A bridge to the future: A study of transparency in historical context, a student recreation center for Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas

Date

2006-05

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Abstract

THEORY- TRANSPARENCY Tratispareticy iti architecture deals tvith two realms, the itiheretit tjuality of substatice atid the itiheretit ejuality of organ iziation. Rout; Colin, ttud Robert S/ntz,/fy. Triiiisfum-ncy. Birkhtitiser: Basel, Suiitzerlmift: 1997. Pilge 21. Literal Tratispareticy: The passitig of light, vision, atid rtiatter through platies. Phettotrietial Tratispareticy: The ititerpetietratiott of figures without the destructioti of one attother. Iti order to satisfy the theory of tratispareticy, both qualities ttiust be achieved iti design. The literal ejualities of tratispareticy will be satisfied through triaterial ejualities, iticluditigglazitig, opeti spaces, atid tratispareticy of structure. The phetiotnetial qualities of tratispareticy will be satisfied through the evolutioti oftufo distitictfortns that ititerpetietrate to become otie. FACILITY- STUDENT RECREATION CENTER Studetit Recreatioti Cettters are at the forefrotit of techtiologicaladvaticetnent in architecture on college campuses. The iticreasing variety of ecjuipmetit and activities getieratesprogressive space that can seetn displaced iti classic utiiversity settitigs. Oti the Southtvestern campus specifically, the studetit body is tioted for beitig predottiitiatitly ttutde up of students living oti-campus. Iti fact, over 90% ofstudetitsliveoti campus, tvith tiearly 95% of all studetits t4tilizitig existitig recreatioti facilities atidparticipatitig iti ititratnural activities. TJje existing recreatioti cetiter is shared by the stt4detit body atid scholarship atheletes, atid is trtuch too small to accomodate both groups. Thus, a tietv recreatioti center designed specifically for the stt4detit body is tiecessary. CONTEXT - SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Southtvesten Utiiversity, located iti Geotgetoivti, Texas, is the oldest Utiiversity iti Texas, beitig chartered iti 1840, atid later foutided iti 1872. TJje cattiptds contains a tnix of historical structures, alotig tvith tnore moderti builditigs that attetnpt to mitnick the historical architecture of the campus. The overall style of the catnpus architecture is ttiost like the Texas Gothic vertiacular of the late 19th and early 2Oth centuries, tvith the itidividttal structures varyitigfrom a true interpretation of that style to si tuple repetitive t/se of the standard materials. TJte catnpus is orgatiized in a radial plan, tvith a tnaiti axis passitig through the chapel in the cetiter of campus. TJje radial plati provides a strotig groutiding for future additiotis to the catnpus architecture. The catnpus tvorks like a fabric, and ivhile netv pieces tnay be added, the designer tiiust be carefi4l of tearitig this existitig fabric tvith tietf structures that couldpotetitially take atvay frotn the existitig attnosphere of Southtvestetti Utiiversity. DESIGN GOAL: TO BLEND THE NEW AND THE Oil). NOT W^ITH THEMIMICKINC OE EXISTING AR( HI TECTURE. BUT RATHER THROUCiH DE'EL()P INGA NEV^OLD THAT SPEAKS TO THE NEW: THUS, THE END RESULT IS AN ARCHITECTURE OE TRANSPARENT FORMS, Oil) AND NEW, THAT DO NOT OPPOSE ONE ANOTHER, BUT RATHER ADD UP TO A SUM GREATER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL PARTS

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Keywords

Architecture, Southwestern University (Georgetown Tex.), Recreation centers -- Desgin, College buildings -- Design, Transparency, Georgetown (Tex.)

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