Eaton Canyon Artist Institute

Written By William Ellsworth

Project Information


Institution Woodbury University

Instructor John Southern

Course Date Fall 2016

Course Number ARCH 487

 
 

Part I Site Research

Eaton Canyon is part of Angeles National Forest, California's oldest natural reserve. It is nestled at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. The abutting against the mountains gives this region a unique microclimate in relation to it's context in Los Angeles County. Running through the center of Eaton Canyon is the Eaton Wash, a natural water way which flows into the Rio Hondo River, then to the Los Angeles River.

 
 
 

Fig. 01

Greater Site Context

Greater Site Context

  1. Eaton Canyon Falls

  2. Henninger Flats Museum

  3. Eaton Canyon / Proposed Site

Fig. 02

Water Inundation

Site Water Inundation

  1. Mountain Rain Runoff

  2. Eaton Canyon Reservoir

 
 

Fig. 03

Site Adjacencies

 

Site Adjacencies

  1. Altadena Residential Zoning

  2. Eaton Canyon Hiking Trail

  3. Eaton Canyon Wash

  4. Kinneloa Mesa Residential Zoning

Fig. 04

Proposed Site Location

 

Proposed Site Location

  1. Proposed Site

Fig. 05

Pressure Regions

 

Pressure Regions

  1. High Pressure Wind

  2. Low Pressure Wind

Fig. 06

Specific Water Inundation

 

Specific Water Inundation

  1. Wash Heavy Water Flow

 

Fig. 07

Site Context

Defining Location

  1. Eaton Canyon Trail Head

  2. Proposed Site

  3. Wash Basin

Such a volitile location is not ideal for typical construction methodologies. The site produces two abundant design constraints; the location is in an incredibly active flood and fire zone, and it is situated in a California State Reserve. To address the flood and fire the structure will be lifted 15' from the ground plane and will be constructed of primarily concrete and glass. To address the Reserve, the project's footprint will be optimized to use as little land as possible.

A paradox is created by these two decisions. In order to preserve the landscape of the reserve the building will be lifted into the air and as a result, it will block the views of the reserve for the neighbors. To address this, camouflage morphologies have been researched beginning with the facade panelization of the TruTec Building by Barkow Leibinger Architects.

 

Part II Massing Development

Eaton Canyon is part of Angeles National Forest, California's oldest natural reserve. It is nestled at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. The abutting against the mountains gives this region a unique microclimate in relation to it's context in Los Angeles County. Running through the center of Eaton Canyon is the Eaton Wash, a natural water way which flows into the Rio Hondo River, then to the Los Angeles River.

 

Fig. 08

Existing Basin

An initial study was conducted to determine where existing vegetation resides on site. These vegetative regions implied areas of low water flow during storms and thus water inundation.

Fig. 09

Buildable Regions

Regions are offset 2'-0" for construction.

Fig. 10

Piloti Locations

Piloti footings are laid within buildable region. These footings are positioned specifically to withstand the greatest potential hydraulic pressures based on the inundation of water.

Fig. 11

Massing Overlay

The future concrete envelope will interpolate these footings and piloti to define the exterior formal details.

 

Fig. 12

Massing Iteration 1

Fig. 13

Massing Iteration 2

Fig. 14

Massing Iteration 3

Fig. 15

Massing Iteration 4

 
 
 

Fig. 16

Program Organization Stack

 
 

Program Organization Stack

Private

1. Group Dining Kitchen
2. Artist Bathroom
4. Artist Housing
7. Staff Break Room
8. Staff Bathroom
9. Admin. Conference Room

Semi-Public

3. Shop/Fabrication
5. Reference Library
6. Material Storage
11. Studios
12. Exhibition Space

Public

10. Administration
13. Entry Atrium
14. Performance Auditorium
15. Public Restroom
16. Lecture Room B
17. Cafe/Bookstore
18. Lecture Room A

 

Fig. 17

Program Massing

Program Massing

  1. Public Space

  2. Semi-Public Space

  3. Private Space

Fig. 18

Program Split

Program Split

  1. Northern, Mostly Private

  2. Southern, Mostly Public

Fig. 19

Program Articulation

Program Articulation

  1. Gallery and Auditorium

  2. Housing and Administration

  3. Public and Private Studios

  4. Fabrication and Library

Fig. 20

Concrete Envelope

Concrete Envelope

  1. Northern Concrete Mass

  2. Southern Concrete Mass

  3. Program Void

 

Fig. 21

Serial Sections, 1-14

Fig. 22

Serial Sections, 15-28

Fig. 23

Serial Sections, 29-42

Fig. 24

Serial Sections, 43-56

 
 

Part III Architectural Development

Upon completion of the Serial Sections, many serendipitous moments have revealed themselves and became the driving factor for future design opportunities.

 

Fig. 25

Isometric View

 

Fig. 26

Site Plan

 

Fig. 27

Level 1 Floor Plan

 

Fig. 28

Level 2 Floor Plan

 

Fig. 29

Section AA

Fig. 30

Section BB

 

Fig. 31

Detailed Section

 

Fig. 32

MEP + Structural Overlay

 
William Ellsworth
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