Envelope

The blue and pink forms were derived from solar concerns and site lines. The blue form is low enough to allow sunlight on winter mornings to the buildings on the northern side of the site. From street level approaching from the Gallery Pl metro or from the Museum of Natural History, a pedestrian can not see that the blue form is any taller than any of the other surrounding buildings. The pink form allows the low winter sun and the morning summer sun to hit the faces of surrounding buildings, but shades these buildings when the summer sun is at its hottest. I'm also working on a reflective surface on the lower southern side of the pink form in order to shine light on the northern face of the buildings located to the south during the winter.

This is summer morning








Winter morning








Summer afternoon








Winter afternoon










This is the idea of "skyscraper as light." Instead of just erecting a huge monolith that casts unthoughtful shadows and creates downward winds, this turns vertical density into an abundance of light, views, and open space.