| Abstract

Encounters of the threshold transpire as a daily occurance with the body and or the mind. Whether it is a physical moment of contact or psychological occurance, the thresh-old is a state that must be crossed so a new state may be inhabited. It is what allows us to move foreward. The motivation to cross the threshold is an innate need and move-ment, its is a liminal zone, a moment that is barely perceptible.

This thesis about exploring unbroken movement through the absence of the conven-tional doorway. It is about constructing a spatial progression that is gradual. Inspired by the notion of one individual journey through distinct environments; the sequence of departing one place and arrival into another is of interest. What occurs between the place being departed from and the place the one is arriving into? Imagine the existence of a threshold that is more than just an abrupt cut through a wall that lie between to places. This inquiry about the space in the middle; between the forground and the back-ground, examines the shared boundary lines of two contrasting environments and the architectural possibilities of the act of transitioning.

| Program

The soul for which this investigation of the threshold with manifest is in the form of an architecture that supports exercise, going beyond an organized system of air condi-tioned open spaces �lled with treadmills, exercise bikes, wieghts and other �tness appa-ratus. It is imagined that this is a place that embraces the active body not only in the moment of �tness but transitioning in and out of it as well. This program is an architecture that embraces body movement and prepares the body for departure and arrival. It will provide spaces for calisthenic movement, a simple rhyth-mical exercise that does not require the support of equipment. Body strength (muscular and cardiovascular �tness) and �exibility are increased through self-weight acting as resistance. The presence of the spaces will take on the role of an external resistance on the participant, to increase �tness bene�ts. The collection of spaces is divided into the four phases of exercise which is gradual sequence that provides preparation, recreation and recovery time for the body to safely endure �tness. Stretching prepares the body to move from rest to activity. This phase will provide a place to lounge, a space allowing time for the body to properly im-prove �exibility and reduce muscle stress. The warm-up also prepares the body to move from rest to activ-ity, but lessons the stress placed on your heart and muscles, by gradually increasing breathing, heart rate and body temperature.This phase will be a spatial threshold to entering the spaces for conditioning. The conditioning produces �tness bene�ts. This phase will pro-vide spaces for cardiovascular �tness: Rhythmic, Aquatic ,and Sport . The cool down recovers the body , allowing for the heart rate and blood pressure to return to near resting value. It is a slow decrease from intense activity. It is also known as the “carbohydrate window”, the period of which the body op-timizes its ability to replenish energy stores, depleted during the conditioning phase. This phase will provide a space for : consumption of food and beverage that will refuel the body, ease muscle tension and improving blood circulation.

| ClientNike | Game Changers

The “Design to Move” campaign promotes an increase in the physical activity that has slowed down immensely with the arrival and progression of the digital age. Their mis-sion is to stimulate children before unhealthy static activity sets-in, by integrating physical activity into their everyday lives. This launched by thirty-three partners includ-ing Nike and Architecture for Humanity, believes that perpetual motion inhernent in adolescents should not be overlooked but instead harnessed.

A Reconsideration of the �reshold: Constructing points of entry as a spatial condition.

| Precedents

Espai de la Lira | Ripoll Spain| RCR Arquitectos |44m Bridge, 599 m2 Square surface Ciaxa Forum |Madrid Spain | Herzog & De Mueron |2008 | 11000 m2 | 118403 ft2Bamboo Bridge School |Fujian China | Li Xiadong | 2009| 240 m2 | 2583 ft2

Nedith A. Wikina | Arch 641 | Graduate Thesis Research Seminar | Professor Hasan-Uddin Khan

This space was constructed to be the “gate-way of the public space” of the square that connects the Paseo del Maestro Guich and 1’Escorxador street.It is a square sited within a architectural complex built on the demolished theatre La Lira. A two level pedestrian and contem-plation bridge spans across the river. La Lira is located at the crossing of two rivers, Ter and Freser; which water energy was used to forge steel. Steel was used to evoke memo-ries of the historic metallurgical industry in Ripoll.The objective wwas to create a cov-ered space for a meeting point of arrival and departure while maintaining the spirit of the theatre.

It is an adaptive reuse construction, incor-porating the walls of a older power plant and the site of an old gas station, with new construction underground as well as above. It is a multi-purpose art centre with galler-ies, o�ces, auditoriuim and restarants. The materiality of the classi�ed brick shell is remincetent of the early industrial age in Madrid. The architectural gesture of the �oating mass that draws the visitors to the door. The covered public space provides shade to vistors and the location of the main entrance. It is a place between the outside and the inside.

The goal was to provide a place for children to learn, a opportunity to cross the river and a place for public gatherings. It is composed of two schoolhouses that are �exible multi-purpose spaces for the rural village. The pedestrian bridge is located underneath the school and spans the width of the river. The school is supported with two large steel spans with smaller framing as supports and local material was used help blend the architecture with the surrounding context through texture and aesthetics.

| SiteWest Farms, Bronx New York

This architecture is public and seeks a pedestrain accessible realm that can be spontane-ously encountered along the way. It desires to be situated between nature and an urban environment, o�ering its presence as a place of entry between the two.

The site is located along a 23 mile watershed corridor that is the Bronx River. This portion of the river is an under developed link between the Northern Westchester County and Southern Bronx portions. . The Greenway River plan is a comprehensive overview aiming to provide 633 acres of multi-use parkland extending the full length of the river �owing through the Westchester county + the Bronx as well as providing solutions for the urban runo� pollution. It is the only fresh water river in New York city. The presence of 19th centry manu-facturing plants led to the decrease in water quality, turning the river into a natural sewer for natural waste and expansive amounts of impermeable surfaces prevents rainwater from naturally being intercepted by vegetation and in�ltrating into the soil, disturbing �ow patterns within the channel. The West Farms, eight-mile stretch of river is currently undergoing restoration of wildlife habitats and its water quality by the Bronx River Alli-ance, The Bronx River Watershed Coalition and the Bronx River Ecological Restoration progam. The selected place of exploration presents an urban block that directly abuts an ex-treme natural condition. The building will be situated near a major tra�cked avenue, an elevated portion of the subway rail sourced in Manhattan, New York that borders two edges of the site and has close proximity to the transit stop of the railway. With the the Bronx River Art Center is located within the selected block for intervention and close locations of several education facilities for learning, there is a potential for this site to become a recreational focal point for a community plagued by high crime and slow urban renewal

Stretching_______________________________________ Relaxation Gallery Lounge Therapy Physical + First Aid Physical Therapist O�ce Examination Room Storage Reception Lobby

TotalWarm-up_______________________________________ Preparation Personal Storage Locker rooms (M +W)

Conditioning_____________________________________ Fitness Rhymthic Dance studio Aquatic Canoe + Kayak dock Swimming pool Sport Bicycle lane Running track Football pitch

TotalCool Down_______________________________________ Recovery Food + Beverage Snack bar Relaxation Steam space

Total Gross Square Area

1_2500 [400] 1_100 1_2001_100 1_500

4700

1_2900

3_1500 1_500 1_ 12500 1 1_ 1,312 ft 1_5000

19500

1_500 1_1000

150028000

d“He paused on the threshold and then entered.” _ Unknown