The Creative Living Community sits on a 3.5 acre site on the North side of downtown tucked between an light industrial zone, residential, and the local park system comprising of Mill Race Park, the Peoples Trail, and Noblitt Park. There are floodway conditions throughout the site limiting the buildable area. The design is required to be conscious of anticipated climate-driven flooding change.

The park and forested areas are enjoyed by local residents. In my concept I left the forested areas untouched, and created a dynamic within the site that would be pleasurable to experience as a park goer, and as a visitor to the site you would be engaged with trees and natural landscape of Noblitt Park. Knowing the history of flooding in the Columbus area and how ornamental trees can be difficult to adapt, I wanted to preserve the hearty woodland as it has been resilient throughout the flooding events in the past. 

The structure and design language connects this story of preserving the woodland to the legacy of architecture in Columbus. Mass timber and CLT are used as the structure for the buildings throughout the site. Large Lamella Timber Trusses create a beautiful lattice shading in areas that benefit from retreat for the summer heat. One shades the common working area between the foundry, metal, stone carving workshop and the private studio spaces. This allows an essential outdoor working area to be more pleasant in hot months. The other lamella truss connects the gallery and cafe that is open to the public. It also acts as a public gateway to Noblitt Park. The other connecting design language tips to the style of MiesVan Der Rohe's Barcelona Pavilion and the many elements found at First Christian church by Elliel Sarranen. The lamella trusses are held up by monolithic limestone columns. The balconies and facades are treated with a linear timber lattice. The entry and gallery space walls have a planer feel. Foundational plinths pull you to the extents of the site into the park. 

The plinth enables the entire site to be easily accessible on mostly one level. The ramp from the accessible parking space is the common entry point to the site when arriving by car. It has experiential thresholds pulling you through the gallery space and under the first lamella truss. Once on level grade you can see completely through the west of the site to the woodland and to the north you get an overlook of Noblit park. You can continue though the site with a gradual sloped ramp that connects to the people trail.  Elevator access is used for private studio and apartment spaces. Lastly the plinth allows the site to be elevated from obstructing the floodway. A reflecting pool and landscaped areas with large timber make the site feel locked into the natural environment. 

SUSTAINABILITY INTEGRATION ANALYSIS was done on the site. Sun and shading was in consideration with building orientation. Glazing is primarily used on the north sides of the buildings. The trees, balconies, and trusses offset solar gain to keep building cooler in the summer, and allow solar penetration in the winter. The use of Mass timber and CLT offset embodied carbon by 60% compared to concrete and steel. The Lamella truss over the common shop space is in optimal orientation for solar panels to offset the intensive energy use of the foundry. Large overhead doors in the foundry, and large sliding doors in the solo workshops allow for extra ventilation when using hot kilns. 

Collectively this concept strongly considers longevity. Resilience in a floodway way that is at a 30% increased risk over the next 100 years. Sustainably solutions to remedy active use cost. Mass Timber that could outlast the building itself. Design language that connects to the timeless nature of Columbus itself. 

J. Irwin Miller M. Arch Program // Architecture Studio 3 - Fall 2022 // Professor Louis Joyner