Yuming Feng
Designed with the Green New Deal in mind, this roject redefines a visitor center by promoting sustainability and equality.
This project entails a comprehensive addition and renovation of the existing Sugarlands Visitor Center, a vital facility located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The project is deeply rooted in the principles of the Green New Deal, embodying a commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and social equity. The goal is to create a state-of-the-art facility that not only functions as a gateway to the park but also serves as a symbol of sustainable design, accessibility, and cultural enrichment for all visitors.
The current Sugarlands Visitor Center, a mid-century modern style architecture, is characterized by its use of natural materials such as stone and wood. These materials were chosen to harmonize with the surrounding environment. However, despite its aesthetic appeal, the building’s traditional and compact design, which includes fixed functions and limited flexibility, does not meet the expectation of today’s visitor centers that have dynamic, multipurpose spaces that educate visitors about the natural and cultural heritage of the area. The existing building’s enclosed nature, with its predominantly solid walls, creates a visual and physical disconnection from the surrounding natural landscape, limiting the visitor experience.
The proposed design seeks to address these limitations by introducing a zig-zag form that connects all the site’s resources, effectively bringing the natural environment into the architecture. The two corners of this zig-zag form are thoughtfully positioned to connect directly to two prominent trails in the Great Smoky Mountains: the Fighting Creek Nature Trail and the Old Sugarlands Trail. The linearity of the design complements the natural flow of these trails, blurring the boundary between the natural landscape and the built environment. At the same time, the end of this zig-zag shape connects seamlessly to a path leading to the park headquarters, thereby integrating the site’s various functions into a cohesive whole. This innovative form is carefully designed to enclose and protect the existing trees and grassland on the site, creating a harmonious, interwoven spatial relationship between the interior and exterior spaces.
In section, the design is distinguished by a roof structure that is lifted by three strategically placed back-of-house cores. This design choice creates a dramatic floating effect among the trees and maximizes accessibility to the surrounding outdoor spaces. The roof itself, which mirrors the slope of the existing architecture, is a respectful nod to the historical qualities of existing architecture. The renovation includes the removal of enclosing walls, significantly improving accessibility and enhancing the building’s connection to its natural surroundings. Underneath the roof, a free and open space is created, devoid of hard partitions, offering a barrier-free environment that allows visitors to fully engage with the educational resources and natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. This flexible space, along with its adaptable furniture, can be easily rearranged as the needs of the visitor center evolve over time.
Furthermore, this project utilizes a sustainable design strategy through the use of a prefabricated mass-timber structure. This material was chosen not only for its environmental benefits but also for its aesthetic appeal and structural efficiency. As a renewable resource, mass timber plays a crucial role in reducing the building’s carbon footprint by sequestering carbon dioxide throughout its lifecycle. Additionally, the prefabrication process enhances sustainability by minimizing material waste and significantly reducing the construction timeline, thereby lessening the environmental impact typically associated with on-site construction activities.
Author: Yuming Feng.
Location: United States.
University: Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Year: 2020