undergraduate studio workcaitlin gibson

c o n t e n t s 2nd year - landscapes of transformation 3rd year - geo city 4th year - planned unit development

the remembrance garden is a community owned facility combin-ing the shadow garden and mem-ory wall elements that provides a place to mark individual and col-lective ceremonies marking rites of passage. by calling the place a garden, it is also considered a symbolic landscape that reflects upon the relationship between cul-ture and nature as framed by birth and death, renewal and passing.

landscapes of transformation : architecture and memory

both the shadow garden and memory wall are designed to evoke the memory of a group of individuals that have been affect-ed by a common fate or event. the design of the garden is built around an individual unit that rec-ognizes a single individual with-in the group, while the wall is a physical manifestation of the rest-ing place; this provides a place for mourner to visit and reflect.

landscapes of transformation : architecture and memory

landscapes of transformation : architecture and memory

programmatic requirements for theremembrance garden included an interior meeting space with rooms to accommodate both large and small gatherings, an outdoor plaza to be used for outdoor gatherings, an amphitheater, and a caretaker’s apartment.

2500 burial plots primarily comprised of elements of the memory wall and shadow garden were laid out in a mazelike fashion, creating spaces for visitors to meander through or sit and reflect.

one of the goals was to achieve a maximum of variety with a minimum of means; emphasis was placed on the economy of construction relative to the number of individual building elements. the primary material used was concrete, and the majority of building units were pre-cast, using poured in place concrete to link them.

caitlin gibson

geo city

this project dealt with a specific programrequirement - a land use and policy develop-ment institute and a center for land art and earth observation - but also involved develop-ment of a ‘dangerous supplement’, in this case a community garden, which was a response to the city based on earlier research and observa-tion.

both the lupdi and claeo were to house a group of twelve visiting professionals, artists and researchers, so in addition to providing a place for them to live, there was also a need for research and studio facilities. programmatic elements were organized so that spaces on higher floors were more private - spaces open to the public such as lecture halls and the library are on the first floor, studio spaces and computer labs on the second, and apartments on the third and fourth floors.

fourth �oor

third �oor

second �oor

�rst �oor

geo city

the basis of this design is layers - using those that can be derived from the site to manipulate those that are constructed. the topography was used as a guideline for laying out the layers. this then helped in deciding where the footprint of the building should be placed, as well as organizing

the landscape. the underlying layer is a series of water paths dictating a path through the site, at first indirectly, then more explicitly as you prog-ress through. the secondary layer is planted landscape, which consists of areas designated for park space and community and test gardens.

caitlin gibson

planned unit development:design a house based on a 30 x 30’ grid.

the house was one of thirteen units surround-ing a common space to form a traditional city block. each site was 30 x 60’, with half allotted to the building and half to an outdoor space on the ground level.

the grid was subdivided into 10’ increments; this formed the basis for organizing thestructure and stairwell, while allowing the walls and floors to deviate from the grid. this same grid was reflected in the design of the outdoor space as well.

the design includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor, a kitchen, dining area, living room, and office on the second floor, and a studio/den on the third floor, as well as outdoor space accessible on each floor.

planned unit development

caitlin gibson