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Kit of Parts

atrium

landscape urbanism

9 square grid

train station

aviary

bus station

in process

in process

in process

Kit of Parts

The kit of parts exercise is based on a architectonic

composition of lines, planes, and shape. Within the

space given, the requirement was to arrange the above elements in vertical

and horizontal patterns. The composition

requires scale and

must express architectural

values of order, structure,

balance, and rhythm.

NINe square GrIdThe 9-square grid project aimed to explore

rational systems as mean of

creating space. The objective

was for the student to develop their

own system and effectively execute it

in order to generate spatial interest.

The fibonacci sequence can be found in all walks of

life. The solution here was to use

the sequence as a form generator.

Furthermore, dialectical forces

of attraction and repulsion were

applied to the

forms in order to differentiate

between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd

levels of squares.

The atrium

Mapping

In the Atrium project each student was encouraged to explore the ideas of mapping. The atrium is to be located within two existing buildings. The location is South Beach, Miami, FL.

This process started with observing the two opposing buildings in order to find common ground. The need for finding such a “common denominator” was to develop and apply a controlling system. By having such a system in place, the often chaotic and unnecessary preoccupation with form, that tends to occur in the initial phase of design development, was avoided. It was noted that the current curtain wall system had such qualities. By mapping the existing curtain wall system, direct lines of connections were able to be explored as a means to developing the structure and guiding the form.

diagrammatic Process

As an attempt to generate interest in form, the typology of an atrium was associated with a concept of a leaf falling over the two buildings. The atrium form was further manipulated by mapping the sun path directly over the given site. This was done as an exploration of climate control within the atrium according to the summer and winter solstice and it’s effects on the same.

Structure

Part of the assignment was to develop the atrium as a self-sustaining structure with three structural components. The structural system included main arms for overall support (primary). The middle bracketing system to relive the stress caused by the long spans (secondary). And the minimal support system further strengthening the overall structural system (tertiary).

SummerWinter

high Temps high Temps

Low Temps Adequate

Adequate

Adequate

LANdScAPe urbanism

The Landscape urbanism project aims to explore ideas of time and its effects on landscape.

My site is located on Skid row Los Angeles. Skid row is an area known for the agglomeration of the homeless population of Los Angeles. The majority of the homeless population in the United States find shelters in the underpasses of our very own highways, this was the inspiration. What if, over time, such highways could become adequate shelters and be more efficiently utilized?

The concept of this design explores the idea of migration over time leading to such highways becoming modern day shelters for a growing and needing population. The design aims to develop the conversation between LA’s former blood line (the LA river) and LA’s love affair with the automobile and it’s imposing highways.

Site: Skid row

In an attempt to borrow from the past. The river becomes the metaphor for the main point of approach. Over the course of 1,000 years, these highway systems were abandoned and became shelters. Buildings were erected from the remains of the infrastructure creating a new typology for the area.

Typology L.A. river Map Imposed

1. 2. 3.

4.

BUS stoP The essence of the bus stop project is to, via the architectural language, imply movement. The architectural vocabulary developed for this project was an observation of what is wrong and uninviting in the current bus stop typology. The design strategy was developed invoking solid and void system, as it relates to a “bus stop”, sheltered and un-sheltered areas. The semester studio requirement was also to introduce a more realistic element of materiality in model building. As a representation of concrete, plaster was used, which had to be molded in order to produce the monolithic primary structure of the bus stop. Steel elements were represented with real steel or aluminum. elements of glass and wood were also represented in the overall design.

Bus Stop Typology

roof Plan

detail

elevation A elevation B

Floor Plan

detail

Section A Section B

TrAIN station

Like the bus stop project, the object of the train station project is to show movement in architecture. The chosen site is

rich in it’s contextual setting. It is not only influenced by the current train station but also a bus station, the el rio canal, the Boca raton

executive Airport, and bounded by Yamato rd. and Interstate 95. It is only natural that the solution should be as rich and complex as

the site itself. In developing the solution one may look at the train station not only as a train station but as a transportation hub

connecting man to structure and man to nature. A system of growth was used to imply

movement of the structure. The structure, at the north and south

ends appear to be ample and spacious and gradually

become denser as it approaches the middle

of the space. The structure is attempting

to connect to the overwhelming green

areas surrounding the site, as if growing

from the site itself.

Seed Point

Target Point Target PointProcess

diagram

Growth

structure Development

east elevationNorth elevation

Site plan

Floor Plan

1st Topo StudyTopography to Structure

Translation

North SectionWest Section

The aviary

Located in the vicinity of the two previous projects the bus stop and the train station, the site of the proposed aviary is also richly influenced. There is water influence

via the el rio canal, highway or motor influence by way of the major highways (Yamato rd. and Interstate 95), the train station is also located nearby and finally the Boca raton

executive Airport. The program includes 4 separate aviaries for different bird species. It also includes 5,000 SF of research facility and office areas, all the while preserving 30% of

the site. The catalyst for the design strategy was the observation of bird

migration patterns. Another influence to the design were bone characteristics that enable bird flight. These include

hollow bones which were thought of as forming canal systems within the birds

bone structure. This manifested in the design by the

creation of canals, both literal and implied that

served as bird and human circulation.

Furthermore, instead of covering the aviary structure

with just a mesh, a gradient pattern

was applied that became denser and obfuscated

undesirable views (such as

of the adjacent Yamato rd.)

Preliminary Sketches

Se elevation

West elevation West Section

Floor Plan

Photography

“A cry to the World”

“The Invasion”

“distant Memory”