New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 35/01C | Page 64

gives the simple building its strong visual drama,”
says Fort. “Plus, the slab warps slightly, seemingly
melting in the Miami heat, to form a gentle arc that
adds complexity to the silhouette of the graceful
building. As well as bringing shading to the glazed
east and west fronts, the bowed roof also sets up
the design’s primary formal swerve.
“The curve of the roof interacts with the curve at
the entrance, showing off the plasticity of con-
crete,” says Fort. “The two arcs transform what is
a simple box into a dynamic architectural expres-
sion, incorporating core modernist principles into
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a progressive design that will serve as an influence
for the architecture students who attend here.”
The main entrance to the building leads into an
informal lobby that continues as a nave-like space
running through the studio. The open-plan studio
is based on a 2.3m 2 workstation module that can
accommodate a variety of configurations for the 90
to 130 desks. The east and west walls of the central
volume are clad in felt for students to pin up their
work, and there are movable boards for informal
critiques and exhibitions.
The studios on the south side of the circulation
These pages:Walking past
the studio building’s informal
lobby, the interior opens to a
nave-like space with versatile,
reconfigurable desking. Cubes
of different materials signify
different areas of use within
the open-plan studio. Curtains
delineate the jury area, while
glass and panelled cubes signal
seminar and meeting areas.