“An intrinsic ideological stance and ethical posture” – Holcim Awards Jury

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Evolutionary Infrastructure: Adaptive reuse of a parking structure for cultural activities, San Francisco, CA, USA

    A day lighting study provided the rules for removing a central portion of each floor plate, utilizing the most efficient sun angles throughout the day. An open air atrium is created serving to develop an experiential quality that does not seek to hide the former infrastructure, but instead glorify its natural aesthetics. The folded plate music hall is then visually connected both outside and in: sitting in the unavoidable shadow lines of adjacent buildings.

The jury applauds the intrinsic ideological stance and ethical posture underlying the design proposal. Rather than view the garage as obsolete, the authors recognize its inherent qualities in order to create a spatial and social interface between the city and its inhabitants. Specifically valued is the team’s intention to rehabilitate an abandoned structure with minimal means and to revitalize a neighborhood through the provision of new activities – transforming technical infrastructure into social infrastructure.

Last updated: June 30, 2014 Cambridge, MA, USA

The jury applauds the intrinsic ideological stance and ethical posture underlying the design proposal. Rather than view the garage as obsolete, the authors recognize its inherent qualities in order to create a spatial and social interface between the city and its inhabitants. Specifically valued is the team’s intention to rehabilitate an abandoned structure with minimal means and to revitalize a neighborhood through the provision of new activities – transforming technical infrastructure into social infrastructure.