Glassworks

Professor: Mark McGlothlin

Gainesville (GNV) Glassworks envisions transforming a shuttered furniture store in Gainesville, Florida, into a creative glass-blowing studio. Located between the University of Florida campus and downtown, this space would serve as a hub for both students and local residents, bridging the gap between Gainesville's transient student population and its long-term community. The studio would cater to all skill levels, offering beginner workshops and classes, as well as providing accommodations for professional artists-in-residence, who could teach while working on their own projects.

Initial Site Vignette

Site Analysis

To gain an initial understanding of the site, I created a vignette and a series of site mappings that examined key factors such as transportation, pedestrian pathways, vegetation, topography, bus stops, and parking lots. These considerations, along with programmatic elements and the central theme of community, guided the spatial organization and form of my design.

Process Models

The following process models guided the placement of larger spaces, such as the large glassblowing workshops, and helped identify areas for movement and pause. I explored and developed potential means of circulation by using wooden blocks to represent spatial massings.

Floor Plan

The artist-in-residence apartments are located on the south side of the third floor, offering greater privacy and separation from the bustling University Avenue to the north. These apartments have an outdoor balcony and are adjacent to an atrium filled with trees and plants, creating a moment of peace and privacy. The glassblowing workshops are on the first floor and feature tall ceilings to aid heat dissipation. A long corridor with clerestory windows provides visitors glimpses into the studios while serving as a transient gallery space.