PORTA CULTURE



By Asa Maas and Kevin Pham 

Our project is an open air facility for quick stop and go pitstop that equips the local community with the resources and education for proper sanitation. The concept of the design is the layering of different amenities in a radial plan according to each program and their varying degrees of interaction. Quick interactions can be found on the outer layer such as a sanitation station and bike repairing outpost. The open air urinals are located within the middle layer while the core houses the toilets and a designated infant care room. The layering of programs is a solution to minimize foot traffic in the wet rooms and reduce any unnecessary liquid waste in the composting system.

 
Through careful consideration of th Embarcadero Plaza, which borders downtown, a commercial corridor, art market, major transportation stop, and is place of refuge for many people experiencing homelessness, this facility provides quick and proper sanitation to ensur the well being of all who pass through. The facilitys low power composting systems and lights means it can operate on solar power provided through pv pannels tiled on the curved roof to maximize daily intake within its locality. 
 

By combining the layering of programs with clear and direct paths of travel, people are able to take care of their needs more efficiently with less physical contact. The design also aims to normalize the action of using the restroom while boosting the public’s trust in the space which they are able to easily navigate and use in a clean and safe manner. In addition to providing hygienic necessities, the facility also aims to educate users on the systems employed through reveals of the inner workings such as waste/water and filtration.  The marking and descriptions of whats coming in and going out of the facility would allow insights to the impact users have with each use in hopes of reducing excessive waste.

                              

         
In addition, the facility minimizes water usage through waterless urinals and a filtration system that produces grey wate which goes back into flushing the toilets or watering plants around the plaza. Through careful consideration of the Embarcadero Plaza, which borders downtown, a commercial corridor, art market, major transportation stop, and is a place of refuge for many people experiencing homelessness, this facility provides quick and proper sanitation to ensure the well being of all who pass through. The facilitys low power composting systems and lights allows for it to operates on solar power provided through pv panels tiled on the curved roof to maximize daily intake within its locality.
                                                                                               
2017 — Frogtown, Los Angeles