The Film Studio Harvard Graduate School of Design, Spring 2017 Adviser Elizabeth Christoforetti
Albert Kahn's McGraw Glass Plant in Detroit, Michigan helped to inspire this design for a film studio redux that investigates time through coastal erosion and materiality. This iteration transformations match the precedent span width in proportion in an attempt to mimic the extended vistas to key backdrops: airport, manufacturing spaces, and entrance approach. The most opportunity exists where there is a diversity of wetlands configurations, high points and space distribution to allow for varied field conditions for the present and future conditions. Elements from the precedent establish the following conditions: the fascia stucco represents a top-heavy lifeboat with select clerestory light infiltration supported on slender steel I-beam profile columns that undulates across the site (mimicking the terrain). The glazed façade maintains open site lines through out the double height spaces. The open ground floor allows consistent visibility through the site, broken by studio sound stages that support the building's operational capabilities. The stockier footing offer an opportunity to develop characteristics that could remain after a 100 years and provide the infrastructure for future development. Perhaps most importantly, the location is prone to periodic storm surges that completely inundates the entire site. As such, the majority of program are elevated +27' above grade while the site is graded to gradually slope down to the channel with various retention ponds absorbing some of the runoff while encouraging wildlife corridors to proliferate over time. The ground floor studio spaces intend to capture this runoff in service to the film industry, while suspended electrical utilities service the stages from a safe height outside the high water mark. The vestigial elements come together didactically to translate change through the passage of time.
