The arcing form of the main building and terraced landscape draws inspiration from stroke pools left on the water surface as the oar blade enters and exits the river.
Boathouse Culture
Cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and London have rich rowing communities where the boathouses also serves as social clubs where members and guests enjoy casual, pub-like spaces. With the rich history of rowing in Knoxville and an underutilized waterfront, this suite of buildings and park space would enhance the liveliness and appeal of the South Knoxville waterfront. The downstairs of the main building houses locker rooms, coaching offices, a meeting room, and indoor training facilities. Sliding glass panels allow the end of the training space to open onto the patio, and rowing machines can be moved outside. The upper level of the main building houses a pub and restaurant. Views from the main building frame the Tennessee river and downtown Knoxville.
Boat Storage
Aside from the main building are three boat storage bays connected by awnings and illuminated by clerestory windows beneath the slanted roof. Rowing shells present a unique challenge in the design process: an “eight” (for eight Rowers and one coxswain) measures more than 60 feet long! Currently under the umbrella of Reach Rowing are three entities: Tennessee Crew (the UT co-ed club rowing team), Knoxville Rowing Association (masters rowing), and Griffin Crew (rowing team for the L&N Stem Academy and other teen rowers). Each of these entities has a dedicated boat storage bay with a restroom, storage space for extra equipment, and easy access to the floating docks on the Tennessee River.
Exploratory sketch
Organizational Diagram
Color scheme for representations taken from Thomas Eakins, The Biglin Brothers racing, 1872. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Color scheme for representations taken from Thomas Eakins, The Biglin Brothers racing, 1872. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
