Column Grid Question - Angled Buildings

[Ken Walton]

Hey everyone - it's been quite a while since I've even been on here, so I figured I might as well ask what could be an ignorant question...

 

Our company is planning a fairly large waterfront mixed-use development that will consist of, among other things, two concrete condominium buildings at least 6 stories high. A problem we're running into is with the land that's left for the structures, and the architect's original building footprints, the pools (ground-level) are really getting hit by shadows in the studies we've done. Just playing around, we've come up with some ways (besides a rooftop pool - we may consider this but we'd like to keep them on the ground for now) to get them back into the sun. The most effective so far has been to basically "kick" or "pull" one side of the building back at about a 30-45 degree angle from the rest of the structure which is a straight line (so there's only one "angle" in the whole structure). What I'm worried about with this solution is the column grid and the parking bays underneath the building. One of the architects that we've been working with stated that it was impossible to "angle" part of it back because of the grid. I understand his point, but part of me thinks that somewhere, someone has found a way to pull it off. If anyone knows of an example where this has been achieved, please let me know. I apologize if this is completely unclear or confusing - I'm no architect and I wouldn't even pretend to be - so if there are any questions I can further answer about what I'm asking, I'll be glad to give it my best.

 

Respectfully,

 

Ken Walton

[neko]

in my experience, nothing is impossible....it just costs more money.

 

i've worked on a few projects that have 'inherited' structural foundations. usually there is some compromise to the u/g parking and often the footprint, or design of the building, but if it improves another aspect of the project (like the pool) then it might be worth it.

 

two examples here in vancouver are the price-waterhouse cooper building and bentall five (which was designed in two phases - first as a completed 17 story tower and then continued upward years later to 35 stories)

 

here are links to the buildings.....the rotated design of the PWC building is a reflection of the original grid and the new structure at 45 degrees to each other

 

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=bentall5-vancouver-canada

 

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=pricewaterhousecoopersplace-vancouver-canada

 

hope that helps...

 

paul