Spatial Intertwining

Troy Smith

The project emerged out of the indeterminacy of the site. The site is comprised of a series of overlapping and intertwining spatial conditions that are essentially undesigned. The spaces of the parkade flow beyond its boundaries while at the same time it has very definite edge conditions - the existing rail line, the automobile ramps and the park space. The space here is bounded and endless at once. This became the catalyst for the design strategy.

The design began as a series of volumes, singular in nature, that correspond to the major elements of the program - the theatre, gallery, residences and offices. Through the activation of the residual space between the volumes, a revealing through movement would occur. This manipulation of the residual space, essentially circulation and unprogrammed space, facilitates the breaking down of the singular nature of the programmatic volumes. In plan, the design appears diagrammatic when compared to the spatially overlapping sections. The intervention is a series of intertwining spaces where use can fluctuate between spaces which are specific and those of which are more general.

In the end, a dual spatial relationship is constructed; singularity and multiplicity occur in parallel.

1. office  2. residence.  3. exterior exhibition space  4. reflecting pool

Troy Smith is an MArch student at the University of Calgary.