Taqasim Music School
Hunters Point, CA
Taqasim Music School
Independent Study - Thesis Project - 2 Semesters
Music school and community center for Eastern music
The Problem
The bay area doesn't have a school for Eastern music
Music education in elementary schools has declined dramatically in the last 50 years, especially in compact cities such as San Francisco. Music is essential for language development, as well as for the young brain’s commitment to work harder.
The Solution
Add an Eastern music school to an art district master plan
Hunter Point’s district is in the planning of a major urban development, creating an exciting neighborhood that is both engaging and comfortable. This art neighborhood will allow for convenient accessibility, it will optimize the waterfront setting, and it will reflect San Francisco’s built form and character in a contemporary way.
Research
San Francisco Demographics Competition Site Analysis
Racial Profile
SF Age Distribution
Level of Education
Choosing The District
Percentages of children 10 and under
Goal: Target a district with high percentage of children
Percentages of Middle Easterns
Goal: Introduce Middle Eastern culture to a district that lacks it
Conclusion: Draw in a big and diverse group of people to the new area of Hunter's Point,
and spread out congestion of the art community in San Francisco
Hunter's Point has the highest percentage of children and lower percentage of Middle Eastern population
Choosing The Site
Site Constraints
• The site is recovering from toxic waste
• Diversity in surrounding area is limited
• Redevelopment of area is only in the planning stage
• Not directly on busy streets
Site Opportunities
• Will be toxic-free within 2 years
• New neighborhood will attract more diverse population
• Once redeveloped, entire district will be new including art
• Minimal traffic noise and odors
• Directly on the bay, offering great views of downtown SF
• Area has highest percentage of children 10 and under in SF
Personas
Music education during the early childhood years promotes a rapid growth in efficient activity
of a developing brain, and teaches the brain to be persistent and orderly.
This project targets students, such as Natalie, considering their brains are still in early stages of development.
Taqasim Music School will also be perfect for the casual players, such as Mo,
welcoming them in to take their skill to a professional level.
A collaboration from the public will also be a part of the school, allowing outside professionals to
attend events, play live music, and teach students about music.
Concept & Program
A "Wasla" is a progressive composition of music made of multiple parts, connected by contextual bridges.
The composition begins with an instrumental piece, played by the orchestra acting as an introduction of the song.
Between the individual instrumental verses, Taqasim are played: these are solo pieces for only one instrument at a time, which enables individual soloists to demonstrate the full
range of their improvisational skill. Finally comes in the dominating element of song, closely intertwined in dialogue with the instruments and backup
choir. The key starting point for Arabic music is song. In Arabic musical tradition there is hardly any music without song. Music and poetry are so closely woven
together that to this day it is difficult to discover the names of the composers of classical Arabic music, we often only know the names of the singers and poets.
Diagrams
Illustrator
Sustainability
Structure
Construction Documents
Floor Plans
Revit
Renderings
3ds Max