A thesis concerning context, mystery and proportion

Architecture that incorporates context, mystery and proportion have qualities essential to the understanding of design and the built environment. Luis Barragan, Ricardo Legorreta and David Lake are a few Architects who create this type of surreal area and buildings. All incorporate human scale within projects that are sometimes very large and create an intimate scale with the user and observer. Many people pass by architecture that is out of place in the landscape and incorporating the built environment into the landscape is more desirable. The culture and history, as well as the location of a site play an important role in the relationship created between people and their environment. Some of the more calming, positive feelings a space can create are lost in today's fast paced society. The fun in anticipation and discovery through architecture will enhance the romantic qualities of our environment. The use of forms with native vegetation, water and color in architecture all add to the quality of our spaces. This project will exemplify the use of romance, context and scale as driving design elements. The project is a teenage recreation facility located in the South Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The recreation center is mainly for the use of teenagers', ages' thirteen to nineteen and is located in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood. The history and culture of the area have strong Hispanic and Native American influences. Barragan, Legorreta and Lake design structures that incorporate the landscape and culture with imaginative areas of romance. The recreation facility will be designed in such a way as to relate it to the climate of the desert and existing built context. Much of the facility will be outdoors due to Albuquerque's mild climate and patterns of outdoor recreation. The owner of the facility is the Arch Diocese of Santa Fe. The facility will also be used for visiting games and tournaments the Arch Diocese is involved with.