Timber Render

As a part of formulating my portfolio from this year, I wanted to apply my knowledge that I had learned this semester in Patrick Clay's Rhino class to my studio work, so I used V-Ray to render how my timber framing roof would look at sunset. I found that V-Ray can be a powerful tool in the final presentation of a project, and intend on rendering some of my past projects over this summer as a part of documenting my work.

Frames of Timber

When designing my timber frame roof, in trying to create a roof that would challenge the notion of traditional timber framing as well as the challenging the notion of 'up and down', I decided to also challenge the the concept of what a roof is. I began with one of the definitions of the word roof that I found in a dictionary: the highest point or limit; the summit. I took this as inspiration, and created four 'caps' for each of the four columns, rather than creating a traditional roof that would span the four columns. Each cap is constructed to hold three frames that frame particular views in the plaza, and in the sky, as the overall concept of this project for me, was to create something that would enhance the experience of this area in Burchard Plaza, in this case being something that would encourage viewers to look and hopefully observe surroundings that they have been missing. A few photographs of my model are pictured here, as well as my competition board done in pen.

The High-Wire Plaza

In creating a exhibition space for high-wire walkers, inspired by the words of Phillipe Petit, I choose to stick to a simple concept. One of the most fascinating things I found while researching high wire walking was how at a high enough heights, the wire for walking seems to disappear to the observer on the ground, and gives the illusion of the walker performing on air. I wanted to apply this idea of 'vanishing into the sky' while designing the towers of the plaza. A spiral is never ending, so I chose to create four spiraling towers that the viewer could imagine continuously spiraling into the sky until a final disappearance into the heavens. Each tower contains multiple platforms that could have wires or safety nets strung between them at different heights, and are supported by large cores that would serve as stairwells for walkers to transport their gear up and down the towers. The plaza provides a new passageway to and from Cowgill and the surrounding buildings, as well as a large open space for spectators.

One Times Square

For the past few weeks, our studio has split into groups for a class called The Art of Building. The assignment was to find buildings with signage and study their facades. Our group chose the One Times Square Building in New York City. We decided to create two models, one of the original 1905 building, then of the current 2010 building. The building has undergone some drastic changes over the last 100 years in which one could say the building has gotten progressively worse by replacing the beautiful stone work with sleek walls and slapping un-organized advertisements along the facade. At the same time however, one cannot deny the unique atmosphere Times Square gives off by being surrounded in a sea of signage.

The Salt Maker's Cabin Progressed

As we came to a close on the Salt Maker's residence project, I put my primary focus on drawings and models that sit on an accurate as possible topography to depict how the structures would sit on the site. If I had to sum up the purpose of my project in one word, it would be form. This residence became about creating a house that would be shaped by the driving forces of where it is located, and what it is to do. A model was used to explain form, and drawings were used to explain the more technical aspects of the building for the viewer. I would say that this project currently sits as a work in progress rather than a final stage, as the project is still in a more theoretical state, rather than a state of reality and feasibility of construction. I plan to progress it further over time, and more detailed pictures of the model and drawings will come soon.

The Salt Maker's Cabin

In the process of designing a residence and workshop for a Salt Maker, I felt it was vital to put myself in his position and imagine what design elements he would want incorporated into his residence in order to incorporate his personality into the program. While studying his personality, I made the decision to make his residence a modern style cabin. Upon picking a site, the top of the cliff near the waterfall seemed best as it provides incredible views of the entire preserve and surrounding mountains. I allowed the contours of the land to develop the structure's form, and made the most recent plan one floor in an effort to save on square footage and make the residence practical. The focus of the home has become about practicality, maximizing the amazing views, and incorporating solar panels into the roof design in an effort to keep the Salt Maker off the power grid.

The first set of photos shows the first study model of his house on the chosen site, and the second shows the beginning of a set of roof iterations that I am currently working on. Each roof would be elevated at an angle of 30 degrees, face directly south, and would be supported by timber framing.