EVGENI

=Best Fit = by: Evgeni

=** INVESTIGATION STAGE ** =

== General characteristics of the neighborhood **:**== Ridgewood, New York is primarily a residential area. It has many, small 2 to 3 story buildings with about 6 rooms. Ridgewood still has many conveniently placed shops spread throughout. Myrtle avenue is the main street on which all types of shops are found. There is also a school there right next to a church. A YMCA is found higher up on Catalpa street, which is where the school is located and where I live.

** Block and Lot Number: **
Block Number: 3449 Lot Number: 6

** Size of lot: **
205.5' x 100.08'

** Images: **
Street view of my lot, picture taken on Palmetto right under the train lines





 Needs assessment **:**
**1. A description of what the neighborhood already has.**

The neighborhood that I currently live in is Ridgewood, New York. Generally, it is more for living that an industrial zone. The houses are no more than 3 stories high throughout, but they are still seen often. Each building has a small lawn behind it.

 Near Myrtle Avenue, all of the the shops. There are shops for clothing, toys, games, beauty salons and even restaurants. A bit further up, and you will find a big pharmacy and all sorts of shops for tools and electronics. Myrtle is right next to Seneca Avenue, and that is where there is a metro station. There are also bus stops everywhere. Near Catalpa Avenue, where I live, there is a local YMCA that just opened up- and it looks very nice. There is also a church a block away from me, also on Catalpa Avenue. A catholic school named St. Matthias is right next to the church. I used to enroll there, and I really liked it.

 Several blocks away from my house, there is a playground. It has many swing sets, 6 basketball hoops, a baseball field and a handball court. I is generally kept clean. Right next to that playground is a Queens library, which is where the train stop also is.

 One thing that is notable lacking in Ridgewood is a hospital of some sort. There is one in the nearby neighborhood, but it is still not in Ridgewood. That is a possible problem I can fix with my open lot.

 Everything in Ridgewood is close to where I live, and everything is interconnected. It is very easy to get from place to place in Ridgewood, due to its small size and conveniently placed shops.

**2. An analysis of what the neighborhood needs.**

One thing that is noticeably missing in Ridgewood is a swimming pool of some sort. There is a YMCA, but it is very small (not like the other ones near Manhattan) and it lacks a swimming pool. I already looked up the standard sizes of the swimming pools, and it seems that it would fit there. Also, it would be nice if a basketball court was put on the roof, since there is hardly a hardwood floored court in Ridgewood. It should only be organized for official teams, however. Some type of entertainment place would be very nice in Ridgewood, also. We don't have any arcades, or bowling alleys in fact. It would be very helpful. Another idea for what Ridgewood could use is a movie theater. We don't have a single movie theater in Ridgewood, and one of those would be extremely helpful. I could build one of those for my project in Google Sketchup.

== Buildings and architects that provide inspiration ==
 * [[image:http://www.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://dailypostal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/empire-state-building.jpg&sa=X&ei=2T0mTbKrPIT7lwfz-bXOCw&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNHmKlOLlEEDALr99CBD1PdVJfXuaQ width="410" height="305" align="center"]] ||
 * The Empire State Building inspires me to build tall. Since I don't have access to a lot of ground space, it would be more effective if the building was taller than it is wide. Nearly every building in Manhattan is taller than it is wide or long. This is due to a big population, and high building are the only way to accomodate more people. A movie theater/ arcade would work very nicely with a tall structure, in my opinion. ||
 * [[image:http://www.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://www.hotelpulitzer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/eiffel-tower.jpg%3Fw%3D240&sa=X&ei=eUAmTfiMKcPflgeT3PzJCw&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNGKG8CSEy5LWySMaNIfXNtpzJXhBg width="200" height="464" align="center"]] ||
 * This building always inspires me to build tall, just like the Empire State Building. However, it is important for the building not to get in the way of other people's property. The Eiffel Tower is isolated in the middle of a big piece of land, with nothing around it. This is probably because people would mind having such a tall structure in front of them when they open their windows. This is why the Eiffel Tower is more for sightseeing. ||
 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Leonardo_self.jpg/220px-Leonardo_self.jpg width="156" height="296" align="center"]] ||
 * Leonardo da Vinci is probably the most famous architect in the world. He always looked for innovation and new ways of doing things. This is what I want to do with my lot- try and find new things to build on there. He was always thinking up of new ways to do things. That is what I plan to do with the movie theater/ arcade. I want to make it 2 stories high. ||
 * [[image:http://www.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/jbpentag.jpg&sa=X&ei=nUEmTajSJoG8lQeO44DPCw&ved=0CAQQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNHjUfhOzvwHl5PdXapKKKlLmr4NZA width="262" height="247" align="center"]] ||
 * The Pentagon in Washington, D.C. is a very interesting structure. It is shaped like the name implies. I think it is important for a building to look different from others if you want it to get noticed. The 5 sided shape really stands out to me. It allows for maximum space. It allows for space in the middle, which is used as green land. It isn't that tall, however, and it is very wide and long. ||
 * [[image:http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/washington-dc/images/s/washington-dc-white-house-s.jpg width="289" height="236" align="center" caption="White House Tours"]] ||
 * I also think it is very important for a building to look nice. This way, people are attracted to see what is inside. Color, surrounding objects and overall structure are what determine this element. The white house has a nice lawn in front of it, a fountain, and many flowers. Plants seem to attract people to it. The white color also looks much nicer than, say, a red or yellow one. ||

==<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> In what ways has this investigation influenced you to design a building for your lot that makes the best fit for the neighborhood? == This investigation influenced me to build my structures tall. This way, you are using the space to its maximum capacity. I should also use up all of the land there. I got these ideas mainly from the Empire State Building and from the Eiffel Tower. Also, making buildings different from others makes it stand out. It gets noticed this way, and people would be curious to see what it is. This idea came from the Pentagon. Its unique shape allows for a green piece of land in the middle. Making the building attractive from the outside is also important. Color, surrounding objects and details are what determine this element.. That is exactly what the White House is like. It is, like the name implies, a white color on the outside. it also has a big green lawn in the front with a fountain. Its looks also makes it iconic.

=WORKS CITED=

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px;">"Digital Tax Map Online - New York City Department of Finance." Web. 07 Jan. 2011. <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px;">// Google Maps //. Web. 07 Jan. 2011. <[|http://maps.google.com]/>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px;">"Empire State Building Suicide | Daily Postal." // Daily Postal Online //. Web. 07 Jan. 2011. <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px;">"Eiffel Tower Day." Web. 7 Jan. 2011. <[|http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Eiffel_Tower_Day_Sept._2005_(10).jpg]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px;">"File:Leonardo Self.jpg." // Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia //. Web. 07 Jan. 2011. <>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px;">// Greenwich Mean Time //. Web. 7 Jan. 2011. <[]>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 32px;">// Destination 360 //. Web. 7 Jan. 2011. <[]>.

=<span style="font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**<span style="color: #008000; font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> DESIGN STAGE ** =

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> Problem to be solved:
The problem Ridgewood has is that it has no movie theater of any type. It actually entirely lacks an arcade, also. Ridgewood doesn't have many entertainment areas all together. People have to travel to other neighborhoods on order to watch a new movie that just came out or just to have a good time.

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> Requirements:

 * The movie theaters would need to be large enough to accompany around 100 people
 * An arcade would need to be somehow implemented with the movie theater
 * There should be at least 4 movie theaters, so there could be more showtimes
 * Some type of underground parking lot would be needed, since you have to pay to park in the surrounding areas
 * The building might need to be soundproof, since it is right next to the train lines
 * Everything should be affordable (food, gaming tokens, etc.)

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> Constraints:

 * Footprint of the building (base) can't be larger than the lot
 * Distance of how much buildings need to be set back (for the curb)
 * Height limit (shadow cannot invade other people's property)

Description of Three Possible Designs
 * Design #1 **

media type="custom" key="8107314" This design is very plain. It has a spiral on the side for the cars to get up on. It also has a digital screen in the front that has the showtimes available. However, the design is not very enticing, in my opinion.

** Design #2 ** media type="custom" key="8141370"

It has a spiral on the side for the cars to climb up on. They can park on the roof. It also has a semi circle cut out in the corner. It is all a grayish color. There is text identifying the movie theater.

** Design #3 ** media type="custom" key="8141384"

This design is similar to the previous one. It has a semi circle cut out in the middle for people to enter through. It is a little larger than the previous design's. It also has no spiral for cars to go up on. I felt that it wasn't necessary for the cars to park on the roof, and that there would be spaces around the block.

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> Identify the Best Design:
Design 3 is the best design. It uses the space best and offers the most space for the theaters and arcades. Parking is not a problem around the block.

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> Justify Your Choice:
<span style="color: #000000; font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Design 3 is the best for several reasons. It offers the most space for the movie theater and the arcade. It has no spiral for the cars, though. This is the reason why I like it. I feel like it is the most efficient use of the space I have. Also, it is not very difficult to find parking around the block. The design I also really like. It has a cut out semi circle in the middle and the text looks nice.