The Thick Wall
The

THICK WALL

The wall may be seen as the most basic architectural element – a structure that delineates a space, carries a load, or provides shelter or security. It can define a threshold – a transition from one place to another – and it can easily demarcate an exterior and an interior. 

Brickell | Student Work | 2023

Overview

I was asked to design a boundary wall and an entrance into a small cemetery in Miami. It is located on a 75’ by 200’ lot and must contain some functions.

Topography

Extrude

The use of extrusion was to create an immersive and transformative experience for guests as they entered the space, transitioning from a sense of constriction to one of expansive openness and tranquility. This was achieved by opening up the spaces, leading guests through culminating in a feeling of being enveloped in a heavenly, expansive atmosphere.

Shift

To elaborate on the set extrusions, a decision was made to minimize the service areas and adjust the roof lines in order to highlight the most important spaces. The heights of the extrusions were also carefully considered to optimize the flow of guests and enhance their ability to locate essential areas with ease.

Overlay Grid

In order to ensure that the shifting elements were properly aligned, a formal grid was utilized during the refinement process. This helped to create a cohesive and visually pleasing facade that met the desired design objectives. By using a grid, various elements of the facade were properly balanced and integrated with one another, resulting in a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing final product.

Concept

The concept was to create a journey for guests as they entered the space, moving from a sense of constriction to one of expansive openness and tranquility. This was accomplished by progressively opening up the spaces and guiding guests through a series of increasingly more open areas. The end goal was to create a heavenly and expansive atmosphere that would envelop guests and provide them with a sense of serenity and peace.

I began with a series of over 15 process models and in-person site visits to generate a unique yet flowing transition from existing to new. My model was inspired by the painting Abstraktes Bild by Gerhard Richter. The painting calls back the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I decided to utilize this principle of order, yet confusion in my design. Site lines are blurred and a structured maze-like in execution.

The Folly was to be conceived as an extension of Morris Lapidus’ garden that runs throughout the length of the mall – designed as a symbolic entry into Lincoln Road.

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