#group14

Battery supplies startup Group14 introduced Wednesday it has closed a $463 million funding spherical to develop its manufacturing footprint, an indication that buyers stay assured in the way forward for electrical autos. The startup manufactures silicon anode supplies, which considerably enhance the storage capability of lithium-ion batteries. Group14 at the moment operates three factories, two…

Porsche beteiligt sich an innovativem Batteriematerial-Produzenten

Porsche treibt seine Ambition bei der Entwicklung und Fertigung von Hochleistungs­batteriezellen weiter voran: Der Sportwagenhersteller erwirbt Anteile am US-amerikanischen Unternehmen Group14 Technologies, einem Hersteller von fortschrittlicher Silizium-Kohlenstoff-Technologie für Lithium-Ionen-Batterien. Als Leadinvestor nimmt Porsche 100 Millionen US-Dollar in die Hand und führt eine…

FS20, Project, Arena, by Group 14

Albis BMX Park

This amazing arena is between the city of Zurich and the Uetliberg. It is the place that creates a connection between the existing wild organic mountain trails for BMX riders and the structured urban Allmend Bike Park. Our project is in between those opposites.

Our intention was to play with the existing topography and develop through the use of earth as main material some principles and facilities to create a basis of a challenging arena, where riders could appropriate the space. With the design of three sets of rides and its surroundings we create a park accessible for all inhabitants that are interested in the world of BMX.

However, there’s a very special space for the riders. It is where you can appreciate one of the best views of the arena and where all the crazy passion and fascination from this geeky sport comes socially together. With some architectural interventions in this massive, closed and uninhabitable concrete structure, we create pleasing, enjoyable and attractive spaces for the riders to gather, exchange and to fiddle with their bikes.

Spectators should feel welcome and motivated to be part of the scenes. There are very special spots from where the whole action can be observed but also giving the opportunity to get closer. We intent with this intervention and by the resulting spaces in between the rides, different ways to experience the whole.

The particular topography of the Albisguetli shooting range motivated us to work with the existing resources. Earth, our main material, was intended to use in different ways. This earth-work is the basis for the main concept of our energy concept. By excavating, redistributing and heaping up earth on other places, the three different tracks and exciting situations are possible. Earth is a material that can be used in different ways and that involves change through weather and use. So it is important to us to be open minded and imagine that the arena doesn't have to stay always the same. This suggest another intention to the park: it can be modified in the future by the riders at any time.

Tumblr Posts:

Location

Interpreting the Topography

Inspiration and Situations

Site Drawing

Section through the three Sets of Rides

Riders Cosmos

Inside the BMX World

Being a Spectator

Experiencing the Park

FS20, Project, Arena, by Group 14

Albis BMX Park

We are in the Albis BMX park on the Friesenberg mountain, on the west side of the lake of Zurich. This place is quite particular, as it is a connection point between Uetliberg and the city of Zurich. A place where nature is beginning to be more urban, but still having the wild and free feeling. In past days it was used as a shooting range, now it has adapted its topography to create an incredible and unique reinterpretation of a pump track and a skate park in one.

The main intention of our project is to create a BMX track with its surrounding. It should be an open track, accessible to all the inhabitants of the city. The track is for everyone, no matter if they’re  professionals or amateurs. We wanted something that the kids could ride and grow with it. It's a place to have fun, because not only the physical skills get challenge, but also the creativity.

The very special topography allowed us to develop different set of rides, which allow riders to improve speed, jumps and control skills in different levels.  Each level has a different character, because depending on the level you’re in, you perceive the whole area in a completely different way. This was precisely the feeling that inspired us to develop variation.

Another very particular but not less important element beside the 3 large levels is the stream that flows almost through the middle of the whole. We don’t considered it as a separation element, but an element that can create other interesting situations and challenges.

Thinking about the many possibilities that can be created by this factors, we developed a set of principles for our arena that suggest another intention for the park: it can be modified in the future by the riders at any time. The Albis BMX Park has a ground/main structure, but through a set of principles of earth-use it can be extended and redesigned. This makes it possible to BMX riders to describe and experience their own way in the different circuits. There´s not an official start or end,  just different heights and lengths jumps, so riders can change it at all times and improve one's skills. You will never get enough of it.

The main materials for the the park are already there, so all the required resources should be taken from the existing structure and be reused, redistribute and reshape. This will be essentially earth and mud. Otherwise we will use wood and stones to make some structures stronger and to lead the visitors. Even though is just earth, we wanted to make out of dirt as good as an work of art. We wanted not just something that road and flow very well, but also something to look amazing and ride correctly.

Spectators have also a crucial role in our project, because they should also feel being welcome and motivated to be part of the scenes. Therefore, we designed special places where they can observe everything, but there's no restriction in between the levels to be involved with the action, you can experience it how close you want. It creates a micro cosmos for both riders and spectators.

The target building is one of this, overload more for the riders. Is a place to hang out and exchange about this geeky sport.

Tumblr-Posts

_____________________

Location Drawing

Site Drawing

Track Principles

Reactions

Situations

Jump Line

Flow Trail

Spectators Perspective / Bowls

Riders Space

FS20, Project, Arena, by Group 14

Albis BMX-Arena - The Transition Zone

When you visit the Albisguetli you notice you’re not only at a simple shooting range. It’s a particular place… may say a connection point between the Uetliberg and the city of Zurich. We perceive it as the place where nature starts to become more urban.

The main intention of our project is to create a BMX track with its surrounding. It should be accessible to all the inhabitants of the city and also the track itself should work for all kind of BMX riders, no matter if they’re amateurs or professionals.

There are two buildings that enclose our arena and it “separates” it from the overstepped limits from nature and city . This area has a very special topography which allowed us to develop different sections of a same and unique track. When you look from the target building (nearer or farther from this) towards the city, depending on the level you are in, you perceive the whole area in a completely different way. And this was precisely the feeling that inspired us and helped us develop some kind of principles and hierarchies for our arena.

Otherwise, we found very interesting how the whole area is not only divided by 3 large levels, but also from a stream that flows almost through the middle and creates another type of zoning. But we don’t consider this should be interpreted as a separation element, but create other  interesting connection points and new situations. Near to it, there’s another slope, which considering that the most interesting thing in our field is what happens between those two buildings, we thought is the perfect place that creates a connection between them. In this way,  the middle part of the arena is not only the place where all comes together but also the topography can be reinterpreted. The starting hill divides into three directions leading to different parts of the track. The hills function as well as ramps as jumps. This extraordinary track allows riders to improve their skills through the different levels. However, its form also allows to make a more traditional race.

We designed these parts in various difficulties and experiences, thinking about different types of riders. However, all of them are interconnected, making it possible for the athlete to change circuits. These interconnections are given by the topography. The analysis of the transition of the levels let us react with different solutions of using the change of height efficiently.

The first level of the three existing parallels gives a feeling of shelter, a little more comfort, so we decided that it should be a circuit with extensive and not very high and complicated jumps.

The second level, has a higher degree of difficulty, because the rider should be more experienced to be able to carry out successfully the curves.

The third level, which has the best view of all, gives the feeling of openness and height, which is why we believe that this should have jumps that require greater mastery of the sport.

The spaces that result in between the tracks are very different and have their own qualities, what allows as well a riders as spectators to decide how close do they want to be involved with the action. Newly created grass-stairs should simplify the possibility to move through the area and see at the current race. Also the pathway offers space for accidentally passing by strollers to take a seat and watch the scene.

The two buildings should as well offer spaces for riders and spectators to be and exchange but especially they contain spaces for the spectators to watch the track. The shooting building has been designed to have different uses inside. Thinking about the spectators and hungry riders, the highest floor is a restaurant that has a wide view of the arena and from the other side an incredible one of Zurich. For the riders it's the perfect space to store their bicycles on the ground floor. The first floor includes changing rooms and other administrative work. The glass facade allows the spectators to see the track on two different levels.

The target building becomes a very special and intimate place for the riders, a place where they can totally take over and express themselves. They can even use the rooms inside to hang out, fiddling with their bikes or whatever they want to do. Also the surrounding of this building should be adapted for an easier use of the space by creating stairs with ramps, railings and openings to the building.

Our goal is to keep the energy consumption for the structure and its construction as low as possible. Because the first BMX races took place on earthy or sandy ground it is important for us to use only natural materials. So all the required resources should be taken from the existing structure, reuse, redistribute and reshape. This will be essentially earth and mud.

“Natural imitates art- and the artificial mimes the natural” - Dan Graham

______________________

Tumblr-Posts:

Taking Multiple Rides

Location Drawing

Track Slope Interaction

Stream Situations

Experiencing a Ride

Spectators Perspective

Use of Shooting Building

Riders Space

FS20, Arena, Project, by Group 14

Albis BMX-Arena - The Transition Zone

When you visit the Albisguetli you notice you’re not only at a simple shooting range. It’s a particular place… may say a connection point between the Uetliberg and the city of Zurich. We perceive it as the place where nature starts to become more urban.

And our arena is exactly in between the overstepped “limits” from nature and the city.

The main intention of our project is to create a BMX track with its surrounding. It should be accessible to all the inhabitants of the city and also the track itself should work for all kind of BMX riders, no matter if they’re amateurs or professionals.

The very special topography of the shooting range allowed us to develop different sections of a same and unique track.  When you look from the target building towards the city, depending on the level you are in, you perceive the whole area in a completely different way. And it was precisely this feeling that inspired us and helped us develop some kind of principles and hierarchies for our arena.

Starting from the target building, there are 3 main tracks with different possibilities to start.

We designed each one with different characteristics in the curves and jumps, thinking about different types of riders. However, all of them are interconnected, making it possible for the athlete to change circuits. These interconnections are given by the topography.

The first level gives a feeling of shelter, a little more comfort, so we decided that it should be a circuit for beginners, extensive and with not very high and complicated jumps.

The second level, has a higher degree of difficulty, because the rider should be more experienced to be able to carry out successfully the curves.

The third level, which has the best view of all, gives the feeling of dominance, control, empowerment, which is why we believe that this should have jumps that require greater mastery of the sport.

The middle of the arena is where all comes together and the topography can be reinterpreted. The hills that functioned as ramps are now also jumps. This track allows riders to improve other skills and also with its form to make a more traditional race.

In front of the shooting building its another track designed for people who are just soaking up the passion for BMX.

The spaces that result in between the tracks are very different and have their own qualities, what allows as well a riders as spectors to decide how close do they want to be involved with the action. Newly created grass-stairs should simplify the possibility to move through the area and see at the current race.

The two buildings should as well offer spaces for riders and spectators to be and exchange. The shooting building has been designed to have different uses inside. Thinking about the spectators and hungry riders, the highest floor is a restaurant that has a wide view of the arena and from the other side an incredible one of Zurich. For the riders it's the perfect space to store the bicycles in the ground floor. The first floor is perfect for changing rooms and other administrative work.

The target building becomes a very special and intimate place for the riders, a place where they can totally take over and express themselves. They can even use the rooms inside to hang out, fiddling with their bikes or whatever they want to do. Also the surrounding of this building should be adapted for an easier use of the space.

Our goal is to keep the energy consumption for the structure and its construction as low as possible. Because the first BMX races took place on earthy or sandy ground it is important for us to use only natural materials. So all the required resources should be taken from the existing structure, reuse, redistribute and reshape. This will be essentially earth and mud.

“Natural imitates art- and the artificial mimes the natural” - Dan Graham

________________

Tumblr-Posts:

First Racing

Model Photos

Construction Details of Track Situations

Location Drawing

Section Shooting Building

Adaptations of Target Building