OUTLINE OF A PROGRAMMING & DESIGN PROCESS FOR A NEW RESIDENCE HALL
BASED ON EXISTING AND EXPANDED "CATEGORICAL" INFORMATIONThe following process integrates with the existing evaluation data base of La Paz Residence Hall at the University of Arizona. Please scan the evaluation before considering this outline for developing programming and design processes for a new residence hall.
The outline represents an initial research effort by the School of Architecture of the University of Arizona,
Dennis Doxtater, investigator (doxtater@u.arizona.edu)
1. In-house architectural program and site selection by the client institution
a. Consider the La Paz evaluation's "summary and preplanning issues" as appropriate in the determination of basic strategies, space requirements and site selection for a new residence hall project.b. Conduct small group discussions with representative users, university administration and planners to update the list of user activities from the La Paz evaluation (simple beginning "category" database with new or deleted activities and comments by discussants).
c. Consider a RFP document to architects, which defines the site, general residence hall strategy (grouping of wings, bathrooms, etc.), general economic square footage (without defining specific room "types" or sizes), and the first list of user activities. The estimated population of the hall must be communicated. Yet any more specific definition of numbers of rooms for "study" or "living", for example, may cause designers to use these designations and sizes as basic "units" in some layout. These may not be good substitutes for more detailed understanding of actual activities and in particular their relationships with other activities in the larger site (e.g. La Paz' isolated "room-like" public spaces which do not link together well). Room designations and simple square footage definitions cannot represent all the potentially different activities that might occur. The present strategy is to consider the linkages of different kinds of experiences (the five categories) independently, across the entire site and largely irrespective of room labels or predisposition of "type".2. Programmatic investigation of site potential according to the five categories
Ideally, the design of architectural form for immediate, human use or experience (the five categories), should be kept separate in design process from other more "ecological" causes of form, e.g. economics, natural and mechanical infrastructure, long term sustainability, construction process and the like. Natural aspects of site or architectural structure, for example, have their own systematic attributes or causes for form. Categorical understanding identifies those aspects of either which are actually perceived or immediately experienced by the user.
Review with the architects the list of activities by category. Discuss those issues within each category, which appear to be most important in determining architectural form. Ask the architects to develop a separate three-dimensional study of architectural form in the site for each category (or perhaps more than one for each). The following are quick design sketches of what these studies might look like, using the original La Paz site as a basis.a. Wayfinding3. Prototype testing
After discussions of relatively independent categorical possibilities for the site, between architects and the client group (users, administrators, planners), this experience becomes the basis for a first composite design (prototype). Using all the computer technology now available, a current revised list of activities can be the basis to more specifically test the prototype. Iterations of this process would then lead to a final commitment to build. Below are quick sketches of what aspects of this process might look like (not using the best computer methods). Plans and photographs of the existing La Paz site are used as if they were computer-generated models of an unbuilt, prototype design. The number of examples for each category is not intended to be complete.a. WayfindingRoom A 101: Verbal Instructions from the Front Desk
Room D 116: Verbal Instructions from the Front Desk
Room A 208: Verbal Instructions from the Front Desk
Room L 221: Verbal Instructions from the Front Desk
A Complicated Route from a Third Floor SE Corner Room to a Third Floor NW Corner Room
Layout of Cognitive Features of La Paz: Stairs, Corridors, Courtyards & Distant Landmarksb. Visual and Non-Visual Aesthetics
Meditative Views
Most Aesthetic Route Through the Site to One's Room
Less Aesthetic Route Through the Site to One's Room
Negative Views from Windows: Small Courtyards Without Landscape
Quality of Light from Room Windows
Shade Studies of the Sitec. Task Performance
Testing the Layout of Standard and Unique Rooms
Picking Up and Dropping Off in Front of La Paz
Taking the Garbage to the Dumpster
Carrying Dirty/Clean Dishes or Food from the Room to One of the Kitchens
Accessibility Routesd. Social Territories
Territorial Division of Rooms
Looking Into Rooms from Public Spaces
Restricted Spontaneous Views Between Public Spaces
Location of Most Active Social Spaces with Respect to Pathwayse. Cultural Expression
District and Entry Image
Detailing a "Hotel-Like" Image
Using the Lobby Wall to Advertise Hall Activities
Architectural Expression of Wing Identity
Formalized Expressive Domains
