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Jennifer Cramer

 

This site calls for an architecture which embraces versatility and also joins together the existing thriving networks of the marina, boardwalk, downtown, and centrally located parking. This architecture cannot be just a culmination of these intersecting programs but must carve out its own niche through material, texture, and atmosphere. While it performs as a connector it should also be a destination to which a person is drawn. This versatility should include the ability to adjust to seasonal change and local events, and it should give back to the community in an evolving manner. The ability to serve all ages and varying interests is critical because the city draws from a population of family oriented small town people, as well as vacation and festival goers. In this site it is important to know and understand the user. The narrative of the user is not straight forward but instead very facetted. It is important to consider the numerous possibilities and to discover what needs and desires could be fulfilled through designing an architecture for this site. To provide a quality space for gathering and community, to introduce a space for learning about the history and importance of Grand Haven and the great lakes, and to surround the building with a layer of space designed to introduce personal interaction; these are the goals of this architecture.