Campus Small Integrated Complex Design

About the Project

A small integrated service complex situated at the southeast corner of the new sports field and near the back garden on the campus of South Forest University, serving the surrounding area while looking towards the future. The design needs to balance the overall image and specific requirements of various functional elements. The original site was a croquet field used moderately. The design requirements are as follows:

1. Total building area to be between 500 m² and 1000 m².
2. Shop area: 120 m²; supporting storage: 50 m² (considering external delivery using small carts).
3. Hot and cold beverage area: 100 m²; with a shared food preparation and front desk area: 50 m², also serving outdoor hot and cold beverages (size and functionality at your discretion, not included in the total building area).
4. Public restroom area: 40 m² (open to the public, adjacent to other functional areas, minimizing interference and facilitating management).
5. Management and office space: 2×15 m² (for internal administration and staff rest areas. Can be centralized or distributed across different locations).
6. Other functionalities to be determined.

Starting the Project

The site is located in the eastern part of the campus of Nanjing Forestry University, adjacent to the school's sports stadium, academic buildings, and residential areas. The surrounding roads are well-connected, providing convenient transportation and high accessibility. The natural landscape conditions are favorable. The current use of the site is for croquet, mostly by nearby residents, while students rarely use it. The eastern road has a relatively significant height difference compared to the sports field and croquet area, and there's also some elevation difference between the croquet area and the sports field.

Establishing a small campus integrated complex here would enhance the connectivity between the road and the sports field, providing a place for gatherings, resting, public restrooms, and supporting facilities like a convenient supermarket. This would increase the convenience for students, teachers, and nearby residents to use the sports field.

At the same time, I don't want to give up the croquet area, as every evening when passing by, I often see many middle-aged and elderly residents playing there. For them, playing croquet is a rare and enjoyable team sport after meals. Therefore, I proceeded with my design while preserving the croquet area...

Results Presentation

Summary

Ultimately, I found myself embarking on three complete iterations of this project – two rounds of revisions followed by the final rendition. The inaugural incarnation of the architectural form bears a striking resemblance to its current manifestation. However, I was confronted with intricate structural challenges that seemed perplexing to untangle. As the deadline loomed, I resolved to prioritize the structural coherence to avoid compromising its evaluative score. This decision led me to an alternative solution featuring a more conventional and rational structural arrangement, yet the overall design carried a sense of unwieldiness.

In the course of my junior year internship and portfolio preparation, I felt compelled to revisit this project once more. My aim was to recapture the lightness and transparency inherent in the initial draft, while concurrently upholding a robust structural integrity. The resultant outcome is what stands before you now – a harmonious and meticulously structured design that sheds the ponderousness of its second rendition.

This project could potentially signify the culmination of my architectural endeavors. Amid the spectrum of courses I've undertaken, my resonance with architecture has been particularly pronounced. The ardor and zeal of our architecture professors in expounding spatial concepts have left an indelible mark. Their receptiveness to diverse perspectives and their fostering of an environment akin to camaraderie in project discussions are aspects I hold in high esteem. This experience is one I genuinely treasure.