Design starts from the on-site analysis. Situated in the middle of the heavily used building, Killian Court is surprisingly under-utilized. It is mainly used for cross-traffic, but fails to attract long-time stay. The overgrown vegetation masks off the beauty of the neo-classicism architecture, blurring the identity of modern and technology campus. As I study the scale of outdoor environment and the relation to social activities, I found out that Killian Court is out of human scale, lacking guidance to people's behavior and definition of space. Therefore, it is important to design a proper scale landscape to stimulate social activities.
The front plaza extends into the street along Memorial Drive, which implies the entry into the plaza and provides space for bike-park. There would be grand grass steps to go up into the court. The east and west corridors along the building accomodates intense programs, directing people's flow into the court. The adjacency to the waterscape or tree alless would create different atmosphere. The central open lawn keeps the grandeur of the building, while being flexible for various events. Two side-courtyards are design in a garden-like place, with furnitures under the tree canopy, in order to be utilized as the outdoor classroom.
Inspired from the grandeur and classic language of architecture, through the rich composition of landscape elements, various programs would be stimulated on-site. A reflection pool and two tree allees are arranged asymmetrically yet in balance.The great reflection pool strengthen the serenity and the memoriality. The hardscape around the building edge accommodates intense programs and circulation, subtlely implies the directionality of movement. The paving inherit the same material as building facade, connecting seamlessly with water or glass. The grand lawn keeps the landscape open and visually connects to the Boston area.
Referring and embracing to the architectural and infrastructural context, the site-specific details are both adaptive and inventive. For example, the size of the pavement is carefully designed to incorporate the architecture as well as to create diverse sense of scale. The flatness of the design ensures the sense of simple elegance, yet a lot of studies were made to ensure the successful drainage. The detail of construction as well as the section is made in order to guarantee the feasibility of the design. Custom bench is inspired by the materiality and verticality of the windows, and designed as an integral part of wholeness.
