The India Point Bike Center is a community center at the mouth of the East Bay Bike Path. The sculptural roof acts as a datum between the path and the bike service spaces. Both spaces, above and below this datum, are long winding paths evoking the ethos of the East Bay Bike Path.
Bird’s eye view of the sculptural roof, the path leisurely folds and bends as it ascends to the beginning of the East Bay Bike Path.
The roof acts an extension of the East Bay Bike Path. The folded surface acts as a beacon, a sculpture, and as path fabric.
The surface pinches and folds and bends, creating a series of ramps and landings paired with greenery à la San Francisco’s famed Lombard Street. The long sloping roof offers visitors a variety of experiences. Perhaps a calm stroll as they ascend to the upper wing. The many landings offer moments to pause. There visitors can watch passerbys and admire the community mural. Or perhaps they decide to take a more direct path upwards, more akin to mountain biking. Visitors can charge forward up the bending surface, through the resilient dry grass to the top. The upper wing can then serve as a reprieve, a place to catch one’s breath and take in the view. From there they can gaze out into India Point Park and the Providence skyline. Visitors can sit in the garden and enjoy the soft breeze from the Providence River. A calm moment before continuing onto the East Bay Bike Path.
Below the datum, a winding series of spaces unfolds. The bike and community service spaces sprawl out. Here visitors have access to a large workshop where they can repair their bicycles and purchase spare parts. There is also a community room, where the center can host classes and events: off season indoor cycling, basic bike maintenance tutorials, and potlucks.
The sculptural roof would be composed of a space frame leveraged off the concrete mass of the bridge of I-195 behind it. The space frame would be clad in concrete panels that create the folding path fabric and the stalactite-like ceiling.
