EMILY

= **Best Fit** = by Emily-

= INVESTIGATION STAGE =

**General characteristics of the neighborhood** :
The Lot that was found is located in a tightly inhabited place with an old fashioned community and style. The community is called that gardens and it has many side streets and walkways that have a very limited amount of parking spaces. The area also has a lot of trees and is just down the street form a Catholic school and church.

Block and Lot Number:
3225, 39

100' x 60'

Images:
=

=





**Needs assessment** :
The empty lot that I found has a lot of details and surrounding elements that need to be taken into consideration when the new building is placed into that particular environment. The first thing is that the lot is located in a very old-fashioned place called the Gardens in Forest Hills, where a lot or most of the houses are built in the early 20th century. Knowing this, when building this community shelter, it should be made sure that the style is not completely outlandish. Also, this lot is very closely located to many other properties and homes, and it is directly at the corner where two streets intersect (Kessel St. and 71st Ave). The lot itself is a grassy expanse of land that is about 60‘x100’ in perimeter, and it is located in a very sunny area with plants and trees all around. Also, just down the block on Kessel street, there is a Catholic School located with a church and various other buildings. There are not many stores around, mostly because of the fact that it is located in a community mostly occupied with homes, but there are many sidewalks and walkways that are easily accessible to people. Since this is such an inhabited area, thee are also limits to a few things such as parking spaces. There are only side streets with a lot of stop signs and speed bumps, and there are not as many cars that pass by in that particular area compared to places like northern boulevard or other largely used highways always occupied by traffic. One other thing that must be into consideration for this particular structure in this particular space is that since it is such an old community, there have been many rules and regulations passed in order to preserve the look of the space and it’s surroundings. Even though this is a huge limiting factor, it can most definitely be worked around. All in all, it can be said that this particular structure is located in a tightly inhabited area that mostly consists of homes and small side roads and that has a very specific style that should be followed when adding new buildings.

**1. A description of what the neighborhood already has.**

The lot that was found was located in a place with a lot of resources already. Some of these things include schools, walkways, stores (deli's, supermarkets, supply stores). All of these things are easily accessible by a short car-ride, or even, a walk. There are a lot of parks around and the side streets connect to many other roads and expressways that you can take to get to other places. There are also various community centers around, and a short while away, there is a main street with many convenience stores and such. There is also a wide variety of restaurants and take- out food places near-by. All in all, this lot is located in a very active community with a lot of resources.

(//** write a clear, accurate, precise description, THEN, WHEN YOU ARE ALL DONE, ERASE THESE INSTRUCTIONS **// ) **2. An analysis of what the neighborhood needs.**

=
Because of the fact that the community in which this lot is situated is so active, there are very few things that it is in dire need of, if not, at all. However, there are a few things that could be added to the community in order to make it even better than it already is. One of these things, for example, could be some sort of arts center for the community. This could either be some sort of small theatre or maybe even an art gallery/ showroom. Another possibility for this particular space could be some sort of school for extra- curricular activities such as a place where lessons for playing instruments, or dancing, or even cooking could be held. There are many possibilities, but finding the correct one to fit into this particular neighborhood could be a bit challenging.=====

(//** write a clear, accurate, precise, relevant and deep analysis, THEN, WHEN YOU ARE ALL DONE, ERASE THESE INSTRUCTIONS **// )

**Buildings and architects that provide inspiration**
This photo of a building comes directly from the neighborhood in which the empty lot is situated. This gives an example of the type of style that most of the buildings around that are are: Old style. This building is very inspirational by the way that it is built and the majestic structure and style that is ery unique to this town. Here is another example of the top of a building in the Gardens. It is very old style and even shows in the picture how trees are a major part of the setting. This is inspirational because it creates more ideas of the use and placement of trees near and around the structure. This is a photo and example of one of the homes in this neighborhood where he lot is. Around the spot where the lot is located, there are a lot of homes. This house is an inspirational structure because it can not only be used as a reference, but it also shows the majic of simplicity and how not everything does not need to be as detailed as the last, but can still fall under the same style of structre. This picture is a very interesting structure that is right in the center of the Gardens. It is inspirational because of just the way that it looks. It is so majestic and grand, and even though there is nor the space or resources to make something like this in the empty lot, it can give one a lot of ideas on placement and togetherness in a structure. This photo is an example of another structure right near the last one shown in the picture above. Right behind the first structure is a railroad that is still constantly in use today as it has been for as long as the existence of the neighborhood. It is inspirational because it can provide ideas for the use of the structure and how it will be most conveniently placed to the advantage of people.

=
Over this experience of creating investigations for this lot, I have come up with a lot of good ideas for what this future building could be used as. The whole process did inspire me by getting me to think about the many different possibilities that could be the outcome for this space. The whole process of looking over information and pictures really helped me to create almost an image in my mind already of what this community building will be like and how it will fit into my community. The thing that helped me the most was looking over inspirational pictures because of the fact that they helped me realize that for the neighborhood i am building in, there is a special theme that needs to be followed for the design. All in all, I can say that this, in fact, was a very important process that helped me find a lot of good ideas and go over a lot of important things.=====

(//** Write your explanation here--AFTER you add each photo, write brief explanation of how the building and/or the architect inspire you. THEN, WHEN YOU ARE ALL DONE, ERASE THESE INSTRUCTIONS **// )

Works Cited

= DESIGN BRIEF =

**Requirements:**
**-Building must follow the specific unique theme from this neighborhood (early 20th century)** **-Building must be accessible by car and by foot.** **-Building must improve upon the resources already in society.** **-Building must be surrounded by some sort of plants/ trees.** **-Building must follow any type of laws/ rules put down fo style of buildings in this particular community.** **-Building must be for community use.**

**-Building must be less that 100' x 60'**
**-Must be a building.**

Description of Three Possible Designs media type="custom" key="8118074"
 * Design #1 **

(** EMBED GOOGLE SKETCH UP CODE) **
 * (Write description below. **)

** Design #2 ** media type="custom" key="8117868"

** ( ** EMBED GOOGLE SKETCH UP CODE) (Write description below. **)**

** Design #3 **

=media type="custom" key="8147738" =

(** EMBED GOOGLE SKETCH UP CODE) **
 * (Write description below. **)

** Identify the Best Design: **
The Best design is design #2

=
This design was chosen as the most fitted for a few reasons. The first one being that it had all of the correct specifications listed in the design brief, and it followed the main style of the community in which it would be placed. The other reason is that out of all three, this was the cleanest design with the most architectual detail put into it, plus, it has a specific style that is appealing and would fit into the community. ======