The Arches of San Jose’
San Jose, CA
We envision The Arches of San Jose' as an opportunity to bring new life to the Guadalupe River Park and the surrounding city.
Our concept is that of a multi-purpose vertical park - a light and ethereal intervention that vertically extends from the ground with a minimal footprint on the existing park. We strive to create an iconic architectural gesture with a big impact on the surrounding city and a minimal impact on the Guadalupe River Park.
The new structure will act as an incubator for social exchange and entertainment, mixing visitors of all ages and provenience in a permeable, accessible, and open environment.
This porous structure strives to embody the 21st Century spirit of San Jose'. Its permeability seamlessly ties together the urban and natural landscape.
The project is comprised of two main elements: the structural arched frame and the roof-top garden. Inspired by the silicon wafer disc grid, the structural frame creates a shaded outdoor space as it encases the site. The roof-top garden floats 200' feet above the ground, guaranteeing sweeping views of both the urban and the natural surroundings.
We envision a porous and engaging structure: a simple maze of passages, ramps, and green plates all accessible to the public through a multitude of paths. Each route offers the visitor a different experience. It pulls visitors in, it encourages interaction, it welcomes kids as well as seniors, it offers equipment for games and workout. It’s the ideal space for lunch breaks as well as business interviews.
The Arches of San Jose’ will act as an urban lighthouse - Gracefully rising above the city and tangent to downtown San Jose', it becomes an iconic reference, visible from the distance throughout the day and at night.
The homogeneous appearance of the new structure, with 4 lookalike arched sides, results in a building of equal importance on all sides with no front or back. It physically embodies the progressive and welcoming character of the city of San Jose and California. The structure acts as an envelope as well, thus allowing to filter solar exposure, daylight, and transparency. It encourages visitors to move through the park at ground level to the elevated ramps all the way to the roof terrace, where uninterrupted views of the surrounding city and Santa Clara Valley are guaranteed all the way to the magnificent beauty of Mount Hamilton.
Our concept is that of a multi-purpose vertical park - a light and ethereal intervention that vertically extends from the ground with a minimal footprint on the existing park. We strive to create an iconic architectural gesture with a big impact on the surrounding city and a minimal impact on the Guadalupe River Park.
The new structure will act as an incubator for social exchange and entertainment, mixing visitors of all ages and provenience in a permeable, accessible, and open environment.
This porous structure strives to embody the 21st Century spirit of San Jose'. Its permeability seamlessly ties together the urban and natural landscape.
The project is comprised of two main elements: the structural arched frame and the roof-top garden. Inspired by the silicon wafer disc grid, the structural frame creates a shaded outdoor space as it encases the site. The roof-top garden floats 200' feet above the ground, guaranteeing sweeping views of both the urban and the natural surroundings.
We envision a porous and engaging structure: a simple maze of passages, ramps, and green plates all accessible to the public through a multitude of paths. Each route offers the visitor a different experience. It pulls visitors in, it encourages interaction, it welcomes kids as well as seniors, it offers equipment for games and workout. It’s the ideal space for lunch breaks as well as business interviews.
The Arches of San Jose’ will act as an urban lighthouse - Gracefully rising above the city and tangent to downtown San Jose', it becomes an iconic reference, visible from the distance throughout the day and at night.
The homogeneous appearance of the new structure, with 4 lookalike arched sides, results in a building of equal importance on all sides with no front or back. It physically embodies the progressive and welcoming character of the city of San Jose and California. The structure acts as an envelope as well, thus allowing to filter solar exposure, daylight, and transparency. It encourages visitors to move through the park at ground level to the elevated ramps all the way to the roof terrace, where uninterrupted views of the surrounding city and Santa Clara Valley are guaranteed all the way to the magnificent beauty of Mount Hamilton.