welcome to the great falls grotto.
this intervention is located at the Great Falls National Park in Virginia and acts as the primary shelter for its weary visitors. situated around the famed Potomac River, this park offers unprecedented views, an array of hiking trails, and one of the most well-known kayak-routes on the east coast.
aside from the lush vegetation and the raging river, the most attractive feature of this park belongs to the river itself - jagged, quartzite juts through the surface of the flowing water creating a complex situation of static versus fluid. but can one manipulate the metamorphic mess into something more exciting? you can easily be immersed in flora here. you can ride the river's current here. but to be a mere spectator to this rock is criminal.
the root of my intervention is to exist among the rock and use it to stimulate the senses beautifully and cohesively.
this site is located in the quarry. the quarry is a large clearing within the park that is located adjacent to two central pathways that run along the river. i decided to intervene in a stereotomic fashion along the quarry's elbow.
the quarry by season - spring and winter, respectively.
the shelter's position and shape allow for a cave-like, dynamic experience while never truly disconnecting from the park.
here's a section through the middle. the space in the back is critical; it creates a break from the buzz of the outdoors while maintaining the benefits of sun.
here are the key conditions of the space.
imagine the acoustics!
