Shaping the future
Design Competition
Fall 2021
Competition site plan
At the beginning of the fall 2021 semester, HMH Architecture and Interiors called for all ENVD students to design a bicycle structure on the corner of Arapahoe ave. and 15th st. which lies on the edge of Downtown Boulder, and directly adjacent to the design district within Boulder.
The design intent was to demonstrate that bike shelters can be beautiful, thoughtfully designed, affordable to build, and part of a community. And had to meet minimum requirements as follows:
Must provide protected storage for 4-8 bicycles
The designer may choose to include electric bike charging
Must be accessible to public
May be considered as part of a bike sharing program
Initial design and precedents
Form sketching
Materiality and the fin design were considered through this precedent.
The shed roof and recessed triangle form were intriguing in this bike shelter.
diagrams
concept and diagrams
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concept
Triangles are a universal shape in design.
This concept pays homage to it’s humble, yet impressive structural and aesthetic abilities.
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materials
Durability and low maintenance were pivotal factors for the choice of materials.
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Solar
Solar panels are the most efficient when perpendicular to the sun’s rays. The panel’s angle was designed to be effective all year round by averaging the elevation angles.
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structure
A 4”x4” rectangular steel frame will be welded together. This creates support for the green roof, while also a structural base for the laser-cut Corten steel panels to attach to.
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axonometric
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green roof
The opportunity to include more planting in an area has many benefits for both the environment and the users. It spurs conversation around pressing topics of climate change and air quality, while simultaneously contributing to higher biodiversity in an urban area.
additional renderings
Rhino 7 was used to model the bike shelter, and Lumion was used as the rendering engine.