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| Perspective Sketch of 1111 Lincoln Road Building. By Fabio Segre |
Located at the gateway to Lincoln
Road’s pedestrian promenade, the new 1111 Parking Garage by Herzog & the
Meuron and the adjacent pedestrian boulevards extension of Lincoln Road by
Raymond Jungles, provides a harmoniously reinvented perspective of how to
integrate mix programing building types with iconic sculptural element and
public spaces.( Photo - 1)
Photo 1- First: South-West view day time/ Second: South-West view night time/ Third: North West View. Photos: Fabio Segre
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| Type vs Form. Sketch : Fabio Segre |
The New Parking Garage is unique on
its type. It is a good example where building type is complete disconnected
with our traditional idea of form. Parking garage are usually or most of the
time boxes or big containers with a minimal intention of architecture desire.
However the Herzos & de Meuron parking structure in Lincoln Road strongly
question our entire previous concept of how this type of building should look
like (Photo-2). The architectural language in the design screams singular and new.
Particularly, it has the persistent aspiration of articulating the local and
global as well as the particular and universal. It can be define as a pure Type
concept modifying the traditional form of a Parking Garage. It is a Paradoxical architectural “form”, represented by its “type”.
The building also responds to a strong
regionalism expression by integrating the design with the social and natural environment.
Its characteristics are bold in comparison; by studying the place, the
architects were able to accurately reflect its usage, the climate, and the
landscape. (Photo-3 and 4)
Photo-3 and 4: Integration between building, climate and landscape. Photos: Fabio Segre
The garage is both original and creative; by using what can be call
a “continuous modern tropical overhang” at ground level, the integration with
Lincoln road Pedestrian Boulevard happens gently. This overhang creates a
transitional space between the building, the sidewalk and the trees canopies; a
wonderful in-between space and magnificent example of
a multi-functional space, mingling restaurants, play space, and public parking
spaces. (Photo 5-6)
Photo 5-6: Transitional Space. Photos: Fabio Segre
The 1111 with its open verticality gives
you the idea of a public observation tower, providing a connection between,
building, people and region. It is almost impossible to distinguish the
boundary or end between the multi layering systems of Lincoln Road and the
beginning of the Garage Structure(photo 7) . It looks like both are welded together in
one unique piece. Its free-form structures are reminiscent of the trunks of trees,
and this gives a sense that nature is present. The structure almost seems like
a small forest in the middle of the city. (Photo 8-9 and 10)
Photo 7- 1111 Building as an observation tower. Photos: Fabio Segre
Photos 8, 9 and 10 Building Nature. Photos by Fabio Segre
Another aspect of regional
integration is the extremely open design and different heights between floor
slabs favorable for tropical weather, allowing natural light and cross
ventilation increasing the visual relationship between city and building.
As
mentioned on the beginning the urban oasis success is not just
related to the iconic expression of a building but to the collaboration of
architects, landscape architects, artists and designers of how to re-interpret
the design of our cities. One good
example of this perfect relationship between architecture, art and landscape is
a permanent curvilinear glass sculpture installation by Dan Graham located at
the site. The installation’s horizontality visual effects distortion breaks the
hardiness of the surrounding elements; linking the architecture of Herzog &
de Meuron, with the floor pattern and trees canopies of Raymond Jungles design. (Photo-11)
Glass Sculpture Installation by Dan Graham
Experiencing the 1111 Building Including over-night camping.
5 comments:
First things first, spell check. Don't type up your response within Blogger as it might not give you the kind of really important feedback you need regarding spelling and grammar.
"Particularly, it has the persistent aspiration of articulating the local and global as well as the particular and universal. "
While I get what you're trying to say, don't try to use inflated language to get your point across. Without complete mastery, you're message becomes muddled and difficult to sift through.
"The building also responds to a strong regionalism expression by integrating the design with the social and natural environment."
In many ways, you're taking on a very ambitious task by discussing the project in terms of Type and Form. The only problem with this however, is that its too large of a topic to be reduced to this type of blog entry without diving into a nice set of footnotes. I had many issues with many of the claims you're making if only because you don't take the time and care to really unpack many of the themes you're discussing as well as the terms you're inventing such as "Paradoxical Form". The image of you camping with other people at night could have been your whole topic. I'm sure the "misuse" of the parking lot could have been a great point of departure.
You are using 'regional' and 'local' interchangeably. While, yes, the design of HdM's 1111 does respond to a regional climate, you have yet to scratch the surface of its relationship to the particular locales of Miami >> Miami Beach >> Lincoln Road. There is much more going on than just being climate appropriate or integrating native landscape...
For example, at the scale of the city Miami's car-centric lifestyle means the parking lot/garage is the dominant formal typology (to the point where it is almost a civic space!) How HdM re-present this to the city through 1111?
Similarly, the first impression one may get when visiting Miami Beach is, more often then not, from parking garages ... How is 1111 a better venue/experience for communicating the essence of Miami Beach than traditional garages?
Lastly, how does this garage start/end one's experience of Lincoln Road better than the other garages adjacent to the promenade?
...and you hinted that the 1111 also responds to 'the global' and 'the universal', but never illustrate how or why...
What is 'the global'?
What is 'the local'?
“Located at the gateway” or “Forming the gateway”? Excellent point about the “the integration with Lincoln Road,” but you should expand on this point through detailed formal analysis. Is it just the overhang that enables this integration? How far does the pedestrian boulevard extend into the building? I suspect that reflecting on these questions will enable you to expand on your point about the building being a “public observation tower.”
Very appreciate of your poche sectional diagrams. The legibility of certain formal traits between the conventional Miami parking garage and 1111 highlights how the form of 1111 is represented by its type. Wish you had elaborated more from this viewpoint since the rest of your comments are a little loose and lack of some support –theoretical, formal and even experiential. So how did your camping experience influence your notions of 1111? I believe you have not really elaborated much about the most novel part of your investigation. What do you try to prove by posting a picture of yourself night-camping at 1111? Missed opportunity…
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