The Visitor Center is one of the most important programmatic elements of the estate. The building tends to get overlooked due to its small size and unclear signage. It currently houses a ticket booth, an information center and a gift shop, but there isn’t much space leftover for employees, guests or expansion

Bird, Matthew

Cutillo, Jacob

Dansereau, Lindsay

Delino, Kristine

Gammel, Kyle

Graham, Gary

Izzo, Anthony

Johnson, Shawn

Kunkle, Christopher

Libby, Julia

Mattscheck, Stephen

Napierkowski, Edward

Needham, Michelle

Neves, Jocelyn

Robinson, Arnold

Roche, Brendan

Sharp, Robin

English

HELIN Digital Commons

Blithewold Mansion: A Vision for the Visitors Center

DOCS@RWU

Roger Williams UniversityDOCS@RWUArchitecture and Urban Design Community Partnerships Center2012Blithewold Mansion: A Vision for the VisitorsCenterMatthew BirdJacob CutilloLindsay DansereauKristine DelinoKyle GammelSee next page for additional authorsFollow this and additional works at: http://docs.rwu.edu/cpc_audPart of the Urban, Community and Regional Planning CommonsThis Document is brought to you for free and open access by the Community Partnerships Center at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusionin Architecture and Urban Design by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact mwu@rwu.edu.Recommended CitationBird, Matthew; Cutillo, Jacob; Dansereau, Lindsay; Delino, Kristine; Gammel, Kyle; Izzo, Anthony; Johnson, Shawn; Kunkle,Christopher; Libby, Julia; Mattscheck, Stephen; Napierkowski, Edward; Needham, Michelle; Neves, Jocelyn; Roche, Brendan; Sharp,Robin; Graham, Gary; and Robinson, Arnold, "Blithewold Mansion: A Vision for the Visitors Center" (2012). Architecture and UrbanDesign. Paper 7.http://docs.rwu.edu/cpc_aud/7AuthorsMatthew Bird, Jacob Cutillo, Lindsay Dansereau, Kristine Delino, Kyle Gammel, Anthony Izzo, ShawnJohnson, Christopher Kunkle, Julia Libby, Stephen Mattscheck, Edward Napierkowski, Michelle Needham,Jocelyn Neves, Brendan Roche, Robin Sharp, Gary Graham, and Arnold RobinsonThis document is available at DOCS@RWU: http://docs.rwu.edu/cpc_aud/7Blithewold Mansion:  A Vision for the  Visitor CenterSpring 2012Community Partner:  Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & ArboretumAcademic Partner:  School of Architecture, Art and  Historic PreservationPhoto: Liz WestThe Roger Williams University Community Partnerships Center The Roger Williams University (RWU) Commu-nity Partnerships Center (CPC) provides project-based assistance to non-profit organizations, gov-ernment agencies and low- and moderate-income communities in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Our mission is to undertake and complete projects that will benefit the local com-munity while providing RWU students with ex-perience in real-world projects that deepen their academic experiences.CPC projects draw upon the skills and experience of students and faculty from RWU programs in areas such as:•	 American Studies•	 Architecture and Urban Design•	 Business•	 Community Development•	 Education•	 Engineering and Construction Management•	 Environmental Science and Sustainability•	 Finance•	 Graphic Design•	 Historic Preservation•	 History•	 Justice Studies•	 Law•	 Marketing and Communications•	 Political Science•	 Psychology•	 Public Administration•	 Public Relations•	 Sustainable Studies•	 Visual Arts and Digital Media•	 Writing StudiesCommunity partnerships broaden and deepen the academic experiences of RWU students by allow-ing them to work on real-world projects, through curriculum-based and service-learning opportuni-ties collaborating with non-profit and community leaders as they seek to achieve their missions. The services provided by the CPC would normally not be available to these organizations due to their cost and/or diverse needs.CPC Project Disclaimer: The reader shall understand the following in regards to this project report:1. The Project is being undertaken in the public interest. 2. The deliverables generated hereunder are in-tended to provide conceptual information only to assist design and planning and such are not intended, nor should they be used, for construction or other project implementa-tion.  Furthermore, professional and/or other services may be needed to ultimately imple-ment the desired goals of the public in owner-ship of the project served.3. The parties understand, agree and acknowl-edge that the deliverables being provided hereunder are being performed by students who are not licensed and/or otherwise certi-fied as professionals.  Neither RWU nor the CPC makes any warranties or guarantees ex-pressed or implied, regarding the deliverables provided pursuant to this Agreement and the quality thereof, and Sponsor should not rely on the assistance as constituting professional advice.  RWU, the CPC, the faculty mentor, and the students involved are not covered by professional liability insurance.  4. Neither RWU, the CPC, the faculty mentor, nor the students involved assume respon-sibility or liability for the deliverables pro-vided hereunder or for any subsequent use by sponsor or other party and Sponsor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless RWU, the Center, the Faculty Mentor, and the Center’s student against any and all claims arising out of Sponsor’s utilization, sale, or transfer of de-liverables provided under this Agreement.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum  |  2Community Partnerships Center Roger Williams University One Old Ferry Road Bristol, RI  02809 cpc@rwu.edu http://cpc.rwu.edu Table of Contents   Introduction ...................................4Project Narrative ............................5Mission Statement ..........................6Existing Conditions ........................7Site Analysis ...................................9Program Analysis ..........................12Diagramming ...............................13Preferred Scheme ..........................14Cost Analysis ................................17Decisions Made ............................18Appendices ...................................19Fall 2012Team Members: Matthew Bird | Jacob Cutillo | Lindsay Dansereau | Kristine Delino | Kyle Gammel | Anthony Izzo | Shawn Johnson | Christopher Kunkle |  Julia Libby | Stephen Mattscheck | Edward Napierkowski | Michelle Needham | Jocelyn Neves | Brendan Roche | Robin SharpARCH 530 - Conceptualization | Professor GrahamOrigional book created by Julia Libby.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  3Photo: Donna DeForbesBlithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  4IntroductionIn the spring of 2012, students from Professor Gary Graham’s Advanced Architectural Seminar — Conceptualization worked with Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum to develop plans for a redeveloped Visitor Center which would complement the beautiful site. The goal for the project was to preserve the fine garden estate while enhancing the entryway to the site.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  5Project NarrativeBlithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, a 33-acre summer estate, is nationally significant in American history as one of the most fully developed and authentic examples of the Country Place Era.The Visitor Center is one of the most important programmatic elements of the estate. The build-ing tends to get overlooked due to its small size and unclear signage. It currently houses a ticket booth, an information center and a gift shop, but there isn’t much space leftover for employees, guests or expansion. The Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum Visitor Center is in need of reconsideration in order to ensure that the visitors’ experience com-plements the historic site. It is our goal to preserve the fine garden estate while enhancing the entry procession with a new approach.231. Bamboo grove in the   Enclosed Gardens.2. Current Visitor Center   viewed through the   moongate.3. The Display Garden   at Blithewold.1Mission StatementBlithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  6It is our mission to accommodate the function and form as well as the physical and economic attributes of Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum visitors and staff by expanding the Visitor Center without drastically altering the existing conditions or gardens.1. Function: Create a more welcoming entrance and redefine the circulation paths to create easier access.2. Form: Maintain some existing features, respect the land and adjacent rose garden.3. Physical: Enlarge the footprint to allow a larger program.4. Economy: Stay within a reasonable budget.Students from Professor Gary Graham’s course visit the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  71.  Existing Visitor Center2. Parking lot3. Carriage house4. Rose gardenExisting Conditions1234Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  81.  Road entry2. Side entrance   to mansion3. Path intersection4. Blithewold Mansion1234Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  9Boundaries to respect (shaded in red) include the moongate, the path to the moongate, the historic rose bush and the property line.Site AnalysisThe Visitor Center  is already in a prime location for optimal  sun exposure. The new  design should maintain this orientation.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  10Orange - vehicular  circulation Blue - pedestrian  circulationHow can these paths become more user-friendly?Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  11Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum  |  12A New Vision: Program Analysis1. Proposed program   diagram2.	Schematic	floor	plan	  for Blithewold Visitor   Center12A New Vision: DiagrammingBlithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum  |  131. Optimal views2. Program blocking3. Circulation through   the building.123Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum  |  141. Proposed design of   the Visitors Center.2. Elevation Models for   the proposed Visitor   Center.A New Vision: Preferred Scheme1 2Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  151. Aerial view of proposed   design for the Visitor   Center.2. Section view through   the roof.3. Rendering of the   proposed Visitor Center.1231. Moongate as seen from   inside the proposed   Visitor Center.2. Site plan for the   redesigned Visitor   Center.3. Section view framing   the moongate.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  16123A New Vision: Cost AnalysisBlithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum |  17The current Visitor Center viewed from the rose garden.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  18Decisions MadeWhy did you choose to build where you did?We chose to avoid building in close proximity to the existing historical tree, which is present on-site.  Additionally, we decided to leave the central path untainted by building to the left of it. This way the view to the moongate will remain visible at all times.   Why is building to the left of the  central path important?By building to the western side of the site, we will be framing the area around the rose garden, thereby creating a pleasant atmosphere for visitors.How did the building shape come  to be?We decided to create a building which is not divided into a series of various compartments. By doing so, we minimized the amount of staff required to maintain the new Visitor Center. What is the meaning behind your  material palette?When choosing which materials would be pres-ent in the new Visitor Center, we focused upon creating something modern to contrast the current architecture on-site.How did you decide upon the new  program for the Visitor Center?Taking into consideration the client’s needs, we decided to include: ticket booth, entry, seating, café and gift shop.Why did you leave bathrooms out of the program?We elected to keep bathrooms out of the new Visitor Center in order to maintain an abundance of space within the building. As we were seeking a Visitor Center that was somewhat small in scale, bathrooms could not be accommodated for.Rendering of the  proposed Visitor  Center at Blithewold.AppendicesAfter several meetings with the Blithewold staff, we decided as a class upon a single design. The following is a compilation of work from each of the five groupsBlithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  19Photo: Liz WestGroup 1•	 Move the gift shop off axis from the moon gate to make it more on axis with circulation paths.•	 Draw attention to the moon gate by using an architectural or sculptural piece that highlights it.•	 Introduce a ticket booth off of the carriage house to eliminate the need for buying tickets within the visitor center.Open space in Visitor Center is transparent into rose garden giving visitors a strong connection.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  20Group 2•	 Highlight the moon gate with an arbor. •	 Introduce an angular roof for a more modern feel.•	 Maintain the existing footprint of the visitor center.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  2121Group 3•	 Reorient moon-gate axis.•	 Draw attention to the historic rosebush.•	 Use angular lines to introduce a modern aspect to a historic site.1. This strategy   minimizes the amount   of plants that need to be   disturbed while creating   an exterior patio to   enjoy the rose garden.2. This scheme   highlights the bush   from Mt. Vernon.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  2212Group 4•	 Ticket gate upon entry to parking lot with validation in the gift shop.•	 Respect and renovate the existing structure.•	 Maintain a smaller footprint.1. Covered outdoor space.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  2312Group 5•	 Draw attention to the moon-gate by introducing an overhang to highlight it.•	 Draw inspiration for the curved structure from the curved lines in the rose garden.•	 Outdoor seating areas are created by using overhangs to provide a sense of space and coverage during rainy days.Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum   |  24Roger Williams University One Old Ferry Road Bristol, Rhode Island 02809cpc@rwu.edu  http://cpc.rwu.edu

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Blithewold Mansion: A Vision for the Visitors Center

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