Scales of Site:
This project is located in a the small city of Norwood which lies within the greater context of Cincinnati, OH. The project was focused on creating an arts therapy and community center where a former elementary school stood, while preserving the historic building. The driving concept of this project was to create connections at various scales within the community.
Connections to Site:
The project connected to the site through the construction of a grid responding to the context. This grid allowed for the incorporation of the pattern and rhythm of the surrounding buildings and topography in the massing and orientation of the building and create an appropriately scaled project.
Connections to Building:
The project utilized the existing historic building on the site and carefully connected additions, maintaining most of the original facade. The old and new structures and exterior spaces were tied together through the supergraphic red ramp. A continuous flow of movement and progression of spaces was created.
Connections to People:
The creation of an experiential path through the large site was important.
I employed an ADA accessible super graphic red ramp that cut through the site, transversing multi story topography changes and allowing the visitor to interact with the building and others. This ramp is highly visible from most of the site, allowing a visual connection for way-finding purposes and to allow individuals to see the movement of other people through the space. The ramp acts as a gestural ribbon tying together all the programmatic spaces and people within the arts therapy center.