Valley in the Basin

UCLA Geffen MedHive: mixed-use community hall, outpatient clinic, and medical education center.

DATE: Spring 2021

Tools: Rhino, Revit, Twinmotion

Class: ARCH-605B Studio ; PROFESSORS John Southern and Roland Wahlroos-Ritter

TEAM: Alex SHirley, Nigel Xu, David Thai

At the intersection of Metro Lines E and K, a series of verdant hills rise from out of the concrete. A cross-laminated timber outpatient and training clinic with community and retail spaces, all supporting four sloped intensive green roofs that bring a valley of dynamic green park space to the middle of the Basin.

Conceived of as a large neighborhood park that holds the programs within it, Valley in the Basin pulls its corners up, both to reveal four interior atriums with unique uses, as well as to create four landscaped hills that faces the park in on itself. It endeavors to cultivate a space of native green access, social connection, and physical wellness for a community that seeks to enhance all three.

Special attention was paid to the support of the intensive green roofs and their plantings, such that the the rooftops may support soil and growth as well as human park-goers, the landscape remains native and lush but does not overwhelm the structure or the water budget, and the hills can be expected to flower nearly year-round.