A5 Translation and Transformation
An Outdoor café and landscape transformation of the Christian Science Center
Despite the formal strength of the rows of linden trees and the reflecting pool that align with Huntington Avenue at the Christian Science Center, the space is usually empty and forlorn. In order to invite more people to congregate on the Huntington Avenue edge of the complex, the Church has decided to explore the possibility of building a small seasonal café. The intent is to create a second gathering place to balance the popular circular fountain at the north-east end of the site.
This café will have primarily exterior seating, with a small glass enclosed interior seating area and service counter. In addition to the design of the café structure, the landscape of the site will need to be transformed to better accommodate outdoor café seating. These transformations will include both additive strategies additive strategies - new structures, planter and seat walls, and pavements - and subtractive strategies - removal of trees, planter and seat walls to affect the larger setting for the café.
The location of the café, its form, and the landscape transformations should be considered within the framework of the following design intentions:
To open up views, to encourage people watching for those who do not elect to sit at the café, to create alternative movement patterns across the site, and perhaps to encourage other kinds of public activities around the structure.
SITE
Under or adjacent to the bosque of linden trees located along Huntington Avenue. The café structure must be located at least 10′ from the street curb line and must maintain the pedestrian access along the edge of the pool (slight detours are possible).
PROGRAM
Indoor seating 400 sq. ft.Indoor seating should have at least one wall of glass that opens up to the exterior in good weather.
Outdoor seating for 50 patrons
The outdoor seating area(s) should be clearly defined (garden walls, landscape elements, changes in level or material of ground plane, etc.) The proposed location of the seats should give visitors the option to sit in either the shade or sun. Shade can be accomplished with trees, roof overhangs, or freestanding structures.
Food service area 200 sq. ft
Food preparation will be offsite; food service area will consist of a 3’ deep service counter.
Service area should be clearly visible from the exterior and easily accessed from exterior seating areas.
Storage/prep room 200 sq. ft.
Adjacent to food service area. Provide delivery and employee entrance.
Trash room 50 sf
Mechanical room 75 sf
2 Restrooms 110 sf
Refer to Architectural Graphic Standards – a standard architectural reference book – to get an idea of the appropriate scale and layout of the kitchen service area and the café seating. You need not worry about the precise arrangement of equipment in the kitchen.
MATERIALS
You can choose from the following list of materials. No other materials or finishes will be accepted.
- Concrete
- Masonry
- Metal
- Wood (unfinished)
- Glass
Rules for transforming the existing landscape.
Linden trees can be removed from the grid (subtractive operation). Additional trees can be added
Sections of the seating and planters can be removed to provide a site for the café (subtractive operation). In addition to removing sections of existing planter walls and benches, new architectural elements (including extensions of benches and planter walls) can be grafted onto existing conditions (additive operation).
New walls, benches, and other landscape elements may have different profiles and details than existing elements but should be complimentary.
Please pay special attention to resolving the interface with the existing lanscape elements and paving when manipulating the site to accommodate the café building.
Small changes in level are encouraged but not required. Changes in elevation of the ground plane can be no more than 30” from the dominant elevation of the general site. All changes in plane require ramp access. Ramps can be no steeper in pitch than 1:12 (a ramp has to be 12’ long for every 1’ change in grade). Ramps required handrails at 36” from the ground (guardrails are not necessary). Ramps that are less than 1:20 do not need railings.
It is strongly encouraged that all new architectural and landscape elements be on the same orthogonal (right-angle) grid as the existing site elements. Exceptions can be made with approval from the instructor, but they must be a relatively small part of the overall design.
No pitched roofs, mansard roofs, domes, cupolas, etc. Flat roofs are recommended.