Heterodelphia
Transportation Driven Student Housing X Primary School Complex in Local Community | Speculative | Instructor: Brian Phillips
It is a challenge to put a student housing in a local neighborhood in 59th street in west Philadelphia. Despite there is always a town-gown tension during the expansion of the University City, the boundary of the tension is always blurred by blocks of buffer zones. A student housing in the 59th street is like an enclave of students directly plug into a local neighborhood without any buffer zones geographically which makes the edge of tension extremely sharp. A university sponsored primary school is an examined way in university city to bring gentrification to the neightbourhood. Since the local children become a part of it , the building is no longer be a cold, alien, opposite power.
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
View of the Courtyard
The facade strategy of two side of building is different. On the left is the housing units facing south, vertical shadings are installed to the facade to maximize the view and control the daylighting. On the right is the corridor of the housing with some big opening for public space. The verticality of the facade is also a language similar to the context of west philadelphia row houses while on the contrary, the horizontality of the opposite side similar to the fast moving MFL train.
Circulation
The ramp and the stair along create a smooth transition of situation from the vigurous of the metro station to the tanquility of the local neighbourhood. This circulation also vertically divide the architectual space into student housing and primary school.
View from the Market Street
The commercial zone of the building along the Market Street could meet the needs of students, which is different from local residents. It also works as a buffer zone for the student housing from the busy ambience of the street. At night, the building works as a light house from blocks of dim old city and brings prosperity to the adjascent community.
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