For my design inspiration, I first want to ground myself on a potential site. After doing some analysis of the pro’s and con’s of the provided sites, I decided that Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, near Searsville Lake was an ideal location for my project.
I then decided to look into some of the history of the site. Long before purchased by Stanford, the land was occupied by the Ohlone people. They stayed in circular dwellings and that were strong and water tight. With the breathtaking views and history of the site, I want to find a design that honors the past while simultaneously engaging with world class sustainability goals.
As a result, a curved multistory building along the cliff will be ideal for capturing ideal views, angles of sunlight, and more.
This is the Viettel Group Headquarters building in Vietnam, known for its energy efficiency. A large entry way is present in Ohlone dwellings and I hope to extend that axis through the building to then overlook the lake. I aim to take a different materiality approach, one similar to the following image.
The use of a timber frame will be more energy efficient and harken to indigenous building principles. I want the space to primarily use electrical power, most of which will come from renewable sources. With water present as well, a heat recovery system may prove to be beneficial reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and water use.
Floors will have specific purposes finding organizational inspiration from some of the ideas if Rem Koolhaas’ Seattle Public Library. The middle area will be a mixed indoor-outdoor space. Curved wall dividers will be present to allow for flexibility of rooms throughout the building over time.
My design will continue on many of the trends of Stanford’s evolving sustainability practices, while also building on historical principles that embrace the context of the surrounding area.