INVERSION FITNESS
In Partnership with Craig Bast
Professor Adam Yaracs
Spring 2024
This project delves into exploring the intricate connections within architecture’s diverse modes of performance. These modes encompass material assemblies, structural design, environmental systems, and less technical aspects like compositional systems and aesthetics.
01 | INITIAL DESIGN
Site
Located in the Arts District in Los Angeles, this site is an incredible opportunity to focus on the architectural expression of creativity. On a more technical note, Los Angeles stays in a comfortable range of 50 - 80 degrees all year, making this site ideal for the incoorporation of covered outdoor areas.
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The main view angles for this project will be from three roads surrounding the site. A small parking area is located adjacent to the site on a triangular lot.
Form Finding
In the developmental phases of this project, the leading idea was to use "inversion" as a theme topic by both using inverting angles within the structure and inverting positive spaces into negative space.
Extrusion of the Site
By extruding the site, spacial boundaries are set on the X, Y, and Z axis.
Level 3
PROGRAM
Multipurpose Rooms
Level 2
PROGRAM
Racquetball Courts
Level 1
PROGRAM
Rockwall Entrance
Level -1
PROGRAM
Basketball Court
Placement of Program and Central Atrium
Once program was placed and general circulation was accounted for, a central atrium could be removed to simplify foot traffic and internal form.
Pushing and Pulling Vertically
Creating these movements had three main purposes. Primarily, this was part of the process of treating the roof as a fifth facade. It also allowed for spaces to open upward toward the exterior of the building, making an inviting connection between interior and exterior. Lastly, it created the first inverting angles for the name-sake of the project, Inversion Fitness.
Pulling Horizontally
This shift forward connected multiple floors of the structure while also framing the racquetball courts and the basketball court.
Pushing Horizontally
Lateral sections of the form were carved out to create the illusion of the building sitting on a plinth. The portion removed from the roof form allowed for an covered space to house the HVAC systems. This also played along the same idea of inversion by inverting the positive and negative program spaces.
02 | INTEGRATION OF SYSTEMS
Structural Design
Alongside the function of the long span steel beams, shear walls, warren trusses, and a variety of angled beams allowed the unique shape and purpose of this form to be possible.
The structural strategy used in this project is steel post and beam system to allow long spans and a visually lightweight structure.
HVAC Design
Areas with continuous ceilings include air plenums (R.A.) minimizing the amount of ductwork needed.
A total of four units are used for this HVAC system: a Single Zone Variable Air Volume (VAV) Air Handler for the basketball and racquetball courts, two Multi-Zone Variable Air Volume (VAV) Air Handlers for the multipurpose rooms, and Energy Recovery (ERV) Air Handler for the bathrooms and locker rooms.
Circulation
With the atrium acting as a center point, the ceilings are designed to invite people outward toward the exteior of the building, where program is situated and framed views are curated.
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To further develop the concept of inversion as continuous theme from the inside out in this project, the ceilings were specifically deigned to inhabit a tectonic plate system, using inverting angles throuhgout the design.
03 | ENVELOPE
Panel Design
With envelope acting as the last piece of this project, it is almost one of the most important. A combination of perforated and solid aluminum panels expressed building wayfing, shading, and framed views on the exterior of this project.
The final detail in the envelope design of this project was in the treatment of the roof as a fifth facade. To allow the roof to be observed from a larger variety of angles, the illusion of a "floating roof" was created.
04 | REAL LIFE APPLICATION
Positive and Negative Space in Communication
As a fitness center with considerably specific program, it is important to envision what these spaces would actually look like in a real life setting.
Having placed the basketball court in the basement allows for those entering the building to observe what the fitness center holds, involving the user before they even enter the structure.
The multipurpose rooms best depict the interior - exterior relationship in this project, where the opening outwards of the program and views outwards can clearly be observed.
The central atrium acts as a grand gesture in the lobby welcoming people as they come in, allowing natural light to fill the area.
05 | COMPETITION BOARDS
Story Boards
As part of a course-wide competition, there were 5 total boards designed to display this project. Each board was 36" x 24" and was judged annonymously in April 2024.
