Timber in the City Competition with Melanie Silver 2013
“Against-the-Grain” is a design solution that rethinks the way we build. As we begin to understand the effect our choices have on the environment, we realize that there is not one easy-fix to climate change, but rather a series of choices where the cumulative effect can start to yield positive change. Rising coastal waters and high impact storms are a reality in many large urban centers, introducing new infrastructural obligations.
“The concept for “Against-The-Grain” was derived from a sliced log floating in a pond – sun-screening elements represent wood rings and the strong concrete plinth as the protective bark.”
The Red Hook area is prone to significant damage in storm events, so the building was designed to act as a log by ‘floating’ above the devastation.
The unique structural system is comprised of steel I-beams hung to Glulam columns and double, two feet thick fire stairs of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) on either end. CLT floor slabs and structural walls within the main building frame carry the primary loads. In addition, the 30’ high base is comprised of a 2’ thick wood-form lined, fly-ash concrete plinth to serve as both a protective flood barrier in storm events and a monolithic gateway into the CLT mixed use structure. Light to the base level is channeled through colored, recycled polycarbonate slats at the clerestory level.
Dendriliency
The scientific study of trees + the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties
*Construction documents of plans in black + white
