EMMA

=**Best Fit** = by Your FIRST-Name

=INVESTIGATION STAGE =

**General characteristics of the neighborhood** :
Forest Hills is very residential, but it also has many buisnesses, restaurants, and shopping stores too. The residences are single family homes, as well as tall appartement buildings. There is several public schools, and a few Catholic schools, and day care centers/ nursery schools for little kids. Also, the neighborhood has many synagouges and a few churches too. Around the neighboorhood, there a multiple nice parks and playgrounds.

Block and Lot Number:
The lot number is 6 and the block number is 2179.

**Needs assessment** :
**1. A description of what the neighborhood already has.** The neighborhood is mainly residential and has two different types of housing. There are many mid-high rise appartement buidling as well as some very large, single family homes. The appartment building are all brick, while the single family homes vary from red, gray, white, and pinkish bricks to marble. The area is very kid oriented, as it has many nursery schools and daycare centers all around such as Forest Hills CHildcare and Jewish Childcare Assosiation. There are many options for school in Forest Hills such as Forest Hills High School, a public high school, Russel Sage, a public middle school, a Catholic school, P.S. 101, and several other public schools. The area seems to be very Jewish, as it has many synogauges and only a few churches.

As for medical assistance, Forest Hills has a pediatrician, a few dentists offices, a few doctor offices, and Parkway Hospital. For recreation, there is Midway Staduim 9 movie theatre on Queens Bulevard, Forest Park, McDouglas Park, and a Y with a basketball court, swimming pool, and many classes for young children, teens, adults, and seniors. Also, on Austin street, there is many stores ranging from clothing stores such as Strawberry, Gap, Bannana Republic, and Eddia Buarer to restuarants such as Portofino, Nick's Pizza, and Johnny Rockets. Near the lot, there is also Forest Hills Library, and several spas/salons. Finally, some other services offerend in the arrea is accounting, ridgewood savings bank, and physical therapy. **2. An analysis of what the neighborhood needs.** What Forest Hills needs is a place for teenaged kids to hang out after school and on weekends. Though there is a Y very nearby, it is by membership only, which can get expensive. Though Austin street offers many stores and restaurants, it is also too expensive for a teen's budget. The nearby movie theatre is a good place to hang out, but not on a daily basis, on top of that, with the price of $12 per ticket it is not too affordable either. A safe building, where kids can go whenever they like a talk with friends, do homework, and get a bite to eat will be beneficial to young kids and teens in the area. There has to be some sort of entertainment offered daily, as well as comfortable seating and tables to atract kids. Acess to this hang out spot should be free or very low so everyone can come. In all, a building that houses some sort of entertainment, comfortable seating, food, tables, and a place to talk all at a low cost to teens should be built on the lot.

**Buildings and architects that provide inspiration**
This building, the Jefferson Market Library on 10th street and 6th avenue, is an inspirational building to me. What catches my attention most about this building is the tall watch tower with a balcony and large clock. Though I do not think the balcony will work in the lot because there is not much of a view from that area, and also I do not plan to make the building that tall because it would not fit in with the other buildings. I also admire the windows because the intricate design of them are very beautiful. I like that the windows are very large and that there are a lot of them because it gives it an old- church-like feel. The brick will also work in Forest Hills because most buildings are brick and pre-war, and the watchtower will fit in with this theme. ||
 * [[image:https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XEros0gbgCjySVux72IpCL-OqoK3wDyDc0mkLb_BkVTiI4o_Uw37MzrvCYjDIJ_zJH4EzP3nHiPBQCsUrY2nzvjiA7tPYA-FYe4AzEVqHVTZ0ryang width="350" height="317"]]
 * [[image:https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/WI7cPxLoZ3uX8ZiPlUgf3KXsaztwa60ov9lWwiFAze5-TUIcSlsomrPxxKZr0oP2qnPe6-wwF242Ele9kgRlCJIN5SUURR02yJ8z1Zy_MI33G5Fn6Hs]]

This building inspires me because of the intricate design of it. The building is not just a rectangle, but looks like many rectangles and triangles put together. This makes the building interesting. Also, I like how the roof is a different color than the outer walls because it makes the red pop from the main walls. Something else that I admire is how the building is not too deep, but wraps around the block so that there is an empty area in the middle. This empty area can be used for a garden, outdoor pool, tennis center, and any outdoor sport and recreations. I know that this type of building will fit in the neighborhood because this building is located in Forest Hills! ||
 * [[image:https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/zSi0Nmne_i5TWTH6gc7QZi_szkF-oED0-EqzM_hkqNYFshfmLGPUv8Od-mBUqCbL0UFaanoyHOeSsd0zLx0fvB4_NSUUJewPqMpyUiUnDXGyeSJ7AfE]]

What I admire about this building is how the roof has many intricate designs that makes it pop from the body of the building. Even though the body of the building is not so special, the roof give it special element. I think that this type of building will work because Forest Hills is a mainly residential neighborhood, and there are many large appartement in the area. If I was to put this building in Forest Hills, I would make it less wide. I also like how there are many balconies and small windowed cylinders for some appartments. These add nice features to appartament buildings. || Though this building would not fit in Forest Hills, there are some elements that I would want to take from it. For example, I like how there are large window on the roof, and this would be nice for tenants on the top floor. Also, this house has walls that stick out at all angles, which make it interesting because it is not just a rectangular building. I also like the decoration at the top of the windows because they make the windows pop and add some design and color to the building. Since I do not think these colors will work on a building in forest hills, I would probably use brick. || MLA CITATION Jefferson Market Library: [] [|3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=477&ei=8KksTbmIGoeOnwfvurD2CQ&oei=8KksTbmIGoeOnwfvurD2CQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&tx=137&ty=59] The Dakota: [] Park Slope Brownstone: [] Station Square in The Gardens: [|http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://donkeehouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/forest_hills_gardens8_squa.jpg&imgrefurl=http://donkeehouse.com/%3Ftag%3Dholidays&usg=__3SmFAIrQNeLhLOeouZRah8Oc_O4=&h=333&w=400&sz=64&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=Rqas_aO1eKMwTM:&tbnh=165&tbnw=198&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bgardens,%2Bforest%2Bhills%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1152%26bih%3D477%26tbs%]
 * [[image:https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/oK8jbRRbFvsUxeoyPImB3TivCbKv4HyVBOY4Q3WpTyOoJfBIepCnQTCxV48N8H-Zp5jHvPeibqbLOHuru4lNPWbrcUgtJTyK3K2wMcXWkNTwlFS7O7Q]]
 * [[image:https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NrIa3v3Fb6dPBjjbsm7qDirJqK3rNj84T5AZPWcNeDz59tnsDR82D6NHmCm8UVNY4kEero72WNpuPdQP19XjgFb3Lx3viGRBkngjbj0Jk_KDa8ZZbwE]] ||
 * This building inspires me because it is simple, but interesting a the same time. I admire how each building is not just a flat rectangle, like most appartments, but has many sides and edges. THis simple change in shape, really affects how it is viewed. Also the large windows have a dramatic effect. ||

In what ways has this investigation influenced you to design a building for your lot that makes the best fit for the neighborhood.
(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) This investigation has inspired me because it showed me that the building does not have to be too complicated or flashy to be interesting and beautiful. Simple designs, decorations, and colors can make a beutiful building too. For example, how you use windows can have major effects on how the bulding is viewed because large, intricately shaped windows can make the building look dramatic while accented window shutters make the windows pop! I also discovered that instead of making a tradition rectangular building, I can make wrap the building around the edges of the lot, and then have a empty space in the center for a garden, swimming pool, tennis center, ect. This design will be good because I can make an outdoor area for kids. Another thing that inspired me is to use colors to outline decoration and the roof to make the building slightly colorful, without it being overpowering and using many colors doesn't have to make the building look like a coloring book! All the building showed me that a simple building, with a few unique aspects, can make it beautiful!

= DESIGN STAGE =

Problem to be solved:
The problem in Forest Hills is that there is no place for teen aged kids to hang out together that fits a teenager's budget. Though there are many stores, restaurants, and a movie theater a it is too expensive to hang out there on a daily basis, especially for kids. The neighborhood needs a place that teenagers can just chill out and have fun, but not break the bank. Also, it should be safe so that parents allow their kids to go there.

**Requirements:**

 * The building must exhibit the architecture of the other buildings in the neighborhood.
 * The building must exhibit aspects of traditional architecture.
 * The building must have some color, without being overpowering.
 * The building must be big enough to house several rooms for entertainment and relaxation for teenagers.
 * The building must be able to accommodate a small cafe sized restaurant.
 * The building must have a slightly playful energy

**Constraints:**

 * The building has to fit Forest Hills zoning regulation
 * The building cannot be larger than the lot size.

Description of Three Possible Designs media type="custom" key="8107246" This building is all brick and features a very traditional sytle of archetecture. There are several large windows on the frontage and a large watch tower that has a viewing space on top. On the roof is also a outdoor pool with a large area for lounging and it is enclosed by glass walls. ** Design #2 ﻿ ** media type="custom" key="8131852" This building is simple are designed more like a house than the other buildings. It has three large windows onthe frontage and 3 long windows that take up most of the wall on the left and right sides of the building. This building is set back a little form the side walk so that there is room for a walkways and small garden.
 * Design #1 **

** Design #3 ** media type="custom" key="8132774"

This design is the most modern of the three. The frontage is almost completely glass with some bright colored windows too. On the roof there is a largebasketball court. All the other walls of the building are glass to fit in with the other buildings nearby.

** Identify the Best Design: **
The best design is Design 3. It has the basketball court on the roof.

** Justify Your Choice: **
I chose design 3 because it fit the best to the design brief. It fits in with the other building in the neighborhood and exhibits aspects of traditional architecture by using brick and large windows. Also, by having some windows painted different colors, and the other windows with clear glass, the building has some color but the color was not too overpowering. Also, the colorful and clear windows that took up the whole front section of the building gave it a playful energy because you could see into the building. The bright colors also are playful and would attract teens to it. Being 50 feet tall, the building is definitely large enough to hold several floors, which could accommodate many rooms of activities. The building also fits into the lot space assigned. In all, this building was chosen out of the other two because it did the best job of complying to the restrictions, needs, and constraints of the design brief.