The site chosen for the Boulder hostel is in south Boulder at Mesa Trail. The site offers an escape from the city and places the visitor into the picturesque landscape that makes Boulder famous. The design of the hostel is meant to blur the lines between the built space and natural space. Large windows and cantilevers help bring the outdoors into the hostel. Hiking trails are accessible right out the door of the hostel. The design also challenges the stereotype of hostels by being a well-designed, welcoming, and home-like building. There are spaces to meet new friends and spaces to be alone. It embraces the outdoor culture of Boulder, but also encourages a mixing of culture between visitors.
The parti for the design was based on an abstract sculpture. It was a plane of steel with a trapezoid cut from the center. There are a couple beams that fold out from the back and go through the trapezoid. The folding aspect of the sculpture was the main takeaway from the sculpture. That aspect can be seen on the south façade with the large windows that fold in. The design feature extends down to the ground and can be seen on the first floor under the cantilever. The windows on the second floor and the windows on the first floor reflect the trapezoid from the sculpture. The folding windows and cantilever blur the boundaries between inside and outside. The windows are very large to allow panoramic views of the surrounding area. Where they fold in allows access to an outdoor deck. The visitor can choose how much interaction they want with the outdoors. The ground floor has space defined by the cantilevers on either side of the building. The area underneath is protected from the elements while still being outside. The Façade is symmetrical. To break that up in plan, the path to the hiking trails and plaza follow the atrium’s diagonals and are off center.
When the visitor enters the hostel they will be greeted with the front desk. To the left are the office and a public bathroom, and to the right is the atrium and rooms. The main stair case is in the atrium.
The living conditions will be unparalleled in most hostels. The rooms have private bathrooms. And each visitor has a locker for their valuables. Behind the welcome desk there is a storage room for bags. This is helpful when the visitor arrives before their room is ready. It frees them up to be able to hike and leave the hostel while they wait. There is also a laundry room in the basement. When traveling, it is hard to pack large bags, so a laundry room helps prolong the visitor’s small wardrobe.
The first floor is home to the main hostel functions like the front desk, rooms, and office; whereas the second floor is the community space. The second floor was chosen for the community space because of the large windows and high ceilings. Different levels of community space exist within the hostel. There are spaces like the bar, café, and lounge which support louder interactions between a lot of people. There is also a library area that supports more intimate interactions. In addition to the second floor community areas, there is a pool/hot tub in the basement. It is lit with light from the atrium in the middle of the hostel. The pool would be a great area for relaxation after a long day of exploring and hiking around Boulder. Pools can be a node for social interaction. It will bring people together and make friends.
The design is a culmination of ideas learned in the studio class. The final design was much different than the midterm design, but the final outcome was a better design. Finalization of the design was made with collaboration between the professor and other students. If I had more time for this project I would add little additions like windows and doors in different places, but the building as a whole would stay the stay. There were good points brought up in the final review of the project that could be implemented that would help the overall design.
In conclusion, the Boulder Hostel at Mesa Trail would be a fantastic place for travelers to stay in, and experience Boulder. The design brings the outside in, but ultimately invites the visitor into the outdoors to hike, climb, explore, etc. Between welcoming social spaces and good living conditions, there is something for everyone. Visitors will be able to relax and meet new friends in this home away-from-home. A semester of hard work and learning culminated in this design.