URBAN RECREATION

COMMUNITY + FITNESS CENTER / CAPITOL HILL NEIGHBORHOOD / SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

This project looks at the relationship between spaces of interpersonal development to intrapersonal development, which can be further organized into active, semi-active, and static spaces. By taking this approach to the program, an exploration in how different users would utilize this building takes place. By means of organizing the program into open, semi-open, and closed spaces, various spatial relationships can be explored, such as nesting, layering, locking, or even linking. Given the urban context, Broadway Avenue, the Light Rail station entrance, and Cal Anderson Park are part of the spatial organization.

A public thoroughfare through the building engages the community, acting as both the entrance from Broadway and the Light Rail. This atrium links the more community facing program such as the cafe, gallery, and office spaces with the more fitness focused volume. Entering at ground level, gym users can go downstairs to the changing rooms. Wet spaces such as the whirlpool present themselves to those accessing the changing rooms, as well as access to the court spaces and cycle studio. Users can them come upstairs to use the cardio platform which looks down onto the racquetball spaces, or continue up to the exercise equipment. The space terraces over the cardio platform and basketball court, looking out over the park.

The physical and visual connections that result from these relationships aim to engage users to be involved in activities that they might not otherwise encounter, and engage the public to witness healthy and fun lifestyles.

Instructors: Elizabeth Golden + Boris Srdar