PROJECT: 2014 ACSA/AISC Steel Design Student Competition: India-Pakistan Border Crossing Station
TIME: 7 week, Spring 2014
TEAM: Colleen Korp and Zachary Sammartino
SIZE: 2 border crossing stations at 6,000 square feet each
AWARDS: Finalist for Philadelphia University, Student Choice
GOAL: Emphasized by the competition the project was to create a border crossing station between two countries that focuses on steel as the primary structural material and a creative and innovative use of structural steel in the design solution.
DESIGN: The Kashmir region of the two countries has become a debated zone. For this reason, tensions have been elevated. The two countries have tried to restore balance to the region, one way in the use of the current border station across Friendship Bridge. This small station used for trade and travel can be transformed into a connection between the two nations. Similar to two hands reaching out in a gesture of unity and coming together, the new border station is intended to promote an increase in trade, travel, and harmony.
Aerial View of both border crossing stations and the bridge connecting them.
Site photographs taken from Google Earth. These photographs were critical in determining the site and design proposals.
Relative location in relation to the world, India, and Pakistan. Site plan of the Kashmir region shows the challenges that had to be overcome in order to create a border crossing station along the mountainous region the included a snow melt river.
Parti plan and section of the stations emphasis the outstreaching of hands towards one another.
Diagramatic alanysis of the site was critical in determining the union between each station, the bridge, and the site.
This symbolic expression of two hands folding together is a merging of this union. With the expression of the hand, the fingers of both hands rise above giving support to the thumb or bridge of the other. This combination of structure and program allows a join use of the border station that relies on the allegiance of both nations. Continuing with the hand, each countries border station is represented with the notion of the arm, rising to mimic the mountainous landscape. This functions as a representation of both the site and the body allowing the metaphor to grow, portraying the balance that both countries must achieve to live in peace and harmony.
Process models were important and informative in the progression of the project. The models were key in helping the project to evolve and adapt in response to the site.
Cut Through Section of the Bridge
The final competition board consisted of four 20"x20" board that togather arrange to form one 40"x40" board. This is the final board that was submitted to the competiton. This design allow us to create a form that not only worked for the site but also created an innovate use of steel through the total integration of structure and program housed in the same environment.
