VISUAL PERCEPTION: FINAL/COMPLEMENTARY SPACES

For my final of this Visual Perception course I wanted to focus on spaces that lay complementary to larger spaces within the MIT Campus. Using some sketches from my previous walk and examining smaller spaces near by or within larger squares and why their qualities lead to the success of the particular space.

The first space on the campus I have decided to analyze is the area outside the Stratton Building, This space is very successful, plenty of light access to food and many places to sit and grass to tan on but the success of this space is added to by smaller spaces located in and around this main area.

The MIT chapel is located just off from the center of the Square outside of the Stratton Building. This is a very private space located within a very public area built up by the many layers of this building affecting the light quality inside. The use of water as a reflection device is also used as a separation between the larger green space outside and the tranquility within.

The next place, which surprised me as it became my favorite space on the campus remained nameless on the schools site plan, I have decided to call it MIT's Corner as it is comprised of a few short 90 degree angles which leave it very hidden between the student dormitories and the Square outside of Stratton. The scale of the walls encompassing this small green-space is very humanistic the highest wall about 6 feet. This area was very well shaded and very quiet due to the walls and vegetation which made this an ideal study space.

The next space is found within a larger square on the MIT campus. Notice of the site plan the area marked as Lowell Court.

This area shocked me as it because the highlight for my last sketch for this course. Located off to the side of the largest green space on the campus and off of Memorial Drive. This area became filled with people as a quiet space to read and eat lunch. It is cupped but the formation of the building which provides it with a sense of tranquility because of the buffer between this area and the rest of the larger site.

VISUAL PERCEPTION: WALK 6

This is a sketch of a site plan of a part of MIT's Campus. Darker hatched portions reveal spaces I decided to sketch. You can notice certain pockets of space embedded within the campus I believe this adds to the quality of the sequence of spaces as you move through out the great works of Architecture implanted onto the site.

This is probably the most inhabited space on the campus, flooded with people all day long. this "square" is not traditional in the sense of the area around the main green space but is framed by great buildings with many entry points. The next square is a more traditional sense of a public square framed by one extending building generating a main green space and several secondary spaces with an unlimited amount of uses.

The last two sketches of this demonstrate two more smaller gathering spaces embedded within the campus. The first is and outdoor auditorium outside Gehry's MIT addition and a large atrium space illustrating the clever use of moving planes coming together to form

a collision of a space within a building.

VISUAL PERCEPTION: WALK 5

VISUAL PERCEPTION: WALK 4

Walk 4 Began at DownTown Crossing T-stop and proceeded towards Government Center This first Sketch is in a Cemetery surrounded by shade caused by tall buildings all around creating a courtyard feeling. When exiting the Cemetery and a short walk to government center you are presented with the exact opposite feeling.

As you are proceeding to Government center this view is framed to your right, a Picturesque view straight towards the old state house, Then straight ahead a open lot containing Government Center

And across the street opposite Government Center plaza

Opposite from the First sketch this is another space surrounded by buildings but with a whole different feeling, instead of being consumed in shade this space is filled with light and provides a urban green space on top of what is an existing underground parking garage.

VISUAL PERCEPTION: WALK 3

The "Fens" frams the muddy river which is sandwiched between residential housing on the north side shown above and the muddy river and Institutional buildings on the South

ViSUAL PERCEPTION: WALK 2

Walk 2 began with the entry into the next neighborhood, the iconic townhouse and hotel combined with the tree lined street and park creates a pedestrian wonderland. Sketching from the exit of the gardens this set off the next walk into one of the most prominent neighborhoods in this city.

Walking through this neighborhood we stopped and sketched this church, The First Lutheran Church, which I chose to show almost an object in space, defiantly a more modern breath in a grid of more traditional townhouses. Continuing in the following sketches I noticed how the churches all stood separate from either the architecture style, or in height. The next sketch is across the street, a modern addition to a burn down chapel sits tucked away with its own court yard.

This church is found on Newbury and Berkley street:

The final sketch was of Trinity Church, from the back end the light became the the biggest concern, shaded walkways and great places to sketch from.

VISUAL PERCEPTION: WALK 1

The first walk was a introduction to the area of the Back Bay, following with the class I searched for a common interest in all of the points we stopped to sketch. One common theme through out this walk was the use of greenery or vegetation and how from sketch to sketch the presence varies, from lining the floor, to climbing the brick walls, framing space and then finally fully encompassing the landscape as the dominate entity in the frame of sketchesNotice Vegetation on the Cobblestones and planters

Louisberg Square: After passing through the narrow passage of Acorn street

you are released into this square where the role of vegetation is a centerpiece creating interesting shadows on the surrounding buildings

Continuing the walk I noticed vegetation has began to start climbing the buildings changing the visual perception along the street as approaching the Charles River and the Esplande

Now as we have crossed the bridge and entered the esplanade look how the role of vegetation has changed. Here the trees and shrubs frame the water as a "room for boats".

Also in the second sketch you can notice how the role has flipped, now instead of vegetation growing on the built environment, there are rocks being placed onto the natural environment