GBN
—
—
Ministry of Parks
Aerial Gardens

Ministry of Parks

Aerial image of the GBN Mass straddling the highway, the public plaza, and the waterfront beachAerial image of the GBN Mass straddling the highway, the public plaza, and the waterfront beachAerial image of the GBN Mass straddling the highway, the public plaza, and the waterfront beachAerial image of the GBN Mass straddling the highway, the public plaza, and the waterfront beach
Aerial image of the GBN Mass straddling the highway, the public plaza, and the waterfront beach

Above the road and linking the parks with diverse functions, the Ministry of Parks is representative of a necessary shift in the power of parks, tourism, and culture as political and social foundations for a new national identity.

Aerial image of the GBN Mass straddling the highway, the public plaza, and the waterfront beach

Models

City

Urbanism

Landscape

Institutional

RELATED RESEARCH IMAGES

RELATED PROJECT IMAGES

Animation showing how the GBN Ministry massing reacts to the various related forces of Libreville as an extension of the cityAnimation showing how the GBN Ministry massing reacts to the various related forces of Libreville as an extension of the cityAnimation showing how the GBN Ministry massing reacts to the various related forces of Libreville as an extension of the cityAnimation showing how the GBN Ministry massing reacts to the various related forces of Libreville as an extension of the city
Entrance and public open space of the GBN museum program looking out on large beach boardwalk belowEntrance and public open space of the GBN museum program looking out on large beach boardwalk belowEntrance and public open space of the GBN museum program looking out on large beach boardwalk belowEntrance and public open space of the GBN museum program looking out on large beach boardwalk below
Model photo of stacked and flexible visitor spaces to be programmed by the GBN Ministry of Parks for various usesModel photo of stacked and flexible visitor spaces to be programmed by the GBN Ministry of Parks for various usesModel photo of stacked and flexible visitor spaces to be programmed by the GBN Ministry of Parks for various usesModel photo of stacked and flexible visitor spaces to be programmed by the GBN Ministry of Parks for various uses
Model showing the GBN located at the intersection of the highway, park, and neighborhood reacting to each forceModel showing the GBN located at the intersection of the highway, park, and neighborhood reacting to each forceModel showing the GBN located at the intersection of the highway, park, and neighborhood reacting to each forceModel showing the GBN located at the intersection of the highway, park, and neighborhood reacting to each force
Animation comparing the importance of linking the National Parks with ecotourism to preserve parksAnimation comparing the importance of linking the National Parks with ecotourism to preserve parksAnimation comparing the importance of linking the National Parks with ecotourism to preserve parksAnimation comparing the importance of linking the National Parks with ecotourism to preserve parks
Map of Gabon illustrating the 13 national parks that cover 10% of the countryMap of Gabon illustrating the 13 national parks that cover 10% of the countryMap of Gabon illustrating the 13 national parks that cover 10% of the countryMap of Gabon illustrating the 13 national parks that cover 10% of the country
Model photo of the hinge point between the helipads and the roof botanical garden of the GBN Ministry of ParksModel photo of the hinge point between the helipads and the roof botanical garden of the GBN Ministry of ParksModel photo of the hinge point between the helipads and the roof botanical garden of the GBN Ministry of ParksModel photo of the hinge point between the helipads and the roof botanical garden of the GBN Ministry of Parks
Urban site plan of the GBN Ministry of Parks merging with the functions of each urban force adjacent to the projectUrban site plan of the GBN Ministry of Parks merging with the functions of each urban force adjacent to the projectUrban site plan of the GBN Ministry of Parks merging with the functions of each urban force adjacent to the projectUrban site plan of the GBN Ministry of Parks merging with the functions of each urban force adjacent to the project
Animated diagram of the various forces concentrating on the GBN Ministry site at the point of collisionAnimated diagram of the various forces concentrating on the GBN Ministry site at the point of collisionAnimated diagram of the various forces concentrating on the GBN Ministry site at the point of collisionAnimated diagram of the various forces concentrating on the GBN Ministry site at the point of collision
Collection of GBN massing study models for forms that straddle the highway intersection with a single multi-functional massCollection of GBN massing study models for forms that straddle the highway intersection with a single multi-functional massCollection of GBN massing study models for forms that straddle the highway intersection with a single multi-functional massCollection of GBN massing study models for forms that straddle the highway intersection with a single multi-functional mass
Drawings of the Libreville avenue masterplan and the selected site for the GBN Ministry of Parks at the intersectionDrawings of the Libreville avenue masterplan and the selected site for the GBN Ministry of Parks at the intersectionDrawings of the Libreville avenue masterplan and the selected site for the GBN Ministry of Parks at the intersectionDrawings of the Libreville avenue masterplan and the selected site for the GBN Ministry of Parks at the intersection
Trio of elevations of the three unique facades of the triangular final form of the GBN Ministry across the intersectionTrio of elevations of the three unique facades of the triangular final form of the GBN Ministry across the intersectionTrio of elevations of the three unique facades of the triangular final form of the GBN Ministry across the intersectionTrio of elevations of the three unique facades of the triangular final form of the GBN Ministry across the intersection
Chart showing the relationship of demand and population of Forest Elephants requiring protecting by the GBN Ministry of ParksChart showing the relationship of demand and population of Forest Elephants requiring protecting by the GBN Ministry of ParksChart showing the relationship of demand and population of Forest Elephants requiring protecting by the GBN Ministry of ParksChart showing the relationship of demand and population of Forest Elephants requiring protecting by the GBN Ministry of Parks
Layered animation showing the circulation and programs of the GBN within the massing shell created by the urban forcesLayered animation showing the circulation and programs of the GBN within the massing shell created by the urban forcesLayered animation showing the circulation and programs of the GBN within the massing shell created by the urban forcesLayered animation showing the circulation and programs of the GBN within the massing shell created by the urban forces
Plan drawing animation showing the various occupiable spaces within the triangulated GBN Ministry of Parks footprintPlan drawing animation showing the various occupiable spaces within the triangulated GBN Ministry of Parks footprintPlan drawing animation showing the various occupiable spaces within the triangulated GBN Ministry of Parks footprintPlan drawing animation showing the various occupiable spaces within the triangulated GBN Ministry of Parks footprint
Diagram animation of the various required components of the new GBN Ministry of Parks headquarters within the triangle formDiagram animation of the various required components of the new GBN Ministry of Parks headquarters within the triangle formDiagram animation of the various required components of the new GBN Ministry of Parks headquarters within the triangle formDiagram animation of the various required components of the new GBN Ministry of Parks headquarters within the triangle form

OTHER PROJECTS

The GBN project sites itself as this link connecting the busiest night life district and revitalized neighborhood park in the north, the largest beach front in the city to the south, and establishes the cities first large public plaza and recreation fields adjacent to the new building.
Space has become redundant again. Popular culture is uninterested in the goings-on in space. Once achieved, mans absurd relation with space becomes yesterdays news. To become relevant to the public, CASIS must be an amenity and not a mission. Instead of promoting an HQ, make it a public interface.
In Tempe there are two pedestrian axes: Mill Avenue and Palm Walk. Mill Avenue is successful and Palm Walk is not. Is there a way to make the palm trees useful to the students? The PEP structure is powered by buried hydraulic pressure systems giving vertical movement to the layer/palm interface.
Utilizing built form as a strategic carrier of culture in opposition of the status quo, the Hellinikon project links the disconnected suburban mountain communities to the east with the sea to the west while splitting the Hellinikon International Airport and Olympic Park into distinct zones.
University Island is a swirling shapeshifter, in both the landscape and the architecture, that offers it’s undefined field of opportunities to the students and anticipates that each will discover and produce their own individual relationship with the island and their education.
The challenge of creating a pair of studio apartments that can fill a lifted 16'x16' void necessitates the creation of a quick, mobile, and opportunistic building system that can react to the found conditions of the site. Access to the site is limited and the ground must be free.
The YELE music studio competition, underway before the earthquake, must respond now, but plan for the future of the community. Music is relief in a time of tragedy. The goal is to meet the most basic survival needs now while leaving spaces for future growth through self sustaining phases.
QTCT is tasked to blend these two identities onto one site—a give and take relationship between beach ambitions and urban necessities. QTCT is a sampling of two worlds: on one hand it is the embodiment of the language of the beach and on the other it is a detailed and exacting built urban space.

OTHER RESEARCH