Analysis of the Southwest Residential Area

Analysis of the Southwest Residential Area
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Analysis of the Southwest Residential Area
The University of Massachusetts Amherst has come a long way since its founding in 1863, and it is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the twenty-first century. The Southwest Residential Area on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, designed by Hugh Stubbins, is one of the most recognizable features of the campus. Each named after a different president, the five towers rise from the horizon and house thousands of students. Additionally, the area is densely packed with other low-rise structures. All buildings are identical in style and design, with nearly identical interiors. Each building contains a combination of shared dorm rooms and common areas. The landscape and the built environment surrounding it are home to a variety of unique and historical architecture that adds a great deal of diversity to the campus. This essay will examine Stubbins' design for the Southwest residential area and the extent to which it meets both individual and societal needs.
After reviewing "Southwest Quadrangle, the University of Massachusetts" in Process: Architecture, no. 10 (1979), and examining the Southwest residential area's designs, it is clear that Southwest reflects a Usonian design. According to my understanding, Hugh Stubbins' ambition for the Southwest region was to develop a large volume of communal housing that meets both individual and community requirements. Due to the growing student population, the towers offer maximum accommodation in a condensed area. This method is also evident in Alvar Aalto's design for the MIT dormitory Baker House. Aalto emphasizes the significance of each space having a southern aspect of receiving sunshine, which can only be accomplished by growing vertically. While Aalto was confronted with comparable economic constraints and population increase, Aalto determined that vertical construction was ideal for satisfying these objectives under these conditions. The orientation and microclimate of outdoor areas played a significant role in the site design throughout the building process. These were critical components of the design since they impact the community as a whole to meet its demands. The university's most recent sustainability initiatives in the Southwest residential area are still ongoing. Landscape architects focus on integrated landscaping and adopt a more environmentally friendly approach to landscape design to create a more sustainable future.
Southwest is a heavily populated area of campus, with five high-rise towers and eleven low-rise structures totaling sixteen dormitories with a capacity of up to 5,500 students. There are three dining areas near each cluster of dorms; a basketball court, snack bars/convenience shops, and administrative buildings. Naturally, the Southwest region has developed into a bustling neighborhood in its own right. Southwest serves as the final "visual entry" to the university due to the closeness of the low and high-rise dorms and the three eating commons. Figure 1 was photographed at the foot of a hill, facing three high-rises and a low-rise structu...