Architecture

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1/31

Art of Process,

Baltimore, MD

Graduate Thesis

The study of creation and social interaction. Exploring how to encourage communication and celebrate the process of art, rather than just the result. To explain how important process and critique are to the arts and how exposing these aspects at a social level will create a new, and more artistic atmosphere.

This thesis project demonstrates that the process of art can be an educational and stimulating experience. Architecture can encourage movement and allow both artist and visitor to circulate and feel involved in the process without reserve. I will create a space that allows for new, possibly unplanned, discovery of the arts and their processes that the community did not expect to be exposed to. Keeping with the theme of process, this art walk center exhibits a layering concept that is visible throughout the project. The notion that art is process of layering and scraping, I’ve created a building that has been sculpted and carved out of the historic fabric of the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.

"Award for Excellence in a
Thesis Incorporating Technology in Design and Presentation"

1/20

Sport Hotel,

Bethesda, MD

Graduate Studio

To express exactitude is to be precise and accurate with detail. But considering the conflicting idea, to be vague and imprecise, can be beautiful and poetic. Exactitude is the process of creating detail to enhance vagueness. Exactitude, as preciseness in expression, it can be an editing devise. As in telling a story there are infinite details that can be explained; but should they be? Exactitude is a way of picking and choosing those details given carefully to guide the reader through the story. A writer can imagine every detail in a story, and decide what information to give and how to present it. The details can change the whole construction and composition; they can change the feeling and rhythm.

In architecture we explore and experiment with
different details to fit the design. We consciously
decide where to place certain aspects to create the image or feeling we wish; to guide people through a building and to emphasize an idea. Exactitude can be a window that frames a certain view, or a series of windows that follow a pattern. It can be the way the floorboards are placed to give a sense of movement or rhythm.

Geometric Exactitude is expressed through its purest form, the triangle; of which all geometric polygons are created. This pure triangle is then edited in a precise way to create spaces. It focuses the public into and trough the building. It is used to enhance the building, its functions and the site.

Friendship Heights, MD is an active community situated on the border of Washington D.C. It allows for easy commute to the U.S. capitol, Bethesda MD, and Baltimore MD.

Considering this community’s vibrant population and vicinity to cities’ amenities and activities, sport should be localized and accommodated. This hotel features a gym with lap pools that are designed to lodge triathlon attendees that might be visiting the area for competitions. There will also be relaxation areas for family and friends to enjoy and for the athletes to relax after the competitions. Because triathlons are an organized event the hotel will also include meeting and conference rooms to exhibit the events that coincide with these competitions.

Published @ ilikearchitecture.net

1/17

Hill East District,

Washington D.C.

C.B.D.S. Graduate Studio

As a studio group, our firm, [re]FRESH Design came up with a scheme for the Hill East District
Development. The project presented a site at the confluence of a multitude of design challenges; at [re]Fresh Design we approached these challenges of site, socio-economic, demographic and urban discontinuity as opportunities in need innovative and holistic design.

[Weave] to introduce separate parts into a larger whole.

By reconnecting the site to the existing urban fabric and creating a project that weaves itself into the community at all scales, the project enhances the site while respecting its location and the environment.

[Typology] Classification of Styles

Weaving the traditional Washington D.G. rowhouse typology with condominiums/ apartments the project is able to bridge two building typologies, user/resident groups and socio-economic levels within two buildings arranged on either side of a green courtyard flanked by a public cafe and corner store that
anchors the project into the neighborhood.

[Innovation] New Ideas or Method

The building incorporates single-loaded corridors that weave around vertical circulation cores to create nestled neighborhoods within the building. This approach also creates the opportunity to utilize passive strategies for day lighting, ventilation and views out to the public spaces and beyond.

1/15

Palette of Perspectives,

An Elementary School for Young Artisan

Graduate Studio

Concept: an artist palette where as each grade is represented as a color and the site and school represents the mixing of the colors or students. My school is a K-5 school and it is focused in the visual arts i.e. painting, drawing ceramics/pottery and in the upper grades digital arts.

I’m proposing having the classrooms (colors) as the box shapes (pure as the palette colors) and the corridors and outdoor spaces as the messy areas where the classes can mix and create new experiences. The connecting corridor will be a white wall and glass enclosure that will hold a corridor style gallery of student work and visiting artist work. This corridor will be open to the public in the evening hours and
on weekends.

1/13

The Watkinson School Student Center,

West Hartford, CT

Undergraduate Studio

This is a student center designed to fit into a private college prep middle and high school in West Hartford, CT. My concept for this project was to merge the outside with the inside. To accomplish this I brought the outside in by the use of natural light and indoor trees. To bring the inside out I created a wrap around porch for outside activities and an outdoor eating area. I thought this design would fit in well on this campus because of the character of the students and the surrounding landscape, architecture, and views.

This project was drafted using a CAD program but rendered by hand using color pencil, marker, and pastels.