The setting up:
The vital lead of the project lies on an ecological intention. The purpose of it consisting in a returning to nature inside a deserted industrial area. In addition, when referring to North Ontario, we often have in mind large landscapes of dense and wooded forests. Situated east of downtown near the forsaken railway line, the site constitutes a piece of greenery which stands in an industrial context that does not seem to be exploited nowadays.
Symbolism:
One of the goals of the project is to transform the school of architecture into a symbol of the city, as was made the Opera of Sydney by Jorn Utzon. The school thus aims at embodying a symbol because its construction form will use local building materials: the wood abundant in the area, as well as wood of engineering; a symbol in the design and the constructive aspect that could become specific to North Ontario. The school could embody the new vision of architecture in Canada.
An open-mindedness and an artistic inspiration related to the context:
The project is organized around a gravitational point: a landscaped park located in the middle of the school. The school takes place around a natural space - a vegetal space favourable to contemplation, meditation and social, cultural and intergeneration exchanges (based on walks, sports activities, culture, exhibitions). Ali through the park, visitors will find out the school of architecture and the work created by the students who profit from this open space ta exhibit their works. The space first evokes relaxation, but the visitors could see their curiosity and thus their inventive spirit aroused.
Since it may remind us of the architectural walk by Le Corbusier, the exhibition/walk goes up in value on the grass-bedded roofs of the school, which can give a panoramic view on the whole city.
In parallel to the regional and ecological economical context, the use of a wooden frame for the school will strengthen its warm and welcoming aspect. Developing the grass-bedded roofs could give back a legitimacy to nature, and it could become a necessity as regards the ecological impact the building could generate.
It is particularly true as regards the insulation and the loss of heat: the sail is a highly ductile material. It absorbs the heat of the sunbeams during the day, and it gives it back in the evening. It conversely guarantees cool-indoors ail through the day. Combined to large glass openings, the expenses on thermic energy would be drastically reduced. The process which is widely used in Northern Europe could thus be applied to Canada which experiences more or less equivalent temperatures.
The impact of a school on the city:
What can this school provide at the level of the user, of the urban black, of the district, of the city?
The user:
The school must be a gravitational and pleasant place favourable to the elevation of the spirit, a place people would be pleased to get back to everyday, a place where everyone would find a place.
The urban black:
The considerable contribution to a worked green area, opened to the public, a source of exchanges and a place of culture.
The district:
The school established on this site, would have a hotel-restaurant-cafeteria complex nearby that would be able to accommodate the users of the school. At the north, railways tracks could be rehabilitated into tramway access and a waste land could accommodate public housing units or university lodgings. The presence of business within the school would greatly take part to the dynamism of the district and would make it possible to promote the surviving business again.
The city:
A new gravitational pole is thus barn. The industrial waste lands are rehabilitated, so these spaces become more viable and attractive. The centre gains importance on the periphery; it is less neglected and consequently attracts new populations who had not frequented the district until then. It could be considered a university complex more developed in the future, a complex able to change Sudbury into a big Canadian academic city.
(Competitor's text)
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