1148 Tillery Street in Austin, Texas
B. I. M. & VISUALIZATION-Ricardo Munoz
Entry to Force Majeure Competition-AIA
B. I. M. & VISUALIZATION-Ricardo Munoz
Entry to Force Majeure Competition-AIA
Covid-19 impacted everyday life and how people function. The 6-ft Urban Center creates a safe place that people can still socialize and attend certain activities. One priority for the design was to create wide interior spaces that can provide shade from the Texas heat but at the same time provide air ventilation and opportunities for social distancing. The urban center includes a sanitation facility that can be used by everyone but mainly the homeless population in the area so they can have access to sanitation and they can protect themselves.
In addition to the sanitation facility, the urban center includes community rooms, dining places, and resting areas that provide safe socialization. The sanitation facility works as a connective path between the street and the park. It also facility provides restrooms, showers and also resting areas for people in the area. The community garden, soccer fields and picnic areas create a connection with the members of the community and bring all kinds of people to the site.
In this interior view, the atrium is shown. The atrium is included in the design to provide natural light and ventilation. While it is providing light into the interior and creating the effect of the exterior space with the wide windows surrounding it, the interior still gets enough shade to make comfortable for the people utilizing the space. The interior spaces are wide and open to support the physical distancing while still encouraging people to socialize.
A few trees was also added to the center of the atrium to provide some extra shade and making the space more lively while keeping it sanitary. The dining area that is located on the second floor also gets natural light from the large windows and people are able to watch the activity and interact with the people without close physical contact. Exterior spaces are also available for the community. The building is open and inviting and it allows people to go through without entering the building. Spaces on the outside create more socially distanced opportunities for the visitors.