Great Falls Shelter:
An overnight visitor shelter positioned in Great Falls National Park, VA; designed in collaboration with Gabrielle Benson (CMU B.Arch, 2024)
(2021)
Eastern Elevation of the Visitor Shelter
The site for the shelter is located north of the falls and visitor center. Accessed from established hiking trails to the West, the site includes a steep incline moving from a higher wooded area down to the bank of the Potomac River. The dramatic change in elevation provides an opportunity for views of the river, particularly towards the falls downstream. The overlook and shelter are accessed by a small trail branching from the primary hiking trails of the park. The overlook is located at the edge of the Ridge, providing views of the river and landscape. From the overlook, visitors travel down a second path to reach the shelter. The structure slopes down the hillside, hidden from view in the initial approach to the ridge. A guiding idea for the shelter is to cascade down the topography, blending with the landscape.
Concept Model Exploring Cascade
Primary Overlook and Rooftop Overlook on Shelter
Gathering, Eating, and Cooking
Bathing, Changing, Intermediary, and Sleeping Spaces
The program of the shelter is organized along a single line and is based on the cyclical routine of a visitor’s daily movements. Throughout the day, one travels from the exterior public park and into the private escape of the shelter. From there, the function of the spaces becomes increasingly private, concluding where one ends the day: the sleeping space. As the next day begins, one moves back up the shelter, reversing the sequence to then emerge, commencing another day in the park.
Unrolled Section - Linearity of Cyclical Daily Routine
In order to reflect the linear nature of the program, the facade consists of a continuous series of vertical wooden slats. The facade expands and contracts to reveal views at key areas in the shelter, changing based on the type of space they house. Larger openings allow for prospective views, smaller openings shelter spaces of privacy, and movement is encouraged in spaces of transition where the facade is least compressed. This system is achieved by mounting the wooden slats along the top and bottom of the facade to create one continuous membrane. A majority of the slats are a constant height in relation to the space they surround, but those surrounding the gathering space extend to become the railing for the rooftop overlook. The facade is the mediator between interior space and exterior environment. The experience of light and nature is brought into the space, connecting visitors to the park and the Great Falls.
Unrolled Interior Elevation of Gathering and Transition Spaces
Spatial Quality of Gathering and Transition Spaces