Mesh Architecture
Creating space(s) for meaningful connections
Bde Maka Ska
Countering singular histories and stories through non-iconic architecture
Type: Competition
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Scale: XX SF
Team: Molly Dalsin
This project is not a mandate, or a single story, but instead leaves space for the multiplicities of histories and perceptions. The design fosters mutual connections with the earth, embraces the severe and transient climates of Minnesota, and acts as a non-icon, a non-symbol of our priorities today and in the foreseeable future.
This project is envisioned as a seasonal, temporal, and humble shed. The structure is lifted from the earth for shoreline restoration, water permeability, and integration with topography. On the built platform, five kiosks work as seasonally rotating markets. Similar to food trucks, financial and cultural accessibility is enhanced with a diverse palette of foods and prices. The space is zoned as shade, shelter, and warmth allowing for 3 climate conditions during all seasons. By heightening awareness of the interconnection and diversity of people, environment and climate - this projects works towards empathy and understanding over sympathy and assumptions.
Shade: Characterized by an open space with a brise soleil, this permeable deck embraces the heat in the summe and the cold in the winter. Located on the NE of the building, near the diving platform, the deck receives crosswinds with cool breezes from the lake in the summer. Trees on the north side buffer cold winter winds and the fireplace allows for a communal warm-up while cross country skiing or walking in the winter.
Shelter: With a permeable deck to slough off myd and snow, a polycarbonate roof and hinged window walls, the shelter is adaptable for cross ventilation and passive solar heat gain. The clear polycarbonate roof allows for rain events and fall leaf drops to be seen and heard - it is designed to become ages, dirty, and patched easily over time. The roof slopes toward the lake so that rain events can be embraced from the porch and rainwater collected in an enlarged floor gutter, doubling as a visual story of the cycle of water and a play area for kids.
Warmth: The most enclosed space, warmth is a heavily insulated structure with tripl-pane hinged windows and large sliding doors to control climate in the winter. The interior is heated by a trombe wall with passive solar heat gain and geothermal from the lake. Solar panels supply extra needed energy. The solarium embraces the inter landscape in warmth and turns to greenhouse in the spring while seeing for the summer’s community gardens.
A 7 bed emergency housing shelter with management and social worker staff.