vs. Entire City

With all the housing project

being planned and proceeded,

the neighborhood will

welcome more residency, so

creating a gathering center to

bring community together can

help enhance the vitality of

the place.

Source: data.sfgov.org, jparsons.net, Esri

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Source: data.sfgov.org

The neighborhood is in low crime rate,

with high cover of police and law

enforcement nearby.

This is a typical friendly and safe

environment, … good to host

community fairs, events that bring people

not only surrounding the area, but also

people from nearby neighborhood, such

as Mission, SOMA, …

Security

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Project Proposals

Promoting the sense of community, prefer the idea of

Slow-Life , which focus on Nodes, pedestrians and bike

traffic.

Open , public space.

Access from Terry A Francois Blvd / Bicycle Route 5

Focus on the function of the Exploratorium museum

complex : learning and interacting.

Discovery.

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Diagram of Program Relationship and Responses

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Landform and Massing Studies

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Landform

I started off with the idea of creating

the extending roof garden joining the

ground level open grass area.

Mimicking the shape of mountain and

terrain.

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From that, I started to

incorporate the spatial

aspect into the landform

structure, with the ideas of

leveling, overhead roof top,

and access between levels.

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Massing

To keep the consistency of

tectonic language between

the two structure (Museum

and Market), I experimented

with the same similar form

throughout the design.

The overall shape and mass is

mainly focused, instead of

details.

I want to see how spaces are

form when I out all the

“building blocks” together

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South side view

The Museum complex is set to be higher

than the market , so visitors can visually

response back to the UCSF campus and its

biotechnology focus.

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Museum is located at the East-end of the site,

taking main access from the Terry A Francois

Blvd and Bridgeview Way.

Also, its location near the waterfront is the

direct response to the Exploratorium at the

waterfront of Pier 15, as well as provide views

to the Bay and other attractions, such as

AT&T Park, or Bay Bridge …

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Issues and Next-Step Approaches

While developing the form of the Market Place, I

decides to create 3 separate levels of shops/stalls

(underground, ground, and upper ground level)

with roof Garden on top.

However, this design came with the problem of

underground level retail shop doesn’t seem to

promote vitality. Also, the roof top Garden is not

easily accessible from shop owners.

So at the next step in my process, I

decide to only create one level of shop,

that easily and equally access from

ground level. The Organic Garden will

be placed at the center of the Market

structure, accessible by all owners, as

well as distinguished from the open

public space.

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After working more and more on the

big idea, I found this arrangement

didn’t seem to response well to my

vision, which will be introduced in

the upcoming slide.

The Exploratorium is located at the

farthest point of the site to the UCSF

campus, whose works are displayed

at the museum.

Locating the museum at the end

near the waterfront doesn’t seem to

trigger the vitality for the Bay,

instead, it might only become the

beautiful view overlooked from the

top of the museum.

Public Garden tends to serve as the

resting, playground for the

community and the neighborhood,

but is located at the middle of busy

services : Market and Museum.

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Uchronian Garden

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Vision

“My project is about creating the center place of Sharing and Discovery”

In the last few weeks up to final, I focused mainly on the design

of the Exploratorium, since it requires a largest activity area and

programmatic space.

I recalled the first time I got to experience the magic of the

Exploratorium, the excitement of learning how things work and

physically making them work. In the design, I want to aim for

that notion of interacting and discovery that Exploratorium

brings to the visitors. It’s not just about merely hearing or

reading about those new things, but actually figuring out the how

and why they are like that.

I also wanted to tap in the idea of bringing people together to

share common interests, building up the sense of community,

“sharing the neighborhood.”

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Final-Changed Program Arrangement

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Market Place:

Located at the West-side, along the 3rd Street and Muni rail-road.

Feeding the neighborhood residents as well as the population from

the UCSF campus across the street

Exploratorium:

Located at the center of the site. Showcasing the work of the UCSF

biotech campus, serve as the metaphorically symbol of the

neighborhood : biotechnology. It is the focal point/ main focus of

Mission Bay.

Public Garden:

Located at the East-side, adjacent to Terry A Francois Blvd,

targeting the public access of pedestrians and bikers. Provide space

for community to hold events or collaborative projects. Potentially

become the extension of the Bay Front Park near the waterfront,

serving the bigger community need.

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Program Responses

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Site Plan

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Neighborhood, Market at Your Service

The Market Place is located along the main

transit road: 3rd Street, to provide service to

the residents of the neighborhood as well as

the population from UCSF campus.

All shops and stalls are at the same level,

provide the equal access along 3rd street and

South street.

Multiple entrance run along to create smooth

and easy access into and out of the Market.

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Organic Garden

Organic Gardens are surrounded

by the Market, accessible from

the shops and stalls by owners.

The Gardens sit within the

Market structure

distinguished from the Public

Open Garden nearby.

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Leading to Journey of Discovery

The two structures of Market

Places form a walkway that lead

the pedestrians and wanderers to

the Exploratorium, located at the

center of the site.

From that, the visitors can start

their journey of discovering

science, design and biotechnology

and sharing/ interacting with each

other.

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Inspiration

Since the Mission Bay had a rich Maritime History, and since the

Market is to serve the neighborhood, I want to the structure that

mimicking the shape of an anchor.

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Exploring the Exploratorium

Inspiration: The overall form of the museum complex

is inspired by the form of the mechanical

gear wheel. It is the combinational

between engineer/ science and design,

link back to the program which aims to

“enrich all lives through science and

design.”

Set of gear wheel always interlock and

interact on each other making the whole

mechanism/ organism operates.

Its interacting nature inspires me as

well. The idea of connecting one gear to

another and creating the continuous flow

of motion is quite lovely.

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Inspiration: The ads, on the right, came up to me one

day when I was waiting for Muni. It is

catchy and spot-on to me because the idea is

quite simple. It focuses on the letter O in

“explore” as well as urges people’s interest

and curiosity into visiting and experiencing

the museum exhibits.

Interesting things sometimes are things

that we don’t know much about. It is a part

of the discovering process; learning , then

sharing with others.

Since this ads really interests me, I decide

to base all of my main activity spaces of the

museum , such as Main Gallery, Exhibits

and Outdoor Garden Gallery, in shape of

the circle; because those places are “where

things get interesting.”

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Early sketches of Space Arrangement.

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First Floor Plans

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Second Floor Plan

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Third Floor Plan

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Entrances

The main entrance to the museum is along

Bridgeview Way.

Accessible from the garage on South Street as

well as the Housing Complex at the north end

of the Mission Bay.

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The second entrance is locate at the

center of the site, follow along the

diagonal-line path way formed by the

Market Place exterior Wall.

This entrance is for people from the

Market, or follow the Gene Friend Way

and Campus Lane from UCSF.

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Main Gallery Space

Main Gallery exhibit located on the first floor level,

accessible directly from the front desk and guest

service area.

Has access up to second-level and third-level exhibit

rooms, and out to the Outdoor Garden Gallery area.

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A Little Journey, A Delight Discovery

You are in the Main Gallery and you notice a

walkway up to upper level. You move toward

and get to the base of the ramp. You can feel the

weight of ceiling of the upper level. But the

window glass along the ramp give you sneak

peak of the outside world, and it excite you to

explore.

You decide to follow the ramp, with

every step up, the walkway is brighter

and brighter , and when you get to the

middle of the glass window, a new

world opens up in front of you, the

Garden below, the building complex of

UCSF campus. You have discovered a

new world, stay as you may and

reflect, or you can finish your walk to

get to next exhibit space, where new

attractions await to be discovered.

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Outdoor Garden Gallery

Outdoor Garden Gallery is located on the west side of the

Main Gallery and can be accessible from there.

It is a hidden public space within the museum, overlooked

by all gallery exhibit.

It is purposely to be a more relaxed space, where people can

hangout, rest or reflect their journey of discovery

throughout the museum.

I want this Outdoor Gallery to be cover with grass, as in to

create a garden where can hold exhibition, special event. It

is the garden within a garden (the whole site).

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Inspiration

Perot Museum of Nature and Science Morphosis

Source: archdaily.net

I got inspired by the idea of creating

this open area at ground level while

structure growing at the background.

It gives me the sense of resting and

relaxing opposing to the complexity of

the design and science.

Every discovery journey needs some

sort of stopping point in the middle to

reflex and rest, that is the reason why ,

I want to incorporate this open area

into my design.

An while the project is about the

Uchronian Garden, I decide to

transform it into a garden as well.

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SF Bay Ecology Exhibit

Ecology Symbol

The SF Bay Ecology and Natural History

Exhibit is located at the South side of the site.

It is accessible via the ramp front the Main

Gallery.

The shape of the exhibit room is inspired by

the Ecology Symbol.

The two half circle in the middle is conversed

into small gardens, following the idea from

the Outdoor Garden Gallery.

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SFMOMA Exhibit

The SFMOMA (Architecture, Design and Art)

Exhibit Room has the donut-like shape

surrounding a small outdoor garden, as to

symbolize the fact that Art, Design and

Architecture always hugging, protecting and

reflecting the community, society and culture.

The garden in this sense is the society and its

culture, while the exhibition room display the

work of Art and Design.

The Exhibit is located at the North side of the

side, somewhat respond to the importance of

North Arrow in Architecture.

The use of trusses and beams and structure

are also emphasized to praise Design and

Architecture.

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Rooftop Outdoor Gallery

Located on the highest level, Outdoor

Gallery opens up the surrounding and

create the vista point from the museum

to other landmarks, attractions, such as

AT&T Park, Bay Bridge, the waterfront,

UCSF campus, Downtown at the far

distance… as well as overlooking the

Garden below.

Accessible only through Art and Design

Exhibit, it is intent to be the final

destination of the journey through Main

Gallery to the exhibit(s). There is no

direct access from the ground level,

because I want the visitors to pass by all

the gallery exhibits , and explore new

discoveries along the way before getting

to the final knot.

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Amphitheater

Amphitheater is intent to serve both the

Exploratorium as well as the public. It is placed

and accessible from ground level and from the

roof-top outdoor gallery of the museum.

The stage area is pointing toward the old Ship

Yard Repair , as to add the little history of the

neighborhood into each performance. Seating

area overlooking the waterfront.

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Inspiration

The Brown – Forman Amphitheater

Louisville Waterfront Park

Source: louisvillewaterfront.com

I like the idea of setting the amphitheater

seating area like this. People can sit and

lie down. This much space in between

provide comfort.

Also, cover the seating area with grass

will blend in with the landform of the

grass open public space at the East side

of the site.

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Public Gardens / Open Spaces

Several Grass-Public Gardens are

distributed throughout the site to

provide resting area and meeting place.

The garden at the East side of the site,

adjacent to Terry A Francois Blvd, can

be ideally connected to the Bay Front

Park near the waterfront.

Potentially hold community events, like

Street Fair or Farmer Markets, …

Activate the waterfront by bringing in

the community.

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Potential Projects

Columbus Circle Fountain

Source: pbase.com

Playground, active area Farmer Market or Street Fair

Source: 365thingsaustin.com

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Perspective Vignettes

View from roof top Outdoor Gallery overlooking UCSF campus

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View from the balcony at the Outdoor Garden Gallery looking at Exhibit Gallery

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View from East-side Public Garden looking at the Museum Complex

55 View from the corner of 3rd Street and South Street

56 View from Amphitheater seating looking over the Bay

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Post-Final Potential Development

The final presentation had got me some very useful feedback to develop my project.

The Amphitheater can be extending and take part/ merge into the museum. Complete

the full circle and open up the space as well as visual toward the stage.

The path way formed by Market Place to the Museum can be rearranged to start off

at the Campus Way side and run up to meet near the corner of Bridgeview Way and

South Street. It helps eliminate the necessary of two-entrance museum.

The Outdoor Garden Gallery on the ground level is a little isolated. Further

development can transformed it into the meeting place, speaker podium provided for

talks and “meet-up.”

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Afterthoughts

First of all, I would like to say that this semester has been challenging and rewarding at

the same time.

I’ve never done a project this big of the scale, and along the way, I get to learn about the

new design approaches: land form buildings and massing study.

This semester, I experience some issues at home, and it’s kept me out of my focus. But with

all of the frustration it gets, I’m glad I still find time to do design. This project somewhat

kept me sane, so overwhelming and challenging as it gets, I’m glad I’ve been working on it.

Now at the end of the semester, I would have wished what I have more time. There are a

lot of things I would like to develop further; and I would definitely take Professor Lum’s

advice of developing the final project more, not just for my interest sake, but in the long

run, may benefit the learning process as well transfer planning.

I will also look more into Landform Building and Massing Studies of Urban Planning. They

help me experience architecture in a different way. And then also Kevin Lynch’s 5 city

element. I believe all the lessons I have learned and been introduced can help me greatly

in the future in my learning and creative process.

In short, not as much as I expect it to be, this semester has been productive and inspiring.