Baton Rouge Municipal Dock / Trahan Architects

Aug 2010

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Mixed Use ,Residential , Louisiana, Trahan Architects

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Trahan Architects have shared their plans to completely transform an existing Municipal Dock into a mixed-use development. The dock is nestled between LSU and Downtown Baton Rouge – an emerging pedestrian thoroughfare that is full of potential for future public infrastructure developments – and Trahan’s vision will further activate the growing connection between these urban areas in Louisiana.

More images, great diagrams and more about the project after the break.

Northeast View © Trahan Architects

Historically, the dock enabled ocean-going vessels to off-load heavy cargo onto barges for upriver transport, or to rail for inland shipment through Baton Rouge. However, with the interstate system of 1968, the dock soon became an outdated entity, quickly replaced by the ease of trucking freight.

Site Studies © Trahan Architects

Yet, now, the dock plays a large part in reviving the riverfront. The development, which consists of primarily residential units, is extremely site conscious. The building’s massing is shifted to provide optimal views of the river and gently arched to create a public space for exhibitions, gatherings and performances.

Sketch Renderings © Trahan Architects

The units are shifted in both plan and section, and the shifting creates opportunities for both private and communal terraces. Larger units flank the building, while smaller units fill in toward the middle.

Program Distribution © Trahan Architects

The building’s defined public space invites passersby closer to the riverfront and is just as vital to the design as the residential units.

Northwest View © Trahan Architects

The building’s wooden envelope gracefully curves from north to south to provide shade for the units, yet the aesthetic brings a sense of dynamic movement that fits with the river’s current. “This meandering surface is articulated with wooden members that flow with varying densities to maximize views and to mitigate direct solar gain, reflected solar gain and views from public areas,” added the architect.

View of Public Plaza © Trahan Architects

: Site Studies © Trahan Architects

: Site Studies © Trahan Architects

: Site Studies © Trahan Architects

: Concepts © Trahan Architects

: Concepts © Trahan Architects

: Concepts © Trahan Architects

: Unit Types © Trahan Architects

: Massing Strategy © Trahan Architects

: Massing Strategy © Trahan Architects

: Unit Configurations © Trahan Architects

: Program Distribution © Trahan Architects

: Design Proposal © Trahan Architects

: Assembly Space Diagram © Trahan Architects

: Plans © Trahan Architects

: Plans © Trahan Architects

: Plans © Trahan Architects

: Wall Section © Trahan Architects

: Louver Investigations © Trahan Architects

: Louver Investigations © Trahan Architects

: Louver Investigations © Trahan Architects

: Louver Investigations © Trahan Architects

: Building Components © Trahan Architects

: Sketch Renderings © Trahan Architects

: Northeast View © Trahan Architects

: Northwest View © Trahan Architects

: Southwest View © Trahan Architects

: View of Public Plaza © Trahan Architects

View more projects by Trahan Architects previously featured on AD here.

Project: Baton Rouge Municipal Dock

Program: Mixed Use Development

Floor Area: 56,700 g.s.f. + 7,200 g.s.f. designated for public areas

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

Cost: To Be Determined (USD)

Completion: To Be Announced

Requirements: reuse existing infrastructure, maximize views of Mississippi River and surrounding context, engage public residential units to adapt to market conditions

Principal Architect: Trey Trahan

Senior Designer: Mark Hash

Project Team: Judson Terry, Michael McCune, Chao-wei Su

Cite:
Cilento , Karen . "Baton Rouge Municipal Dock / Trahan Architects" 03 Aug 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 08 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/71684>

Comments (11)
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cocorecinos says:

wow… definitely top 3 on my list

# August 3, 2010 at 16:46

ilikeyourbeard says:

Diagrams can’t prove the impossible. How do you get to the units? How do you make/reinforce a connection between two places when the project can only be accessed from one bridge? Terrible project, pretty (but impossible/illogical) renderings.

# August 3, 2010 at 17:55

architecturally correct says:

Brilliantly conceived project again from TA, Bravo!

Answers to above:

Access to the units is clearly identified under floor plans 02 which provide on the eastern edge a common path of travel linking both vertical circulation cores identified as communal terraces/circulation.

A second means of access or exiting is clearly identified under the belly of the pedestrian bridge. Reference Jean Nouvel’s work Minneapolis.

# August 3, 2010 at 18:49

correctmy... says:

I see the awkward access to the units, but I agree that the project is a dead end, not a connection. Not that it would make a difference since you still have to backtrack under essentially the same route you came on, but I’m not seeing the second means of access.

# August 3, 2010 at 23:54

kk says:

hmm…. the timber veil seems unnecessary as the forms generated by offsetting the units seems strong enough to make it an interesting building already…

would increase the sense of connection if you take 3-4 units on the level 2 and stack them on the top. Hence creating an “arc” bridge structure that frames the connection from street to the water… (would have increase the sense of connectivity as seen from View from Public Plaza)

the bottom commercial level is too low as well… it should be 5m podium level… it is following the residential height atm that is also reason why it look squashed and give the feeling of “dead end”

# August 4, 2010 at 00:50

dezzo says:

i wonder if the smell of the dispersed oil with toxic Corexit could reach this building. This river does flow into the gulf right?

# August 5, 2010 at 13:00

Josh says:

1) Wow. That is almost as bad as people who still believe New Orleans is still flooded (had that earlier this summer). I haven’t smelled oil in over two months. The first few days after were the worst.

2) I don’t really know what to think of this one. I like the idea, but the density of the project is more suited for being downtown versus near a park. I don’t know if they will get the required foot traffic to make the idea work.

# August 5, 2010 at 13:24

alabamawhitesnake says:

Best idea since pink jeans! Trahan Architects should really have a book published about projects that have no chance of being built in Baton Rouge! But seriously props to the team that worked on this project and all the others I know they did not get an ounce of thanks for all the hard work and unpaid overtime that they put in.

# August 7, 2010 at 22:58

markh says: