patterhn, Eric R. Hoffman & Tony A. Patterson
Submission 0126
View design boards :: Juror's comments
Softscape
The wood floor of the main plaza provides a moment of fragility in the un-yielding
hardscape of its context, adding warmth to the cold and rough brickwork. The
feel of walking on a softer, less resilient surface offers an experience that
differentiates itself; making its tactile quality easily identifiable and
memorable.
Walking on the hollow wood surface set flush to the brick may remind one of
being on stage…wood planks giving way to your body weight, the sound
of your footsteps and footsteps of others sharing the space…the new
floor elevates everyday events into the realm of performance.
THRESHOLD
The wood floor extends to become a threshold for the entire block. Sometimes
wide enough to walk upon, and occasionally narrowing to an individual board
width, this subtle device announces arrival to the BCA, marks its bounds,
and unites east and west ends.
ICONS and TOTEMS
The existing large deciduous tree, pine tree, garden, and kiosk are currently
grouped together in the main plaza. Separating these elements makes each an
identifiable singular anchor for each exterior public space. The deciduous
tree stays as the primary focus within the main plaza. The pine tree is relocated
to the ‘pocket’, housed within an appropriately scaled planter.
The kiosk and garden move to the eastern-most end of the site, providing a
much needed reference at the intersection of Tremont and East Berkeley. The
gardens new location (adjacent to the Berkeley Community Garden) effectively
extends its limits into the neighborhood. This re-distribution of existing
icons and totems aids in balancing the block, while providing necessary markers
for way-finding and orientation.
BALANCE
The addition of a new ticketing kiosk on the southwest corner balances the
block formally and stylistically. The new structure frames and re-centers
the classical façade of the Cyclorama. Its form ties the main plaza
back to the urban fabric while defining an outdoor room that cradles a new
outdoor performance space. This room buffers the noise of the adjacent streets
and encourages visitors to stay, relax, and enjoy.
A delicate incision into the Tremont Estates building physically connects
the main plaza to the artists’ courtyard as well as a proposed roof-top
venue for performance art and cinematic projection.
Juror's comments
Gary Hilderbrand
In some ways this scheme became attractive to us because it has the clarity of organization that one looks for in these multiple program sites. There is both a clear attitude toward keeping the sidewalk along the street, and one of keeping the sidewalk along the facades of the BCA buildings. In addition to that it has a strategy of cutting through so that the courtyard and the plaza are physically connected. A project that has this clarity of organization to me could be encouraged along the same lines with a stronger horticultural base and a sustainable one. And it wouldn't at all dilute the clarity and simplicity of the scheme by adding to it.
Ann McQueen
It seems to provide a great platform, literally, for activities.
Toshiko Mori
What this does urbanistically is free up the space in front of the Cyclorama. It actually gives a much more generous scale of urban space. I think that is quite a plus. So the territories are very clear: the area adjacent to the buildings is definitely for immediate users in the buildings, the "strip" is for community use, and the island is for use by the larger community. It is a very clear way of using it. Everybody has a location in the scheme that they belong to.
Gary Hilderbrand
It's sophisticated, and it's good citizenship. We would privilege this sort of disciplined thinking about how we make streets and sidewalks. It's there in this scheme, and we like it.