Tectonic Place
Type
Academic
Site
Van Courtlandt Park, Bronx, New York
Tectonic Place is a mat-building library that functions as an extension of the Bronx’s oldest building, the Van Courtlandt house. The entire complex is embedded into the ground and camouflaged in nature. The building is expressed tectonically through subtle slopes to imitate the natural landscape and connect different levels seamlessly. Continuous floor ramps eliminate the need for redundant staircases, and the roof geometry is designed to accommodate different lighting conditions based on its orientation relative to the sun.








