SAFIYA

= = **Best Fit** by Safiya

= INVESTIGATION STAGE =

**General characteristics of the neighborhood** :
My neighborhood is fairly big. It not a high class neighborhood, mostly middle and low classed. There are a lot of apartments and condos. The neighborhood has a lot of public schools, fast food restaurants, and take-out. Most stores are connected and have low rise apartments above. The neighborhood is really mixed when it comes to the middle classed and low classed, but there is very few high- class homes.

Block and Lot Number:
The block number is 147 and the lot number is 11.

Size of lot:
321' -17x 170'-57x 320' x 143'-71

**Needs assessment** :
**1. A description of what the neighborhood already has.** My neighborhood is fairly big. It has a lot of stores and businesses. Different homes are contained in different areas in the neighborhood. My area has over 100 single family homes that are fairly spaced for a wide driveway and backyard. Nearby, there is over 100 houses that are closer together. They usually have alleys that open up to the backyard and driveway. Further out, there are houses are mixed; some of them are single family that are close together and some houses are very tall or wide because 2 families share that house. There are at least 50 of those houses in my neighborhood. There are condos but there are about 50 or a little less; they are in one contained area that is given a name to show that this area contains only condos.There are no townhouses in my neighborhood, or at least none that I know of, but there may be a few, at least 4 or 5. There are hundreds of low rise apartments because we have a lot of stores as businesses. They are mostly located at stores like delis or hair salons or sores that don't have a lot of publicity, such as take-out. There are high rise apartments, as well, but they are contained in one area of my neighborhood. There is less than 50 because my neighborhood doesn’t have a lot of big buildings. The neighborhood businesses mostly consist of a lot of Chinese food, hair salons, and fast food places, such as McDonald and Burger King. Most small stores, such as deli and take- out are connected because we have a lot of connected stores, where low rise apartments are found. There are a few banks and supermarkets; businesses that work with marketing. The main religion is Christian. There are a few big churches and some small churches, Christian schools and day care connected with other stores. There are a few big schools but they are public. PS 176, 156, 251 etc. There are a lot of daycare centers and religious schools. There aren’t any private schools that I know of in my neighborhood. There aren’t any factories in my neighborhood. There are a few fire and ambulance station, but hospitals and doctors are out of my neighborhood. There are many movie theaters and malls in my neighborhood, as well. some theaters are separated but some are apart of a mall.

**2. An analysis of what the neighborhood needs.** My neighborhood needs a new idea. My entire neighborhood has revolves around food and hair. It needs something elegant, something that is modern but reminds all the citizens of all the amazing ways we can transform our architecture and expand it. The building needs to be elegant; needs to have a completely different theme and makeover than ever thought of. It needs to bring back the style of the past, expand on the boring, unpleasant taste that we have today, and look to the elegance of the future. The theme can't be predictable, like a mall or a food place; it needs to be creative. Different themes my neighborhood has can be combined into something new or an entirely new addition to my area, like a townhouse or hospital. Although I want the theme to be creative, I want the purpose to be useful to my neighborhood in a profitable way.

**Buildings and architects that provide inspiration**
|| This monument inspires me to build something that shows elegance. This monument is modern, but also expands on the simple idea of architecture. It inspires me to build something in my neighborhood with a purpose so amazing, it is praised for having almost no purpose at all. Tourists come all over the world just to a picture of the Eiffel Tower, because of its unique quality and the way it stands. I want my building to qualities that can only be found in certain places. The tower isn't built for business or shopping, but it makes a lot of money just by its image. My dream building can be used for something, but I want it to make money by its structure inside and out. ||
 * [[image:file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/SAFIYA%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png]]
 * [[image:China.jpg width="260" height="190" align="center"]] || This inspires a complex structure. Anyone can build a building but this work is unique because of its creativity. For my building, I don't to build anything unnecessary or anything flashy, though. I'm sure every part of this building was used for something, but this is an example of thinking outside the box. Why make a building when you can expand it, literally. On this building, only certain parts of it were expanded, which is hat makes it so attractive. This is something I need in my neighborhood. A creative look as well as a creative purpose for the building. ||
 * [[image:japan_2.jpg width="159" height="242" align="center"]] || This inspires beauty. This structure doesn't really fit in with my neighborhood. Its' very nice but it kind of...stands, but not in a bad way. The neighborhood just wouldn't compliment that building, like a bee sting wouldn't compliment the face! Nevertheless, the beauty is just what I would like for my building. It's very calm, simple, yet it makes me people stop and stare. It could just be only structure, but beauty is a big component, in my opinion. It inspires me to create a building that has a simple, sophisticated look, so that people will stop and stare at beauty as well as structure. ||
 * [[image:pisa.jpg width="177" height="240" align="center"]] || This design inspires me to take risks and originality. I remember reading about how the leaning tower of Pisa was too far over and had to be re-built in order to maintain it and keep it from falling over. Still, those architects still took the risk of having it lean and that's what gives it originality. That is something you don't see every day and certainly not in an average neighborhood. When I create my building, I want to take risks and it doesn't have to be making my building lean. I could make it curve or even have it take the form of the bridge. The point is though, I want a building that is original and displays some risky ideas. ||
 * [[image:taj_mahal.jpg width="279" height="189" align="center"]] || This inspires purpose, surprisingly. The Taj Mahal has a purpose that is very valuable and important. Another example is the White House. Both buildings have a purpose that cannot just be put in any city or home or even building. My neighborhood is so predictable at this point. There's only a limited number of themes that we have. I want to change all of that by adding a purpose that is different and inspires to create new and profitable ones. I also want that purpose to be important for everyone in my neighborhood. This means it can be a hospital or a homeless center or even a pet shelter. ||
 * [[image:Creative_Buildings.jpg width="279" height="215"]] || This building inspires motivation for me. This cathedral is so complex and its design had such great detail which is duplicated on some parts of the building. If this building that can be made, then I can make an amazing building, too. I can make one that will save my neighborhood from rock bottom, which no ideas seem to lie. The building has everything that I need for my building:elegance, beauty, structure, originality, and an important purpose that helps the other people. I want my building to for fill all of these components and blend in with the surroundings of my community. ||

** In what ways has this investigation influenced you to design a building for your lot that makes the best fit for the neighborhood? **
The investigation of designs, architecture, and the details of my lot helped me expand on how I want my building to look inside an out and what purpose it should serve to my community. The different buildings that inspired me show me how each structure is unique in its own way and compliments the background around them. The Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa influenced a unique structure for my building so that its beauty is worth so much. The Japanese building and Taj Mahal influenced me to design my building with creativity and originality. The St. John Cathedral influenced me to design a building in which its style compliments my community. The purpose of the building however, is something I must figure out myself. By looking around at my community and my lot, I need a new purpose for my community and I want it to be something profitable for all and help everyone in my neighborhood. These buildings aren't closely related when it comes to blending in with my neighborhood, but they are related to my community's needs. The investigation and inspiration influenced me to design a building with originality and solves the problem of lack of new ideas in my community. The building will also solve the problem of lack of creativity and elegance. The problem with my neighborhood is that we are in stuck at rock bottom and we have become blank of new architecture that has personality. Each building influenced a building that will stand out in my community. This will influence an era of new ideas and purposes for how new buildings should look in my neighborhood.

WORK CITED
"HowStuffWorks "Eiffel Tower"" //Howstuffworks "Adventure"// Web. 10 Jan. 2011. <[]>. "Chinese Architecture History." //Chinese Architecture//. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. <[]>. "Kisho Kurokawa 1934-2007 » Yanko Design." //Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News//. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. <[]>. "Leaning Tower of Pisa – A Matchless Piece of Architecture | Travlang Travel Guide." //Travlang's Language and Travel Resources//. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. <[]>. Sinha, Ankur. "History, India, Taj Mahal." //History, India, Index//. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. <[]>. "15 Unusual and Creative Buildings ~ UNUSUAL THINGs." //UNUSUAL THINGs//. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. <[]>.

= DESIGN BRIEF =

**Design Brief:**
**Problem to be solved:** The problem with my neighborhood is that there is a lack of originality and ideas that can help the community in a positive way both architecturally and socially. The neighborhood has a lack of a center to help the needy and the ill. **Functions:** The function of my building is a combination of social services, health clinic, and a recreation center, more specifically, a building that specializes in care for the sick, the homeless, and the badly injured.

**Requirements:**

 * The roof will be a jacuzzi with a small garden and hammocks for resting.
 * Each floor will have balcony to look out and will have a fire escape.
 * The materials used will be steel and brick.
 * There will be 3 big windows on every floor on every side of the building.
 * The front and back of the buildings will have steps and ramps for the disabled.
 * There will also be revolving doors and automatic for the disabled.
 * I will leave some space in the back of the building for a bigger garden and a pool with a connected hot tub.
 * There will be a pool house and an eating place.
 * The sides of the building will be an emergency exit.

**Constraints:**

 * The building cannot exceed the size of the lot.
 * The height of the building cannot exceed 4 stories.
 * The setback minimum is about 10 ft from the sidewalk.

Description of Three Possible Designs media type="custom" key="8114182" This first design is a recreation center for the poor and homeless. The place is meant to give a home and hotel sort of feeling when you look at it. The first section of the hotel is sort of a welcoming. It is meant to give any type of immediate treatment as well as immediate cleansing. The second building is for helping the elderly, poor, and sick get comfortable and are tended to their needs. The third building is meant to help the stay animals with their needs as well. The lower floor, however, is for the children. The back of the building is for relaxing on warm days by going into the pool and getting acquainted with other people. The doors are elevators and the material used is stone, tile, and brick.
 * Design #1 **

** Design #2 ** media type="custom" key="8114244" This second design is slightly different because, now, the buildings aren't spread out. This gives a hopeful as well as business- like feeling. The first section is for welcoming and works with immediate care and cleansing. As for the building, each need is given a floor. Those with disability are the first floor. The second floor is for elderly and sick. The third floor is for pets and the fourth floor is for children. The roof has a garden for relaxing. The back of the building also has a pool and a garden border. The door are also elevators and the material used for the building is brick, stone, and translucent. The back of the building also has a pool house that is made of wood.

** Design #3 ** media type="custom" key="8123206" This third design is slightly different this design was meant to give a sense of creativity and originality. The first section is for welcoming and works with immediate care and cleansing. Each floor responds to the same needs as Design 2. The roof has a garden for relaxing. The back of the building also has a pool and a garden border. However, since the buildings are set up a certain way each floor has a roof garden, but only the very top garden is used. There is also a wooden pool house, but different because there is no roof. The doors are also elevators, but they are circles because it added to the sense of creativity. The material used for the building is brick and translucent.

** Identify the Best Design: **
The best design of the 3 that I chose is Design 3. This is the design with the circular elevator doors and translucent material on each floor. This design has a polygon on each floor with one side that stretches out The floors are not set up on top of each other and every floor has a rood garden. In front of the building there is a brick welcome center that say "Queens Helping Hands". In the back of the building, there is a pool with a pool house and a garden.

** Justify Your Choice: **
This design is the best choice because this design best displays the best sense of creativity which was my goal from the beginning of the project. The other 2 building s were nice, but they'd fit in with the neighborhood a little too much. The third design stands out the most based upon its structure and material and the precision used on the doors and windows. Design 2 had better windows, but the structure was so common. Design 3 stood out perfectly, but without attracting so much attention that it drowns out the other businesses.