Cleveland Trust Tower Part 542 - Facade Study

It isn't exactly as if the movement of utilizing modular elements, whether as repetitive pieces for the facade or as entire separate living units that when combined can form a multitude of forms is anything new.

When taking the time to examine the possibility that presents itself upon restricting a palette to set series of patterns, forms and colors it becomes apparent that by concentrating upon the dialogue created by the rhythm of the modules, along with orientation, materiality and form created by such one may introduce slight modifications to the palette to accent the similarity and by accenting the similarity create a slight amount of tension, perhaps enough to give movement to the form, to create a sense of excitement in an otherwise mundane design.

With this as an outline I wanted to play around with and capitalize on the tension created by suspending the modular concrete panels high above a public walkway, stacking them with edges exposed in a rather precarious appearing manner, and then altering the material, perhaps adding a shiny anodized aluminum panel or wood panel in place of the concrete. The newer, lighter looking materials would maintain the shape and form of the original therefore allowing the rhythm of the facade to exist unhindered but while attempting to interject another more subtle conversation about constructability, inferred weight and density and reaction to light. I had hoped to increase an interest in the use of different materials and the way they could be applied to a rather strict existing structure without disturbing the overall form too much.

In the end I suppose I began cheating, by removing and insetting corners of the building, wondering if exterior balconys and gardens could be created in places once before met with sheer and oppressive wall faces. The success of such a study could be construed as mostly arbitrary, meant only as a manner of play. The amount of drastic change to the appearance of only two facades achieved by simply disrupting the static color of the field and then allowing one small corner (in itself a larger repeating patter) to shift reinforces the argument that the existing building (albeit dirty) already possesses a rather taunt and interesting amount of tension that could be extrapolated upon, if the effort and intent was such.

It seems even more of a shame to give up on a building like this now.