MATTHEW

= **Best Fit** = by Matthew

= INVESTIGATION STAGE =

**General characteristics of the neighborhood** :
This neighborhood is Forest Hills.In this neighbourhood, there are many single homes and areas that are very busy. The area can seem like it has been divided into a few parts. There are some areas that have more stores and shops than others. This area is very diverse, and features a wide range of cultures. There are many recreational places and restaurants.

Block and Lot Number:
3249-45

Images:




**Needs assessment** :
**1. A description of what the neighborhood already has.**  In Forest Hills, there is an area that has many houses and trees. This area includes some low rise apartments, but mostly single homes. There are a lot of big trees in the community, but there are not a lot of company buildings in the area. There are a lot of different kinds of stores in the busier streets of Forest Hills, such as Barnes and Nobles, and restaurants like Johnny Rockets. There are two known movie theatres. One of these movie theaters is next to the Barnes and Nobles, and the other movie theatre is next to a Chinese bakery on 71st Avenue. There are also a few religious buildings such as a church near The Gardens, two other churches that also act as catholic schools, and a synagogue or two.There are also gyms and clothing departments. There are a few bakeries and cafes. Some market places include C-Town and some small corner stores or delis. For children, there is a park near P.S 101, which is a public school, and there is also a small park if you continue to go up 75th and 76th avenue. There is a middle school called Russel Sage, which is the only closest middle school there. The streets are always very busy, because of stores and places to eat like Boston Market, McDonalds, and T.G.I Fridays. **2. An analysis of what the neighborhood needs.** This area is mostly covered by big forestlands and trees. This is okay, because without it, it wouldn't be much of a "Forest Hills". What could be done about this could be clearing some of the forest area that could be abandoned or deserted. There are also areas with large unused spaces that would seem fitting to have something placed there. I think that this area needs things that could help entertain younger people and children. I have noticed that there are only a few things that appeal to younger people like the Barnes and Nobles, the movie theatres, pets stores could count and...that's pretty much it. There are some stores to shop at, but that doesn't appeal to every child in the neighbourhood. Since these places are usually what attracts children, they can be crowded at times. there are also libraries, but very few that could be improved. Overall, there can be areas that can have more things added, like more religious places or more entertainment spots for everybody to enjoy.

**Buildings and architects that provide inspiration**
Oak Park House by Frank Lloyd Wright This house created by Frank Lloyd Wright is very interesting to me, because it shows that you can combine something that is modern with something older looking. What is good about this structure, is that it can fit into Forest Hills, because in the Gardens, the houses are mostly big, and this can be a modern, more stylish version of that. The Brandeis-Millard House by Albert Kahn This architect inspires me, because this particular piece of architecture looks classical, but looks like it can fit in the neighbourhood in a modern era. I think that this house could fit into the area, because it seems very casual, big, and not too fancy. The Barcelona Sagrada Famillia by Antonio Gaudi I like this building, because it incorporates both an artistic style and old style together to form a piece of living art. This cathedral is very interesting, because it looks old from its style, which could fit into Forest Hill's community, and it also looks creative and attractive in a way, that would get people's attention. The Deutsche Bank by Gottfried Bohem This building has a certain type of simplicity to the figure that makes it look so complicated. I think that the way the architectural design is interesting like the Acropolis, because its structural design reminds me of a simple geometric figure, but at the same time, the building has been shaped to give it an interesting puzzling figure. 4x4 House in Kobe by Tadao Ando For these types of buildings, I think that it would be interesting to have around Forest Hills, because it seems to save space in the neighbourhood, and it can give more space for neighbouring structures like restaurants or stores, which can help improve the elements in the area. I like the way that these buildings are designed, because it seems to be a good amount of space, and has a bit of a modern/futuristic image to it.

** In what ways has this investigation influenced you to design a building for your lot that makes the best fit for the neighborhood? **
== I think that this investigation helped influence me to design a building in my lot, because it was able to help me realize how many different pieces of architecture had been designed in such a creative and influential way. I liked how so many types of buildings and structures can be found in so many different areas in the world. It is very interesting how so many architects have similar ideas, and it has shown me in a way that people's creativity can be implied into architecture and constructing large models. I believe that people who can accomplish things that are different than the things within their time makes it possible for art and technology to be combined together. Many different architects have combined together these two kinds of elements, and have created a new perspective on boring imagery of ordinary constructions. All of these architects' ideas can imply to my society, because it is able to make my neighborhood have its original classical old style to it, and at the same time, it can be modernized. ==

"Barcelona Days Out - Places to See in Barcelona." // Top Weekend Breaks - Days Out, Day Trips and Short Breaks //. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. . // Encircle Me, I Need to Be Taken down //. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. . "Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission - Brandeis/Millard House and Carriage House." // City of Omaha - Home //. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. . "Picture of Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture, Oak Park." // PlanetWare Travel Guide - Hotels, Attractions, Pictures, Maps & More //. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. . "Stock Photography Image of Deutsche Bank Luxembourg Building, Designed Stock Photo." // Photographers Direct | Professional Stock Photography Images | Buy Photo Stock Images //. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. .
 * WORKS CITED**

= DESIGN BRIEF =

**Problem to be solved:**
The area of Forest Hills has many old buildings, and there are many big houses. One of the problems with this is that Forest Hills has such a long history of classical style, that it needs to have some more buildings that have a modern touch to it.

**Requirements:**

 * The building has to fit within 90 x 75 ft.
 * Building must have both a modern appearance and/or classical appearance
 * The new building also must fit into the area
 * The building cannot have a style that is less than the 20th century

**Constraints:**

 * The building cannot stretch over 100 x 77.6 ft.
 * The building cannot cause pollution, and should be eco-friendly
 * The new building cannot be an apartment

Description of Three Possible Designs media type="custom" key="8144168" A somewhat simple design that includes an older style door with modern glass windows around the whole front of the building, with some artistic structures protruding from the top. This design also includes a roof on top for rain to prevent rooftop flooding. ** Design #2 ** media type="custom" key="8144060" This building has a roof with a large pyramid that produces water into a basin that surrounds the roof. There is a large space for all of the water to fall against the glass window, making an interesting look with a waterfall.
 * Design #1 **

** Design #3 ** media type="custom" key="8147460" This building is an office building which has two floors and a rooftop garden. The design for this is a bit modern because of the shape used and it's glass materials.

=
I think that the best design is the third building. This building design features two floors in its building and a rooftop garden. The building also includes elevators and seventy-five percent of the building is made out of glass. This building also includes a small well on top of the roof. This design also has three windows on one side, and the whole front of the building is a window. This building also includes see-through elevator shafts so you can see below you or above you as you travel up and down the elevators. The whole overview of the building is very calm, and peaceful. Part of the image of this building may look a bit plain and boring, but there are some exotic features like the window that sticks out from the building.=====

** Justify Your Choice: **
I liked this particular building, because it was able to have enough detail to support some of my requirements. The whole structure stands within its lot boundaries, and it also has a very interesting modern feel to it. It is not really tall, but it is still a good size building to have an office space. Many of Forest Hills buildings have an old dreary feel to it, and there aren't many corporate buildings in Forest Hills. This building can help this kind of problem because there is enough space in the building for work. There are also no smokestacks of any kind, and there is a garden on the roof of the building. This garden has a well to help grow the plants, and the second floor is made out of glass, giving it an appropriate modern look.