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the ecologically sensitive design for an artist's studio and family residence
located directly on the l.a. river.
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the site is surrounded bleak industrial buildings. the concretized l.a. 'river'
has a soft bottom at this location, which allowed for a dense growth of trees
that provide animal habitats.
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the design is a 110' long by 24' wide by 40' tall prefab steel structure clad
in transclucent poly-carbonate panels. the roof will collect solar energy, selling
excess power back to the city. the roof will also collect rainwater which will
be diverted to a cistern that will irrigate adjacent gardens on 150' of river
frontage. the deisgn will respond to the natural air currents in the river basin,
circulated cool air through the house in the summer.
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the interior and exterior spaces will also serve public functions, for people
to gather for art events and musical performances on the river.
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ultimately the project is seen not as an isolated design problem, but as a model
for how we may create spaces and buildings along the river that humanize and
enliven this neglected spine of the city while actively cleaning up the environmental
residue of it's past industriualization at the same time.