A^aMP an urban artisanal incubator in Downtown Austin, TX

---

Studio | Mixed-Use in Downtown Austin

Spring 2013 | Prof. Larry Doll

Project Partner | Mark Epler

PROJECT GENERATORS

The austin artisanal market-place seeks to use variety of experience and conditions to created a dynamic space in Downtown Austin that will serve as an incubator and cultural generator. The common spaces in the tower are the shape generator. A tower that is generated by the desire to create a community in an urban environment by providing desirable community spaces in a vertical neighborhood. These common spaces are generated by a variety of programmatic desires such as views, different types of gathering spaces and activities. Taking advantage of location the tower captures prime views of the Texas State Capitol and UT campus bell tower (to the north-east), the hills (to the north-west), natural and open views of zilker park (to the south-west) and the active street life along the 2nd street retail corridor.

In the tower it’s energy focus is depicted through the faceted facade. The residential tower has an outward focus to create an attractive icon in the Austin skyline, but simultaneously allow for calm interior spaces. This creates urban living that in their own way the desires manifested in suburban life. The studios, located between the market at ground level and the residential tower above are a gasket that simultaneously connects and separates the energetic from the calm. Finally, the market has an inwardly focused variety to create an energetic and engaging public space near the ground.

The market ceiling coffers are used as sustainable strategy that allows light into market place and air flow through for thermal comfort. Simultaneously they serve as space makers to denote market stalls and areas people should visit.

 

TOWER 

Residences

The small footprint of the residential tower allows us to create community connection and a greater likelihood that neighbors will know each other in an urban setting. The mesh screen allows variety/flexibility in the facade to provide shade when needed and to open up to allow for views when desired.

Common Spaces

The common spaces in the tower, in addition to being the facade generators, are created to satisfy a variety of community needs. Each one has it’s own program that serves different needs. They create places for people to gather and meet leading to enhanced community connectivity in an urban setting.

GASKET

Terrace

The terrace at the gasket is a semi-private urban outdoor space that is always accessible to the artisans and to the public on special occasions. At the level we create artisan studios that serve as a mediators between the outwardly focused energy of the residences and the active energy in the market while creating space for the artisans to create their good for the market.

MARKET

Coffers

The variety in color, shape, size of the ceiling coffers create a vibrant, active and engaging space. They are also holes in roof which allow light into all areas of the market and airflow to encourage breezes as a source of natural ventilation. Color is used to activate space and draw users to specific areas such as the market and food stalls. These stalls are clustered and offset to create constant points of interest that draw you through the market by creating multiple lines of movement. The elements of the pop-up stores serve as both an (1) anchor the urban edge  and (2) creates a billboard/advertisement for the market along the 2nd street retail corridor.  This magnetic edge serves to draw people into the market place giving it both economic and public engagement implications.

Creek Connection

While the pop-up store anchors one urban edge the market begins to dissolve and soften that edge arriving in a creek side connection. This creates a public space that is active and a less programmed edge to meet the creek.