GBN
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Ministry of Parks
Gabon Natural Ecosystems

Ministry of 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
Map of Gabon illustrating the 13 national parks that cover 10% of the country

The identity of ‘Ministry’ reinterpreted as an entity that mediates the public and the government while presenting an optimistic future. Buildings do not last long in the rainforest. Regardless, as a series of pedestrian bridges and a gateway to Libreville, the building serves as the link between park systems and established neighborhoods and will remain a useful part of the built fabric instead of a privatized workplace. Dedicated in 2002, Gabon’s 13 national parks cover 10% of the country. As 'Africa's Eden', Gabon is trying to modernize while simultaneously preserving some of the most unique and last remaining rainforest habitats on the planet.

Map of Gabon illustrating the 13 national parks that cover 10% of the country

Diagrams

Plans

Landscape

Institutional

RELATED RESEARCH IMAGES

RELATED PROJECT IMAGES

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Infrastructure as urban performance. Serving as both a backdrop to elegant theatrical dances and a framework for holding a wandering public, the Dance Machine enacts performance through both its program and its existence as a merged urban extension of the Queensboro Bridge.
Coney Island will remain a MUTANT appendage at the farthest shore of New York City. Coney is an agglomeration of all of its histories and should continue to simultaneously move each agenda forward. Coney will continue to evolve through mutations— this vision will accelerate its hybridity.
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.
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.
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.
The RACA project must meet two demands: A. REFLECTION (museum) or B. CONTINUATION (practice + addition). The current program and its stagnancy has left the site forgotten—it is a typical static museum on a living site. The site and addition must constantly change through the participation of people.
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.
The CART live/work housing prototype adds a vertical profile to downtown while converting an underutilized public path into an urban gesture by introducing of a specialized food cart zone in New Haven. The CART residents would rent and appropriate the moving space as a means of expanding their zone.

OTHER RESEARCH